This has been explained many times but is buried in hundreds of pages of posts. Here is a tutorial for "unlocking" BBMaps on AT&T and a few other carrier devices.


Question: The BBMaps icon will not show on my device. I see BlackberryMaps in my application list but can’t find it on my device.

Answer: AT&T and some other European carriers, including Orange, have decided that they make more money selling mapping subscriptions than allowing you access to BBMaps. Here is how to make BBMaps show on your device with OS 4.2. OS 4.3 and higher use a different version of BBMaps and this procedure will not work.

• Make sure you have Desktop Manager installed to your PC. It can be downloaded from here
• Make sure that the OS is installed to your PC. The OS’s downloads for each carrier can be found here
• Delete the vendor.xml file located in c:\program files\common files\research in motion\apploader
• Find the LBS.alx file located in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\Shared\Loader Files\8700-v4.2.1.96_P2.3.0.79. Note: The folder name under Loader Files may differ depending on the OS version installed on your device
• Open the LBS.alx file with a text editor such as WordPad.
• Scroll down until you find lines similar to this: (Note: each devices version may have differing lines of code.)

<!-- For 8800 series, hide the icon for Cingular (102), Vodafone Germany (124), Vodafone Austria (137) and all Orange properties. -->
<fileset SystemSize="normal" Colour="True" Java="1.0" _vendorID="~102|124|137|119|162|142|183|147|217" series="8800">
<files>
net_rim_bb_lbs_ribbon.cod
</files>
</fileset>
<!-- For non-8800 series, show the icon for all carriers except Vodafone Germany (124), Vodafone Austria (137) and all Orange properties. -->
<fileset SystemSize="normal" Colour="True" Java="1.0" series="8800">
<files>
net_rim_bb_lbs_internal_gps.cod
</files>
</fileset>
<fileset SystemSize="normal" Java="1.0">
<files>
net_rim_bb_lbs_resource_en.cod
</files>
</fileset>

• Remove all references to “_vendorID=…..” and device codes. Remove the text in bold as shown above and leave the > symbol at the end.

The above code would be changed to the following:
<!-- For 8800 series, hide the icon for Cingular (102), Vodafone Germany (124), Vodafone Austria (137) and all Orange properties. -->
<fileset SystemSize="normal" Colour="True" Java="1.0">
<files>
net_rim_bb_lbs_ribbon.cod
</files>
</fileset>
<!-- For non-8800 series, show the icon for all carriers except Vodafone Germany (124), Vodafone Austria (137) and all Orange properties. -->
<fileset SystemSize="normal" Colour="True" Java="1.0">
<files>
net_rim_bb_lbs_internal_gps.cod
</files>
</fileset>
<fileset SystemSize="normal" Java="1.0">
<files>
net_rim_bb_lbs_resource_en.cod
</files>
</fileset>

Save the file with the same LBS.alx name.

Again, each devices .alx is slightly different but removing any references to vendor codes and device codes in the lines as above will do the trick.

• Now plug in the BB, open Desktop Manager and run Application Loader. Make sure BBMaps is checked and continue through to finish the process.
• BBMaps should now have an icon on your home screen.

Please let me know if there is anything missing from the above steps.

If editing the above makes you nervous or you don't want to attempt it you can download pre-edited .alx file from this link. Simply find your device and OS version number and download the .zip files with the included .alx's. Simply replace your .alx's with the new ones and run Application Loader in Desktop Manager

Does GPS stand for Good Picture Spot?

The above changes seem to work on the 8820 on Orange in the UK.

Thank you Mr. Clark.

If you call him Mr. Clark he will go to Washington, If you call him Mr., he won't know who you are talking too, and if you call him LOST, he'll turn on his GPS and go take a picture. So what does he really know about GPS?

I wonder if RIM have this advice on their FAQ. If not, you should tell RIM this.

But anyway, I have T-mobile so I don't have to worry.

I think RIM knows.

See :
hxxp://www.blackberryforums.com/general-8800-series-discussion/91847-8820-gps-orange-yes-again.html#post643589


Thanks !

The trackwheel on my 8700c broke so I had to go back to my 7290. Does the 7290 have GPS?

Neither the 8700 nor the 7290 have GPS integrated.

I know that it is possible to install BBMaps on a 8700 with a Bluetooth GPS, I don't know if you can do it with a 7290

In any case, you won't need the above procedure to install BBMaps on your Blackberry

John,

Just a note to say thank you for your help, it worked for me. I have an BB 8820 and my service provider is Orange.

PS: Lost my Yahoo IM though, so got to go re-install that

Best wishes, Steve

Thanks John - worked a treat!

The application is now visible and is up and running fine. What is NOT happening though is that the application is not downloading the map data - I just get the diagonal line thing with a red dot showing me where I am but no map!!

How can I get BB Maps to automatically download the required map data??

Thanks again.

DB

You need to search here to find your APN and TCP settings. See BBFFAQ's as I believe they are listed there.

I originally followed the forum instructions to show the blackberry maps program and all was fine. Then I updated my 8800 to remove some themes and save some space as per another post and my maps disappeared again. I checked for the existence of a vendor.xml file and ensured that the lbs.alx, platform.alx, and blackberry.alx files were the ones I downloaded from the forum, but my bb maps is still hidden. Which step did I leave out?

Did you see if it is checked in Desktop Manager. Maybe you unchecked it by accident.

It was checked, but it said downgrade since I had downloaded it from the blackberry mobile site.

Go back and check it. It actually removed it from your BB if you unchecked the box.

John, Have you used google maps or blackberry maps with WIFI & gprs turned off? Im curious to know if its possible because it doesent work on my phone.I tried it with various service book combinaions. I

I solved the problem by returning to the blackberry site and downloading the latest version of blackberry maps. I think the problem is that the version that comes with the OS is older than the one on the mobile blackberry site. Since I had upgraded to the one on the mobile bb site, reinstalling the OS made the program not function. When I returned to the site and reinstalled, it all started working again.

great info. thanks! will be doing this once my phone comes in!

i have a problem here,

im running a mac so i cant use desktop manager

how cna i get around this???

You'll need to go find a friends PC....A mac won't do it. Sorry.

damn!

You'll can run a Windows virtual machine on the Mac using Parallels or VMware Fusion. That is how I sync my BB on my Mac machine.

Yes, I should have posted "unless you can run a windows environment."

Thanks!

Hi,

Have anyone tried this on a Singtel carrier BlackBerry 8820?

If there is no BBMaps on your device look in the list of applications. Go to Options >Advanced Options >Applications. If BlackberryMaps is in the list then this method will work for you.

I have a problem - when I try to download BB Maps I get this message:

I have deleted the vendor.xml file but cannot find the file to edit. In "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\" the only folders I have are AppLoader, RIM Device Manager, USB Drivers and Modem Drivers.

Any help would be hugely appreciated on this.
Thanks,
Ed

You need to install the OS for your device to your PC. You can get it from here:

BlackBerry Operating System Downloads - BlackBerryFAQ

Sorry newbie here from the DL site you posted for the OS can I just choose 8800 from AT&T and that will work for my 8820? Also has anyone out there run the unlock on the AT&T 8820?

Hi, I don't know if it will work with a 8820 from AT&T, but it worked with my 8820 from Orange

The 8800 OS will not work on the 8820. You'll need to download and install the 8820 OS.

I have installed the latest OS for my curve as well as made the change listed above to show BB Maps, however when I run maps all I get is diagonal lines with 4 circles.
I checked my TCP settings for my carrier, which is Rogers. The settings were
APN: internet.com
username for APN: wapuser1
password for APN: wap
The curve is an unlocked curve from AT&T.

Am I doing something wrong?

Our FAQ for TCP settings shows Rogers as being

apn:internet.com
username
password

username and password blank.

Did you try it that way? Reboot after making changes.

Carrier specific APN/TCP settings - BlackBerryFAQ

Hey sir,

i downloaded files for rogers GSM north america
and i have deleted the vendor file as well
but i cant find C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\Shared\Loader Files

these folders

please help

Those folders get installed when the OS is installed to the pc. Make sure you downloaded and installed the handheld OS package.

i downloaded the OS which suits my needs
and when i tried to open up the folders i cant see Shared folder under
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion

the only folders i have under C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion ... /// ..

are
Apploader --- modem drivers ---- RIMDevice manager --- USB Drivers

and i can't seem to find LBS.alx

After you downloaded the file did you double click on it to install it to the computer?

yes sir i did
and it is installed as well

Try installing it again. If it prompts you to remove or repair, then select repair.

i did and it worked and everything
i pluged ma BB and i made sure the check was there on Blackberry Maps but i can't see the icon on my main menu
i thought it was hidden but i tried show all tab ..
i for Maps and Google Maps but not BlackBerry Maps
let me know sir if thats what it is

i tried going under maps but as i dun have data service it says data service required