BlackBerry HTML Web Browsing FAQ

The purpose of this FAQ is to help answer web-browsing-related questions for BlackBerry. Many new models of BlackBerries have a built-in HTML Internet Browser with full color image graphics. Unfortunately this does not apply to each and every BlackBerry. The purpose of this FAQ is to help get a person get a web browser up and running as quickly as possible.



My Web Browser Icon Is Missing!

This can happen if you've upgraded your BlackBerryOS, or if you delete your service books. This is the most common step to fix the problem via your BlackBerry:
Options Icon -> Host Routing Tables -> Register Now




Help! My Web Browser Still Didn't Show Up!

If the above instructions failed, try stepping through these instructions one by one

• Try getting your service books retransmitted.
  a. Login to your BlackBerry Web Client (BWC/BIS) site.
  b. Click "Profiles" (At the top of your BWC webpage via your PC)
  c. Click "Send Internet Browser Service Book"
  
• Try rebooting your BlackBerry by removing and reinserting battery.
  
• Make sure you are running BlackBerryOS 4.0 by checking:
  Check Options -> About
  If you are not running at least Version 4.0, you need to download and install BlackBerryOS 4.0 then repeating all the above instructions again.
  
• If that does not work, and you are on a BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES), try re-activating your BlackBerry on BES. This may be as simple as connecting your BlackBerry to your PC and synchronizing your BlackBerry while Outlook is in ONLINE mode.

Help! I'm stuck with BlackBerryOS 3.7!

If you are not allowed to upgrade to BlackBerryOS 4.0, there is still hope. There's an unsupported method of doing this on BlackBerryOS 3.7. This is called the "RBRO trick". Follow these instructions:

1. Launch the WAP Browser
2. Click thumbwheel, select Options
3. You should now see a list containing "Browser Configuration" and "General Properties"
4. Type the following letters: RBRO
5. Click on "Browser Configuration" again.
6. Scroll down to "Constrained Content Mode" and then change "WML Only" into "Unconstrained"
7. Click scrollwheel and select "Save"
8. Click on "Browser Configuration" again. (Go back out and back in)
9. Scroll down to "Content Mode" and then change "WML Only" into "WML and HTML"
10. Click scrollwheel and select "Save"
11. Now you've got full HTML browsing on your BlackBerryOS 3.7 device!

Help! None Of The Above Works!

Unfortunately, some carriers don't want you to have a web browser yet. Try calling your carrier and asking nicely to get a full Internet Browser for your BlackBerry. There's an alternative. You can obtain third party web browsers:
Opera Mini
Minuet Browser




What is NOL? What is T-Zones?

These are custom branded browsers for Nextel and T-Mobile.
NOL is the Nextel OnLine browser for Nextel BlackBerries.
T-Zones is the T-Mobile web browser for T-Mobile BlackBerries.
This does not apply to you if you are using another carrier, such as Cingular.

Some of these custom branded browsers are simply renamed versions of the BlackBerry Internet Browser, while others are renamed versions of much-more-limited WAP browsers.

Nextel's NOL browser (as of March 2005) is still a limited-functionality browser, so many Nextel users find it necessary to purchase a third party browser, in order to gain more browsing functionality.




BlackBerry Internet Browser Is TOO SLOW!

Under BlackBerryOS4, the improved HTML web browsing can be extremely slow. There are several ways to speed up the web browsing experience. Try the following:

• Turn off images by going to:
  Internet Browser -> Options -> Browser Configuration -> Show Images -> "On WML Pages Only"
  You can selectively download images on demand, anyway.
  
• If that does not speed things up enough, turn off unnecessary options that you may not need:
  Internet Browser -> Options -> Browser Configuration
  Turn off "Use HTML Tables"
  Turn off "Use Background Images"
  Turn off "Support JavaScript"
  Turn off "Support Style Sheets"
  
• If that does not speed things up enough, test out a trial of one of the third party browsers available. Many people say that some of the third party web browsers are faster in certain aspects. You can have this web browser installed at the same time as the BlackBerry Internet Browser.
  
• Try browsing through BES 4.0 which can be much faster than browsing entirely through your cell carrier. If you want the fastest RIM BlackBerry Browser without going to third party software, you may want to get BES 4.0. Individuals who cannot afford a BES server can check out the Hosted BES FAQ for services costing $10 to $25 per month. An advantage is that browsing through BES 4.0 will make more JavaScript websites work properly, including online banking websites.
  Note: On BES, the browser is called "BlackBerry Browser" rather than "Internet Browser"

Help! My Web Browser Doesn't Display Any Pages, Only "Loading..."!

This is usually a configuration problem, but can be a server issue. Try the following:

• Reboot your BlackBerry by removing and reinserting the battery.
• Follow the instructions in section "Help! My Web Browser Still Didn't Come Back!" at the top.
• Follow the instructions in Configuring Internet On BlackBerry
• Test out a third party web browser.
• Your BWC or BES might be a little slow. Try again a little later.

What's The Best Web Browser For Maximum Compatibility?

The best web browser for maximum compatibility is one that supports JavaScript. You still won't be able to get a Blazer-style web browser, but you can dramatically improve the BlackBerry browsing compatibility. One way to get this is to use BlackBerryOS 4.0 on a BES 4.0 server (Either your own BES or through Hosted BES). This will allow to access more websites, including online banking websites. To maximize compatibility, go to:
BlackBerry Browser -> Options -> Browser Configuration
Scroll down and turn on ALL checkboxes. Then Save.

What is the best emulation mode to use?

If you want the maximum chance of fast performance, keep it on BlackBerry emulation. I think it will automatically use a slimmed-down version of certain sites.

If you want the maximum chance of compatibility, I suggest "Internet Explorer" emulation.

If you are unable to change emulation, you're stuck. You probably won't be able to change your emulation in the future since it's either carrier-locked or BES-administrator-locked.

I'm confused about the role of the BES when browsing the web.

I see that rules for the handheld are set in the BES. However, does the web service go through my Work (BES Owner's) Internet connection, or does it go through the Cell Provider's Internet connection.

In other words, can the "Boss" see what sites I have been surfing on my Blackberry???

BES Method Correct. When you run "BlackBerry Browser" through BES, you are using your work's Internet connection. That's because BES is usually on the Intranet (inside the LAN) and you can access internal websites from your BlackBerry that way. And yes your boss can see what websites you are accessing if you surf through BES -- if they have enabled the logging and someone is watching the log.

BWC Method If you need privacy, use "Internet Browser" instead of "BlackBerry Browser", it will surf through your BWC instead.

FYI Mark...Internet Browsing is not available on Cingular at this time. You probably should add something in your FAQ about which carriers this is available for to answer future questions.

I thought all 7100 series blackberrys come with the built in HTML browser??? The Cingular 7100g does not??

Thanks All!

I am using the Cingular with a 7290 (Temporarily running Rogers 4.x software until the Cingular release).

The only choice that I have under Options/Browser/Default.... is "Cingular Browser." - I assume that this is where I would make the browser selection.

I cannot access anything inside my organization firewall.

Sooooo... As far as webview goes, It looks like I am in the outside world using Cingular as the ISP.

Currently Cingular does not provide this Blackberry Internet Service (BIS)...this is what mark is referring to in this thread.

However, Cingular's WAP browser does handle full HTML/WML by default so it's not as important.

But I assume you can still use the wap.cingular APN to use programs like Verichat?

hey mark,

i loaded up regwireless web browser but keep getting message:

could not connect to server check advanced settings.


i have a 7290 with 4.0

on rogers

I Have The Blackberry 7520 And Have An Employee Blackberry Email Service With Public Ip, Based On The Web Client Not Bes. I Have Nol And Webviewr Both Work Fine. The Blackberry Browser Is Locked Out By Nextel B/c They Don't Want You Doing Html Browsing. Anyway I Found The Bb Browser Appears On The 7510 Somehow But Not The 7520. I Took The Service Book From My Old 7510 And Copied It To My 7520 And I Have The Bb Browser On My 7520 Now. Problem Is It Will Not Work, Will Not Connect To Inernet, It Did Work On The 7510. So I Suppose Nextel Needs To Unlock Some Features.

mortys11
Follow the following instructions:
"Help! My Web Browser Doesn't Display Any Pages, Only "Loading..."!"
At the top of this document, including Configuring Internet (including filling your Options->APN setting).

NEXTEL347
See if you can go to your Nextel BWC and resending your browser service book. Call Nextel and explain you used ot have the browser on your 7510, and you want it on your 7520 too as well. If not, then you may have to keep using your Reqwireless webviewer browser.

of Webviewer vs. BB Browser.

I am on BES - think its 3.6 but going to 4.0. I am trying to decide what I would gain with Reqwireless Webviewer over the BB browswer. The site mentions cookie management. One thing that frustrates me is that the BB browser doesn't seem to stay logged into sites such as this one. My Cingular browser stays logged into Yahoo though. Are there major differences still?

What about viewing Flash content in the built-in browser-- non-BES? I selected the option to support embedded media, but it doesn't show up.

Is this an issue with the version of Flash? Do I need to upgrade to 4.0? (Currently running 3.8.0.128)

This is mainly for sites such as http://mobile.blackberry.com that uses Plazmic. (Try it out! It's animated, like Flash!)

You should upgrade to OS 4.0 on your BlackBerry anyway since BlackBerry 3.8 is simply an early beta version of 4.0 .... (OS 3.8 is slower than both OS 3.7 and OS 4.0)

what are the benifits of nextel static ip

So exactly what icon am I looking for? The NOL? I'm a new user, non enterprise, but wondering if I should purchase a browser. Please help... thanks

When I received my Blackberry, I did not have a web browser icon. When I was reading an e-mail with a link, I selected Get Link, and it worked. Ever since, my browser has been running and the icon is on the Home Screen.

Thank you all for the tips in this thread. It's helped out alot. I am using a Blackberry 7730 version 4 with T-mobile & the default browser. I'm finding that I have to constantly reboot in order to load web pages. It will work fine for several pages, then I will get the Loading Error message until I reboot again. Any ideas? thanks

WARNING!!!!
Do not recommend the Reqwireless browser to Nextel customers!

Req is trying to deny a known issue that makes the Browser useless.
There have been numerous posts to their forums complaining about a "unknown Error" or "unable to open connection" error, this has been going on since January, yet they continue to take money for the product without warning.

When I pointed out in a post how many complaints there had been, by listing six URL's of posts,
my posts were removed and I was removed as a member!!!!

None of the suggested "workarounds" actually make the product useful if they work at all (each one takes considerable time) - reloading the application - reloading application data hard resets, soft resets, waiting a few days for Nextel, etc..none of these worked and even if they did it would not be worth the trouble each time the product crashes...

DO NOT BUY THIS UNTIL REQ POSTS A CONCLUSIVE FIX TO THIS PROBLEM!

So if the Reqwireless webviewer is not good for Nextel customers... Which one is?

ive had my webviewer on both my 7510 and 7520, both the version previous and the version 4; also older versions of BB OS... not a single problem at all, no "unknown errors" no crawling speed, nothing.. i prefer it over the bb browser (way quicker) unless i cant access certain pages with the webviewer, then i'll use that slow bloat thing ;)

Hello. Thanks for the info!, I was able to upgrade to 4.0 on my 6710. (yeah I know, a Dino!, but I'm in Mexico).

First post here to thank, and also to ask about a problem: Can't use webmessenger.msn.com, the first page that comes up:
"the server cert. is not trusted by your handheld..."

Is there a fix for this?
Thanks again!

-SF
(canuck!).

Has anyone been having trouble with mail.yahoo.com coming back blank? my.yahoo.com works but going to mail from there returns a blank page? I am certain that it did work at one point, could it be my Browser Configuration settings? For those of you that it does work for, what boxes do you have checked in these settings? Thanks beforehand!!

I'm on cingular 7280 with BES.
I have my mMode browser, but i want to be able to browse html.

under browser config, content mode is only WML. I don't have the option of doing html.
We're still on an older BES. I've asked my BES Admin to get me MDS browser, but he said that takes up too much CPU on the server.

What can I do to get HTML browsing on my BB other than Reqwireless Webviewer?
Thanks

hi pcnetgeek -

I've had my BB 7520/Nextel for 5 days now and just bought the WebViewer app. You said you had it working on a 7520. I've installed it on mine and am getting the "unknown error" that blueberry mentioned in the above post. Other TCP/IP apps (IM+) work fine. Did you have to do anything special to get it working?

Thanks,

Shelly

Shelly you can't listen to these guys. Do yourself a favor and try HowardForums.Com

Peace Out

Did you try the RBRO trick in the FAQ at the top of this thread?

7510 and 7520 users, make sure you upgrade to BlackBerryOS Version 4.0.0.249 and do the following:Reference thread for Nextel users:
http://www.blackberryforums.com/show...1&page=5&pp=40

I need help with the browser on a 6230 that boss just got me on e-bay. Service is from T-Mobile. Problem: I can't log into websites with the browser. I type in my username and password, I click the scroll wheel on the login button, and all I get is the login page reloading; I never get into the site. I don't know if I'm missing a step or if something else is wrong. Or maybe it's cookie-related? Any advice on solving this is welcome. Thanks!!
--Melissa

probally old device not compatable with service maybe just guessing

hi.
i am new to BB, i want to send email to email address but BB say MESSAGE SERVICE NOT SET UP. what does this mean.
i can send and receive SMS from Cell Phones. i can also receivr emails from my hotmail account.

BUT I AM NOT ABLE TO SEND EMAIL to other email address.

I am with Rogers Netork with latest OS and Desktop client on my BB 7100r.
any help will be appreciated

Are you on corporate BES or using the Blackberry Web Client?

i am using BWC

I have a 7230 t mobile. I am not impressed with the tzonees browser and am willing to trial or buy a better one. The FAQ's on Reqwireless WebViewer site say it's not available anymore.

What else can I try. The current tzones brower seems so limited.

Amazing what a ten second search will bring up:

http://www.blackberryforums.com/show...643#post110643

shhhh, you said the 's' word

Problems with upgraded 4.0 on BB 7520.

I upgraded the software on 10/31/05, and i'm not getting the Interner Browser, just the old NOL. I was on the phone with Nextel's tech support and she had me go threw resetting service book, security master radio reset, taking battery out and resetting, and Host Routing Table few times during today. Tech said to give it 24 hours, but it looks like others arnt having this delay issue.

What other settings can I adjust?
Should I take it to a Nextel/Sprint store to try to upgrade it?
I've been paying for insurance on it since I bought it in March, should I make a claim and try a new 7520?
Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks,

Dave

We are currently running Cingular devices (7280, 7290, 7100, 8700) on our internal Exchange network and BES 3.6. We force an itpolicy which removes the "internet browser" and the "mmode" browser, leaving only the "blackberry browser" using our internal proxy. By the way, reloading the firmware on a wiped device will bring back all 3 browsers at least until the itpolicy is pushed back down again.

Our latest issue: For some reason, the higher resolution devices (7100, 8700) only load page images as grayscale, or black and white, when using the BlackBerry Browser regardless of whether we browse internal or external sites. I assume that's to allow for quicker browsing, but we don't want quicker browsing, we want the page to show up the way it is suppose to - the way it shows up on the 7290s. As an example, we have a site where our BlackBerry users can see a graphical representation of how our stock is doing. Looks great on the 7290, but looks horrible on the 8700 and the 7100. It only shows up correctly if you wheel-click in the browser and select "Full Image" or something like that.

Any ideas?

I have searched and searched and searched, but the keywords I've been using seem to be fairly generic and usually I get lost in articles that do not seem to apply.

Thanks again...