[toliwiak]

I've read through some threads and I still haven't been able to resolve my issue.
I'm trying to find out if it is possible to use the new WiFi Blackberrys as internal only devices. I cannot seem to get a WiFi activation to be successful though.
I have a Bold, with no SIM card in it. I enter the IP address of the BES (4.1.4), but it cannot get a service connection. Is there something on the BES that I need to do to enable WiFi EA?

[Frank Castle]

I may be wrong but RIM at one point offered a device that was for internal network usage only and it didn't really take off. Unsure if the current ##20 devices can function like that as we don't deploy them.

[penguin3107]

The BlackBerry 7270 was the only BlackBerry (to my knowledge) that supported only internal WiFi.

None of the newer WiFi enabled devices will do this.

[toliwiak]

Originally Posted by penguin3107

The BlackBerry 7270 was the only BlackBerry (to my knowledge) that supported only internal WiFi.

None of the newer WiFi enabled devices will do this.

Our intent is to just buy some Bolds and not put SIM cards into them.
This is how far I have gotten: I have been able to activate a device with a SIM card in it, then remove the SIM card and configure WiFi. I can then sucessfully send and receive using WiFi only.

My problem is not being able to do the initial enterprise activation through WiFi only.

[penguin3107]

Originally Posted by toliwiak

Our intent is to just buy some Bolds and not put SIM cards into them.
This is how far I have gotten: I have been able to activate a device with a SIM card in it, then remove the SIM card and configure WiFi. I can then sucessfully send and receive using WiFi only.

My problem is not being able to do the initial enterprise activation through WiFi only.

Is your BES properly configured for WiFi activations?

[toliwiak]

Originally Posted by penguin3107

Is your BES properly configured for WiFi activations?

That's what I don't know. I have read through tons of posts here, but I can't seem to nail down what I need to do on BES to enable that.

[penguin3107]

See if these KB articles help:

BlackBerry Search Results

BlackBerry Search Results

BlackBerry Search Results

[toliwiak]

Helpful, yes. Thank you!
I can't find that "WLAN OTA" tab anywhere.
Do I need to reinstall BES and change those settings during install?

[penguin3107]

No, just run the Blackberry Configuration tool.

On the BES:
Start / Programs / BlackBerry Enterprise Server / BlackBerry Server Configuration

[toliwiak]

Thank you!
I am making progress. The activation starts but immediately I get "An error occurred."
Any ideas?
When I configured the OTA tab checked "Permit wireless activation". I enabled "Use MX" then I entered in the email address of our besadmin account.

[DavidAdams]

Not sure if it's pertinent but when we got our first Pearl i found that it would work perfectly over WiFi if it has a BB enabled SIM in it even if the cellular side was turned off. The moment i swapped the SIM for a non-BB enabled one it lost all connectivity to our BES. And that's without turning the cellular side back on.

Whether this had anything to do with the initial activation being cellular or not I am not sure.

[JavaJunkee]

Hi, just wanted to add my two cents -

I just finished testing a Bold WiFi Activation. It should be noted that my results are consistent with all our WiFi enabled BB's.

Prior to connecting to EDGE/3G for the first time, I'm not able to transmit or receive any data via Wi-Fi. My devices register successfully on Wi-Fi, obtain an IP, but the buck stops there.

I've found I must first connect to the carrier via EDGE/3G. Not sure what's happening in the background, but I'm thinking it's registering the device and downloading initial Data Service Books.

I can then disable the Mobile antennae, enable the Wi-Fi antennae and successfully activate.

Perhaps someone with more mobile network knowledge can offer some info as to why this is.

[KeyLoveMobile]

Before I got a BES data plan, I was only able to activate my 8320 on the BES by doing a USB activation right off the server, no other method would work. Once activated, the device worked perfectly fine on WiFi.

My guess is that there are some carrier-delivered service books required for any kind of OTA activation.