[bbbl67]

I was out of town on the weekend, and I had to use roaming. Now, I was finding that sometimes my Blackberry Internet Service was available and sometimes it wasn't. What was most puzzling was that sometime the web-browser would work without BIS available, and sometimes it wouldn't. It seemed to do both depending on time of day from the same location. I have a little weather applet in my Blackberry Bold, and again it was sometimes working, and sometimes it wasn't.

It was all pretty puzzling, what's the real answer here? Do Internet-based apps work or don't they when there's regular cellular data services available, but not BIS?

[Dubdub]

I think it depends on the connection that you have and the carrier on which you are roaming. And that makes it very hard to say what does and doesn't work.

IMHO, the connection is the key.

[hrbuckley]

DubDub is right, but it also can depend on the application.

Application writers can select one of may connection methods to use BIS being one; or they can let the device make the choice based on what is available. The applicatons written by RIM usually use BIS-B or BES each of which will intenligently select between wireless and Wi-Fi, but need at least 2G (or the equivalent) for wireless. The browser may also connect via carier TCP or WAP if BIS/BES/Wi-Fi are not available.