The Blackberry 8320 having wi-fi is limited. The only program that can use the wi-fi connection is the Blackberry Browser... all third party programs...
ie. Opera Mini, JiveTalk even RIM's Instant messaging programs... Yahoo Messenger, Windows Live Messenger are all designed to connect using the phone's EDGE data......... none of them can detect or use the wi-fi connection!

I think Windows Smartphones and the Apple Iphone, all of the programs are able to detect what connection the phone is using and switch accordingly to use wi-fi or EDGE... I am using the 8320 unlocked in Canada and we do not have cheap unlimited data plans here.. but the 8320 wi-fi cant be used for third party apps... and UMA isnt supported on my carrier

Unfortunate, yes.

It's been discussed here a good bit.
WiFi HotZone - BlackBerryForums.com : Your Number One BlackBerry Community

Sounds like the developers and carriers need to get onboard.
I believe that a beta of Opera mini works on WiFi.

At least it did for me.

Really? did you need to enter any special settings to get opera mini to connect via wi-fi? Mine says connecting for a while then says cannot connect and please check operamini.com/help I am not on T-Mobile. It would be good for RIM to create a service book to enable third party apps to access the wi-fi connections

Do you have your APN settings set, as well?

Check the FAQ site for how, if you have not.

Yes I have. I can connect with Opera Mini using EDGE but not wi-fi.

I have found out from Hofo that T-Mobile users are able to use third party applications using Wi-Fi through UMA. That is why anyone that can use Opera Mini through wi-fi is on the T-Mobile network. I suspect this is the same for the Blackberry 8820 on AT&T (eventhough they lack UMA). Those wireless carriers must have sent a service book to those wi-fi berries to enable third party apps to use wi-fi if they have a blackberry plan.

From Hofo

"All of the apps on the 8320 can make use of WiFi due to UMA. When the phone has UMA up, all voice and data traverses the WiFi link, not the cellular network. So in one regard, the people stating all 8320 apps work over WiFi are correct. (And this is easily confirmed, too -- things like Google Maps flies when you have a WiFi connection, but trundles when on EDGE.)

On the other hand, these apps can only make network connections via the standard TCP<->APN gateway logic. Only the web browser in WiFi mode appears able to make direct connections over WiFi, bypassing the APN gateway. So to use these other apps, you must have a Blackberry data plan, since they are ultimately being tunneled through the carrier's APN infrastructure. So the OP is also correct in a sense; for people who want to use the 8320 without a data plan, they can't really make use of the WiFi interface in the 8320 to get around the data plan requirement. Only the web browser can be made to work over WiFi when there is no data plan.

Personally, I don't understand the point of a Blackberry without a Blackberry data plan, but I won't get into that religious war...



very well said,
just to reiterate (and further oversimplify), 3rd party apps that are setup to use the EDGE connection, when in UMA mode which is WiFi, have no idea that they aren't using the EDGE connection. All data is tunneled towards t-mo's network (which is what the 3rd party apps are "looking" for with regard to TCP and WAP settings) but instead use a different "doorway", WiFi over UMA as opposed to EDGE over GSM. "

Not exactly sure how to respond other than "my third party apps use WiFi for data without any UMA enabled at all" and that's how it's been since day 1. I just in fact had a reset on my FreeRange RSS feeds and it downloaded 1,384 new articles at the speed of light (sic), WiFi all the way. I get the same results with other apps (Google for Domains, LogicMail, etc.) they all use my wifi and are speedy quick. I sync on a normal basis with SyncJe client and it also uses WiFi (I sync'd some 300 contacts just a week ago, wifi-speed).

I *do* have an unlimited data plan and the APN set appropriately.

I am on regular BIS (no Enterprise) and I have NOT purchased HotSpot @ Home service ($20/month is a bit steep).

Any ideas how I can enable WiFi WITHOUT purchasing the UMA service? I don't want to make phone calls over WiFi, but would like to use it for Google Maps, YouTube, email, etc.

edit

Thanks - I wasn't aware you could also make calls over UMA without purchasing the service (so they're not free, but you can still make them over UMA?). Pretty cool.

I've tried going to the BB's WiFi settings, and I have it set up to login to my router (which is TKIP encrypted); it picks up a -54Db signal, but won't assign an IP address (the router works fine with a bunch of other devices I have). Do I need to upgrade to OS 4.2.2.180? I'm at 173 now....

update....

Problem solved: Rebooted my router (duh)

edit

For those still trying to redeem the processing capabilities of the 8320 using the WiFi but not data/BB plan, check out this thread:
http://www.blackberryforums.com/wifi...-can-t-do.html
Invaluable thread that allows you to understand how the service providers and the device work.

I am getting the error For security reasons, your device can't access Mobile Banking.

I added the tmobile internet service and used tzone browser and i can access the site just fine( loging to my account, ck balance , tranfer funds), but using WIFI browser it restrict me.

With WIFI Browser i am able to access all other sites without any problem.I have buffalo router.

Any clue????

I am unable to access this thread please someone let me know why.
Thanks

Works fine for me..

http://www.blackberryforums.com/wifi...-can-t-do.html