[bbstalker]

Hello people,

as you all know the 8310 model has no WiFi module. So, no chance to use a free domestic wireless access point when being at home. My question is - if there is a computer with internet, which is at home or work, can one somehow via a cable (USB?) connect to this PC from BB 8310 and thus get internet from it. I know such things are possible with Windows Mobile's ActiveSync app, which is a standard app from Microsoft to synchronize Windows Mobile devices with a host PC. I'm not sure whether something like this is also possible with BBeries. So, again, my point and question is: can I somehow use free internet from PC without paying to the network operator?

Thank you guys and gals in advance!

[mckinneycm]

No, you cannot use the USB cable as a network interface to the internet through your PC.

[takeshi]

I'm wondering why one would use the BB if a PC was available anyway... I guess YMMV.

[bbstalker]

Originally Posted by mckinneycm

No, you cannot use the USB cable as a network interface to the internet through your PC.

Thank you! This is indeed sad. I guess there is also no way to do this (connect to internet via interconnected PC or access point) via Bluetooth, as I found no suitable BT profile in the specification of BB 8310.

Originally Posted by takeshi

I'm wondering why one would use the BB if a PC was available anyway... I guess YMMV.

There could be many such scenarios, e.g. you have an app that requires internet connection to download/upload something and say you don't have a data plan.

[NJBlackBerry]

"don't have a data plan"...

That's the problem - not that you can't connect to the Internet through the PC.

[bbstalker]

Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry

"don't have a data plan"...

That's the problem - not that you can't connect to the Internet through the PC.

Does it mean by default that every BB owner has to be a data plan subscriber? I do naturally tend to be in my life independent of air gamblers (sometimes called mobile operators) and use more technologies like WLAN, BT, GPS etc. Call me old-style, but no data plans here

PS: Imagine cars would run on water or something else what you can pick up for free on every corner and "tank" it.

[mckinneycm]

Originally Posted by bbstalker

Does it mean by default that every BB owner has to be a data plan subscriber? I do naturally tend to be in my life independent of air gamblers (sometimes called mobile operators) and use more technologies like WLAN, BT, GPS etc. Call me old-style, but no data plans here

PS: Imagine cars would run on water or something else what you can pick up for free on every corner and "tank" it.

Then you're not very mobile. What's the point of having an internet/email device, if the only time you can use it is when you're near a WiFi connection, and most likely a PC????

[TroyDBrown]

A BlackBerry was designed around being connected to RIM's servers via a data plan.

[NJBlackBerry]

Not old style, but certainly you'll never be able to use the Blackberry the way it was intended to be used.

To each his own. But your challenges with Internet connectivity are because you don't have a data plan.

That's not gambling, just not a common choice.

[bbstalker]

Originally Posted by mckinneycm

Then you're not very mobile. What's the point of having an internet/email device, if the only time you can use it is when you're near a WiFi connection, and most likely a PC????

Cmon, BB 8310 Curve is an awesome mobile device. It has a GPS and BT on it. You can get lost in nowhere and find the way out. Why it is not perfectly mobile? You can be reached almost everywhere via SMS or a phone call, because this great tool has a GSM module too. But I see your point too, we are both mobile but in a bit different ways.

Originally Posted by troydbrown

A BlackBerry was designed around being connected to RIM's servers via a data plan.

This is very clever of RIM

[TroyDBrown]

Originally Posted by bbstalker

This is very clever of RIM

I don't think clever. You can't get WiFi on a Motorola Razr. You can't on an 8310. If WiFi is that important get an 8320 which has WiFi. Problem solved and you can avoid the "air gamblers"

[mckinneycm]

Originally Posted by bbstalker

Cmon, BB 8310 Curve is an awesome mobile device. It has a GPS and BT on it. You can get lost in nowhere and find the way out. Why it is not perfectly mobile? You can be reached almost everywhere via SMS or a phone call, because this great tool has a GSM module too. But I see your point too, we are both mobile but in a bit different ways.

So, get a RAZR with GPS capabilities. It will do exactly what you want.

And besides, you can't download the maps for the BB GPS unless you have a data plan.

[bbstalker]

Originally Posted by mckinneycm

So, get a RAZR with GPS capabilities. It will do exactly what you want.

And besides, you can't download the maps for the BB GPS unless you have a data plan.

What a ... trap! Are there any 3rd party navigation apps which can work with maps without a plan? If it's all like this how you are describing then I guess BB is the most operator/RIM-binded mobile platform out there.

[mckinneycm]

I do not believe there is any 3rd party app that has the maps pre-loaded. There's not enough memory on the device.

[bbstalker]

Originally Posted by troydbrown

I don't think clever. You can't get WiFi on a Motorola Razr. You can't on an 8310. If WiFi is that important get an 8320 which has WiFi. Problem solved and you can avoid the "air gamblers"

Surprisingly, many operators see WiFi-enabled phones in their nightmares. Say "VoIP" and see them starting to pray. Really, in some very developed countries in Europe there are very bad chances to get a WiFi-capable BB. The "bold" is the first WiFi BB which is being sold in my region.

[bbstalker]

Originally Posted by mckinneycm

I do not believe there is any 3rd party app that has the maps pre-loaded. There's not enough memory on the device.

Oh there are, saw this little MicroSD slot on the side? I'm sure you can load your whole city there and also the neighboring ones. What ever your destination is you could always pre-cache the maps for this region. In an extreme case you can always connect to the host via your data plan (which is say really for emergency cases) and load the maps. This is for non-vector maps, the vectored onces will "weight" even less. Google Maps is a good non-vector example to start with. There are apps for another mobile platforms which use them and pre-cache the selected regions.

[mckinneycm]

Originally Posted by bbstalker

Oh there are, saw this little MicroSD slot on the side? I'm sure you can load your whole city there and also the neighboring ones. What ever your destination is you could always pre-cache the maps for this region. In an extreme case you can always connect to the host via your data plan (which is say really for emergency cases) and load the maps. This is for non-vector maps, the vectored onces will "weight" even less. Google Maps is a good non-vector example to start with. There are apps for another mobile platforms which use them and pre-cache the selected regions.

Yes, but not for BlackBerry. If you find one, please let us know.

[Motorcycle Mama]

Originally Posted by bbstalker

Oh there are, saw this little MicroSD slot on the side? I'm sure you can load your whole city there and also the neighboring ones. What ever your destination is you could always pre-cache the maps for this region. In an extreme case you can always connect to the host via your data plan (which is say really for emergency cases) and load the maps. This is for non-vector maps, the vectored onces will "weight" even less. Google Maps is a good non-vector example to start with. There are apps for another mobile platforms which use them and pre-cache the selected regions.

But you can't load applications on the media card on a BlackBerry. Can you??

[mckinneycm]

Originally Posted by Motorcycle Mama

But you can't load applications on the media card on a BlackBerry. Can you??

He's talking about loading an application on the device that will read map files that are stored on the media card.

[TroyDBrown]

All GPS options:

http://www.blackberryforums.com/gps-...ations-bb.html