oronte
Expert Member
Since there's one for the iPhone and the X1 it seems only fair that Bold users have a place to share useful information too.
To begin I think it's best to answer the usual question of just what the limitations of the Bold are on BIS (if you're on BES check with your IT people to determine what your limitations are):
MTN and Vodacom may tell you that whatever you do on a Blackberry is free (like they told me, they've since changed their tune) - absolute lies, here's what you are charged for:
1. Using your phone as a modem with your PC - but they do specify that.
2. Using the network browser - in your browser go to options - Browser Configuration - the first option is browser make sure 'Internet Browser' is selected and not 'MTN' or 'Vlive' as you will be charged for the network browser. Also under the general options - advanced options - browser ensure that 'internet browser' is selected.
3. Most 3rd party apps that did not come with your phone will be charged for (assume they're charged until you've tested them). For example Opera Mini and the Bolt Browser and charged applications (but there is a way to force them to use BIS). An easy way to tell you're on 3G is the B icon next to the '3G' icon disappears when you initiate an internet connection with these applications (first load a page and quickly hit the red button to go to the home screen to check).
4. Streaming video and audio, eg. Youtube - any time your phone asks you if it can connect to WAP you will be charged.
5. Absolutely everything else is free - e-mail and attachments, all browsing and downloading done with the default internet browser, instant messaging via BB Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, and Google Talk, any application that makes (or can make) use of BIS eg. Viigo, Google sync, Facebook.
Of course there are limitations (don't listen to anyone who tells you there aren't):
1. Currently the BIS service on the Bold does not let you download anything more than 2.9mb exactly via any application (there is NO way around this on the Bold presently). This limit may change in the future. UPDATE: This now only applies to the e-mail app, on the Internet Browser the limit is just a little more than 20mb for most files (except for pdf's, still 2.9mb)
2. BIS does not use HSDPA presently, but does use 3G, it's a little slower than normal 3G because of the way BIS works but the phone's fast enough that if you're downloading something it won't slow anything else down.
3. Download sizes and speeds are, however, unlimited if you use the MTN or Vlive browsers or Opera Mini but you will be charged full data rates for doing so. These browsers also make full use of HSDPA, I've experienced downloads of up to 1mb/per second at peak time.
4. When downloading a large e-mail attachment your device may tell you to contact your carrier about possible charges, happily there are no charges for this on MTN (and probably Vodacom too).
5. Browser Limitations - The BB Browser cannot execute Ajax at all so you can't, for example, use the full version of Gmail or Gcal, while the full Facebook page partially works but takes forever to load. Some website need to have Javascript set off to work correctly others need Java to work at all. Happily when you add a website as a bookmark you can set per website whether Java is enabled or disabled. You can also set whether your browser is identified as Blackberry, Firefox, or IE and whether you use column or page view.
Personally I prefer column view because reading text is easier but some pages work better in page view. The ability to set your browser identification is quite nifty - you can set your browser to identify itself as Firefox for those websites that automatically redirect you to their mobile editions when you'd prefer the full version. For those wondering about downloads it handles these quite well. You can press the back button when a download starts and it continues in the background and it can handle multiple downloads quite well - on 3G it's quite fast.
Once you get used to it the BB browser isn't bad at all and is on par with Opera Mini and Opera Mobile, the only thing I wish it had was tabbed browsing. There is every reason to believe RIM will upgrade the BB Browser in the future.
Please note all of the above only applies to the Bold (other Blackberry's have different limitations) and at the time of writing (they could change in the future). I can confirm all of the above on MTN (I was charged R500 on my first bill so I learnt the hard way - but that was mostly because my first unit had a fault and would not connect to the Blackberry APN, no 'B' next to the 3G icon) and are probably the same on Vodacom (can someone please confirm)?
Top Applications
To download these make sure your browser is identifying itself as Blackberry and not Firefox or IE.
1. Viigo - my personal favourite. The RSS reader built into the browser sucks, but this free app more than makes up for it and its really quick too. Please make sure from options - network is set to Bis-B and none of the other options (not even auto) to ensure free service on BIS.
2. Go to m.google.com and download a number of great free applications (finally having an American, okay Canadian, phone has its advantages).
3. Google Talk - let's you use your Mxit contacts and all of your instant messages go straight to your inbox and get saved to your Gmail account.
4. Vlingo - voice recognition software (not perfect, but getting there)
5. Yahoo Go 3 is excellent and one of the best looking apps for the Bold.
6. Opera Mini and Bolt - to force them to use BIS change your APN settings (in Advanced settings) to 'blackberry.net' and confirm that they're using BIS by quickly exiting (press and hold red button) and checking you still have a blinking 'B' icon. You can't do downloads with these apps through BIS, but you can have the downloads open in the Blackberry browser.
Tips
Change your APN settings (in Advanced settings) to 'blackberry.net' this will force most applications to use BIS, if they don't work then they can't use BIS. Note that Mxit and Garmap are able to circumvent this setting and use the network APN.
By disabling home screen dialing (from the phone app) most of the keys become shortcuts to apps.
Gmail can be used with Imap and will work correctly, if anyone wants to know I'll post the details here.
Yahoo Mail - Even though you normally have to pay for Yahoo Mail pop it's free on the Blackberry.
Don't bother with the over-the-air software upgrade it doesn't work on the Bold at this point (you have to do firmware upgrades on a Windows PC).
Please post your own favourite apps and tips and if you have a problem post it here and we can all try to solve it together.
To begin I think it's best to answer the usual question of just what the limitations of the Bold are on BIS (if you're on BES check with your IT people to determine what your limitations are):
MTN and Vodacom may tell you that whatever you do on a Blackberry is free (like they told me, they've since changed their tune) - absolute lies, here's what you are charged for:
1. Using your phone as a modem with your PC - but they do specify that.
2. Using the network browser - in your browser go to options - Browser Configuration - the first option is browser make sure 'Internet Browser' is selected and not 'MTN' or 'Vlive' as you will be charged for the network browser. Also under the general options - advanced options - browser ensure that 'internet browser' is selected.
3. Most 3rd party apps that did not come with your phone will be charged for (assume they're charged until you've tested them). For example Opera Mini and the Bolt Browser and charged applications (but there is a way to force them to use BIS). An easy way to tell you're on 3G is the B icon next to the '3G' icon disappears when you initiate an internet connection with these applications (first load a page and quickly hit the red button to go to the home screen to check).
4. Streaming video and audio, eg. Youtube - any time your phone asks you if it can connect to WAP you will be charged.
5. Absolutely everything else is free - e-mail and attachments, all browsing and downloading done with the default internet browser, instant messaging via BB Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, and Google Talk, any application that makes (or can make) use of BIS eg. Viigo, Google sync, Facebook.
Of course there are limitations (don't listen to anyone who tells you there aren't):
1. Currently the BIS service on the Bold does not let you download anything more than 2.9mb exactly via any application (there is NO way around this on the Bold presently). This limit may change in the future. UPDATE: This now only applies to the e-mail app, on the Internet Browser the limit is just a little more than 20mb for most files (except for pdf's, still 2.9mb)
2. BIS does not use HSDPA presently, but does use 3G, it's a little slower than normal 3G because of the way BIS works but the phone's fast enough that if you're downloading something it won't slow anything else down.
3. Download sizes and speeds are, however, unlimited if you use the MTN or Vlive browsers or Opera Mini but you will be charged full data rates for doing so. These browsers also make full use of HSDPA, I've experienced downloads of up to 1mb/per second at peak time.
4. When downloading a large e-mail attachment your device may tell you to contact your carrier about possible charges, happily there are no charges for this on MTN (and probably Vodacom too).
5. Browser Limitations - The BB Browser cannot execute Ajax at all so you can't, for example, use the full version of Gmail or Gcal, while the full Facebook page partially works but takes forever to load. Some website need to have Javascript set off to work correctly others need Java to work at all. Happily when you add a website as a bookmark you can set per website whether Java is enabled or disabled. You can also set whether your browser is identified as Blackberry, Firefox, or IE and whether you use column or page view.
Personally I prefer column view because reading text is easier but some pages work better in page view. The ability to set your browser identification is quite nifty - you can set your browser to identify itself as Firefox for those websites that automatically redirect you to their mobile editions when you'd prefer the full version. For those wondering about downloads it handles these quite well. You can press the back button when a download starts and it continues in the background and it can handle multiple downloads quite well - on 3G it's quite fast.
Once you get used to it the BB browser isn't bad at all and is on par with Opera Mini and Opera Mobile, the only thing I wish it had was tabbed browsing. There is every reason to believe RIM will upgrade the BB Browser in the future.
Please note all of the above only applies to the Bold (other Blackberry's have different limitations) and at the time of writing (they could change in the future). I can confirm all of the above on MTN (I was charged R500 on my first bill so I learnt the hard way - but that was mostly because my first unit had a fault and would not connect to the Blackberry APN, no 'B' next to the 3G icon) and are probably the same on Vodacom (can someone please confirm)?
Top Applications
To download these make sure your browser is identifying itself as Blackberry and not Firefox or IE.
1. Viigo - my personal favourite. The RSS reader built into the browser sucks, but this free app more than makes up for it and its really quick too. Please make sure from options - network is set to Bis-B and none of the other options (not even auto) to ensure free service on BIS.
2. Go to m.google.com and download a number of great free applications (finally having an American, okay Canadian, phone has its advantages).
3. Google Talk - let's you use your Mxit contacts and all of your instant messages go straight to your inbox and get saved to your Gmail account.
4. Vlingo - voice recognition software (not perfect, but getting there)
5. Yahoo Go 3 is excellent and one of the best looking apps for the Bold.
6. Opera Mini and Bolt - to force them to use BIS change your APN settings (in Advanced settings) to 'blackberry.net' and confirm that they're using BIS by quickly exiting (press and hold red button) and checking you still have a blinking 'B' icon. You can't do downloads with these apps through BIS, but you can have the downloads open in the Blackberry browser.
Tips
Change your APN settings (in Advanced settings) to 'blackberry.net' this will force most applications to use BIS, if they don't work then they can't use BIS. Note that Mxit and Garmap are able to circumvent this setting and use the network APN.
By disabling home screen dialing (from the phone app) most of the keys become shortcuts to apps.
Gmail can be used with Imap and will work correctly, if anyone wants to know I'll post the details here.
Yahoo Mail - Even though you normally have to pay for Yahoo Mail pop it's free on the Blackberry.
Don't bother with the over-the-air software upgrade it doesn't work on the Bold at this point (you have to do firmware upgrades on a Windows PC).
Please post your own favourite apps and tips and if you have a problem post it here and we can all try to solve it together.
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