Blackberry browsing charges...

[ndoda25]

To my suprise this morning i get an sms from Vodacom that my limit has reached 70%, so i check my available minutes and still have about 20 minutes reamining. I have blackberry services, so I call them to ask about the charge.

The guy at the call center says we are charging you if you use the vodafone browser to browse the internet but if you use the blackberry browser is ok, but he agrees that both uses the Blackberry APN..

What is the real story? I got my Blackberry Storm this month, I used the Blackberry Curve before and used to use the vodafone browser and never had any charges.

What did I do differently this time?

 

[oronte]

The Vodafone browser uses the Vodacom APN (same with MTN on the Bold) switch back to 'internet browser' in your options menu.
Check any forum online and you'll see that the network browser is always charged for (and many people have been caught out this way) possibly on your Curve you were only going through the Blackberry APN but the new Blackberrys can go through both.

 

[bwana]

I wonder how many people are being caught out by this.

Surely there is a way for Vodacom to lock it into the blackberry apn and make the Internet apn opt in only?

 

[ndoda25]

Thank you for the explanation, would have really heped that the call center could explain this.

Found this from vodafone Australia:
http://www.vodafone.com.au/personal/blackberrystorm/faqs.htm

"Q: I have two web browsers on my BlackBerry® Storm™ - which should I use?
A: BlackBerry® browser - all web browsing over this browser is included within the Unlimited BlackBerry® Internet bundle. Vodafone recommend that the BlackBerry® browser be used as the primary web browser.

Vodafone Live! Browser - all browsing within VF Live! is free of charge. Browsing the Internet through the VF Live! browser may incur additional charges. Click here for more details on VF Live! Vodafone recommends that the BlackBerry® browser be used for any Internet browsing with the Unlimited BlackBerry Internet & Email Bundle."

 

[oronte]

I've figured out something close to this: under advanced options - TCP - APN I enter 'blackberry.net'.
This seems to disable the network browser and most applications that would connect through the network APN (it also forces Opera Mini to use the Blackberry APN). It's not foolproof though, I've found that Mxit bypasses this setting to connect to the network APN and obviously the same when using your phone as a modem. Otherwise it's saved me from any further charges.

 

[ndoda25]

Removed the service book that connect to vlive, then the vodacom live icon is gone, can connect most of my websites but when i connect to the vodacom live bookmark "live.vodafone.com" I get "unable to connect to the internet, please try again later".

 

[oronte]

Removed the service book that connect to vlive, then the vodacom live icon is gone, can connect most of my websites but when i connect to the vodacom live bookmark "live.vodafone.com" I get "unable to connect to the internet, please try again later".

It will return at the next start up. Please follow my instructions above or in the Bold Tips and Tricks thread. I've been through all this and researched quite a lot to come up with the easiest solution.
If you need to connect to vlive just remove 'blackberry.net' from the TCP settings, but I reccommend leaving it on most of the time.

 

[drew137]

Surely when you get the phone from VC it is already setup to the correct APN so you are not charged for browsing?

I checked my interim statement now and my data charges are R1.18?

 

[oronte]

It probably is but 3rd party applications that you install may be charged for.

 

[chris2.0]

Yeah, I had the same issue with my BB Curve last year - but they reversed the charges after I complained! Think it happened after I upgraded the 8310's firmware (FROM VC's website!!!)