Blackberry Phones and Services in India

shajufx · 16th February 2009, 17:53

All the IMs like Gtalk, MSN, Yahoo can be installed as soon the BB plan is activated. Installer icons will be already there when you activate the plan. I have a BB Pearl 8120 which has wi-fi. I used BB unlimited plan for many months, now unsubscribed for sometime. I have a wi-fi modem at home. I can only use opera or BB browser for normal internet usages. No messengers work, because they need an individual data plan. If anyone tells you that messengers can work over wi-fi, I will be the happiest person to get the secret from you.

luvjascha · 16th February 2009, 18:00

I just don't see any sense in signing up for a BB plan from any of the service providers, especially when all I am utilizing the phone for, is to occasionally check email and web browsing.
But it's a shame that IMs don't work with BB phones over WiFi. Wonder why. Other phones allow you this.

shajufx · 16th February 2009, 18:18

There might be some settings that could be worked out. But in my search on the international blackberry forums and asking questions to many, could not reach any resolution so far. I badly require messenger over wi-fi which can be very handy when I am watching TV or being busy with other things in the house but at the same time 'online' on messengers ! Sadly thats still a dream.

HellwratH · 16th February 2009, 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvjascha

I just don't see any sense in signing up for a BB plan from any of the service providers, especially when all I am utilizing the phone for, is to occasionally check email and web browsing.
But it's a shame that IMs don't work with BB phones over WiFi. Wonder why. Other phones allow you this.

Hmm..I found something interesting,

IM through WiFi on 8820? - RIM BlackBerry - Wireless Forums from AT&T

Also,

Beejive - instant messaging anywhere --> It says Wifi Supported? Can anyone confirm this?

HellwratH · 16th February 2009, 18:48

My bad, I read more sites and I realized you need the service books to access the messengers over Wi-Fi. Hmm, sahjufx, you have disconnected your BIS plan right? But you might still have the service books on your phone? try connecting your BB messenger over Wi-fi as I have read at various places that people are able to access BB messenger over Wi-fi even though they didn't have any service. Worth a shot!

shajufx · 16th February 2009, 19:15

He he that was really funny ! The latest discussion here is to use IM services over wi-fi without any data plans on Blackberry. So far, we have not found any luck.

Have you used any of these buddy ? I have heard a 100 solutions from US and other european users, but none of them worked on my phone. I tried your recommendation too, beejive shows error on connection, means it needs a data plan. I tried ebuddy, it works but you need to have the best patience in the world to type and read on that, it takes ages to show something.

I have unsubcribed from BB plans which I had with Airtel. Now I have unlocked my handset from airtel and moved to vodafone. So, no luck in that line too. Even if it works that way, BB messenger is useless. It can be used only for people with BB PIN around the world. How many of your friends have got a BB and a PIN to use that messenger ? Even people with BB services hardly uses the BB messenger (which is exclusive messenger only for BB users).

HellwratH · 16th February 2009, 19:45

Shaju,

Nope, no BB yet for me. Thanks to you and others here, I chose iPhone over Storm. Not that I am trying to say storm is bad, but my neccesities are different. And iPhone was just perfect for that, and I get about 140 kbps on EDGE with airtel MO. So I am a happy man.

quickdraw · 16th February 2009, 19:59

My GTalk used to work on the Bold even when not connected to the network. But the same didnt work in the 8320 never really got around finding out how.

For occational usage over wi-fi BB's are ok. Like said before if you want the real power of a BB you have to get a plan attached. The BB plans are cheaper in India then abroad but abroad usually the compainies provide BB's to their employees there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HellwratH

Shaju,

Nope, no BB yet for me. Thanks to you and others here, I chose iPhone over Storm. Not that I am trying to say storm is bad, but my neccesities are different. And iPhone was just perfect for that, and I get about 140 kbps on EDGE with airtel MO. So I am a happy man.

I dont get those speeds on my DSL connection. Download SpeedTest from the AppStore and check the actual speeds.

viper · 16th February 2009, 20:02

Hi Guys,

Can any of you who have used a Blackberry 8900 help me. Need some help with some basic settings (speed dials etc). Unable to figure it out myself. Would appreciate if you can pm me your no.

Viper

quickdraw · 17th February 2009, 03:23

When in the main key press and hold the key (it can be any key doesnt have to be on the number pad) and then it will ask you to assign it to speed dial. I think in the new OS you can set it to launch a application as well.

HellwratH · 17th February 2009, 15:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by quickdraw

I dont get those speeds on my DSL connection. Download SpeedTest from the AppStore and check the actual speeds.

I am giving you the speeds as reported by that application.

. Actually, dont know if it is relevant, but there is an airtel tower right over my head (as in the office)...so the speed I get is amazing.

nishantgandhi · 17th February 2009, 16:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvjascha

I just don't see any sense in signing up for a BB plan from any of the service providers, especially when all I am utilizing the phone for, is to occasionally check email and web browsing.
But it's a shame that IMs don't work with BB phones over WiFi. Wonder why. Other phones allow you this.

Yes I agree. Its pure monopolistic profit making tendency. I too like BB handsets a lot. But my usage is occasional mail check, Facebooking and movie/train/flight ticket booking. All the handsets that I have owned in the last 2-3 years have served this purposes very well - and even more.

Unfortunately, BB would fail on most of these counts w/o a BB plan. And no thanks, I dont want to waste Rs 899/1099 pm for using these. At present, with heavy GPRS usage (and occasionally when I even forget to disconnect my GPRS connection), my data usage does not exceed Rs 150-200 pm.

Wonder why BB wants to create so much exclusivity in India by restricting its usage base. And that too, at a time when companies are cutting costs!

Honestly, if you ask me, RIM and mobile operators should come up with cheaper BB plans because not all companies in India hand out BB phones+data plans to their employees (unlike US/EU).

quickdraw · 17th February 2009, 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by nishantgandhi

Yes I agree. Its pure monopolistic profit making tendency. I too like BB handsets a lot. But my usage is occasional mail check, Facebooking and movie/train/flight ticket booking. All the handsets that I have owned in the last 2-3 years have served this purposes very well - and even more.

Unfortunately, BB would fail on most of these counts w/o a BB plan. And no thanks, I dont want to waste Rs 899/1099 pm for using these. At present, with heavy GPRS usage (and occasionally when I even forget to disconnect my GPRS connection), my data usage does not exceed Rs 150-200 pm.

Wonder why BB wants to create so much exclusivity in India by restricting its usage base. And that too, at a time when companies are cutting costs!

Honestly, if you ask me, RIM and mobile operators should come up with cheaper BB plans because not all companies in India hand out BB phones+data plans to their employees (unlike US/EU).

On the contrary BB plans in India are quite cheap compared to world prices. But the 35 pounds a month for 2 years get you the handset free, and likewise for 35$ a month on verizon you have to pay megre amounts upfront to get the handset. Dont shoot the messenger here RIM has no control over pricing. The operators were still charging above 30k for the 8830 which is available brand new unlock abroad for 150$ish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HellwratH

I am giving you the speeds as reported by that application.

. Actually, dont know if it is relevant, but there is an airtel tower right over my head (as in the office)...so the speed I get is amazing.

Are you talking about EDGE or WiFi its almost impossible, can you post a screenshot please (still assuming you are on a iPhone)

shajufx · 17th February 2009, 23:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by HellwratH

I get about 140 kbps on EDGE with airtel MO. So I am a happy man.

Yes its clearly written that he gets 140 kbps on EDGE with the MO service. I could never see above 112 kbps when I used MO for over 6 months before I got into BB handset. May be its to do with the handset more than the distance to tower. May be iphone gives the best of EDGE, I have never used one, so no clue !

viper · 18th February 2009, 09:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by quickdraw

When in the main key press and hold the key (it can be any key doesnt have to be on the number pad) and then it will ask you to assign it to speed dial. I think in the new OS you can set it to launch a application as well.

Hi,

Thanks a lot buddy it worked. Problem is I do not have the English users manual hence could not find it.

Viper

16th February 2009, 17:53	#331
shajufx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: BLR & Singapore Posts: 1,806 Thanked: 831 Times View My Garage	All the IMs like Gtalk, MSN, Yahoo can be installed as soon the BB plan is activated. Installer icons will be already there when you activate the plan. I have a BB Pearl 8120 which has wi-fi. I used BB unlimited plan for many months, now unsubscribed for sometime. I have a wi-fi modem at home. I can only use opera or BB browser for normal internet usages. No messengers work, because they need an individual data plan. If anyone tells you that messengers can work over wi-fi, I will be the happiest person to get the secret from you.
	() Thanks

16th February 2009, 18:00	#332
luvjascha BANNED Join Date: May 2006 Location: BOM Posts: 429 Thanked: 2 Times	I just don't see any sense in signing up for a BB plan from any of the service providers, especially when all I am utilizing the phone for, is to occasionally check email and web browsing. But it's a shame that IMs don't work with BB phones over WiFi. Wonder why. Other phones allow you this.
	() Thanks

16th February 2009, 18:18	#333
shajufx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: BLR & Singapore Posts: 1,806 Thanked: 831 Times View My Garage	There might be some settings that could be worked out. But in my search on the international blackberry forums and asking questions to many, could not reach any resolution so far. I badly require messenger over wi-fi which can be very handy when I am watching TV or being busy with other things in the house but at the same time 'online' on messengers ! Sadly thats still a dream.
	() Thanks

16th February 2009, 18:48	#335
HellwratH BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 115 Thanked: 57 Times	My bad, I read more sites and I realized you need the service books to access the messengers over Wi-Fi. Hmm, sahjufx, you have disconnected your BIS plan right? But you might still have the service books on your phone? try connecting your BB messenger over Wi-fi as I have read at various places that people are able to access BB messenger over Wi-fi even though they didn't have any service. Worth a shot!
	() Thanks

16th February 2009, 19:15	#336
shajufx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: BLR & Singapore Posts: 1,806 Thanked: 831 Times View My Garage	He he that was really funny ! The latest discussion here is to use IM services over wi-fi without any data plans on Blackberry. So far, we have not found any luck. Have you used any of these buddy ? I have heard a 100 solutions from US and other european users, but none of them worked on my phone. I tried your recommendation too, beejive shows error on connection, means it needs a data plan. I tried ebuddy, it works but you need to have the best patience in the world to type and read on that, it takes ages to show something. I have unsubcribed from BB plans which I had with Airtel. Now I have unlocked my handset from airtel and moved to vodafone. So, no luck in that line too. Even if it works that way, BB messenger is useless. It can be used only for people with BB PIN around the world. How many of your friends have got a BB and a PIN to use that messenger ? Even people with BB services hardly uses the BB messenger (which is exclusive messenger only for BB users).
	() Thanks

16th February 2009, 19:45	#337
HellwratH BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 115 Thanked: 57 Times	Shaju, Nope, no BB yet for me. Thanks to you and others here, I chose iPhone over Storm. Not that I am trying to say storm is bad, but my neccesities are different. And iPhone was just perfect for that, and I get about 140 kbps on EDGE with airtel MO. So I am a happy man.
	() Thanks

16th February 2009, 20:02	#339
viper BANNED Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,773 Thanked: 19 Times	Hi Guys, Can any of you who have used a Blackberry 8900 help me. Need some help with some basic settings (speed dials etc). Unable to figure it out myself. Would appreciate if you can pm me your no. Viper
	() Thanks

17th February 2009, 03:23	#340
quickdraw Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,285 Thanked: 2,693 Times View My Garage	When in the main key press and hold the key (it can be any key doesnt have to be on the number pad) and then it will ask you to assign it to speed dial. I think in the new OS you can set it to launch a application as well.
	() Thanks