vB Easy Archive - What blackberry functions are not backend supported? IE-lets make a prepaid bb

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What blackberry functions are not backend supported? IE-lets make a prepaid bb
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Posted by: librerongeur

This is one of my random outlandish projects. Have BB. (6230) Want random texting/occasional phone call device to store in the vehicle.

What functions of the blackberry rely on the backend support from a blackberry data plan?
Better yet, what functions DO NOT rely on it?

I'm assuming phone function obviously doesnt.
What about GPRS WAP browsing with a java browser?

Email is, right? Theres no way of accessing even POP email without a blackberry data plan.

SMS should be functional, right? That should be primarily what I need.

Thanks for any replies.

Posted by: NJBlackBerry

Paraphrasing (and making sure I understand): You have a SIM card without the BB Data Plan on it. But it's a valid SIM card.

What can you do:

1) Make and receive phone calls
2) Send and receive SMS messages
3) Use the basic PIM functions, using the Desktop Manager program and syncing to Outlook (or other e-mail client) for contacts, notes, tasks and calendar

What can you NOT do:
1) Browsing of any kind (the BB relies on a GPRS signal for browsing, and that absolutely requires the BB data plan)
2) E-Mail
3) PIN to PIN messages to another BB

That's my .02

Posted by: librerongeur

Quote:

Originally posted by NJBlackBerry
Paraphrasing (and making sure I understand): You have a SIM card without the BB Data Plan on it. But it's a valid SIM card.

That is correct.

Quote:

What can you do:

1) Make and receive phone calls
2) Send and receive SMS messages
3) Use the basic PIM functions, using the Desktop Manager program and syncing to Outlook (or other e-mail client) for contacts, notes, tasks and calendar)

Right, this was exactly what i was expecting (and wanting)
Well, at least 1 and 2.
Although i suppose i could use the oppertunity to get more organized

Quote:

What can you NOT do:
1) Browsing of any kind (the BB relies on a GPRS signal for browsing, and that absolutely requires the BB data plan)
2) E-Mail
3) PIN to PIN messages to another BB

1. is this an absolute? No manual configuration with a third party application at all? I mean, the device can access the GPRS network, the sim is provisioned for t-zones access, theres no third party application that allows browsing without the backend support?
2. Eh. i can rely on SMS email from my number@tmomail.net email address as required
3. Huh? Not familiar with PIN to PIN.

Quote:

That's my .02

Thank you, you've been quite helpful

Posted by: NJBlackBerry

It's an absolute (we've discussed this many, many times here and on other boards). Although the BB can get to "gprs" status - which means it basically can find a GPRS network, without the BB Data Plan, it can not register itself properly, and it does not go to "GPRS" status. If it's not on GPRS, you can not browse, do e-mail, or any other data services. There are no hacks or third party solutions to bypass this.

PIN to PIN messaging is basically BB-centric SMS. You can send a direct message to another BlackBerry, via the BB infrastructure. Helpful if you are dealing with non-GSM BlackBerrys which don't have SMS.

Posted by: Gothalyptic

Actually with Reqwireless, and their email viewer you CAN browse and get email without syncing to your home computer. Providing that you use the AT&T wap settings (as in my case), or whatever provider you're using. You just won't have the email PUSH aspect of it, instead it'll act just like the old email clients on some phones where you have to select to receive.

Posted by: Skive

Quote:

Originally posted by NJBlackBerry
It's an absolute (we've discussed this many, many times here and on other boards). Although the BB can get to "gprs" status - which means it basically can find a GPRS network, without the BB Data Plan, it can not register itself properly, and it does not go to "GPRS" status. If it's not on GPRS, you can not browse, do e-mail, or any other data services. There are no hacks or third party solutions to bypass this.

Thats not actually true, if it has gprs then you would be able to access wap with any sim that had another valid apn on it.

Posted by: Trout Jesus

From my recollection when I first got my BlackBerry 7510 and popped in my SIM card before I was provisioned with a Blackberry plan my WAP browser worked. Food for thought.