Forced OVI account activation,Anna, pretty much makes cellular data package mandatory
I can't believe how badly Nokia screwed up Sybian Anna when it comes to forced, mandatory OVI account activation.
The first time you start up the phone, you are forced to activate an OVI account. There are only 2 choices: one for if you already have an account and one for if you want to created a new account. There is no "skip" option.
Why is this a problem? As soon as you put your sim card in your new phone, you cannot use your phone until you activate the OVI account. This uses celluar data and it cannot be done over wi-fi. Since you cannot skip this step, Nokia has forced many users to pay up for data charges. This is very troublesome for users without a data package.
The only way to get around all of this is to very quickly try to connect to the OVI server instantly and immediately after installing your cell provider's sim card for the first time. Since there is about a 10 second delay for the phone to program the data access points, the phone won't be able to connect. After failing to connect to the server, you will be allowed to use the phone.
The only other alternative is to start up the phone without a sim card inserted and to do a factory format. Then, you can try again. Or, you'll need an inactive sim card to start the phone up for the first time. After the first failed connection to the OVI account activation server, you will be allowed to skip the account activation. However, Nokia will harass you about activating a new OVI account EVERY time you turn your phone on.
Nokia has pretty much made a data plan mandatory to use this phone, even if you only want to use it for voice. Although you can use the phone if data is disabled on your cell provider's end, you'll constantly be prompted with the activation screen upon power up. And, if pay per use data is active on your cell provider account, you have no choice but the pay the charges - either that or you need to turn your phone on for the first time with your sim card inserted, wait for the phone to program the access points, turn off the phone, take the sim card out, start up in offline mode, delete the access points, re-insert sim card, power on again, etc.
In a nutshell, you have to cause a failed data connection to the Nokia server to bypass the OVI "nag screen" and to even begin to use your phone (and you'll still be prompted after each power up). Or, you have to pay for cellular data charges. Wow (in a bad way), Nokia!
I wonder if they would do this for Symbian Belle as well.
This also reminds me of trying to do system updates on Symbian phone. Software updates can be done via computer and ota, not over wifi at all even if properly set up. I wish they can have some of these workarounds so wifi can be used for instances like this.
Sigh.... and Symbian used to be a good choice for people who wanted to avoid accidental data charges.
Please don't PM me asking questions that could very easily be asked publicly.
Band I/1 = IMT, 2100 (rarely wrongly referred to as 1900/2100)
Band II/2 = PCS, 1900 (never wrongly referred to as 1800/1900)
Band III/3 = DCS, 1800 (never wrongly referred to as 1700/1800)
Band IV/4 = AWS, 1700 (often wrongly referred to as 1700/2100)
Band V/5 = CLR, 850
Band VIII/8 = GSM, 900
I thought you could just press menu and get out of that
If you press the menu key now on that activation screen, your phone tries to dial 911. Nothing is accessible in the phone until you either cause a failed data connection or if you activate the ovi account with cellular data. Until then, the phone is a brick.
This also reminds me of trying to do system updates on Symbian phone. Software updates can be done via computer and ota, not over wifi at all even if properly set up. I wish they can have some of these workarounds so wifi can be used for instances like this.
I don't believe this bit is right. I updated to Anna with a N8 that had no SIM card installed over WiFi. Installation from Ovi Suite and NSU does require a SIM though.
I don't believe this bit is right. I updated to Anna with a N8 that had no SIM card installed over WiFi. Installation from Ovi Suite and NSU does require a SIM though.
Do a factory format and you'll see what I'm talking about. I'm not reporting something that someone told me. This is from first hand experience. The OVI account absolutely will not activate through Wi-Fi if you start from scratch. Even programing the Wi-Fi into the phone in offline mode and then inserting the sim will not allow you to use wi-fi for to set up the OVI account. Nokia is literally forcing you to pay your provider for data usage if you want to permanently dismiss that activation screen.
Even if the OVI account could be activated on your phone trhough wi-fi (which it can't), it is still inexcusable that Nokia forces the user to activate an account. And if you don't activate an account, the phone bothers you with the activation screen every time you turn on your phone.
On the phone's screen, Nokia even warns you that cellular data will be used. However, the warning comes up for only a brief split-second and you really have no choice but to continue if you want to get rid of that activation screen.
One of my general comments on Nokia phone OSs is that they'd be much better if Nokia tested with some consumers before releasing the OS and then paid attention to what the consumer said. This is yet another illustration of the issue.
I was able to skip the "login to Ovi" step several times after the upgrade, until I got tired of being asked and logged in...
Peform a factory format and there will be no "skip" option. The "skip" option only shows up if you try to activate the OVI account and the connection fails, and as you've already seen, Nokia bothers you with the nag screen every time you power up. If you activate, it will only use cellular data, forcing everyone to pay for a data package or ridiculous pay-per-use rates.
I don't have data plan with Rogers, so I skipped till I got wi-fi setup on my N8. Working just fine. It's just annoying every time you restart it will ask you to login Ovi. Now that I'm with Mobilicity, it's the same with my data plan.
Originally Posted by vdp
I was able to skip the "login to Ovi" step several times after the upgrade, until I got tired of being asked and logged in...
I don't remember being forced to sign in last time I did a factory format or a Phoenix refurbish. If it did happen I'm pretty sure I would have skipped it initially as my provider doesn't put the correct APN in automatically. I have to manually setup my APN so if I couldn't skip my phone wouldn't be working.
^ if you've read the other posts, it forces the connection for those that have the APN correct even if you don't have a data plan. otherwise it will skip it (by itself) if it can't connect to the 3g. then you can activate it later on.
^ if you've read the other posts, it forces the connection for those that have the APN correct even if you don't have a data plan. otherwise it will skip it (by itself) if it can't connect to the 3g. then you can activate it later on.
What's the point of having a smart phone in this day and age without a data plan?
Might as well just stick to a regular cell phone if you're going to be hunting for hot spots all the time.
What's the point of having a smart phone in this day and age without a data plan?
Might as well just stick to a regular cell phone if you're going to be hunting for hot spots all the time.
that's what i'm wondering, but then i know a lot of people that are often in a wifi hotspot/area so they don't see the need to get a data plan. i totally understand that, i wouldn't be playing either if i can get data for free.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Dr Tran
Bookmarks