BlackBerry

[babychan]

I cant seem to use my wifi when my data plan is turned off so does that mean if i was abroad and wanted to use my wifi I have to turn on the data plan and will I then incur charges even though the wifi is free?

[Claire_V]

Hi babychan and welcome to the eforum

Always nice to see a new face!

This doesnt sound right at all, it shouldnt be doing that!?

Wi-fi does not use our network in any way, it uses whichever Wi-fi connection is available, such as a coffee shop, fast food restaurant etc and so no charges shouldn be incurred.

Providing in your settings you havent turned your Data off when Roaming, which is under Manage Connections > Mobile networks > Data services > Off/ On / Off when roaming then you should be able to use Wi-fi. When roaming I dont see any way of you not incurring charges for emails coming through for example, as you have turned the service off from your handset.

The other option I can think of is for us to remove your Blackberry facility completely from your account prior to you travelling, in which case you are in complete control of the data you receive whilst you are away and in turn in control of the data charges you incur. If you wish for us to do this, then please let us know or if you are on the last minute as alot of people are when travelling, then just make a quick call to 191.

When you switch your handset over to Wi-fi, can I ask you what is the error message you get when you try to connect to the internet?

Claire

eforum Team

[Anonymous(anon)]

hi
if you turn data plan off and when roaming and use wifi i assume you can still access the internet. ?
is that correct ?
if so could you not check emails through your service supplier.
i use virgin and its quite a good email system and can be used on any email enabled internet connected device anywhere.
most intersted to know as i am off to Thialand in February and am hoping to use the berry bold 9000 i have.
regards
pete

ps where do i tick a box to subcribe a thread and watch answers ?

[Wayne]

Hi smart-car-bits

Thanks for your post here

You are correct, if you turn WiFi on then you will still be able to get your email through WiFi.

To subscribe to a thread just click the 'Options' button at the top of the page and 'subscribe to thread'

Please let me know if you have any more questions and we'll be more than happy to help you further

Thanks

Wayne

eForum Team

[babychan]

Hi thanks for the reply.

I done a little test I turned off mobile networks and data service and turned on wifi it finds my router but it does not connect to it. When I use the blackberry browser it says not data plan which is correct as you cant use any blackberry features if data is off, however when I try connecting using mini opera it tell me I have no internet connection. When the wifi is connected the logo should go white but it just stays unlit. But when data plan is on the wifi connects no problems at all.
I asked someone at a vodafone store today they say I cant use wifi without having a data plan so if it a bb thing?

I hope all that makes sense.

[Matt]

Hi Babychan

Is this problem only occurring through Mini opera as this is a 3rd party application and you would need to contact them for support around this.

When you try to connect to the Wi-Fi does it as you for a key that you need to enter before you are allowed to connect?

The store have advised you wrong you don’t need a internet package on your account to be able to use Wi-Fi as this is a feature built into the handset itself

Thanks
Matthew
eForum Team

[scoobyweb]

I have read somewhere that when tjhe wifi symbol turns white it means you have connected to blackberry services. If this is true then this would be why you have no wifi when your data is turned off.

[babychan]

oh ok thanks! So what shall I use instead of opera mini?

no it does not ask for a key as it has already connected to my wifi before

I shall test it out later

[babychan]

right i tested it again using vodalive browser still dont work tell me I dont have an internet connection. My wifi finds my router but there is no tick in the box to say it is connected turn on data service and all is fine again maybe BB wont allow me to use wifi for free

[Albert_V]

Hi babychan

I can assure you Blackberry (or any other phone manufacturer) do not block the use of wi-fi on a handset.

Indeed quite the opposite is the case. It's a tool bulit into the handset so you can get onto the internet for free, as you don't need to connect via your network operator's sim card.

Using our browser will require a sim connection, so your data will need to be turned on.

I suggest that you do a hard reset first. Ensure your wi-fi is OFF (disable this option in "Manage Connection" tab ) and launch your VodafoneLive browser. When you have connected then exit the browser.

Turn your wi-fi back on and try to access that way. It really should work no problem

The handset will ensure that it connects to the internet via wi-fi and not the sim.

Let me know how this pans out

Albert
eForum team

[babychan]

Hi babychan

I can assure you Blackberry (or any other phone manufacturer) do not block the use of wi-fi on a handset.

Indeed quite the opposite is the case. It's a tool bulit into the handset so you can get onto the internet for free, as you don't need to connect via your network operator's sim card.

Using our browser will require a sim connection, so your data will need to be turned on.

I suggest that you do a hard reset first. Ensure your wi-fi is OFF (disable this option in "Manage Connection" tab ) and launch your VodafoneLive browser. When you have connected then exit the browser.

Turn your wi-fi back on and try to access that way. It really should work no problem

The handset will ensure that it connects to the internet via wi-fi and not the sim.

Let me know how this pans out

Albert
eForum team

ok this is the message i get when I connect using wifi with everything turned off and on hotspot



You are not currently in an area that can handle data communication. As a result the browser cannot retrieve any web pages.



In the wifi bit it has the wifi connection name in green and a line in the box




when i connect thru vodalive it says unable to connect to internet pls try again later

[scoobyweb]

Are you by any chance using a Netgear router?

[Martin]

Hi Babychan

I am sorry this is still not working for you.

I have got our storm 2 out and checked everything on it for the wi-fi, I get exactly the same message as our offices aren't wi-fi, this is the standard message if a hotspot is not available.
Does the router have any password locks, or is it capable for you to use your blackberry through it.

A good thing to do is to try your home wireless internet as you know the settings and passwords etc, and see if it works for you.

Please let us know how you get on with this

Martin
eForum Team

[babychan]

There is nothing wrong with my router setting because wifi connects fine when the data plan is on. Its only when it is switched off it does not connect. I have tried it with 4 different routers all connect fine wifi logo turns white net works but as soon as data is switched off nothing happens.

[babychan]

Ok very strange I took my sim card out of my phone turns it back on without it in. And data service was kept on and wifi worked! Now is data service connected to my phone or sim network. Very confused now.

[Dave]

Hi Babychan,

I'm going to ask something we haven't checked exactly yet - when you "switch off data" what steps exactly are you taking?

There are guiys on the team who do this with their BlackBerrys, so it is certainly doable - all you need to do is:

- Click the BlackBerry button
- Select MAnage connections
- Turn off Mobile Network (Not all connections)
- Turn on WiFi

Alternatively, you can select to turn off alll connections, but turning on WiFi afterwards is the key step.

As this is a proven route, can you just confirm if this is what you're doing? If not can you give this a go and let me know what happens?

DaveN

eForum Team

[babychan]

Hi Babychan,

I'm going to ask something we haven't checked exactly yet - when you "switch off data" what steps exactly are you taking?

There are guiys on the team who do this with their BlackBerrys, so it is certainly doable - all you need to do is:

- Click the BlackBerry button
- Select MAnage connections
- Turn off Mobile Network (Not all connections)
- Turn on WiFi

Alternatively, you can select to turn off alll connections, but turning on WiFi afterwards is the key step.

As this is a proven route, can you just confirm if this is what you're doing? If not can you give this a go and let me know what happens?

DaveN



eForum Team

I go to mange my connections turn off mobile network then i go to options mobile network data off. And then wifi does not connect. I turn it off cause I dont want to incur charges when I take it abroad so been testing it out now but I cant get it to work.

Wifi works fine when data is still switched on but I dont want it on when I am travelling

[Matt]

Hi Babychan

I have finally had this tested with our BlackBerry guru

They have advised this is how the software is designed so you wont be able to use Wi-Fi withour the network connection switched on. Once you switch the network connection off it will still connect to the Wi-Fi but wont open the browser instaed displays an error message.

This is something we are not going to be able to change unfortunately.

Thanks
Matthew
eForum Team

[scoobyweb]

Ask your guru if its because the data (including wifi) goes through BIS. So when you turn of data it loses its connection to BIS so not even wifi works. This would then give substance to my earlier post (post #7) regarding the wifi symbol turning white when you are connected to the BIS services.

[babychan]

Hi Babychan

I have finally had this tested with our BlackBerry guru

They have advised this is how the software is designed so you wont be able to use Wi-Fi withour the network connection switched on. Once you switch the network connection off it will still connect to the Wi-Fi but wont open the browser instaed displays an error message.

This is something we are not going to be able to change unfortunately.

Thanks
Matthew
eForum Team

So does that mean I cant use my wifi abroad without getting charged?