Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Activate Blackberry internet service on unlocked bold 9650 from other country like USA

Hi,
       Most of the users who had been using blackberry handset in other countries like USA, who come to India face issues with activating blackberry services. I had the blackberry bold 9650 handset from Verizon which works on both CDMA and GSM. The set worked fine in USA. The problems started when I started using it in India, with little or no help from customer care of mobile operator, who normally don't have any clue on how to configure blackberry handset.

Few of the problems which I faced are mentioned below....
  • upon activation of 3g services, the EDGE icon next to signal bars will display as edge (lower case).
  • Host routing table will not have entries in spite sending many successful registration messages.
  • Service Books will not have entries for Blackberry Internet service.
  • Customer care will give you absurd reasons for his/her technical incompetency or no knowledge about how blackberry works or is configured.
  • CC will even try to blame your unlocked phone, stating that it's still locked to previous operator and cannot be activated.
The fact is all the above myth told to you by customer care is false. I knew I had an unlocked phone as I unlocked it myself. So there was no question of phone being still locked to Verizon. I assume that you have already activated your BIS/BES plan for your phone prior to following the steps given below.

Steps to I did to resolve this...
  •  Changed the GSM/umts network settings to 1x/EV (CDMA), even though the GSM sim was inserted.
  • Switched off the phone. Even took out battery and placed it back
  • booted the phone again.
  • Phone catches the signal of CDMA operator whose PRL is uploaded into phone.
  • In my case I uploaded the TATA indicom PRL file and replaced the Verizon prl file.
  • Clear log by pressing alt+L + Alt+G + Alt+L + Alt+G and press call key.
  • Press BB menu button and select clear log
  • Goto network settings and select GSM/UMTS from dropdown.
  • Phone search for the GSM signal matching the sim card and this time it will show "EDGE" instead on "edge" next to signal bar.
  • Go to Host routing table and press BB menu button and select register now.
  • You will get message registration message sent.
  • Check messages and you will see a HRT message in message box.
  • After few seconds you should get another message stating that your mobile is registered.
  • Check Host routing table and you will now see values.
  • Check service books to make sure all entries related to BIS is present there.
  • Go back to network operator's blackberry registration site.
  • In my case it was vodafone so registered a new user at site
  • Prior to registering to site make sure host routing table has entries.
  • Once it's registered, you can add email accounts on the site that will be automatically synced to your phone in couple of minutes.

41 comments:

  1. How do I upload the vodacom south africa prl?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Get the prl you want at http://www.the-answerman.com/sidlist/prl/index.asp

      Use QPST 2.7 build 215 to load the prl.

      1. Connect BB and launch BB Desktop Manager
      2. Launch QPST Service programming
      3. Select Read from Phone
      4. On the Roam tab in QPST, click browse and select the PRL file you wish to load
      5. Select Write to Phone (Ignore warning message during write)

      When complete the BB will power cycle.

      Delete
  2. The country i'm in (Kenya) doesn't have a CDMA operator and I skipped that step of loading PRL and it didn't seem to work. I'm subscribed to BIS but the phone doesn't seem to pick it up.what would u suggest i do?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How did you manage to use your blackberrry in kenya , i have a 9650 model which is giving me a hard time registering to BIS services on all Mobile providers in kenya

      Delete
  3. It doesn't matter if ur using CDMA or GSM, PRL or preferred roaming list applies to both CDMA and GSM, so you need to upload your service provider's PRL to your phone. Search the google Iam sure you will find PRL for your mobile service operator like I find mine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't seem to find the PRL for Safaricom Kenya, i don't know if u can help.

      Delete
    2. Sorry have no idea about kenya's mobile operators. try calling their customer care them to push prl Over the air.

      Delete
  4. Hi am in GHANA and facing the same problem you did. How do upload a new profile to replace the verizon profile

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  5. I am using unlocked blackberry tour 9630(from USA Sprint).After doing all these configurations mentioned above my "dns" field remains blank.I am using Reliance GSM(India) .please help me in configurong.
    thanks in advance

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do you get Edge signal showing in your BB, if not then follow up with Reliance, there are some settings required as a part of BIS plan by your mobile subscriber without which you won't be able to use it. I had a tough problem with tata docomo and reliance, so ported to Vodafone. BIS just works fine.

      Delete
  6. hello
    actually i have purchased an unlocked bb bold 9650 phone.Even i am facing the same problem. but when i contacted customer care,they said that to activate the bb service you have to program my number into cdma. Please help me as i am struggling too much with this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For cdma to work on 9650, you BB Id must be registered with your cdma service provider network for BIS or BES to work. If it's tata indicom then forget about getting your set work in cdma mode, as these tata's policy does not entertain models purchased outside tata showroom. I this sounds strange but that is the reality which I faced. I don't know about reliance. If you are lucky and reliance technician is good, then you might get your BB registered and get BIS activated. I choose to use the GSM slot and moved on to vodafone, it was pretty straight forward to get BIS activated and customer care was also helpful.

      Delete
  7. Hi,

    I have a verizon BB9930 (USA) and when i select the Mobile Network Check box, the handset shows "Roaming" with a Red Triangle on the centre Top part of screen!!!

    I am trying to get it configured with Tata Indicom Delhi (CDMA Operator).
    At first the company executive had no idea how to do it... a couple of days later he came up with a "World SIM".

    My point of concerns are:
    1. How do i check if my phone is really unlocked, and if not, How do i do it?
    2. After all the exercise, will the handset work with BBM, BIS etc.?

    I am a first time Blackberry user so please elaborate.

    Regards,

    Lakshdeep
    New Delhi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tata Docomo has a dumb policy of not accepting/activating BB handsets which are bought outside their store. I had the long argument with the docomo execute involved in BB registration, and he clearly told me that tata has policy not to activate the BB Ids for handsets bought from outside tata showroom. Also handsets bought from tata showroom are locked and can only be used with tata network.
      To check if you BB is unlocked, follow the instructions in this post http://charulbhargava.blogspot.in/2013/06/how-to-check-if-blackberry-phone-is.html

      Delete
  8. Hi,

    Thanks a ton...

    Checked your post.

    It does say "inactive".... But as i told u, it still locks on to Verizon....even the "My Number" option provides an alien phone number....
    Have checked a couple of my own GSM connections....voice works OK.
    It's just the BBM and BIS i am concerned about now, moreover, i'm receiving all kinds of assurances from the manager at the Zonal office that it's being done...

    So a little confused.
    Also, where do i find this PRL file that you speak of?

    Regards,


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My Number option is something which comes from the phone number stored on your sim card. You can change this using your phone. For PRL files you have search the NET. I found mine with google's help.

      Delete
  9. Also brief me about how to install the same with the help of "QPST"(i'm assuming)...

    Regards,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. use the instruction mentioned here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1180211

      Delete
  10. i am using aircel how to register and use internet ???????????

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Contact Aircel showroom/customer care and ask for BIS plan. Hopefully they should be able to assist you with that.

      Delete
  11. How to do the same for Aircel GSM ? Can you please help me on this

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Contact Aircel showroom/customer care and ask for BIS plan. Hopefully they should be able to assist you with that.

      Delete
  12. Hi,
    I am using blackberry 9650 and BSNL sim card.
    I have unlocked handset.
    I have activated data plan.
    Now the problem is :

    The host routing table has no entries,
    I press register now,
    I got popup "Registration message sent! "
    but no any reply is there.
    Because of these i could not use my data plan.
    plz help me...
    Thanks in advance.

    ReplyDelete
  13. hi,
    i have bb 9650 verizon and now i want to use it in india with reliance but the cousmer care refuses to provide me the bb servies as the its verizon locked. as per your post i do same as changed network to 1XEV and again rebooted then all as u said what it same show edge in small letter . ....have any solution for it.....Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi, I have BB 9650 unlocked, currently I am using Vodafone GSM Sim just like a normal phone. I want to activate BIS from vodafone or idea n/w in karnataka. pls advise if my phone is compatible for that. Many Thanks in advance. Deep

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Use vodafone BIS, I have used it. customer care is very good and knowledgeable, they will activate your BIS plan in a day or two.

      Delete
  15. HI i have BB 9650 with BB internet plan. i was using this phone with no issue in getting the email then i switched to some other phone but when i switched back.. i am facing issue where HRT is blank and i am getting the edge instead of EDGE. I am using Vodafone. i followed the above steps suggested by you but no luck. I am not sure about the PRL file which is getting used. Please help me on this

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vodafone has good customer care. please call them up and ask them to get your new phone registered for BIS service and you should get your internet back on mobile.

      Delete
  16. You're welcome. glad I could assist you.

    ReplyDelete
  17. hi charul,
    i have gone thru all of the above post , u r doing a gr8 job as the knowledge abt BB device is very low in area in company too. but my problem is little and different i think , i bought a BB bold 9650 verizon unlocked from a Teleshopping program last year , using it in india with idea n/w , it is working normal with call and sms , but the Wifi is not working , it connects to the router , shows the wifi signal but browser does nothing, tried many ways told by BB customer service but done nothing, then found u..plz reply what to do. Thanks in advannce
    Also, im a first user of Blackberry, never handled it b4.
    BB user

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Please recheck your router and BB wifi settings. I never faced any issues with wifi. also make sure (if you are using router like cisco) that router is not detecting you phone as an intruder/or blocking it in some way. Hope this helps.

      Delete
  18. Hi Charul,

    I too facing the same problem. it seeems this post helps me, but before that could you please provide me any link for IDEA PRL. as i couldnt find in google

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Even I could not find Idea PRL. Please ask Idea customer care to reregister you phone with them and ask them to push PRL through OTA.

      Delete
  19. Hi Charul,
    I have purchased a unlocked BB 9650 phone from Ebay. I am facing problems in activation of BIS plan and emails on my phone. I am using Vodafone Mumbai network and have the BIS plan activated on my phone still the network shows 3G instead of EDGE. Please help me to resolve this issue and also I am not aware of the PRL file for Vodafone Mumbai and the process to replace it.
    I am facing this problem from 2-3 weeks since I purchased this phone. Please help me in this.
    Thanks Nachiket

    ReplyDelete
  20. HI,
    I recently bought blacberry BOLD 9650 verizone ....initially had nightmare with all the indian mobile network provider on activating BIS plan( everyone said they can not do as it's a "world Phone")....finally after reading this blog i went to vodafone, they said they will activate BIS plan on this handset but after 2months when it's IMIE will get registered on blackberry server it will start charging verizone charges though having vodafone BIS plan activated.
    PLease let me know if anyone know abt this.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Charu hope you doing good !!!

    I want as how to use blackberry bold 9650 with vodafone delhi or airtel delhi network on normal GPRS packs.

    Actually i am using Vodafone Delhi postpaid connection in my Blackberry Bold 9650 verizon unlocked.. i am having normal GPRS pack activate on connection with vodafone live as well ... I am able to use my opera mini, UC browser and whatsapp for few minutes say 15-20 minutes once i restart my device .... and post 20 minutes it stop working.

    Again it start working once device would restart again... have already changed my APN to WWW/portalnmms/

    Please check the issue and suggest me a possible way out to deal with.

    Many thanks !!! in Advance

    R's
    Sharad
    sharad.singh68@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Dear Charul,
    Please help me to set up BIS on unlocked Blackberry Bold 9900 with Airtel India GSM.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. have u been able to set up BIS on your BB 9900 ?? i hv unlock BB 9900 (GSM) from US but can't set up BIS on vodafone india, anybody knows how to do it ?

      Delete
  23. Aero cast is a High Speed (ISP) in Lucknow. An ISP, or internet service provider is a company that provides consumers and businesses access to the Internet.

    ReplyDelete