[the_woozle]

First off I have some questions:

• Is it possible to use Google Maps without BES?
• Is it possible to use the Gmail app without BES?
• Is it possible to use Blackberry Maps without BES?

I have been reading a lot of different threads on here to try and resolve my issues. I know a lot of parts of what I will be posting here have been talked about before, but none of the answers have directly helped me. My problem looks to be a missing service book to me, but I want to make sure of this before I try to deal with Orange France (completely useless with Blackberries) about fixing this.

I live in France, have a subscription with Orange France, and am using an 8800. I have a data plan, and BIS access. When I first subscribed back in April I hadn’t realized there was a difference between BIS and BES (didn’t know that two existed actually) and happily used my access to activate on my company’s BES. I live and work in France and my company is in the UK. Orange France won’t sell you BES access unless you are a company, which I am not, so BES access is out. The problem is that after about a month my BES access stopped working, that’s fine (while annoying) since I didn’t have the proper access for it, but what’s causing me problems is that a lot of other things stopped working as well.

Mapping apps don’t work unless I am connected to my laptop and connected to work via vpn so it can use the BES server bypass. This is the same for the Gmail app. I still have internet connectivity via my BIS using the WAP browser, and I can get my emails using the BIS access for email where it polls the accounts every 10 or 15 minutes. This is what makes me think that my BIS is at least “sort of” working.

The “Blackberry Browser” doesn’t work unless using the aforementioned vpn bypass method and I read elsewhere:

There is only one Browser application on the BlackBerry. How it behaves depends on which Service Books you have been sent by RIM or your BES. Your browsers can be MDS (BES), PMDS (BIS-B) and WAP (1.2, 1.2 secure, 2.0) but when you click an icon for any of these in the Ribbon. the BlackBerry will refer to a ServiceBook to see how to handle the data. For example. MDS goes to your BES and uses your company internet connection, PMDS goes through RIM's internet connection and WAP is supplied by the carrier.

This PMDS (BIS-B) seems like it might be what I am missing. What service books SHOULD I have? I don’t have anything that mentions BIS, and I do still have a few things from the BES authentication. Should I wipe the handheld and start again? I can list all of the service books I currently have if that is of any use.

Finally, on the Services Status in Manage Connections I assume that BlackBerry Internet Service Connection: not connected would normally say connected if it was set up properly?

[bigme]

You can use the maps without a BES. Not sure if it works in France.

[JSanders]

My recommendation would be to wipe the device using jl-cmder to clear ALL the BES stuff off, and any old BES policies.

Reload the OS, and proceed.

Yes, all of the above works on BIS. Again, as the other poster said, I don't know about in France, but I do think they do.

Good luck.

[the_woozle]

Today I have tried a number of things. I wiped the handheld to start with and installed the desktop software on another computer. I started again and had all the service books resent.

From all of my searches on the internet and around this forum the tcp settings for Orange France should be
APN: orange.fr
Username: orange
Password: orange

I have tried changing the apn to orange.fr but all my HRT entries are still showing blackberry.net as the apn regardless of what I put in the TCP options. Am I doing something wrong in there?

When I resend my service books they all come back to me using the HRT entries for blackberry.net. The only service books that aren't coming back with this are for
WAP Transport [WAP]
Orange France MMS Transport [WAP]
WAP Push Config [WAPPushConfig]

Is the fact that in the Services Status page the "Blackberry Internet Services connection: not connected" always says not connected significant?

[phatmei]

i am experiencing the same problems as you have mentioned... it has crippled my BB and although i still receive mails from my gmail account, i cannot access the web browser. (in fact, the web browser does not even show up on the main menu and does not have any configuration options either).

i gave the BB to my company to put my work email on the device (using BES), however due to subscription problems (Orange France will only provide a BES account to companies - as mentioned by the woozle), i was unable to use it entirely... the only thing i was able to do after this event was place and receive phone calls.

long story short - how do i get the browser working again.

my diagnostic test says that is is not connected to my gmail address... my settings are those as the wozzle described.

any ideas?

[mhachar]

I am using an 8830 Sprint edition, with a Orange France Sim card. I am currently on the GSM network, my blackberry browser works, but Google Maps, IM+, and Opera Mini will not work. I receive emails perfectly through the BIS and my BB Messenger works as well.

I think I need to input serivce books manually, any help would be greatly appreciated!! I am determined to get this thing working