BlackBerry Forums Support Community

dc/dc · 04-10-2009, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stufried

I'm just thinking out loud here, but from what I understand you can't access 2g with an ATT Bold and an ATT SIM. If you use an ATT Bold and someone else's SIM, you are ok.

What if we try inserting one of the unlocking inserts (like iPhone users use) between the ATT SIM and an unlocked ATT Bold and program that wedge t say that it is a Rogers SIM? From what I understand, these devices boot up and initially push false network id information to the phone. Thoughts?

This is not true. An at&t Bold, locked or not, will never allow the user the option to use 2G only.

istreich · 04-11-2009, 10:54 AM

Do we know if AT&T has fixed this issue? This is a real problem for people traveling to the UK regularly. This Bold is sold a world phone and you can't even receive your mails in a consistent manner in the UK! I was there 3 weeks ago and the problem was still there.
Can someone post an update if you have any.
Thanks.

Iwan

rambo47 · 04-11-2009, 11:28 AM

AT&T will not "fix" this. To them it's not a problem. In fact, they removed the ability to toggle 3G on/off deliberately. The only thing that makes sense to me is to buy a non-AT&T branded Bold to replace your current one. Mine is a Rogers unit unlocked. I can turn 3G on and off at will.

brandon32 · 04-11-2009, 11:57 AM

Wirelessly posted

This problem also exists in Brazil and Chile for AT+T branded Bold.

MidnightDraven · 04-11-2009, 01:49 PM

The "problem" exists for ALL at&t branded bolds.

AllanRosen · 04-11-2009, 01:55 PM

I recently traveled to Spain and Italy--- here's my experiences. Data definitely worked--- but it was inconsistent and definitely not the quality I would have expected. There were signficant periods when I noticed I was not receivng emails and couldn't connect to the internet. I called the AT&T international help line from another phone-- they told me to go to "Manage Connections" and choose a different carrier (e.g., not the default international carrier for that location). I had to do that several times-- sometimes I would go to "Manage connections" and turn off the radio receiver-- I'd leave it off for a minute and then turn it back on. That would work for several hours until I had a lapse in service again. So it worked internationally--- but it seemed to me that it just wasn't "tuned" right.

istreich · 04-12-2009, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambo47

AT&T will not "fix" this. To them it's not a problem. In fact, they removed the ability to toggle 3G on/off deliberately. The only thing that makes sense to me is to buy a non-AT&T branded Bold to replace your current one. Mine is a Rogers unit unlocked. I can turn 3G on and off at will.

This is a shame!!! This device is sold to be working everywhere in the world and it does not!!! It is not acceptable for AT&T to just ignore the problem...
Is there anything we could/should do to put pressure on them to fix this mess. Suggesting buying a non-branded device is not solving a problem that was created by AT&T.
This is non even a bug but a poor commercial/technical decision by AT&T...
Let me know if you have any idea and/or connection to someone at AT&T who will have some consideration for their best customers...

Thanks

dulcamara · 04-12-2009, 06:51 PM

Any reports from Hong Kong? I will be there for a week in May and would like my data to work.

x14 · 04-12-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dulcamara

Any reports from Hong Kong? I will be there for a week in May and would like my data to work.

No problems in Hong Kong. You will get either 3G, EDGE, or GPRS depending on where you are.

eander315 · 04-17-2009, 09:41 AM

I have a user who is in the UK for the next 2 months who is experiencing problems with his AT&T Bold. I contacted AT&T International support and they indicated that they are completely unaware of any issues with this phone. I eventually had to mail the user his old 8800 to resolve the issue. He did not experience problems with 3G in Paris or Kuwait.

Klotar · 04-17-2009, 12:02 PM

This might be helpful (link from another forum though). While I do have a Rogers Bold, I tried to see if I could get the engineering screen to make the changes, and found that I could (but didn't make any changes since I personally don't need to).

How to: Disable 3G or 2G on AT&T Bolds without debranding

How to: Disable 3G or 2G on AT&T Bolds without debranding - BlackBerry Forums at CrackBerry.com

kstrouse · 05-07-2009, 03:40 PM

Just to add to this thread...I'm traveling with my Bold in Sweden, near Gothenburg. On arrival, all my emails came in just fine. Since then, service has been very unpredictable. Sometimes mail comes in and I can use the Internet, sometimes not. Sometimes the Manage Connections status says that I have voice on the mobile network (it always picks a certain 3G one) but Blackberry service is "not connected". I think that it was also messing with my wifi access and my abilty to change carriers as I moved around. For the last six days, since I arrived, I've called AT&T International support every day for the same problem. I've gotten mostly terrible advice (such as "pull out the battery and that will fix it" and "we don't have data contracts for roaming in Sweden"), but sympathy and good support from the "Tier 3 international data" people. Today I overrode the "automatic" 3G carrier in favor of the 2G carrier that always worked well in the past with my 8700c. Everything seems to be fixed, for now. So I'll stay in manual mode in this neighborhood and hope for better service as I travel around. I sure wish I'd seen this thread six days ago. And I wish AT&T would let me avoid 3G until the networks are compatible.

Globetrotterdoug · 05-07-2009, 04:24 PM

I have a theory that I have not yet been able to completely test: That AT&T restricts access to non-US 3G networks for those on a BB int'l plan. If true, the obvious reason would be to limit their exposure to unlimited 3G tethering. When I was in the Dominican Republic a couple of months ago, my iPhone (for which there is no unlimited int'l data plan available) worked on a 3G network but my BB Bold would only work on EDGE networks.

Klotar · 05-07-2009, 04:27 PM

So how did you manually switch to 2G on your AT&T Bold? (Or are you saying that you tried out the temporary engineering screen workaround to get you by while on the road?)

kstrouse · 05-08-2009, 01:16 AM

Wirelessly posted

I wasn't sure if you were asking me, but...I went to Mobile Options and selected Manual instead of Automatic. The search generates a list that includes whether the network is 2G or 3G. I picked a 2G network, which seemed to solve the problem. Nonetheless, my 8700c used to prompt me to save the Manual mode and the Bold apparently only backs out. When I woke up today, I'd been put back on Automatic and on the non-working 3G network. I don't mind having to tweak it, as long as I can get it working when I need it. On the other point, I saw the engineering change. When I'm out of the country, I avoid doing anything with the device that might brick the Bold or void my ability to get support. Furthermore, I'd have to make that change every time I booted up (with the attendant risk). I boot up the device every day or two for one reason or another.

x14 · 05-08-2009, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Globetrotterdoug

I have a theory that I have not yet been able to completely test: That AT&T restricts access to non-US 3G networks for those on a BB int'l plan. If true, the obvious reason would be to limit their exposure to unlimited 3G tethering. When I was in the Dominican Republic a couple of months ago, my iPhone (for which there is no unlimited int'l data plan available) worked on a 3G network but my BB Bold would only work on EDGE networks.

I have the AT&T unlimited international data plan. I've been to a couple of countries in Asia and have been able to connect to 3G networks.

I don't think the BlackBerry connects to just any network. It may prefer a carrier that supports BlackBerry for BIS and BES services.

kstrouse · 05-17-2009, 12:51 PM

Another update. I left Sweden for Denmark and immediately got locked to a 3G network with no data. The device wouldn't let me go to manual. I called AT&T (again!) and the rep "canceled my registration". I didn't think that would work, because a rep did it in Sweden and it didn't help.
Since then, the device is FINE. I keep it on automatic, it sometimes picks 3G and sometimes EDGE, but I have no complaints. The last rep said "it should just work. You shouldn't ever have to manage your own networks. We have thousands of customers traveling and only a small number of complaints." So I guess the "cancel registration" thing worked for me this time. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
I have to give AT&T credit. They really try hard. They answer international calls fast. They really want your service to work. I never feel like I'm a problem, even when I know I am.