[smoothadmin]

Here is a interesting story, my boss took his playbook with him to the US when he and other bosses went to a conference last week in Cali. He was surprised that the carrier (Verizon) completed disabled his Blackberry Bridge application on is phone. All he wanted to do was be able to read his emails on his playbook as he's getting older and it harder for him to see his emails at times; he didn't care about the internet access part.

He wondered if it was even legal for Verizon to block his blackberry bridge since his carrier Rogers Wireless permitted him to download and install it on his device to use it with his Playbook?

What do you guys think? Do you think other carriers should block apps installed on your device when you cross into their areas? I am sure it wouldn't be hard to Verizon to figure out if devices accessing their networks are from their own network or not...

A.

[penguin3107]

I'm not sure I follow what you're saying.
Rogers is a GSM carrier... and Verizon is a CDMA carrier. Your boss' Rogers BlackBerry wouldn't work on Verizon's network at all... so it's not possible for Verizon to block anything.

You might be misreading the situation here.

[aiharkness]

In addition, my understanding is AT&T doesn't block the bridge functioning on the device, it just doesn't let you download it from app world. People can download the bride app for the handset from alternate sources, install it, and use it. I hadn't heard about Verizon, but if they are doing something, I don't see how it could be different. ... Unless there has been some new development (like a service book).

And re penquin's question, I'm assuming the boss had switched BlackBerrys for the trip.

Whatever, find the thread(s) that post the alternate download links for the bridge app.

EDIT: About your primary question, you (actually your boss) is using a device on the carrier's network. It's the carrier's network, the carrier's service, the carrier's product. The carrier has the right to define that product and rules of use (within the law).

I see it like hotels. Some give you breakfast, some add free wifi, and some even give you a manager's reception with free beer and liquor. And some don't give you squat and except you pay for it. T-Mobile is like the former; AT&T and Verizon are the later, and they believe their service is worth it to customers. It's legal, and besides you either sign a contract or somehow agree to their terms when you use the service.


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[ifonline]

Yep. The carriers, Verizon included, don't block Bridge from working. The only restriction so far is AT&T doesn't allow Bridge to be downloaded from App World. That's it. Therefore, Verizon isn't blocking anything on your boss' PlayBook/phone.

[smoothadmin]

Originally Posted by penguin3107

I'm not sure I follow what you're saying.
Rogers is a GSM carrier... and Verizon is a CDMA carrier. Your boss' Rogers BlackBerry wouldn't work on Verizon's network at all... so it's not possible for Verizon to block anything.

You might be misreading the situation here.

Sorry I thought Verzion was the GSM, I guess I meant AT&T (which another reason why I added their name to the title line...) And yes his blackberry bridge application was blocked, he could not run it on his device; it wasn't until he arrived safely back in Canada that he was able to use his blackberry bridge. You should try it something but that would require you to become a Canadian first! ;)

A.

[ifonline]

AT&T doesn't block bridge use. They only block Bridge downloading from App World. As a matter of fact, since Bridge runs locally between the PlayBook and the phone across BlueTooth, I'm not entirely sure how any carrier could block it's use as it isn't network dependent.

[aiharkness]

User error.

[penguin3107]

Originally Posted by smoothadmin

Sorry I thought Verzion was the GSM, I guess I meant AT&T (which another reason why I added their name to the title line...) And yes his blackberry bridge application was blocked, he could not run it on his device; it wasn't until he arrived safely back in Canada that he was able to use his blackberry bridge. You should try it something but that would require you to become a Canadian first! ;)

A.

You're misreading what's really going on.
There's no way AT&T can block the use of bridge on your boss' device.
It wasn't blocked. Simple as that.

If I had to guess... I would say that your boss' data plan wasn't provisioned properly for International Roaming. That would explain why it works in Canada but not in the US.
He should contact Rogers about this.

[dbltap]

Yeah. I'm leaning towards "user error" myself. I am on AT&T. I downloaded the Bridge from other sources. It works fine. Even works to access web sites on the corporate network through our BES. And it worked fine last week in Mexico & in Peru doing all the same things.

[jsconyers]

Originally Posted by penguin3107

If I had to guess... I would say that your boss' data plan wasn't provisioned properly for International Roaming. That would explain why it works in Canada but not in the US.
He should contact Rogers about this.

This would be my guess as well. Once he landed in Cali, he would have been roaming internationally and if not provisioned by Rogers correctly, that would be the issue.

[eelect]

I used by playbook bridge in canada no problem (verizon) 3weeks ago

[smoothadmin]

Originally Posted by ifonline

AT&T doesn't block bridge use. They only block Bridge downloading from App World. As a matter of fact, since Bridge runs locally between the PlayBook and the phone across BlueTooth, I'm not entirely sure how any carrier could block it's use as it isn't network dependent.

According to the Market Watch today "AT&T still hasn't approved RIM's BlackBerry Bridge software application, which facilitates a bluetooth connection between the PlayBook and the BlackBerry smartphone."

Which would unstandably make sense that it would be blocked by AT&T. Oh and my boss is no dummy when it comes to technology.

A.

PS. the rest of the story can be found here from Market Watch.

Verizon, AT&T still not playing ball with RIM - MarketWatch

[jsconyers]

You're misunderstanding it as Penguin has stated. AT&T just doesn't allow the Bridge software to show in AppWorld. However, if you have an AT&T device, you can download the Bridge software via another outlet and it will work without issue.

[ifonline]

Something tells me this conversation is going to continue going round and round. Just a hunch.

[ifonline]

Originally Posted by smoothadmin

Which would unstandably make sense that it would be blocked by AT&T. Oh and my boss is no dummy when it comes to technology.

*facepalm*

Bridge use is not blocked by AT&T. The downloading of Bridge via App World is the only thing blocked by AT&T.

[stevetaz]

Originally Posted by smoothadmin

According to the Market Watch today "AT&T still hasn't approved RIM's BlackBerry Bridge software application, which facilitates a bluetooth connection between the PlayBook and the BlackBerry smartphone."

Which would unstandably make sense that it would be blocked by AT&T. Oh and my boss is no dummy when it comes to technology.

A.

PS. the rest of the story can be found here from Market Watch.

Verizon, AT&T still not playing ball with RIM - MarketWatch

AT&T cannot block a Bluetooth connection between a BB and the Playbook. As others have told you they can block the Bridge software from appearing in App World. If dowloaded another way it can be installed and used by an AT&T subscriber....