Guide: BlackBerry OS 7 (maybe 6) WITHOUT BIS
Introduction
I wrote this guide because, every once in a while, someone asks in the forums whether the Bold 9900 will work without a BIS-enabled data plan. Quite often, the reply is that the device will be crippled without BIS. That’s not entirely true. The Bold 9900 can be set up to use over wifi and with a regular data plan (i.e., without BIS). Most of the information below is out there on the web, but it’s always good to have a consolidated set-up guide.
I try to keep the guide up to date, but I don't use all of the apps listed, so the thread relies on reports from other users. See also http://forums.crackberry.com/blackbe...-list-1075860/
More information on the apps can be found in post #2.
Optional Step
Before you begin, you should consider installing the latest version of OS 7.1. After I installed the O2 UK version of OS 7.1 my Bold ran cooler, the battery life improved, and the experience was very stable. You can download it by following the link here: O2 UK version. For installation instructions, read post #47 of that thread.
Alternative installation procedures using BlackBerry Swiss Army Knife can be found here, here, and in post #3 of this thread.
The Bold without BIS Guide
Step 1: Set up your wireless network (wifi) connection.
Instructions
Visual Tutorial
Step 2: Set the APN for your carrier.
If you want to use a regular data plan on your carrier’s network, you will need to enter the APN settings. Here are the instructions. A visual tutorial is here, but you must enter your carrier’s specific settings, rather than those in the tutorial. You can probably find the settings here: World Wide Mobile Phone Settings
Step 3: Install apps that work without BIS.
Many BlackBerry OS apps were designed to work only with a connection to BlackBerry’s servers.
Without a BIS connection to those servers, you will not be able to use many of BlackBerry’s in-built applications, including:
- the BlackBerry email client
- the BlackBerry podcasts app
The BlackBerry web browser works over wifi, but it may or may not work over the cellular network, depending on your provider. You will be able to make phone calls and send SMS (text-only) messages.
Some carriers will push you the MMS service books and you'll be able to send picture messages. Others won't. Ask yours if they will enable MMS for you. If not, see post #10 for a simple workaround. See post #20 for a link to a complex solution for advanced users.
Fortunately, you can install many apps that work well using wifi or a regular data plan, without BIS, and which serve the same or similar functions as the BlackBerry apps.
Here are the essentials:
- Email: LogicMail 2.2.0.85 (OTA, BBW) and PicoMail (OTA) (Tip). There are also paid activesync services: AstraSync (the discount code CB2017 will get you an additional 10% off) and NotifySync. Based on my experience, and that of others in this thread, Smartmail no longer works with SSL.
- Web Browser: Opera Mini 8.0 (OTA, BBW) at m.opera.com, UC Browser (BBW). Alternatively, you can install the Anworm service books to get the built-in browser working over a data connection. See post #9 in this thread.
- Messengers: Whatsapp (beta.whatsapp.com/ota), IM+ 10.5.10 or IM+ Pro 10.5.2 (OTA, BBW) wap.shape.ag, and Trillian (BBW). Facebook Messenger, Kik and Viber no longer work, but see post #2 for an alternative Facebook messaging solution.
- eBook Reader: Kindle 1.0.2.101740313 Beta (OTA) See this thread.
- Forum Readers: CB Forums 1.0 (BBW); Tapatalk 1.4.7.9 (OTA)
- VOIP (Canada / Fongo): Dell Voice 1.0.1 (BBW). Available at BlackBerry World through a hidden link: see this thread.
- Facebook: Facebook (BBW -- web browser shortcut); (OTA -- Wifi Only -- click the Facebook.jad file when browsing from your Bold 99xx)
- Twitter: Twitter (BBW) (wifi-only), UberSocial (BBW), IM+ / IM+ Pro (BBW)
- Instagram: Client for Instagram -- The Jared Company (BBW)
*BBW: BlackBerry World *OTA: Over-the-Air
BlackBerry World apps are installed using the BlackBerry World app on the phone.
The OTA apps are available via websites. For OTA apps, use a browser to search for and navigate to the download links, and click on the link to install.
Some of the OTA software is no longer supported by or available from the creator, but all of the apps listed above can be found online as of February 2015. Searching for the app name with the version number plus “BlackBerry OTA” or “.jad” will usually lead you to a download if you’re persistent. If a download does not install using the BlackBerry browser, you may need to use Opera Mini to download the app.
The usual warnings about downloading software from untrusted sources and compromising your device security apply. If you install apps from websites, you have to take responsibility for the potential results.
Over time, it will become more difficult to find many of these apps. I have had some success locating older software by searching through archived versions of old websites using the ‘Time Machine’ at archive.org.
You can back up your phone settings and some data using BlackBerry Desktop.
You can back up your third-party apps (including the OTA apps) using BlackBerry Swiss Army Knife.
Bonus Step: Backing Up and Synchronizing PIM (Contacts, Calendar, Memos, Tasks) Data
Here are a few options for backing up and syncing your organizer data. If you know of others, please add them to the thread.
The simplest solution:
Use the BlackBerry Desktop software. This requires you to connect your phone to your computer via USB cable or bluetooth, which means synchronization only occurs when you do it manually. It has the advantage of being very secure and private. See this guide. The BlackBerry Desktop software can be downloaded here.
Note that BlackBerry Desktop does not work with MS Outlook 2013 64-bit. You need the 32-bit version of Outlook 2013 if you want to use BlackBerry Desktop to sync your Outlook data with your Bold 9900. BlackBerry Desktop does work with earlier 64-bit versions of Outlook.
Networked wireless solutions:
BlackBerry OS 7.1 can make use of an old PIM sync protocol, SyncML, to sync the calendar and contacts. You have a few options to backup and sync your PIM data wirelessly using SyncML:
1. OneMediaHub (BBW).
This app is available in BlackBerry World, and requires you to make an account with OneMediaHub.com so that you can sync your information to the cloud. The downside is that you’ll be putting all of your data on someone else’s server. Of course, you might already being doing that (on Gmail, Outlook.com, etc.) and it might not matter to you. The upside is that you can sync from anywhere at any time, as long as you have a wifi or cellular connection. There's also an MS Outlook connector, so you can use this service to sync with Outlook (but only the 32-bit version works).
2. Memotoo (OTA).
Memotoo provides a similar service to OneMediaHub, and offers the ability to sync your calendar, contacts, tasks, and memos to the major webmail services, Evernote, and Simplenote, among others. You can create an account and download the app at memotoo.com.
3. Set up your own SyncML server (Advanced).
You can use the OneMediaHub or Memotoo apps, which are both based on the open-source FUNAMBOL client, to sync with your own SyncML server. I’m not going to provide detailed instructions, because you really need to read the manuals and be aware of the security implications if you’re going to do this, but I will point you in the right direction. Setting up your own server requires you to have a Linux system (Debian works well), set up a LAMP server, and then install eGroupWare. If you use Debian, all of the software is in the repositories. It’s completely free, but fairly involved to set up.
Note that you can choose to either operate the server on your own home wifi system only, and sync whenever you’re at home (safer); or open access to the internet so you can sync from anywhere (entails certain security risks). Read up on hardening your server if you're going to make it accessible from the internet.
If you’ve managed to get a different SyncML server running (like FUNAMBOL or Horde groupware), let me know!
Guide: BlackBerry OS 7 (maybe 6) WITHOUT BIS
A Facebook App that Works over Cellular Data without BIS
UberSocial works for Facebook over a regular cellular data plan, but it has limitations in terms of functionality, and it has this nasty little requirement that a status change on Facebook goes out over Twitter too. The Facebook mobile site works over cellular data, but the experience isn't the greatest.
Edit: Facebook for Every Phone no longer works.
One of the nice things about BBOS is that you can make use of J2ME apps (search for an app name plus "J2ME" or "jar"). A few years ago, Facebook released a J2ME app called "Facebook for Every Phone." It works with a regular data plan on a BlackBerry, and it's better than the mobile website. Here's the link: Facebook for every phone - mobile9
A few notes:
- It's very touch-centric. You have to use the touchscreen for everything but text input.
- When you go to enter text in a field, the screen goes white. This will happen when you go to enter your username and password, your status updates, etc. You might think you've crashed it. That's the text entry field. Type in your information and then press the BlackBerry button. You'll get a menu of options where you can press "Done" or "Enter" or "Save" or whatever.
- After you've used the app for a few minutes, you'll see that an update is available. Unfortunately, the update link takes you to Facebook via the browser, where Facebook correctly identifies your device as a BlackBerry and offers you the BlackBerry client instead of the J2ME one. If anyone figures out how to update this version, or finds the latest one, please update the thread.
Edit: Here's a link to what appears to be the latest version: Version 3.4.1