Internet Browser FAQ
BlackBerry HTML Web Browsing FAQ
This article is originally written by Mark Rejhon on BlackBerryForums.com
- Updated on 07-15-2008 by mikeypants
The purpose of this FAQ is to help answer web-browsing-related questions for BlackBerry. All models of BlackBerry sold since 2005 have full HTML web-browsing support. Unfortunately this does not apply to pre-2005 models. The purpose of this FAQ is to help get a person get a web browser up and running as quickly as possible.
My Web Browser Icon Is Missing!
Follow these steps to resend the service books to the device:
- Step one:
1. With the BB still powered “on”, remove battery from the device
2. Leave the battery out for at least 30 seconds
3. Replace battery and let the device reboot
- Step two: (if step one did not solve issue)
1. From the device go to Options
2. Select Advanced Options
3. Select Host Routing Table
4. Select menu, then ‘Register Now’
Images:
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- Step three: (if step two did not solve issue)
1. Log into your providers BIS site
2. Click the link to resend the service books.
Here is the global list of BIS carrier sites:
Global BIS List
Carrier specific links: (If your carrier is not listed please click the global link above)
Cingular BIS Log In Nextel BIS Log In Sprint BIS Log In T-Mobile BIS Log In Verizon BIS Log In
For example, on T-Mobile:
a) Log into your my T-Mobile account and select ‘Setup BlackBerry Internet Email’
b) Select (left menu box) ‘Service Books’
c) Select ‘Send Service
- Make sure you are running BlackBerryOS 4.0 or higher, by checking:
Check Options –> About
If you are not running at least Version 4.0, you need to download and install BlackBerryOS 4.0 then repeating all the above instructions again. - If that does not work, and you are on a BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES), try re-activating your BlackBerry on BES. This may be as simple as connecting your BlackBerry to your PC and synchronizing your BlackBerry while Outlook is in ONLINE mode.
Help! I’m stuck with BlackBerryOS 3.7!
If you are not allowed to upgrade to BlackBerryOS 4.0, there is still hope. There’s an unsupported method of doing this on BlackBerryOS 3.7. This is called the “RBRO trick“. Follow these instructions:
- Launch the WAP Browser
- Click thumbwheel, select Options
- You should now see a list containing “Browser Configuration” and “General Properties”
- Type the following letters: RBRO
- Click on “Browser Configuration” again.
- Scroll down to “Constrained Content Mode” and then change “WML Only” into “Unconstrained”
- Click scrollwheel and select “Save”
- Click on “Browser Configuration” again. (Go back out and back in)
- Scroll down to “Content Mode” and then change “WML Only” into “WML and HTML”
- Click scrollwheel and select “Save”
- Now you’ve got full HTML browsing on your BlackBerryOS 3.7 device!
What is NOL? What is T-Zones?
These are custom branded browsers for Nextel and T-Mobile.
NOL is the Nextel OnLine browser for Nextel BlackBerries.
T-Zones is the T-Mobile web browser for T-Mobile BlackBerries.
This does not apply to you if you are using another carrier, such as Cingular.Some of these custom branded browsers are simply renamed versions of the BlackBerry Internet Browser, while others are renamed versions of much-more-limited WAP browsers.
Nextel’s NOL browser (as of March 2005) is still a limited-functionality browser, so many Nextel users find it necessary to purchase a third party browser, in order to gain more browsing functionality.
BlackBerry Internet Browser Is TOO SLOW!
Under BlackBerryOS4, the improved HTML web browsing can be extremely slow. There are several ways to speed up the web browsing experience. Try the following:
- Turn off images by going to:
Internet Browser -> Options -> Browser Configuration -> Show Images -> “On WML Pages Only”
You can selectively download images on demand, anyway.</p> <p> - If that does not speed things up enough, turn off unnecessary options that you may not need:
Internet Browser -> Options -> Browser Configuration
Turn off “Use HTML Tables”
Turn off “Use Background Images”
Turn off “Support JavaScript”
Turn off “Support Style Sheets” - If that does not speed things up enough, test out a trial of one of the third party browsers available. Many people say that some of the third party web browsers are faster in certain aspects. You can have this web browser installed at the same time as the BlackBerry Internet Browser.</p> <p>
- Try browsing through BES 4.0 which can be much faster than browsing entirely through your cell carrier. If you want the fastest RIM BlackBerry Browser without going to third party software, you may want to get BES 4.0. Individuals who cannot afford a BES server can check out the Hosted BES FAQ for services costing $10 to $25 per month. An advantage is that browsing through BES 4.0 will make more JavaScript websites work properly, including online banking websites.
Note: On BES, the browser is called “BlackBerry Browser” rather than “Internet Browser”
Help! My Web Browser Doesn’t Display Any Pages, Only “Loading…”!
This is usually a configuration problem, but can be a server issue. Try the following:
- Reboot your BlackBerry by removing and reinserting the battery.
- Follow the instructions in section “Help! My Web Browser Still Didn’t Come Back!” at the top.
- Follow the instructions in Configuring Internet On BlackBerry
- Test out a third party web browser.
- Your BWC or BES might be a little slow. Try again a little later.
What’s The Best Web Browser For Maximum Compatibility?
The best web browser for maximum compatibility is one that supports JavaScript. You still won’t be able to get a Blazer-style web browser, but you can dramatically improve the BlackBerry browsing compatibility. One way to get this is to use BlackBerryOS 4.0 on a BES 4.0 server (Either your own BES or through Hosted BES). This will allow to access more websites, including online banking websites. To maximize compatibility, go to:
BlackBerry Browser -> Options -> Browser Configuration
Scroll down and turn on ALL checkboxes. Then Save.
