How to get BBMaps to show up your device?

in Applications and Operating System

Thanks to John Clark @ BlackBerryForums.com for contributing these instructions. (Aug 2007)
Question: The BBMaps icon will not show on my device. I see BlackberryMaps in my application list but can’t find it on my device.

Answer: AT&T and some other European carriers have decided that they make more money selling Mapping subscriptions than allowing you access to BBMaps. Here is how to make BBMaps show on your device:

Make sure you have Desktop Manager installed to your PC. It can be downloaded from HERE
Make sure that the OS is installed to your PC. The OS’s downloads for each carrier can be found HERE
Delete the vendor.xml file located in c:\program files\common files\research in motion\apploader
Find the LBS.alx file located in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\Shared\Loader Files\8700-v4.2.1.96_P2.3.0.79. Note: The folder name under Loader Files may differ depending on the OS version installed on your device
Open the LBS.alx file with a text editor such as WordPad.
Scroll down until you find lines similar to this: (Note: each devices version may have differing lines of code.)

<!-- For 8800 series, hide the icon for Cingular (102), Vodafone Germany (124), Vodafone Austria (137) and all Orange properties. -->
<fileset SystemSize="normal" Colour="True" Java="1.0" _vendorID="~102|124|137|119|162|142|183|147|217" series="8800">
  <files>
    net_rim_bb_lbs_ribbon.cod
  </files>
</fileset>
<!-- For non-8800 series, show the icon for all carriers except Vodafone Germany (124), Vodafone Austria (137) and all Orange properties. -->
<fileset SystemSize="normal" Colour="True" Java="1.0" '''series="8800'''">
  <files>
    net_rim_bb_lbs_internal_gps.cod
  </files>
</fileset>
<fileset SystemSize="normal" Java="1.0">
  <files>
    net_rim_bb_lbs_resource_en.cod
  </files>
</fileset>

Remove all references to “_vendorID=…” and device codes. Remove the text in bold as shown above and leave the > symbol at the end.

The above code would be changed to the following:

<!-- For 8800 series, hide the icon for Cingular (102), Vodafone Germany (124), Vodafone Austria (137) and all Orange properties. -->
<fileset SystemSize="normal" Colour="True" Java="1.0">
  <files>
    net_rim_bb_lbs_ribbon.cod
  </files>
</fileset>
<!-- For non-8800 series, show the icon for all carriers except Vodafone Germany (124), Vodafone Austria (137) and all Orange properties. -->
<fileset SystemSize="normal" Colour="True" Java="1.0">
  <files>
    net_rim_bb_lbs_internal_gps.cod
  </files>
</fileset>
<fileset SystemSize="normal" Java="1.0">
  <files>
    net_rim_bb_lbs_resource_en.cod
  </files>
</fileset>

Save the file with the same LBS.alx name.

Again, each devices’ .alx is slightly different but removing any references to vendor codes and device codes in the lines as above will do the trick.

Now plug in the BB, open Desktop Manager and run Application Loader. Make sure BBMaps is checked and continue through to finish the process.

BBMaps should now have an icon on your home screen.

If editing the above makes you nervous or you don’t want to attempt it you can download pre-edited .alx file from THIS link. Simply find your device and OS version number and download the .zip files with the included .alx’s. Simply replace your .alx’s with the new ones and run Application Loader in Desktop Manager

Navigation