Flipper (8230) ~ My first Blackberry

[Mi An]

Hello. Oh, excuse me, pardon my echo. *Ahem* Just got my "new" Pearl flip yesterday, the obsolete 4.x OS and 2009 (really 2008) guts don't bother me. I just want a flip phone that can run the google voice app, or barring that, a decent calling card app. I'm not sure how many users are left around here, and whether the remaining hardcore users will welcome me given my intended uses, but I'm hopeful.

Because I have prepaid service (pageplus will activate most verizon handsets), I'm not getting roped into paying for unwanted services. However, gaining access to the browser requires replacing the service books. I need the browser to get google voice and the bb app store, neither of which want to sideload for me. I'll document my efforts to that end here.

Step 1: New service books. I'll be following this guide: Enable BlackBerry Browser without BIS/BES | Blackberry Without BIS (you can survive but not live)

Step 2: Download official google voice app at m.google.com/voice. I'd love to sideload this, but I can't find any alx for it. I tried sideloading opera mini, and it worked, but I couldn't interact with site at all. Posts elsewhere recommended the blackberry browser would work better.

Step 3: If GV doesn't work (it's an old OS after all), get a calling card app from the bb app world. I'm leaning towards blacada for now.

Step 4: Learn what else an obsolete blackberry can do. Also, maybe learn how to use the keyboard.

[Hook]

I wish I could be of help. My BB Bold for work is so locked down (including no app world), I've never even bothered to learn anythng about it. There's no point because the restrictions won't let me apply anything I've learned. It's purely a portable email appliance.

On the other hand, I will hang out even though useless as I love watching your always interesting explorations in getting your tech to do exactly what you want it to do.

[jigwashere]

While I might watch car races for the crashes and figure skating for the spectacular falls, I'm hoping this thread will be thrilling for the successes.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S2, Epic 4G Touch using Tapatalk

[Mi An]

I hope my efforts do at least have the redeeming quality of being entertaining since they often do fail spectacularly, but I do appreciate the well wishes. I mostly hope I've set my sights low enough to ensure success.

[Varjak]

For the uninitiated, what are the 'service books?'

[Mi An]

For the uninitiated, what are the 'service books?'

Sadly, I'm among the uninitiated. I too would welcome input. All I really know is that without modified books, I don't have access to certain BB apps. I assume it's related to either enterprise providing their own server, and the books source the apps's content (calendar/email/whatever) to one company's services, and/or that it's security related so a company can lock their units down more.

[RickAgresta]

FAQ: Explanation Of Each BlackBerry Service Book Type - BerryReview

[Mi An]

The service book thing went fine. Somehow looking at the instructions last night I thought it would take me forever, but it only took a minute. The browser appeared, the GV app downloaded and installed, and appears to work without needing data -- though I haven't tried a number outside my contact list yet, on android GV would need data on new numbers the first time. I already sideloaded blacada's trial as a backup, just in case. I don't have the blackberry app world in place yet, but I don't think it will be much of a problem to get.

It was actually harder to import my contacts than it was to do that ^. So was typing in login credentials. So basically it works every bit as well as I wanted it to. That was surprisingly drama free.

*Mi An knocks on wood, turns around 3 times and spits*

[jigwashere]

<jigwashere wipes his cheek with his sleeve and rubs the top of his head>

Glad it's working out!

[Mi An]

Whoops. In retrospect, I might should have spit before making myself dizy.