Since last year, i was wondering about the email i received from my boss. It contains the ubiquitous line “Sent from my Blackberry..”
I am so poor I can only afford a Nokia 3200 for a phone. Andso not wanting to feel envy to Blackberry users, I never actually bothered myself to read articles about the product.
When i transferred to another company, our GMs were using Blackberry devices. And i thought, well, tha thing is for executives only. My boss was gushing about how great Blackberry is, but since it is synonymous to “expensive”, he can’t really convince me to buy a Blackberry. The Blackberry Bold is US 550-600. He tried to offer me his newest Blackberry Storm- 6 months to pay, but still, no go for me, especially that the Storm has no wi-fi.
Until my officemate from Indonesia offered a deal, three of us will order Blackberry Curve 8900 from Jakarta at 480USD. I thought that one is OK.
And so, a week after, my BB Curve arrived.
I was worried about how to have it activated undr my MTN Sim card. The thought of endless documetary requirements made me delay the registration. So for a week, i was using the wi-fi of my BB to connect to internet. Until my colleague showed me how to activate the MTN Blackberry service by just sending a text message to MTN Blackberry Information Sserver (BIS). Wow, in just 30 minutes and 5,000 naira load, my BB service magically started. The word “EDGE” replaced the “GSM”. And i am guaranteed 24×7 connection. But wait, there’s more — i am using a PRE-PAID SIM card.!
I can’t believe activating BB service in Nigeria was that EASY!
Very unlike Philippine providers like Smart and Globe — too much of control freaks. You can’t get Blackberry if you do not sign-in as Post-paid customer, and the bandwidth usage is limited.
I check their respective websites to learn about their Blackberry services and i am convinced that when I go for vacation, I will not subscribe to BB service to these two providers.
And so, there i was,whole Sunday tinkering my BB. So what if there is no internet in the house or office. My BB ofers me push email, Yahoo messenger and Facebook.
I have 3 email accounts ‘pushed’ into my BB. An MTN BB email (default), a Gmail (free POP), a Yahoomail (i paid 20USD to activate POP Mailplus), and a YMail account (free POP).
I downloaded YM, GoogleTalk and FB. That is aside from BB’s own IM.
The advantage of havin BB in Nigeria is i can hold it and use it anywhere, anytime without fear of “holdap” or “snatching”…
Ah, talk about connectivity and mobility.
My only problem with BB Curve is that it does not play Flash movies. And so i cannot check my Farm Town.
Tsk tsk tsk.
August 14, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Hi there,
I just got the Blackberry Storm and have an MTN prepaid sim. How do I activate my bb? What number do I need to text to? And do I need to load N5000 onto my phone first? Thanks in advance 🙂
LikeLike
August 14, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Yes, you need to have more than 5,000 naira load. I loaded 6,000 naira.
I suggest you connect on a Sunday.
1. Send text message to 21600 with the word “BIS”.
2. Wait for reply from MTN to send you instructions.
3. Turn Off your BB, remove the battery for 5 mins.
4. Out back your battery and ON the BB. May take 5 minutes for it to load the system.
5. You will know when yo have connected to MTN’s Blackberry Information Server (BIS) if the signal sign on upper-right corner of screen says “EDGE” or “GPRS”. Must be in capital letters. If this is not the case, remove the battery again.
6. Go to Options, Advance Options, Host Routing Table. You should be able to see “Register”. Click on it and follow instruction.
7. First thing BIS will ask you is to make a BIS account under MTN. Make sure you write down the username/emailname and password you provided. This wil be helpful later on in entering the MTN BB website.
8. Next, it will ask you to enroll an email. If you have GMAIL or YMail, set it up. You cannot setup Yahoo mail unless you havae subscribe to Yahoo MailPlus. Gmail is faster to implement.
9. Once you finished setting up Gmail, click OK and Done.
10. Put off power and remove battery for 3 minutes. Then insert again. It will take a while to update the BB system. When it comes back to life, you should be seeing “EDGE” in the signal icon on uper-right corner of screen.
11. For YM, Facebook, and Googletalk applications, go to Downloads folder in Main Menu. Click download icon. Check under “Personalize”, select IM & Social Networking.
12. Choose your IM and download. Follow instructions.
Good luck.
This works only for prepaid SIM. For postpaid SIM, they need to go to MTN office to activate their BB.
LikeLike
September 11, 2009 at 6:25 am
Thank you so much for your help. I actually got it working before I found your reply. I just recieved a text from MTN to tell me another N5000 will be deducted in the next few days. The shop who sold me the phone said the BIS fee of N5000 was a once off fee not a monthly payment? Obviously he was wrong? It’s quite expensive compared to other countries?
LikeLike
September 21, 2009 at 12:56 pm
hello don,
Got me a blackberry storm too,and yes,m’loving it! Only problem is,for some reason,i cant check my account balance or load credit either(i use MTN too)…..a friend got it fixed for me once(he pressed a few things on the phone,and abrakadabra,i could check),but its back to its former state and unfortunately,i havent been able to conyact my friend. Can you help?
PS: Is there a cheaper plan than N5000 for activating(glo mobile allows a N400 daily and N1500 weekly also)
LikeLike
September 22, 2009 at 2:48 am
my friend has the same problem.
he can receive email, IMs and SMS but cannot send out or reply. can’t even make a call.
he went to MTN but they couldn’t repair it.
cost-wise, i think MTN is still cheaper…
LikeLike
November 18, 2009 at 9:55 pm
hi, i have the same problem, cannot check balance, is there anypossibility of you remembering what was done to fix the problem the first time
cheers
LikeLike
November 20, 2009 at 10:35 pm
hi found solution to not been able to load credit or check balance, i think whats going on is mtn cannot carry 3g properly on the storm and wont admit it.
go to manage connections , mobile network options and change network mode to 2g, u should be able to check ur balance and all after that.
LikeLike
November 25, 2009 at 3:18 pm
thanks TJ for the tip..
LikeLike
September 25, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Hello Don,
I recently got a second hand blackberry, loaded it with N5,000 and also sent an sms (BIS) to 21600.
Several times later I still keep getting the response that I am not a valid prepaid customer.
I have a new prepaid sim in the BB.
Any suggestions?
Thanks and God bless.
Ized
LikeLike
September 26, 2009 at 9:55 am
that i do not know. you have to visit an MTN office and make inquiry.
LikeLike
November 9, 2009 at 11:06 pm
please I can’t check my balance on my bb tour and its frustrating and also please if I have a contract line from mtn do I need to pay the 5k and can I pay with the preloaded money on my fone which I can’t check by the way
LikeLike
November 11, 2009 at 10:17 pm
1. on balance checking, can you check before you subscribe to BB?
2. i think you can pay using your preloaded money. everytime you rload your fone to more than 5k, BB will automatically allocate/deduct the 5k from your balance. the remainder will for voice and text.
LikeLike
November 25, 2009 at 3:19 pm
i think TJ on the above post has found the solution to this issue.
LikeLike
November 26, 2009 at 11:59 am
how do postpaid mtn users connect to bis pls very urgent
LikeLike
November 26, 2009 at 3:14 pm
you have to visit an MTN office. there is also a form you can fill up online on their website. BIS is for prepaid…
LikeLike
November 26, 2009 at 12:00 pm
bis to 21600 doesn’t work
LikeLike
December 4, 2009 at 1:15 am
ur prepaid load should be more than 5k.
and try using capital letters.
else, try again….
LikeLike
December 3, 2009 at 2:55 pm
i have blackberry storm2,am using a glo sim with…i just loaded 5k balance on it…how can i activate browzin on glo? please help
LikeLike
December 4, 2009 at 1:07 am
READ WELL:
1. http://www.gloworld.com/content.aspx?id=39&Cn=GloMobile
2. http://www.gloworld.com/content.aspx?id=38&Cn=GloMobile
3. http://www.gloworld.com/content.aspx?id=120&Cn=GloMobile
LikeLike
December 3, 2009 at 2:56 pm
anyone knows how to activate browzin on glo?
LikeLike
December 4, 2009 at 1:02 am
please visit their site:
http://www.gloworld.com/content.aspx?id=39&Cn=GloMobile
or you can call: 08051234567
or e-mail:Blackberry@gloworld.com
LikeLike
December 16, 2009 at 4:53 pm
I HAVE TRIED CHANGING MY NETWORK TO 2G BUT IS TILL CANT CHECK MY ACCOUNT BALANCE ON MY BLACKBERY STORM…CAN SOME ONE HELP
LikeLike
December 17, 2009 at 6:17 pm
STILL NEED HELP GUYS
LikeLike
December 17, 2009 at 8:08 pm
delvy, please go to nearest MTN service center…
LikeLike
December 19, 2009 at 1:29 pm
pls how do i check my account balance& do other # function things on my blackberry tour
LikeLike
December 21, 2009 at 5:36 pm
you have to inquire from your provider what are the commands.
but subscription ends on the date you got registered.
Say, ur BB was activated on Dec 5th. then every 5t of succeeding month, your service will stop.
when you reload, it will take 24 hours to update before the BB service is back.
LikeLike
December 21, 2009 at 5:39 pm
SMART PHILIPPINES nowhas prepaid Blackberry service.
But a lot of crappy features like :
– automatic deduction of load at 10P evry 30mins.
– difficulty renewing the daily subscription.
– limitation on usage
MTN Nigeria is still way ahead of Philippine providers when it comes to BB prepaid subscription service.
LikeLike
February 12, 2010 at 12:29 am
Hmm…. this is a piece of writing I’m willing to take a bullet for. Absolutely hits the mark. I have some minor concerns but I don’t desire to commence a lengthy post and somebody might flame me. Just wish to maintain this blog civil and clean. Wouldn’t like any hatemail would i? lol keep it up!
LikeLike
February 12, 2010 at 8:28 am
Cool, I finally stumbled to a site about this! I was daydreaming about it this morning (well technically evening dreaming as it was evening time ) and now I discover this site. Coincidence alright. Might be checking back!
LikeLike
February 18, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Please i unlocked my blackberry storm myself. I’m using MTN, and it has this message on the head saying activation required. I am not able to check my credit balance nor load. I heard there’s some kind of code that is required that will make the activation. Please i need someone to help me out, reply my comment or give me a phone call to 08035764842
LikeLike
May 6, 2010 at 8:16 am
This work perfectly on mtn but only SIM cards that are SIM Plus enabled
To check ur balance or load credit follow this navigation:
Setup-mtn services-mtn sim plus-my tools ….. after clicking ‘ok’ to this level, u can choose wat u wanna do and follow the instruction. Itz easy
LikeLike
February 23, 2010 at 10:13 am
i went to computer village. and within 30 mins my curve and my wife’s storm started browsing. Those guys are gurus. The guy that help me do it bears: nathaniel. No. 1B adepelle computer village ikeja.besides UBA medical road ikeja.his no 08034247829. they worth d comment
LikeLike
March 10, 2010 at 1:43 pm
guyz how do u put bis on hold? Help
LikeLike
April 28, 2010 at 8:50 am
just got a blackberry curve,am a student
i dont no how to activate it weekly
pls snd the steps.
LikeLike
May 6, 2010 at 8:18 am
This work perfectly on mtn but only SIM cards that are SIM Plus enabled
To check ur balance or load credit follow this navigation:
Setup-mtn services-mtn sim plus-my tools ….. after clicking ‘ok’ to this level, u can choose wat u wanna do and follow the instruction. Itz easy
LikeLike
May 16, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Been sleeping, dreamin and eating the thoughts of havin a BB soon..
But i hear this one-off charge?
Does this mean i will be billed 10k for starters instead of the 5k i think??
Need clarification on this..
Thanx,..
LikeLike
May 16, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Besides, im thinkin of the MTN BIS service..
LikeLike
June 23, 2010 at 11:28 am
Do u know if i can just send text to mtn in order to configure my bb storm( china)
LikeLike
June 24, 2010 at 1:30 pm
I don’t know about BB made in China. you can try.
LikeLike
June 24, 2010 at 2:39 am
Great articles & Also a nice a site�. Might want to add more graphics for this topic if you have any.
LikeLike
June 24, 2010 at 3:05 am
Hello, I found your blog in a new directory of blogs. I dont know how your blog came up, must have been a typo, but your blog looks good. Have a nice day. keep the helpful content coming…
LikeLike
June 25, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Hi, I stumbled on how to fix the “Activation Required” on your home screen.
Am using an unlocked Verizon Storm 2(9550) and I used to have “Activation Required” on my home screen + my phone number displays incorrectly,This was how i fixed it:
Dial ##000000 (Send).
In the Menu – change the “mobile the directory number” to your MTN number and select save. The device will reboot and activate.
~cheerz*
LikeLike
June 28, 2010 at 4:15 pm
i just got a BB Curve and i sent BIS to 21600 for activation since three days ago but my phone hasn’t been activated since i sent the text. What do i do next?
LikeLike
June 29, 2010 at 9:11 pm
Hi i sent bis 2 21600 ystday,nd immedietly mtn deducted d required mny 4rm my account nd sent me a text dt it would b activated in 24 hrs,nd dt they are processin my request nd dt i shouldn’t send another 1 nd dt they’d send a confirmation 2 me,nd til nw,i’ve not gotten a reply.i sent d sms at 9;15 ystday.pls what do u suggest i do.i use blackberry curve.thanx
LikeLike
July 16, 2010 at 10:42 am
Hello peeps, this is to everyone that has a BB storm and cannot load or check balance. I had the same problem for a couple of weeks but i bumped into a temporary solution for it. You need to go to the phone optons then click on Mobile Network, click on the Menu button, click on Diagonistic test then click on Run. When the test completes, try and check your balance.It should work.
options>mobile network>menu>diagonistic test>run…thats the path…good luck
LikeLike
December 16, 2011 at 10:04 am
It stil wil not work
LikeLike
September 12, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Hi my name is mosesi am usin a bold 2.I downloaded yahoo messenger bt cannot use.error message is(service not enabled for dis handheld)pls help me do sumtin about it.I realy need it.thanks in advance.
LikeLike
September 30, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Hi, i bought a used Blackberry Bold 9000 at GSM Village in Abuja.I subscribe for MTN BBWEEK.They have deducted 1,300 naira twice and yet not working.I went to their office the said the had a problem and initially refunded my money and said i should try again after one week,which i did and it still didnt work.I went bac and my sim was upgraded to a higher capacity Sim.Yet nothing happened.The issue now is that i am wandering whether my BB Pin is block or something else.The BB is O2 branded and has been unlock.Every other thing works fine except the BB service.My PIN is 2560C477 and the IMEI no is 355256.02.656968.9
Please if there is anything i need to do just let me know.You can get me on this number.08033330417
I will really appreciate your suggestion.Thanks
LikeLike
October 8, 2010 at 11:54 am
I just got the bb tour, form a friend,
i put in my mtn sim card and i could not check my balance.
only through the sim service as described above.
i now changed the “My Number” in the phone settings, or use the code(code to type>> ##000000)to my sim number 080xxxxxxxx save the changes and i could now check my balance *556#
LikeLike
October 8, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Hey,so after a whole tear and a couple of BB’s,im back to a storm,nd of course,the ‘not being able to check my balance problem’. However,i just tried funflex’s advise,and did it work? OF COURSE. thanx bro….really dont care if its temporary as long as every time i do it,it solves the problem. thanx once again bro. 🙂
LikeLike
March 11, 2011 at 7:07 pm
A very big thanks to Funflex he just saved my day!
LikeLike
May 17, 2011 at 2:23 pm
OK, so i take back my criticism on Smart BB’s (initial) service offering.
I went home for vacation last Nov 2010, i tried Smart prepaid BB WEEK. Activation was very quick and email setup was easier and faster than MTN. they said browsing is not free but i tried finishing my extra load and then do wap browsing and , walla, it was ok and still browsing. speed was also at par as my MTN BB experience. overall, Smart BB is not bad at all.
to all those with problems on BB, the solution there is to upgrade your BB OS.
when you buy it, the BB (except Torch) have OS 4.x and it will cause problems with all networking sites because their apps are updated to latest OS but not your own. So if you have laptop, you can download latest OS for your device. Install in your laptop and upgrade.
How to upgrade:
(Assuming you downloaded the latest OS, i downloaded mine from Rogers Wireless Canada or Orange UK, whoever has the latest. The filenme readds like this: 8900M_PBr5.0.0_rel1626_PL5.2.0.96_A5.0.0.900_Rogers_Wireless_Inc.exe. Maybe Smart has OS upgrade site also)
1. Install the file in your PC or laptopn. Reboot if you like. This OS upgrade is different from the BB desktop Manager.
2. Connect your BB to the PC or laptop. Does not matter if you choose Y or N to the mediacard challenge.
3. Go to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\AppLoader. Look for the vendor.xml and delete it. Look for Loader.exe. Double-click Loader.exe
4. Click Next. Then Next. On the next menu, uncheck the other languages except English. Make sure you check the DOD root, MIME Support. Skip the TTY and Financial Terms. You can check Yahoo Messenger, Facebook, and Appworld.
5. Click Next. Then Next.
6. Relax for 30 minutes….
After upgrad is done and EDGE/GPRS has come back, check your FB, YM, Twitter, MySpace and what-have-you to update your login/password. Check your BBM also to accept the conditions.
I guaranty your woes will disappear.
btw, only 2 version and one of them is Torch that has BB OS 6. the rest of us will be happy with the ver 5.x
Hope this helps.
LikeLike
August 19, 2011 at 10:00 am
pls how do you check your account balance using glo post paid network?
LikeLike
August 19, 2011 at 12:49 pm
send SMS message to 2222, with this word: BILL
example: “BILL” send to 2222 (of course, without the apostrophe)
LikeLike
October 6, 2011 at 7:27 am
Can any 1 help me i bought blackberry 8830 world edition but i cant check my account balance.if i try 2 dial *556# its start making a call instead of requesting. My mobile 08160201000 facebook name Elijah w dlakwa.reply.
LikeLike
October 6, 2011 at 7:55 am
Its takes me too long to installed apps in bb 8830 any solution? Pls help
LikeLike
November 4, 2011 at 8:48 am
Nigerian Singles…
[…]Sent from my Blackberry « Musings of Don Kishote….[…]…
LikeLike
December 21, 2011 at 5:40 pm
It seems this inability to check Account balance and recharge using *556# is affecting a lot of people. tried to help a friend fix hers.. not working.. tried all the methods
LikeLike
March 5, 2013 at 7:16 am
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up!
I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back in the future. All the best
LikeLike