How To Prevent Access to Your Mobile Phone Provider's Internet Service When Using A Blackberry and Avoid Incurring Data Charges

If you are paying for Blackberry data services but don't have a mobile internet plan with your mobile phone provider, then you could eventually incur mobile data charges outside of your allowance if your phone is not set up to avoid this.

Mobile data charges without an internet browsing plan can be incurred by accessing your Blackberry's browser or by using an application that makes use of your mobile phone provider's APN settings.

To prevent this:

1. Select Menu
2. Go to Options
3. Go to Advanced Options
4. Go to TCP/IP
5. Make sure that the field under APN is cleared, otherwise, you risk being charged.

Locked Out of Android Phone After Too Many Pattern Lock Attempts

If your phone wont accept your gmail login and password in this scenario here are the possible work arounds:


RESOLUTION 1:

• Try entering "null" as password. (together with your Google username)

RESOLUTION 2:

1. Create a new Gmail account on the computer.
2. Call your cell phone with a different phone. 
3. Answer your cell phone then hit the back button and it will take you to the home screen.
4. Turn on WiFi so it can do data and voice at the same time (remember that the phone is still connected)
5. Go to Settings -> Location & Security and disable lock pattern (you'll need to enter to correct pattern previously set)
6. Go to Settings -> Accounts & Sync and click "Add Account" and add your newly created Gmail account.
7. Disconnect the call and switch the phone off. 
8. Turn the phone back on, at the lockout screen, enter your new Gmail account info and it should let you back in 
9. Once the phone is unlocked, you can go in setting and remove the newly added Gmail account and keep the old one.

RESOLUTION 3:

In this case the solution is to make a factory reset (sometimes referred to as hard reset or wipe). This will erase all data on your phone (not on your SD-card). Your contacts and mails should be in sync with the Google servers, no problem there then. Downloaded applications needs to be installed again but there is a list of your previous downloads in the Android Market->My Downloads. Other things though are lost if you haven’t backed them up manually with a 3rd party application. Example on things you will lose: Call logs, text messages, application settings.

This is your 3 step solution

1. Factory reset your phone (links to Android device manuals can be found below, it differs between devices)
2. Setup your phone just like you did the first time you unpacked it (use the same Google Account if you want your old contacts back!)
3. Restore any manual back-ups and install your previous applications from the My Downloads list.

Unable To Setup/Create A Google Account Using Samsung Galaxy S

RESOLUTION 1:

1. Go to settings -> Applications -> Manage installed applications.
2. Change the filter by pressing the more settings button to show all all applications.
3. Find the download manager application and Clear Data.
4. Find the Market application and clear the cache.

RESOLUTION 2:

• Go to settings > privacy > factory data reset
• Warning: This erases the wifi settings, alarm clock settings, all installed games and apps, all sms and phone contacts

Blackberry Messenger Disappears

Possible reasons: 

• Accidentally hid icon
• There was a recent firmware update.

RESOLUTION 1:

1. Press the Menu key
2. Select Options
3. Select Show All
4. Highlight missing icon.
5. De-select Hide.

RESOLUTION 2:

1. Hook up device onto computer and run Blackberry Desktop Manager.
2. Go to Application Loader.
3. Under Add/Remove Apps highlight the BlackBerry Messenger application.
4. Click Next
5. Click Finish.
6. When the process has completed, the message The loading operation was successful will appear. Click Close to return to the BlackBerry Desktop Manager.

RESOLUTION 3:

1. Delete the BBMessenger app at Options > Advanced > Applications.
2. Then, reboot: With the BlackBerry device powered ON, remove the battery a few seconds and then reinsert the battery to reboot.
3. Then once back up, use your BlackBerry browser to go to http://www.blackberry.com/blackberrymessenger  and download and install the application again.
4. Once completed and rebooting the device again, look in Instant Messaging folder or Downloads.

HTC Desire: Connecting to a virtual private network (VPN)

Connecting to a virtual private network (VPN)

From your phone, you can add, set up, and manage virtual private networks (VPNs) that allow you to connect and access resources inside a secured local network, such as your corporate network.

Depending on the type of VPN you are using at work, you may be required to enter your login credentials and/or install security certificates before you can connect to your company’s local network. You can get this information from your network administrator.

Also, your phone must first establish a Wi-Fi or data connection before you can initiate a VPN connection. For information about setting up and using these connections on your phone, see Data connection and Wi-Fi.

Setting up secure credential storage

If your network administrator instructs you to download and install security certificates, you must first set up the phone’s secure credential storage.

1. From the Home screen, press MENU, tap Settings > Security, and then tap Set password.
2. Enter a new password for the credential storage (at least 8 characters without any spaces).
3. Scroll down and confirm the password, and then tap OK.
4. Select the Use secure credentials check box.

You can then download and install the certificates needed to access your local network Your network administrator can tell you how to do this.

Adding a VPN connection

1. From the Home screen, press MENU, tap Settings > Wireless & networks > VPN settings.
2. Tap Add VPN, and then tap the type of VPN you want to add.
3. Tap the VPN settings and set them up according to the security details you obtained from your network administrator.
4. Press MENU, and then tap Save.
5. The VPN is then added to the VPNs section of the VPN settings screen.

Connecting to a VPN

1. From the Home screen, press MENU, tap Settings > Wireless & networks > VPN settings.
2. In the VPNs section, tap the VPN that you want to connect to.
3. When prompted, enter your log in credentials, and then tap Connect. When you are connected, the VPN connected icon  appears in the notification area of the title bar.

You can then open the web browser to access resources such as intranet sites on your corporate network.

Disconnecting from a VPN

1. Press and hold the title bar, and then slide down your finger to open the Notifications panel.
2. Tap the VPN connection to return to the VPN settings screen, and then tap the VPN connection to disconnect from it.

When your phone has disconnected from the VPN, the VPN disconnected icon  is displayed in the notification area of the title bar.

HTC Desire: Data connection

Data connection

Your phone will be automatically configured to use your mobile operator’s data connection when you turn on your phone (if the SIM card is inserted) for the first time.

Checking the data connection you are using

1. From the Home screen, press MENU, and then tap Settings > Wireless & networks.
2. Tap Mobile networks > Network operators or Access Point Names.

Turning the data connection on or off

Turning your data connection off can help optimize your battery life. It can also save money on data charges. However, when your data connection is turned off, you may not always receive automatic updates to your email, social network accounts, and other synchronized information.

1. From the Home screen, press MENU, and then tap Settings > Wireless & networks.
2. Select the Mobile network check box to turn on the data connection; clear the check box to turn off the data connection.

Creating a new access point

When you need to add another data connection on your phone, obtain the access point name and settings (including username and password if required) from your mobile operator.

1. From the Home screen, press MENU, and then tap Settings > Wireless & networks.
2. Tap Mobile networks > Access Point Names.
3. On the APNs screen, press MENU and then tap New APN.
4. On the Edit access point screen, enter the APN settings. Tap an APN setting item to edit it.
5. Press MENU and then tap Save.

Enabling data roaming

Data roaming lets you connect to your mobile operator’s partner networks and access data services when you are out of your mobile operator’s coverage area.

Important: Accessing data services while roaming may incur significant charges. Inquire about the data roaming tariffs with your mobile operator before enabling data roaming.

1. From the Home screen, press MENU, and then tap Settings > Wireless & networks.
2. Tap Mobile networks, and then select the Data roaming check box.

HTC Desire: Using your phone as a modem (tethering)

Using your phone as a modem (tethering)

Get online with your notebook or desktop computer at any time, using your phone’s data connection. For information on setting up and using the data connection, see Data connection.

• You need to install HTC Sync before you can use your phone as a modem. Refer to Using HTC Sync for details.
• You need a SIM card installed on your phone.

1. Make sure your phone’s data connection is turned on. See Data connection to learn how to turn on the phone’s data connection.
2. Connect the phone to the computer using the provided USB cable.
3. On the Connect to PC screen, select Internet sharing, and then tap Done.

Note: When you are using your phone as a modem, the USB mass storage feature is disabled, and you are also not able to use HTC Sync.