General BlackBerry® Functions and Features

[Vanchatron]

I just popped round to my parent's house & they said that if I needed a mobile phone, they had purchased a used one off eBay but it didn't come with any manuals etc (only charger). Turns out it was a Blackberry, so I gladly took it off them

Anyway, now that I'm back at home, I haven't got a clue what they can actually do. To be honest, I didn't even know blackberries were phones aswell as PDA's. Anyway...

- What can it actually do?  I have no idea, apart from that it can access the Internet.

- Is there a beginners guide or something along the lines of a guide, which I can have a read through in order to understand the phone better?

- The phone is on T-Mobile PAYG (although apparently it's unlocked to ANY network). I transferred my T-Mobile sim from my old phone over to the Blackberry, but it says "Data Connection Refused" at the top of the screen. What does this mean?

- How do I access the Internet/receive emails to my phone etc?  Also, is there a charge for this?  I'm from the UK by the way, incase different charges apply to different countries etc.

Anyway, I'll await some responses and thanks in advance!

[bbvodamum]

Just contact your mobile operator...they will explain in detail what a BB Device can do and what GPRS subscription to subscribe for your BlackBerry to work right....

Your SIM might not have the BB plan and hence it showed 'Data Connection Refused'...to verify, just insert a SIM which have an activated BB plan...you should have EDGE (in caps)....

[tanzim]

- What can it actually do?  I have no idea, apart from that it can access the Internet.

BlackBerry Internet Service (known BIS) can integrate any POP or IMAP email ID and give notification whenever your integrated mail IDs received any email. You don't need to login to your hotmail, yahoo or gmail to check the mail as they will automatically can be read from your device. 10 POP or IMAP supported mails can be integrated. Your corporate email can also be integrated with BlackBerry Enterprise Service (BES) which required additional hardware and software requirement.

- Is there a beginners guide or something along the lines of a guide, which I can have a read through in order to understand the phone better?

Follow the link for getting your desired device documentation. 

- The phone is on T-Mobile PAYG (although apparently it's unlocked to ANY network). I transferred my T-Mobile sim from my old phone over to the Blackberry, but it says "Data Connection Refused" at the top of the screen. What does this mean?

For using BlackBerry services you need to be subscribed for BlackBerry separately. 'Data Connection Refused' means your device is not connected with BlackBerry infrastructure due to which you'll not be able to use any data service related service. 

- How do I access the Internet/receive emails to my phone etc?  Also, is there a charge for this?  I'm from the UK by the way, incase different charges apply to different countries etc.

Once you're subscribed for BlackBerry service from your carrier you'll be able to use internet and send and receive emails. Having unlimited data plan doesn't entitled you to use BlackBerry services. This is separate from unlimited data plan. Of course there is cost involved for this. Using BlackBerry service in different country requires you to have international roaming facility. International roaming is certainly a cost service. In which ever country you want to use BlackBerry service your carrier need to have data roaming facility with the other carrier in that specific country.