newBBie.com

Not only do mailto links work, phone numbers are also clickable automatically, even ones like 555-123-4567 ext. 5657 (It will pause to wait for your to send the extension at the appropriate time.)

Neil, Thanks for pointing out a really powerful feature: The BlackBerry Browser indeed lets you click on phone numbers on a web page and the phone will dial the number–a neat trick since I’m certain the original web page has nothing coded into it to signify a phone number. Rather, the browser has to scan the content of the page and figure out what is a phone number then do the linking. I have since discovered that feature in other apps. I’ve been evaluating the Opera Mini browser. It’s way cool, too, but I can’t yet say it’s better than the BlackBerry browser. At the moment, I like them both for different reasons.

Hey I am struggling to figure out how to go to a web page on my browser! When selecting the menu in my browser there is no option for “Go to” or what not- how do I access a website such as google?

Kati,
Are you using the BlackBerry Browser? I assume you are but want to be sure. When you press the Menu key, you should get choices including: Help, Get Link, Go To…, History, etc. If your phone is new, make sure you’re choosing the BlackBerry Browser, and make sure you’re pressing the Menu (BlackBerry) key–the one to the left of the trackball.

Please let me know, as I have not heard of this problem before.
Kelly

Kelly,

This site is great! I had the same problem as Kati. Many times, when I’m attempting to register my email or first open up the browser, I had NO option for “Go to…” in the menu. After about 2 hours of searching through menus, I was able to visit the Verizon support page, which thankfully was a website. Once I hit that site, I was able to find the “Go to…” option. Any idea of why/when the above problem exists? Glad to know that i’m not the only person that had trouble browsing.

Troy (and Kati),
I wonder if the “Go to” option gets hidden if the phone knows using it would fail. Why might it fail? (1) You don’t have a data plan. (2) Your phone can’t make a connection to the Internet due to some temporary outage or network problem.

If anyone knows or has an opinion, please let us know.
Kelly

Kelly,

That’s what I assumed (no data plan since I bought had bought it the same day), but I was finally able to browse. I’m quite happy that I was able to stumble upon the “Go to…” option, as I was 95% sure that I was going to return it as of 1:00 am last night. Thankfully, I spent way too much time at work today browsing for tips, tricks, apps, and software for the phone, and now I think I’ve fallen in love with phone. Still, i wouldn’t mind hearing others inputs on the potential cause of why the “Go to…” link is not always there. I’ll attempt to reproduce those results again.
t

Troy,
Well, maybe your data plan got activated during the hours you say you were fooling around with it, and suddenly the “Go to” link appeared. Possible?

Anyhow, glad you’re loving the phone. It gets better!
Kelly

Hi. Any reason that I cannot access the web with my temporary number? (waiting for my old number to be released) There is no place on the main screen to access the web. The book says to look for the globe with the arrows around it, and I don’t have that. Thanks in advance. Terry

Terry,
Try Options > Advanced Options > Host Routing Table > (press Menu key) > Register Now. Let me know if that works or not.
Kelly

Hey. It says that a “registration on” message has been sent. So will the icon eventually show up on the home screen? Thanks a bunch, Kelly. Terry

Has anyone tried using Microsoft Outlook Web Access on the Pearl? I’ve been trying to use it on mine for work, but it’s not really working. With the BB browser, I can login, but I can only click on certain links. For example, I can click on the “Inbox” link, but none of the message links. I can click on the link to compose a new message, but once the page loads, I can’t enter text into any fields. All in all, it’s been a strange experience.

I also have the Opera browser on the phone. Unfortunately, I’m not able to login with that browser. It asks me for the credentials, but it only reloads the login screen once I hit the menu key to select “Login.”

I know I should probably have my work email sent to the Pearl directly, but I thought it would be nice to have some control over my accessibility for work-related communications.

Thanks in advance.

Sam – I never tried OWA but I did after seeing your post. My company allows access via OWA 2003 and after logging in, there’s very few links that seem to permit clicking. None of the messages themselves appear clickable.

I didn’t try tweaking any of the BB Browser options to see if it made a difference.

But at least you know it’s not just you.

David,
Thanks for helping Sam. In the coming months my employer will be moving to Exchange server, BES, etc. and I’ll get to experiment with a lot of new stuff like OWA. Till then I need help from readers on questions like these.
Kelly

I have the same problem as Troy. The “Go To” link is only on the menu some of the time. I can still surf by going to my home page and eventually getting to google, but when I don’t have “Go To” I also don’t have my bookmarks. Any ideas?

Thanks

Glen,
I’ve heard of two fixes that have worked for others:

1. Hold the ALT key and press the BACK key (to right of trackball). A wide thin window will pop up. Scroll to the browser icon and click it. Press the Menu key and Close that browser. Reopen the browser again and see if the Go To and Bookmarks return.

2. Pull the battery (remove, wait 10 seconds, replace, wait 2 minutes for it to reset).

If either works for you, would you please return and let me know which–so I can help others in the future.
Kelly

I used Kelly’s option one and it fixed the problem of go to and bookmarks not showing up. Thank you!

Mike,
Thanks for confirming that as a fix!
Kelly

Hey – I just found this site through google when trying to solve the “go to” problem and Kelly’s first solution worked for me as well. Thanks!

Kelly’s 2nd Fix worked like a charm after i got my Pearl replaced last night and the new one wasn’t working at all

Brittani,
Thanks for returning to let us know what worked. And I’m glad it DID work for you.
Kelly

Kelly
You may have answered this already somehow but I can’t locate it, so I will ask-

My Blackberry Browser Icon is gone. Browser still there because I threw an ESPN shortcut on my desktop but not the Blackberry Browser Icon that was originally there. Can I get it back?

PS Sorry if this seems like a stupid question….
PSS Love Soft Reset and Jott

Thanks for all you learn for me…..

George

I am having the same problem as Kelli – I purchased the data program, I have connectivity, but I have no “go to” option. I have no ability to connect to the internet. Email works perfectly, however when you choose “browser” a page with my email address and the option to add an email account, create a blackberry email, services and settings, and end user agreement. If you hit the menu button, you will get every option under the sun BUT the “go to” option. What should I do?!

Brittney,
On my Verizon phone, if I open the Setup Wizard, it opens the BlackBerry Browser and takes me to a web page for setting up an email account. Sounds just like what’s happening to you. Either you’re actually opening the same Wizard, or you are opening the Browser and it’s currently set to take you to the same kind of setup page that mine is.

Have you tried following through with adding an email account, even if you don’t really want to, just to see if it gets you over the obstacle you’re having? I think that’s worth a try. Maybe the Go To link will try up after you do a setup.

Otherwise, I advise the old “battery pull” trick: remove battery, wait, replace battery, wait for it to recover. That trick can be tried to fix almost anything.

I have read where people have had the same problem and fixed it but they weren’t sure what they did that fixed it. If you discover anything, please return to let us know.
Kelly

@George,
It’s a fairly commonly reported problem, although no one I know understands why it happens.

Try this: Options > Advanced Options > Host Routing Table > (press Menu key) > Register Now.

Give that some time (many minutes?) to take effect. Power cycle your phone; even better, do a battery pull (remove, wait, replace, wait for recovery).

Let me know what happens.
Kelly

@Kelly

Just FYI , neither remedy cured my disappearing Browser icon…. as I said I am not worried about it because I can access the browser. Just weird.

I have used Opera a few times as well with little benefit (or drawback)… but I LOVE the Opera 9.5 for the PC, especially the Speed Dial feature.

Thanks for all your help.

George

hi kelly
is the BB browser same like that of a pc or is it like an ordinary pocket internet explorer?

and does it support flash played websites, if you can do me a favour and log on to http://www.webmail.co.za and tell me if the adverts on the BB are floating around the screen as that on a normal pc?

Ubaid,
The BB Browser is unique. As I understand it, the BlackBerry Internet Server works between the remote web site and the phone. It tries to alter the HTML so that the phone’s browser and display can render it better. Your site looks quite good to me on my Pearl’s BB Browser screen. Flash is definitely not supported on any BlackBerry for any browser right now, so I see [Flash: button3] at the top of your initial page. It starts to the lower right of your banner, then wraps below and to the left of the banner. It doesn’t look too bad. You may want to do a browser check and substitute something else for the Flash object if the browser type is BlackBerry (I don’t know what the HTTP user-agent is, but you can probably google and find out).

Let me know if you want me to check any more of your site. It looks very good–great work!
Kelly

Ok, all of the sudden I have two browser icons, one is the regular browser and the other is now labeled trooper typing? It brings me to a blackberry eula, I have no idea how this just magically appeared and cant figure out a way to get rid of it. Already been to the apps area and cant seem to find it.

I just fixed my own problem, I went into service books, found the trooper typing thing and deleted it. It appears to have deleted the icon from my home screen now.

Hi, found this blog via google trying to fix the missing “go to” problem on my new blackberry pearl. Option one did fix the problem and I’m now able to surf. Thanks for posting the information on how to fix this.

-MM

I also had the same problem with the ‘goto…’ option disappearing on my Curve 8330. I first noticed it when I got the phone, and thought that the data had not yet been turned on, since I knew I had signed up for one of the higher plans. The next day, when I still had no web access (except the bis homepage), I was about to take it back when I somehow stumbled upon a webpage (don’t remember how). From that point on, I was able to go to any page, however if I accidentally hit ‘home’, it took me back to the BIS page, where the ‘goto…’ option was still gone. However, I got around this by going to the history and clicking any site, then clicking goto once I got there (however inconvenient this is).

Well, this morning I accidentally deleted my history while playing with my phone, since its still new What do you know, I once again have no web access and only access to the BIS homepage. I call Verizon customer service, who treat me like I am retarded by repeatedly asking me if I am opening the browser and not email options, then tell me to turn the phone off and back on. Obviously, this didn’t work so I came here.

Kelly, your suggestion in post #16 worked immediately (the first one). It seems like somehow the browser gets stuck in that mode, and unless you actually close it manually (versus pressing the ‘end’ button), then it won’t let you go anywhere else. As soon as I closed it manually and reopened, it worked fine!! It took me a really long time to find this on the net and I’m surprised there is not more on it since it seems to happen to a lot of people. Blackberry and Verizon should definitely take note, it is such a simple thing but not one that we tend to think about!

Thanks,
Mike

@Matt,
I just found the Trooper Typing icon (looks same as BlackBerry Browser) on my Home Screen. After some research, what it seems is that Verizon recently chose to do “virtual preloading” of a service book for “Dynamic VPL Trooper Typing” when I rebooted my phone. It doesn’t show up as an installed app, but shows up in Options > Advanced Options > Service Book. It can and should be deleted there. Why Verizon would do this, I don’t know. I don’t appreciate it.
Kelly

Thanks Kelly, I don’t know why they would do this either. It wasn’t on there originally. I purchased it used from another person and as far as I can remember it wasn’t on there. Then I think I downloaded something and it just showed up. I don’t think its nice that they just preload your phone with a bunch of their crap that they think you should have.

But your site is great and has helped a newbie like me tremendously. I don’t think I could ever go back to a regular phone now!

Hello Kelly,

I have had my pearl for abut 8 months & have been very pleased, my only complaint is that sometimes I have difficulty getting the bb browser to load….it seems it gets stuck sometimes & once it happens I can’t get out of it…can you help? I realize I can pull the battery but it seems to be happening fairly often so I was wondering if there is something that I am doing wrong to make Pearl behave this way?
I also have a question about opera mini, a friend of mine put it on Pearl a while back & swears by it but I find that navigating around a screen that I can’t read is difficult….what am I doing wrong there? When I say that I can’t read it I mean it’s too small until you highlight the portion you would like to read but I find I’m guessing where to go on web pages?? I realize it is called opera mini so maybe that’s just how it works?
Thanks for your help!

@Reggie

Just a quick fix to your OperaMini problem…after you zoom in use the number keypad just like on th BB browser to navigate the page quickly. The number shortcuts arent the same, however. (2 and 8 go up and down instead of 3 and 9; etc….check shortcuts for exact movement).

As for the lockup SoftReset is very helpful to keep memory up (which could be the problem). Hope this helps at least a little.

George

Thanks George! I will try both of the above & see what happens…I appreciate the quick response as I am a mildly inpatient bb user..

Reggie

Reggie and George,
Thanks for working together on that Opera Mini question. I prefer the BB Browser but I still like having Opera on my phone, too.

Reggie,
The problem with BB Browser “getting stuck” probably isn’t anything you’re doing wrong. It sounds more like a wireless network issue, maybe a signal strength issue. I live in an area with a weak signal and some days/nights it seems to do worse than average. Some days the browser won’t ever open any page I try. So, I’m pretty sure it’s related to signal or network congestion.

Hope that helps a little.
Kelly

I was having GO TO troubles, the first suggested method (alt+Stuff) worked for me.

Thanks for making this site.. It’s been helpful for me, especially since I’m late to the game — I get to catch up on all the things y’all have learned.

I came back this morning to read Part 3 of the Ring, Vibrate and Flash tutorials (which I have found very useful, btw) when it occurred to me that there may be a connection between themes and functionality of the suggested fixes described in this blog. Lo and behold changing themes not only restored my Browser Icon but the GO TO option was back as well.

I reverted back to my original (preferred) theme configuration in hopes that the icon for the BB Browser would miraculously be there…. it was not. Oh well. Wish there was a ‘create shortcut on Desktop’ option likes Windows has…

Happy 4th of July.

Hi guys

I was using my BB as usual and i received an email, just like normal, i opened it- then i received an sms later on and my phone will not open my sms page- it won’t even let me open my email either-when i click on both icons my phone freezes- please can someone help me- feelin a little stressed!

Vanessa,
Trying resetting your phone. Pull the battery, wait a while, replace the battery, and let it recover. See if that fixes your problem.

Which model of BlackBerry do you have?
Kelly

Also having a problem with “Go To” disappearing from the menu? When this happens, the “Bookmarks” also disappear??? Holding the Alt key + Back key does not work. This happens CONSTANTLY throughout the day and is very much a pain, right when you’re in the middle of something. This is the 3rd Blackberry Curve 8330 Verizon that does this??? My 1st one never did have this problem, however I believe it had the older software. Any other fixes, Verizon tech support is clueless. Only thing that works is yanking the battery, however something is obviously wrong here. Once and a while fine, but a half dozen times pulling the battery?

Also, anyone know why when you click on some desktop icons you get the “uncaught exception” error message???

And, how do you forward/email a webpage using Opera Mini? The option is not on the menu anywhere unlike the BB menu.

Thanks!!!

Danny

Danny,
Either you got three identically defective Curves in a row, or possibly some application you’ve loaded on each of them is somehow to blame (if that applies). The kind of problems you describe make it sound like something in the OS is getting corrupted. If you tell me which apps you’ve loaded, maybe I can see something that could be a problem.
Kelly

The only applications I’ve downloaded are several desktop icons: CNBC, WSJ, LA Times, CNN, NY Times, USA Today, Weather Channel, and FOX News. No programs at all? The phone is great otherwise, however this is frustrating. Thanks for any input! Danny

Danny,
You mentioned Opera Mini, so that’s a 3rd-party application although a reputable on that you wouldn’t expect problems from. Still, there was a time when Opera Mini “worked” on my BlackBerry Pearl but wasn’t “approved” due to lack of testing. A few features were flakey. Since your problems are, in fact, web-related, you might want to consider uninstalling Opera Mini for a few days, reset your phone, and see if anything changes. I would doubt it, but you have to try something, anything, when you have no other options. Whatever you do, if you learn anything, please let me know.
Kelly

Opera is not the cause since it was installed after the problem persisted and suggested by Verizon as a workaround for the issue.
However, I have’nt figured out how to forward a web page by email with Opera???

Danny,
I apologize, but 2 of my 3 BlackBerry models are not available at the moment for testing with Opera Mini, and my 3rd BlackBerry doesn’t have Opera Mini installed yet. If I get time, I’ll install it and investigate. I can’t find online where Opera Mini has the feature you’re looking for. Are you sure it even has that feature? Are you using the latest version (4.2, I think)?
Kelly

Hello Kelly,

I do not see where a webpage can be sent by email in Opera Mini and the BB browser has no “Go To” or “Bookmarks”?

So I either get stuck at 1 website, or cannot share/forward information.
What to do? Hmmmmm? Installing Opera has not fixed my predicament.

Danny,
The BlackBerry Browser most definitely SHOULD have a “go to” and “bookmarks!” Something is messed up on your BB.

1. If in doubt, always try a “battery pull” to reset your BB. (remove battery, wait, replace, wait)
2. Can also try this: Options > Advanced Options > Host Routing Table > (press Menu Key) > Register Now.
3. Can also try logging in to your carrier’s BIS for your email account and request that Service Books be re-sent.

Please let me know if any of those work (or not).
Kelly