Alex's space

Issues with unlocking a BlackBerry

I have noticed in the comments on this site and generally when speaking to people that there is a little confusion over the unlocking process.

Specifically – why does my email / internet browsing stop working after an unlock ?

For a BlackBerry to work properly and receive push email it needs to be connected to either a BIS service (from your mobile network operator) or a BES service from your company.

(Article explaining the difference between BIS and BES)

Effectively for both variants the mobile network operator needs to be ‘aware’ to route emails (and other internet traffic) from and to your BlackBerry via the RIM (BlackBerry) routers out there on the internet.

So when you buy your BlackBerry you will have probably bought it with a BIS or BES service from your mobile network operator, when you unlock your BlackBerry to put another sim in from your chosen new mobile network operator – for example a PAYG sim in a country you are visiting – you will not typically have the BIS or BES service on that sim card so your email will not work.

If the new sim has BIS on it and you had a BIS sim before then it will work, and the same BES / BES (we have tested this many times).

If you still want to unlock your BlackBerry then instructions can be found in this aticle and this one specifically for the BlackBerry Storm

An unlocked BlackBerry with out the BIS or BES service will still work for normal mobile services such as calling / sms etc