Configuring GSM phones so that data aware Java applications like gMail, UC Browser and Opera Mini can connect to the Internet is a total disaster. Opera Mini is an amazing mobile browser that gives almost any phone iPhone like Internet capabilities. But many people have trouble getting it to work. They download it from mini.opera.com, it installs without error but when they try to run it they get the error “Failed to connect to the internet“. The same thing often happens with the UC browser, gMail, Picomail, Google Maps, eBuddy Nimbuzz and other mobile Java applications. Because the user can surf the web with the phone’s built in browser, they clearly have a connection to the web. So why doesn’t the app work? Although it’s natural to blame the app, in almost all cases, it’s a setup issue caused by brain dead GPRS data configuration model.
Many mobile operators who are more than happy to sell you an “unlimited” data plan deliberately put roadblocks in the way of using 3rd party data aware applications to reduce data traffic on their networks. Even setting up unbranded, unlocked phones is a hassle. Phone manufacturers do a terrible job of documenting how to configure handsets so that Java applications can connect to the network. The terminology and menu options vary from one phone to the next even from the same manufacturer.
This post is an attempt to demystify the process by explaining the concepts and providing links to sources of operator and phone specific setup information. You won’t find instructions on how to set up your phone here but I’ll try to point out the best resources for finding the right settings for your phone and operator.
First of all you need a phone that can run Java, meaning that it has a Java runtime (JVM) installed in firmware. Most recent GSM phones have Java, but many CDMA carriers including Verizon, MetroPCS, Cricket and US Cellular in the US use Qualcomm’s BREW application platform rather than Java. There’s nothing technically wrong with BREW but its security model is completely hopeless when it comes to installing 3rd party applications. The only way to get BREW applications is to buy them from your carrier, there are no free BREW applications. My advice, if you want to be able to run free, state of the mobile applications like gMail and Opera Mini, is to avoid the BREW carriers. GSM phones from most operators, CDMA phones from Sprint and iDEN phones from Sprint/Nextel and Boost Mobile all support Java.
Unlike GSM phones Sprint and Boost Mobile CDMA and iDEN handsets don’t require or allow any sort of user data configuration. Java applications usually just work on these phones. When Opera Mini or another Java app installs but won’t connect on a CDMA or iDEN phone, it means that packet data is not provisioned on the carrier side. There’s nothing the user can do except call and try to convince customer support to escalate the issue to a data specialist who can actually fix the problem.
GSM phones, in addition to requiring provisioning by the carrier to turn on data, have many data configuration settings that all have to be correct for data aware applications to work. Having a working browser is not an indication that data is set up correctly. Many built in mobile browsers connect to a WAP/GPRS access point or gateway that doesn’t provide the direct socket or http connectivity that applications need.
Just about all GSM phones support multiple data profiles, each of which is a collection of settings which can be assigned to the built in browser, MMS or applications. Different phone manufacturers call these profiles by different names. Common ones are:
Nokia: Access Points
Samsung: Browser Profiles
Motorola: Data Sessions
LG and Sony Ericsson: Internet Profiles
Blackberry: TCP Settings
A data profile contains dozens of settings, most of them optional. The ones we need to be concerned with are:
Profile Name: A user selected unique name for the access point.
APN or Access Point Name: the hostname or IP address of a switch or server within the carrier’s network which routes data between the mobile network and the Internet.
Bearer: The type of connection like CSD or GPRS.
Username: often but not always blank.
Password: blank if the username is blank.
WAP Gateway IP address and port: Required with some low end and older phones.
Some carriers also require data traffic to pass though a proxy server which has an address and a port.
Proxy Address: The IP address of a proxy server.
Proxy Port: The HTTP port used by the proxy server.
There must be a data profile assigned to your applications. How this is configured varies from phone to phone. There might be a menu option within the data profile setup called Packet Data Access Point or Default Access Point or the profile might need to be set in an Application Manager’s context menu or in an Options menu at the individual application level. Motorola’s are unusual, Java applications will look for and use a data session named Java Session.
Your carrier or phone manufacturer may be able to push all the required settings to your phone. This is the easiest and usually the best way to configure your phone, if it’s available. I recommend trying the carrier first as they should always have the most up to data settings. Check the support section of the carrier’s web site, looking for “send settings to your phone” or something similar. The carrier may offer a choice of several different types of settings like WAP, MMS, Internet or GPRS Data. For applications you generally want Internet or GPRS Data if they are available and WAP as a last resort. When in doubt have all the settings sent.
A few phone manufacturers including Sony Ericsson and Motorola can also send settings for many different carriers.
Recent Nokia phones have a built in Settings Wizard containing settings for most operators. Instructions on using the settings wizard are at here.
Many times having the settings sent to your phone is all you need to get Opera Mini working. If it doesn’t work with your carrier’s settings try the manufacturer settings and vice versa. If Opera still can’t connect don’t give up. It’s possible to enter the settings manually. here’s how:
1) First you will need to find the right settings for your carrier and data plan. Usually they can be found on the carrier web site or by calling customer support. Many third party application vendors sites provide lists of settings for operators around the world. Some good ones include: Opera, eBuddy and Nav4All. It doesn’t matter whether you are using the vendor’s app or not, the settings are the same for any Java or native application. If you can’t find your operator’s settings anywhere else, try doing a Google search for “<Operator Country> GPRS Settings“, i.e. MTN South Africa GPRS Settings.
For US users here are the current settings for the national GSM operators AT&T and T-Mobile:
AT&T:
APN or Access Point Name: wap.cingular
Bearer: GPRS.
Username: <leave blank>
Password: <leave blank>
WAP Gateway IP address: 66.209.11.61
Proxy Address: <not required>
Proxy Port: <not required>
T-Mobile USA:
APN or Access Point Name: wap.voicestream.com or epc.tmobile.com
Bearer: GPRS.
Username: <leave blank>
Password: <leave blank>
WAP Gateway IP address: 216.155.165.050
Proxy Address: <not required>
Proxy Port: <not required>
2) Once you have the settings, enter them on your phone manually. The process varies from phone model to phone model. The phone manual should have this information, but often it doesn’t. eBuddy has step by step guides for setting up popular phone models.
Some mobile operator’s sites including, AT&T, O2 and Sun Cellular also have good instructions for setting up many phones. These operator guides are helpful for figuring out the often arcane setup menus. Of course, if you are using instructions from an operator other than your own you need to substitute the actual setting values specific to your operator that you found in step 1 for the ones provided.
If you can’t find setup instructions for your specific model try looking through the instructions for similar models from the same manufacturer to find one that has the same menu structure. For example all Nokia s40 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th edition phones have the same setup menus and are set up the same way. For obscure phone models you might have to resort to a Google search for “<phone make phone model> GPRS setup”.
Note: If you have a Nokia S40 phone and your operator’s settings specify a proxy IP and/or proxy port, manual set up may not work because Nokia stupidly does not provide any way to enter the proxy settings. If this applies to you try doing the setup without the proxy settings, as in some cases including AT&T and T-Mobile USA, the proxy isn’t actually necessary.
If the proxy really is required, you must use the Nokia setup wizard, if it exists on your phone. or have the settings sent to the phone by your operator or phone manufacturer.
It is also possible to send the proxy settings to your phone yourself using Bluetooth. It’s a somewhat complicated process and requires that your phone support Bluetooth and that you have a Bluetooth equipped computer or computer plus a second Bluetooth phone. The procedure is documented on the web at: Howard Forums, NXG and Mobilomania. I’ve never actually had to do this myself so you are on your own if you try this.
If you have tried everything and you still can’t get it to work I recommend asking for help on one of the many mobile users forums like The Opera Mini Forum, Howard Forums, Mobiledia, Esato or country specific forums like Nairaland for Nigeria or Talk.ph in the Philippines. When using forums it’s important to follow forum etiquette to avoid being “flamed”. Before posting a help request, use the forum’s search function to be sure your question hasn’t already been answered. If you do post asking for help on a forum be sure to give as much information as possible including, make and model of phone, carrier, country, the name and price of your data plan and the exact text of any error messages.
You can also leave a comments on this post if you get stuck. I try to answer as many questions as possible. I’m not able to answer questions about settings for specific operators or phones as I do not have them. Comments asking for operator or phone settings will be ignored. You need to do your own research using the resources in this post.
Please don’t ask me for “cheat” codes or other ways to enable free browsing. Comments asking how to browse for free will be deleted.
Last Updated: 15-Mar-2012 – fixed some link rot.
@Noor, @lawrence w oguama
I don’t know of any free web hacks for any carriers in Egypt, UAE or anywhere else. They may exist but it’s not something I track.
pls send me the settings on how to use free mtn internet browsing on a samsung U700 phone.thanks in anticipation.
there’s a problem in opening operamini4.2 version which i downloaded and even a big problem with opera2.0 version.pls help.thanks
Hi.That is great topic.But want ask Mohamed in egypt.How plz can use free vodafone internet.Thanks
Hey dude there’s problem while opening internet in opera mini 4.2 ,it shows subscribe to packet data first. But internet opens on my default phone browser. I am using bpl india sim and a nokia 5200.
Thanks for help
how can operamini be installed on phone with local connections
dear dennis
i am using a nokia 2626 phone please i need gprs configuraton settings that will at leas enable me browse the internet without charge . i am using an etisalat line(i don’t know f the network use an affect the bowsing).
thanks.
Dear Dennis, I am use Nokia 6300, I cannot seem to get Opera mini working on. I am in Indonesia, my service provider is Simpati by Telkomsel. Can U help me to solving this problem?
Thanks,,
@Jerrick Paul
The network provider’s want you to pay to surf the web. Sometimes there are holes in the provider’s security that allow free mobile data usage with some special setting. But they are specific to each provider and generally get shut down quickly. I don’t know of any free web hacks for Globe in the Philippines.
Nvm, I figured out how to do it…thanks for the info though
Hey dennis, I have a nokia 6070 that I cannot seem to get opera working on..I am in Hong Kong and my service Provider is 3. The active access point is Mobile.three.com.hk. I tried the steps for the nokia, and I just could not get it to work… think you could help?
@dennis
sorry if i confused you sir, i mean that the first time i tried to access opera mini on my handset(n6070), i cant connect.. but when i have my account loaded, It worked, i connected to the internet.. so is there anyway that i can connect to the internet using opera mini without being charged? thanks..
@andit Settings for BPL are:
Operator: – BPL
GPRS APN: – bplgprs.com
Username: – bplmobile
Password: – {blank}
DNS: – 202.169.145.34, 202.169.129.40
@Tom
I think the problem is that Base requires a proxy IP and Port.
– APN: gprs.base.be
– Username: base
– Password: base
– Proxy: 172.031.198.037
– Port: 5080 (WAP2)
You can’t add the proxy and port settings manually, they must be sent in a provisioning message from Nokia or Base. If you talk to Base be sure they understand you need the INTERNET (not WAP) settings for use with Java applications.
If Base can’t or won’t help you try having Nokia send the settings:
Start at nokia.com, enter your region and county then click Get Support and Software > Select 5200 from the phone model drop down > click Order Settings > choose Download Standard Settings > Accept the T&C > click “Start” > choose the phone model (5200) > select Internet settings > choose your country and carrier> enter your phone number and the captcha > click order settings.
I have done what you have said but its still don’t working
here is some information that you asked,
Country: Belguim
Mobile phone:Nokia 5200
Mobile network Base wap
access point gprs.base.be ….
i am use nokia 2600 and bpl simcard in ndia(mumbai)
and i unable to use of java applicaton in my phone. because lack of settings
2. On your phone Go into Settings > Configuration > Personal Configuration Settings.
3. Select the new access point that your carrier or Nokia sent to your phone.
I don’t understand that ??
hi, i have a nokia 5200 , i have trying it so much but i can’t do it , it won’t work can you help me
@Alexandru,
Please try the following steps:
1. Have your provider or Nokia send the settings to your phone as described in the post.
2. On your phone Go into Settings > Configuration > Personal Configuration Settings.
3. Select the new access point that your carrier or Nokia sent to your phone.
4. Choose Options and Activate
5. Go Back
6. Set Preferred access point to the new access point.
7. Set Default configuration settings to Personal config.
8. Select Activate default in all applications and Yes
If that doesn’t work. imn order to help you further, I’ll need to know which country you are in, which mobile network you are using and the name of the data plan you are subscribed to.
I have an Nokia 3120 Classic
my miniopera doesent working
how can i solve it
i was able to notice that i need an proxy, or an port, something
please help me
I’m confused. First you say Opera Mini does Not work on your phone and then later you say it does. Which is it?
Assuming it doesn’t work one possible reason is that:
You show the set up for an Access Point named “myGlobe Internet” yet your preferred Access Point is “myGlobe Connect” – shouldn’t they be the same?
I have nokia 6070… many times have i wondered why does opera mini does not work properly on my unit… i thought it has something to do with my phone or my network access… i can’t assure you that what i’ve done with my unit to work with opera mini would also work for you… my current settings are:
Settings
>Connectivity
>>Packet Data
>>>Packet Data Connection = Always Online
>>>Packet Data Settings
>>>>Active access point = myGlobe Internet
>>>>Edit active access point
>>>>>Alias for access point = myGlobe Internet
>>>>>Packet data access point = internet.globe.com.ph
>Configuration
>>Default configuration settings = myGlobe(details under it:
Applications supported:
*Web
*Multimedia messaging)
(I activated the default settings in all applications)
>>Preferred access point = myGlobe Connect
Web
>Configuration settings
>>Configuration = myGlobe
>>Account = myGlobe Connect
with this settings I am able to connect to the internet using opera mini v.3.1…
of course i felt happy making it work…
on the other hand, i realized that it only worked when i have my number loaded…
and to my surprise, after i exit the opera mini web browser, I immediately checked my account balance…
unfortunately, opera mini charged my net surfing… i thought it was for free…
hope i shared a credible and relevant experience for others who also uses the handset i am using…
thanks…
I am from the philippines, for more info’s you can call or text me at +639156545085…
Thanks
@Mahmoud,
Opera Mini 2 and 3 don’t actually download anything they just pass the link to the phone’s built in browser. If you get an error it’s probably because you are trying to download something incompatible with your phone or perhaps your network provider is blocking the download.
Try using the signed version of Opera Mini 4.2. It will do direct downloads on some phones.
Last thing,i wanna know how to adjust opera mini v2 /v3 to be able to make adownload cause i always have an error messages every time i do so ,thnx bye
@Mahmoud,
Two things you can try:
1. In Opera Mini select “Socket” as your network protocol.
2. In the phone’s Settings under Connection > Packet Data choose “When available” instead of “When needed”
Even with these settings, many providers close the connection after a while. When you click a link a new connection should open so it shouldn’t be much of a problem.
BTW, I’d love to have free data!
I already able to access the internet with zero credit by using opera mini v4.2 without adjusting any settings but the connection is lost after about 15 minutes and i wanna know if there is anything i can adjust to keep the connection …Thnx
Hi,i am from Egypt and i’m interested in using opera mini to access the internet for free browsing and downloading so,plz can you tell me how to adjust my connection setting to reach my goal thx(my mobile phone is nokia n70 and my service provider is vodafone Egypt)
bye
@krem,
You should be able to find the settings on the web by Googling:
“[your Service Provider] GPRS settings”
i dont have the correct apn settings on my nokia 5200 phone. it has pproblem in connecting to the internet. can you help me? iv’e contact my servive provider but still they didnt gave me the correct settings.
Try these settings for Airtel NOP on Motorola:
Name: Java Session <- This name is special, nothing else will work!
home page : http://www.tagtag.com
service type 1: HTTP
proxy 1 : 100.1.200.99
port 1 : 8080
gprs apn: airtelwap.com
If that doesn’t work try changing the gprs apn to airtelfun.com
Anees,
Did you set up your “Java Session” Web Session as described in the post for the RAZR? It’s the same for the L6 except you have to put in the airtel settings instead of the T-Mobile ones I listed.
The web session MUST be named “Java Session”
If you did that and it’s still not working reply with what the name of your data plan “NOP”, “Mobile Office” etc. and what values you entered in each of the following fields and I’ll try to figure out what’s wrong.
Homepage:
Service Type 1:
Gateway IP 1:
Port 1:
Service Type 2:
Gateway IP 2:
Port 2:
GPRS APN:
Hi Denni
i m using a motorola l6 fon, th problm s tht whnevr i launch th opera mini application, a bar showing “installing” is seen nd aftr abt 85%, it says failed to connect to th net,pls help , its a damn ugly job to browse in this phones in built browser nd i hav a free gprs package on my sim (airtel-india), pls help . u may send ur replies to ma e mail a/c if possible [email removed]
with lots of love
Anees
@Mercy Ette,
Try the following:
1. Have your provider or Nokia send the settings to your phone as described in the post.
2. On your phone Go into Settings > Configuration > Personal Configuration Settings.
3. Select the new access point that your carrier or Nokia sent to your phone.
4. Choose Options and Activate
5. Go Back
6. Set Preferred access point to the new access point.
7. Set Default configuration settings to Personal config.
8. Select Activate default in all applications and Yes
If the above steps don’t work it may be possible to create the access point manually. To help you with that I’ll need to know what country are you in, which mobile network you are using and the name of the data plan you are subscribed to.
My phone is 2600-2c, i have not been able to connect opera mini. I’m always told to ‘subscribe to packet data first’, pls what should i do to get connected? Thanks. Bless you.
@Jaihr,
I think you are out of luck. Bank of America is very fussy about the devices and browsers they allow to access mobile banking. Opera Mini is not allowed. For BlackBerries you must use the BlackBerry browser (which I don’t think don’t have).
Lots of people are having problems using B of A with BlackBerries. See the comments on this post: http://wapreview.com?p=321
I have another question, whenever I try to access Bank of America mibile application it tells me “this is not a black berry device” I cant seem to download it on opera mini browser or T-Zones browser….
Jaihr,
On my BlackBerry 7100i, the apps I use are Opera Mini, gMail, Google Maps, EQO (IM program), WeatherEye (Weather App with a Home screen icon that changes with the forecast), BBCorrector (spell checker) and Solytare. All are free and pretty easy to find using Google.
great its working, awesome although I noticed that if I wanna use the T-zones application or if I receive multimedia messages I cant open them till I erase the APN settings to blank… of course then I switch it back….. works on Google maps, opera mini, IM+, do you know any good software or freeware?
Jaihr,
epc.tmobile.com is a new APN that T-Mobile is switching to for their newer phones. I don’t have T-Mobile myself but users on Howard Forums and TmoNews are reporting that they are using epc.tmobile.com to get full internet access on the 5.95 plan. It doesn’t seem to work for everyone but I haven’t seen antone complaining about extra charges so far.
More details:
http://forums.tmonews.com/index.php?topic=1334.0
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1467178&highlight=epc
ok, well then Nop I don’t have a BIS I only have a 5.95 T-zones data plan. I called the customer service for tmobile they said I needed BIS in order to get opera mini working. BUt going back to epc.tmobile.com what is that? Will I get charged extra ?
@jaihr,
BIS is the BlackBerry Internet Service. If you can send and receive email throuh the phone’s built-in BlackBerry Email you have BIS AND a BlackBerry Data plan and Opera Mini should work with the APN wap.voicestream.com. If it doesn’t try a battery pull and if that doesn’t help your account is misconfigured and you need to call T-Mobile to get the APN enabled on it.
If you are using any other data plan like the 5.95 T-Zones plan then you won’t have BlackBerry email. This configuration is not supported by T-Mobile but you MAY be able to get Opera Mini and gMail to work using the APN epc.tmobile.com.
Yes I live in the U.S. my service provider: T-mobile. I’m not a BES user and I don”t know what BIS means, excuse my ignorance. To my knowledge I don’t have a blackberry data plan although I do have an unlimited data plan.
@jaihr,
It would be helpful if you told us what country you are in, who your mobile provider is and whether you are a BES or BIS user.
wap.voicestream.com is the correct APN provided that:
1. You are a postpaid customer of T-Mobile USA
2. You have a BlackBerry Data Plan enabled on your account
If the above applies to you and Opera Mini doesn’t work, call T-Mobile and ask them to add the “wap.voicestream.com” Internet Access Point name to your account. There should be no charge for this IF you have a BlackBerry data plan.
BlACKBERRY 8100 cannot get operamini to work Ive tried changing the apn settings to wap.voicestream.com and still does not work I keep getting the same error why plz someone helpp
@Vikram,
Information below is from:
http://www.opera.com/mini/help/faq/#settings
http://www.nav4all.com/languages/srp/install_settings_nokia_5300%20XPRESS%20MUSIC.php?m=5300%20XPRESS%20MUSIC
http://www.vodafone.in/existingusers/Services/Pages/euedgeonvodafone_setup.aspx
http://www.vodafone.in/existingusers/Services/Pages/euedgeonvodafone_nokia.aspx
GPRS Settings for Nokia 5300 XPRESS MUSIC
* Go into Settings.
* Go into Configuration.
* Go into Personal Configuration Settings.
* Now, press Add New (visible if you don’t have a previous Personal Setting created) or press the Options button. When you have pressed the Options button, choose Add new.
* When you have pressed Add New, you will get a new menu, which will give several options to choose from.
*Now, scroll down and choose the Access Point and press Select.
* Fill in an Account name (something you will remember)
* Select Access point settings
* Set Data bearer to GPRS
* Select Bearer settings
* Enter GPRS access point (APN) as: portalnmms
* Set Authentication type to Normal
* Leave User name and Password as blank or none
* Press Back 3 time to get back to the Personal Configurations Settings menu, where you now should be able to see the new Access Point selected.
* Choose Options and Activate
* Go Back
* Set Preferred access point to the access point you just made.
* Set Default configuration settings to Personal config.
* Select Activate default in all applications and Yes
Opera Mini should now work. If not, visit the above links for more suggestions
Hi, Im from India and have a Nokia 5300 ….and my Service Provider is Vodafone. I have normal gprs working fine, as in i can access the net from the in-built browser, but Opera Mini is not installing….it says either “Check Packet data settings: or “no internet found”…please tell me the correct settings. Thank You
@Sylvester.
Downloading in Opera Mini only works on some phones and with some file types.
The handset’s JVM must support JSR 75 and you need to set “Write User Data” and “Read User Data” to “Allow…”. On most phones you need to a signed version of Opera Mini in order to allow these permisions.
Opera Mini can’t download executable files like .jar, .jad or .sis.
If downloading doesn’t work, you should have the option to “Open” the file which passes it to the phone’s built in browser which may offer an option to save or install the file.
I have a little problem with Opera Mini 4.2. I installed successfully, working but i cannot download with opera mini browser.
@Amit,
The best way is to call your service provider and ask them to send the settings to your phone as a provisioning message.
If that doesn’t work have Nokia send them to your phone:
Start at nokia.com, enter your region and county then click Get Support and Software > Select 5310 from the phone model drop down > click Order Settings > choose Download Standard Settings > Accept the T&C > click “Start” > choose the phone model (5310) > select Internet settings > choose your country and carrier> enter your phone number and the captcha > click order settings.
Hi…i have nokia 5310 XpressMusic . Will you please tell from where i can get the setting for it.