Solving Opera Mini and UC Browser Connection Problems

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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.

1,271 thoughts on “Solving Opera Mini and UC Browser Connection Problems”

  1. im using globe..my phone is nokia 5130. my country is philippines..pls help me..i dont know it will work..pls help..

  2. hi dennis,
    I have the same problem as Paul, above. my operator is Idea Cellular(India). And Opera installation via PC suite gives an installation failure!
    Please advise. My APN setting are set as said in your blog!
    And my phone is a Nokia 6233.

  3. paul,

    That error generally means your settings are wrong. Settings depend on which mobile opperator you are using and in which country. This has tips on how to find and enter the necessary settings. If after reading it you still can’t figure it out, leave another comment listing your opperator and country and someone will likely help you

  7. hi,
    I am using the nokia 6500s phone…i have done the all neccessary setting …but still i am unable to use the mini opera…getting error ….

  11. ting,

    I’m sorry but I don’t know how to enable free browsing on Globe or even if it’s possible. Try searching Google for: globe Philippines free browsing opera mini

  12. Dennis, yes, I’ll use Packet Data. Then what’s next?

    I’m using Nokia7210 Supernova, and I am using postpaid Globe. I wanted to have the ‘free browsing’, but it seems that it charges me whenever I go online. By the way, I can now use Modded Opera Mini 4.2 (and i dont know if this authentic, i’ve read some mini opera forums that there are many fake mini opera in the net)

    Anyway, my only problem now is the configuration settings to be set up for me to have ‘free browsing’ thru my mini opera.

    Hope you can help me with this, Dennis.
    Thanks and more power!

  14. Pls i am using nokia 3110c i can brows with the opera mini very well, but i want to know if i can also brows on my desktop as a client from my phone, p/s if yes p/s send the configuration for me. Thanks.

  17. EY dennis im using
    nokia 5310 globe here at philippines whats the correct configuration settings here ? i install almost all version but still “connection failed” but i can connect some bookmark url in my web settings but in opera mini i cant whats the problem ? i contact my provider they said i had activate my gprs . can u pls help me thanks

  19. Hi, I Have a 0.M 4.2 it sh0ws 0nly d h0mepage,then wen I br0wse 2 d any site,. It always ‘failed 2 c0nNect 2 d internet’?h0w am I supP0se 2 d0?pls..help 2 fix my pr0blem..

  20. HI!!!can somebody help me, how configure my LG KP500 Celphone (Smart) and install opera mini on my celphone to connect internet???Thank you… Please please please help me..

  21. hello i a free browing for my hans set nokia 6600 just help me out please and please for god sake.

  22. Can anyone tell i have bpl card gprs is free but when i use operamini it fails to connect but when i use my web it works i have 7210 nokia pls help

  23. Hi… How can i download items from opera mini to my phone? I’ve nt been able 2 achieve this since i got this version 4.2 opera mini app. Pls help me. I’m from Nigeria. Nokia 2600c is my phone model.

  24. HELO, AGAIN! i need some help here! i have allll the operas but none dont work except the mutli mod 4.2 and it dont last very long either…SOMEBODY HELP ME OUT PLZZZZZZZZ??!! IM ON DIGICEL JAMAICA

  25. from nigeria opera settings is not working . i have used APN-web.gprs.mtnnigeria.net, login-dona password-westend and am using samsung e900 and my sony erricsson. so plz send me some good setting that i can use.
    thanks one love.

  27. i use nokia 3110c, how can i install opera mini on my phone, and how can i make use of solibay?

  28. hello, im marvin from jamaica. im having some difficulties with the opera mod. i use v3.10. i need it configure to work on my network.im on digicel jamaica.

  29. sir..
    im having prob launching the opera mini, the message failed to connect to the internet always comes out.. im a globe subscriber and im using lg kp500 cookie.. thanks..

  30. I have Motorola l2.Few days before i can surf opera mini,mig33 and others jm2e app.but one day i connect my motorola L2 with pc to surf internet.and till then i can never able to sufr internet through operamini,uc web,boltbrowser.showing “no internet connection is preseny” or”internet connection error”.I have flash my motorola in my home with flash&backup software.my my pevious problem is still present.plz give a solution what to do?

  33. Subrahmanya Rao,

    The default browser and Java apps have different settings. It’s very common for the built in browser to work and Opera Mini not to. This is almost always a setup issue.

    If you are saying that Opera Mini works with the day plan and not the monthly plan it suggests that the two plans use different settings; maybe a different APN or the monthly plan requires a proxy.

    The settings that I’ve found for Spice do seem to require a proxy:

    APN – simplyenjoy
    username – your mobile number
    password – spice
    proxy – 10.200.200.3
    proxy port – 8080

    It’s not possible to set the proxy address and port manually on Nokia S40 phones. They must be sent as a provisioning message. Spice may be willing to do that if you ask. Be sure they understand that you need the GPRS settings for 3rd party apps not the built in browser. If they won’t help try these sites:

    http://silentfrequencies.blogspot.com/2009/05/provisionary-files-for-s40-phones.html
    http://mannuforall.blogspot.com/2008/04/free-gprs-settings-for-any-operator.html

    Yoy could also try the Idea settings, they might work;

    APN – internet
    username – guest
    password – guest
    no proxy

  34. Ummm, seems like I didn’t read your reply to that ‘dhruvin’ [may 1 6:56] comment. Sorry. And thanks for replying anyway.

  35. I m using Nokia 7210 supernova.. and connection SPICE (now it has been acquired by idea) Karnataka, India.
    The problem is the Internet works on default browser of Nokia
    But it doesnt work with Opera Mini of any version.
    The problem is not being Third Party Software.
    Because when i use a Day Pack offer it works, but doesnt work with a Monthly pack.
    Plz help..

  38. plz elp i am using nokia 2600c n i cant use opera on my phone it keeps tell me to subscribe to packet data.from nigeria am using zain nigeria

  39. lady,

    It is not possible for me to send the settings (.prov file) to your phone. That can only be done using a specialized piece of hardware (GSM modem) which I don’t have.

    You should be able to set it up the access point manually on Samsung phones, use the links in the post to find the settings for Globe or Smart.

    If manual setup doesn’t work, you can send .prov files to the phone yourself from a PC or another phone using infrared or BlueTooth. Instructions and files for both Globe and Smart are here: http://silentfrequencies.blogspot.com/2009/05/provisionary-files-for-s40-phones.html

  40. hi i have my samsung u700 but iv got problems in internet connection..how will i setup my browser? i am a samart user,but i have a globe too..so can you please send me the settings to my browser..from the philippines

  41. vincent and irish,

    From:
    http://www.opera.com/mini/help/connect/?provider=Smart&region=Philippines
    And:
    http://www.opera.com/mini/help/faq/

    * 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. (Please note that this option is not available on the Nokia 3220 model and maybe on some more models, you can instead use the Services option instead of the Access Point option on the Nokia 3220.) Do not choose the Web option, since this will not work with Opera mini.
    * Now go into Access Point Settings.
    * Go into Bearer Settings.
    * Go into Packet Data Access Point.
    * Enter:
    Data bearer: GPRS
    Bearer settings: GPRS
    GPRS access point (APN): internet
    Login type: automatic
    User name: witsductoor
    Password: banonoy
    * Press OK.
    * Go back to the Personal Configurations Settings menu, where you now should be able to see an Access Point selected.
    * Now press the Options button, and then choose to activate this Access Point.
    * Now you should be able to start Opera Mini, and try to load a link on your phone.

  42. jonar,

    Do you get an error message starting Opera Mini? It so post it and someone might be able to help you. If launching Opera Mini just has no effect at all, uninstall it and reinstall to phone memory.

  44. i also have a problem with my opera mini,every time i try to connect the “failed to connect to the internet” message always shows up.i have SMART as the operator.my settings were fine,i have just updated it but it still doesn’t work.can you help me with it?by the way,N6120c is my phone’s model.:))thanks.

  45. pllzzz help me send me settings for samsung e250 .. ihave the same prob! phone browser is working fine, but i am not able to run the opera mini, first it asks for “Want to send socket information?” I select “Yes”, then it asks “Want to send HTTP information?” I select “Yes”, then it shows error message “Failed to connect to the Internet”…..i dont no what to do?? plss help.. tnx.. & i need settings too! any way im usaing smart

  46. i already had opera mini….but when i try to browse it…there’s a message that subscribe to packet data first…can anyone help me…?
    my phone is nokia 6070…thanks…

  47. Girish,

    Google returns multiple hits reporting that the BPL settings are:

    GPRS APN: – bplgprs.com
    Username: – bplmobile
    Password: – {blank}

    Try using those settings following the steps for S40 phones in the article and let us know if it works.

  48. Hi… Im having Nokia 6500s. Im not able to use Mini Opera in my cell. Im having BPL prepaid connection on India-Mumbai. Im able to use normal net connection ie press ‘0’ for 3 sec. Can u tell me d GPRS settings for my cell through i can use Mini Opera.

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