3rd Party Apps on 3

postie

Is anyone else having problems with certain 3rd party applications on 3?
I am on 3 billpay with broadband unlimited. I have been having problems with, in particular, Fring.
I can log in using the handsets wifi connection but not on the 3 connection. All was working fine a week ago but now it stays on the logging in screen and cannot make a connection.
Anyone else having problems with fring?

GekkePrutser

No, for me fring is still working (on 3pay). It does have some trouble keeping the connection because 3's network seems a lot slower again the last few days. It will then show the fring logo in blue with some question marks around it. Once I disconnect and reconnect it works fine again then.

I haven't tried actually making a call, I usually ring back when someone tries to ring me on fring because there is a huge delay in the calls.

Idleater

postie wrote:

Is anyone else having problems with certain 3rd party applications on 3?

if it's any use, I have been trying to install operamini and the gmail application, and neither works.

the site loads and the installation starts, but then it goes to "disconnected" after a while.

I installed operamini by downloading it to the pc and usb'ing it across, and the setup connection thing fails now.

3pay, nokia 6110, age verified :rolleyes: today...

postie

nereid wrote:

if it's any use, I have been trying to install operamini and the gmail application, and neither works.

I'm having intermittent connection problems with opera mini as well, but Fring will simply not work...

GekkePrutser

Yeah the same here, it' s all quite fragile, very frequent disconnections and my email app frequently times out when opening an email.

But fring is definitely logging in here... I can do the test call although it is quite choppy.

Where are you guys based? It might be location-dependent. I'm in Galway (City).

Idleater

postie wrote:

I'm having intermittent connection problems with opera mini as well, but Fring will simply not work...

have you _ever_ had it working?

I mean, I go through the 6 setup test steps and then it throws a wobbly and I have to quit.

must try installing fring.

postie

GekkePrutser wrote:

Yeah the same here, it' s all quite fragile, very frequent disconnections and my email app frequently times out when opening an email.

But fring is definitely logging in here... I can do the test call although it is quite choppy.

Where are you guys based? It might be location-dependent. I'm in Galway (City).

I'm in Dublin

postie

nereid wrote:

have you _ever_ had it working?

I mean, I go through the 6 setup test steps and then it throws a wobbly and I have to quit.

must try installing fring.

It was working fine last week and still works fine on a wifi connection but will not log in with 3. Just re-installed it and still no joy.
Sorry just realised you're talking about opera...this worked fine until last weekend but now it is very hit and miss. It cannot make a connection half the time.

Sesshoumaru

Fring was working fine for me on my E65 until a few days ago. Now it just refuses to work on 3, but is fine on wifi. I also live in Dublin. I also know someone else with a E65 in Dublin who can no longer connect to Fring on 3 either.

WezzyB

Have Broadband Unlimitied on Bill Pay on a Nokia E61.

Last week, automatic e-mail retrieval started to fail, works very intermittently now.
Fring also stopped working around same time.
Also the new Live Messenger for S60 doesn't work with Three.

All these apps work fine over my Wifi.

I rang up to complain about the e-mail but was told that the only 'availalble' e-mail is via the Three portal *groan* I've been using e-mail fine for weeks no problems.

Was using the online chat with a service rep and told them Live Messenger failed, he/she told me to re-install from the 3 portal, I had downloaded it directly from Microsoft, using the link on their portal fails as I am not using a Three 'branded' phone.

Does the link work for users with Three E65 phones?

Sesshoumaru

skype and msn messenger provided by 3 work fine on my E65. Trying to sign onto skype or msn using fring doesn't work however, unless I use wifi. This was working fine for weeks. I suspect they are blocking ports for these services and their own clients use different ports which they translate back to the correct ones on their side. I'll definately be switching back to Vodafone or 02 if they continue to stop me using programs like Fring

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_(telecommunications)#Internet_access_restrictions_in_the_UK

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

I'm having intermittent connection with Opera mini also.
Using both v3.1 and the v4 beta. Sometimes one version will work, while the other doesn't.

Kristok

windows live messenger stopped working for me on my n73 this week. Cant download the msn messenger from 3 i think because ive a generic firmware it was all working fine until recently. Youtube also works at random.

Cyrus

thought it was just me,

been using system seven beta for push email, same thing, fine on wifi, intermittent otherwise and opera mini the same

is it some sort of crack down or a network issue???

h57xiucj2z946q

For whats its worth, you need to do age verification with 3 for them to give you full internet access, otherwise your restricted to there small intranet and a few other sites on their white list.

I had the same issues with mIRGGI, mGtalk, Gmail, spodtronic and others. I couldnt even external sites outside 3's approved list like www.boards.ie but as soon as i dont the age verification, i was able to use all application, gmail/gtalk/irc/open any webpage and use other internet protocols such as radio streaming..

h57xiucj2z946q

Kristok wrote:

windows live messenger stopped working for me on my n73 this week. Cant download the msn messenger from 3 i think because ive a generic firmware it was all working fine until recently. Youtube also works at random.

i've already sorted that issue.. look here:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055130363

Cyrus

Madeleine Defeated Mulberry wrote:

For whats its worth, you need to do age verification with 3 for them to give you full internet access, otherwise your restricted to there small intranet and a few other sites on their white list.

I had the same issues with mIRGGI, mGtalk, Gmail, spodtronic and others. I couldnt even external sites outside 3's approved list like www.boards.ie but as soon as i dont the age verification, i was able to use all application, gmail/gtalk/irc/open any webpage and use other internet protocols such as radio streaming..

not on billpay

h57xiucj2z946q

Cyrus wrote:

not on billpay

you should ask them if they have a restriction on your internet access. i know your billpay but it seems a very similar scenario that i had.

Cyrus

yeah but everyones worked fine until a few days ago ?

Idleater

Cyrus wrote:

yeah but everyones worked fine until a few days ago ?

correct.

This appears to be a "recent" development.

I can get onto some external sites (fantasy.premierleague.com) for example, but I can't get on to others, and gmail app/ opera still fails on my phone.

The nokia browser works perfectly though, so I don't know what is causing opera to fail.

Solair

It better be a network issue, otherwise i'm getting on to advertising standards. It's not unlimited broadband at all, it's highly limited in that case and almost completely usless!

I haven't been able to use anything other than gmail and the three web browser and i'm on billpay...

Bluefrog

Conclusive proof that Three don't know what they are doing. I'm now on X-Series Gold -as I write, none of the services on it work. I got a promo SMS from them yesterday saying:

3 Update. Go to Planet 3. Choose Internet & Surf the Web on your mobile for just 49c per MB.

And the bit that really made me laugh:

To opt of of Internet access call 333.

They forgot to add 'or buy a 3 USB modem or broadband phone addon'

Kristok

Madeleine Defeated Mulberry wrote:

i've already sorted that issue.. look here:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055130363

Thanks but im not using their old msn messenger i was using the newer windows live messenger which is much slicker and faster too. Still cant log on with it although it worked perfectly fine up untill the last week just keeps saying service unavailable right now. Even tried msn messanger and that wont log on looks like it might be the firmware being blocked cause its not 3 branded.

Solair

I don't think it's your firmware. It's the 3 network, something's changed and ports are not connecting.

Kristok

i dont know i think it is the firmware my 6280 connects just fine with my sim but my n73 with non branded firmware wont from the phone or from the pc.

Solair

Well, my 3 Sony Ericsson W850i won't connect to anything other than gmail and the web via the three portal.

Apps that won't work:
Omniweb
MSN
GoogleMaps

and quite a few others.


It's a 3 phone, 3 branded etc etc..

So, I think a problem their end. I sincerely hope this is a cock-up and not a change of policy as I only signed up to 3 for a second year because of the data packages. If they're going to cripple my phone's functionality without warning like this, I'll simply use another network.

Cyrus

im gonna be proper annoyed if this isnt sorted, its the reason i signed a new 12mth contract

AlanD

this is kinda on topic, but I notice some of you say you can access gmail on your 3 phones.

I have a Nokia 6280 and can't get the gmail app to install. Why not? Do i need to do that age verification and have the appropriate data transfer add on?

How do I do age verification?

i called 3, but they say to use the 3mail app which of course I don't want to.

The ring fencing of internet via 3 is what was going to get me to move away from 3 at the end of my contract but if folks have been able to use normal 3rd party apps until recently and if 3 resolve the issue, then I'll upgrade to a wifi phone and get fringing!

Bluefrog

This most recent outage of 3 is rediculous. It's been almost a month since the 'upgrade' and still these things aren't sorted.

I'm suggesting that rather than going to Three as individuals at this point that we band together to try and get something done to have these services reinstated.

Anyone up for this should PM me.

quintron

Fring has stopped here too. Pretty pissed. The one company that had it together of late with regard to unlimited data, it seems has now locked down some of its previously "unlimited" features.

I have to agree with Bluefrog above.

All the Irish networks in this still somewhat monopolized market will copy each other and continue to lock down data/internet services and force them through their own portals etc until end users "en masse" make their needs heard.
There are so many applications which require unbridled access to an unlimited data plan and that number of applications and services is growing as more and more end users upgrade to "smartphones" which the networks unfortunately are dumming down by limiting their potential.

I know they have to make a living but they can easily maintain profitibility thru ad revenues, music downloads et al. And we all still need to make voice calls!!!
Fring and Skype are not cost efficent for calling other mobiles so that revenue will always be there.

To have had access to Fring for example and then having it taken away is taking the piss frankly. No network will listen to one or two grumblers like myself and, if there are only one or two grumblers, then fine, we'll have to deal with it.. but I suspect that there are more than just a few who want proper access to data without it being shoehorned through a poxy proxy or locked down after the fact to ape other paranoid networks (read: vodafone).

Maybe we are just behind the times in Ireland and no one really cares so the networks will eek out as much cash from the consumer before we all notice whats happening throughout Europe. We are getting shafted on internet pricing btw if any one is interested.

So whats unlimited data if you can't access data you need? Whats fair usage policy if the networks don't play fair? Whats the point in getting a decent phone if you can't use it to its full potential? And whats the point in grumbling on these boards if no one really cares?

postie

I actually don't think 3 are blocking stuff..(maybe some stuff!) I just don't think they know what their doing.
If you go to speedtest.net from your phone it will register your IP as
193.120.116.178 or possibly a handful of others. If you then look at past results you'll see dozens of recent speedtests from this IP - some new ones appeared as I refreshed the browser while logged on.
If we are all sharing the same IP address then the likes of Fring or most SMTP's will have dozens of people trying to log in from the same IP address at the same time and they will probably ban that IP.
It's pretty stupid stuff if that's the case and the end result is the same...no Fring no pop email no skype...etc etc.

Kristok

google maps and opear are working fine on my n73 pretty much just msn. It cant be some kind of port blocking cause my 6280 works fine with the same sim. It does seem very random what does and dosnt work.

WezzyB

I've rang Three Customer Support a few times but it is pointless complaining to them.

I guess that people should write to ComReg complaining about the crippled 'mobile broadband' product.

Alternatively we could send a Registered Letter of complaint to the Company Secretary.

Also complaints could be copied to the papers.

Its a pity that there are no insiders in Three would are willing to divulge any details on what is going on with there network, are they doing this on purpose or is it as a side affect of some other change.

Another idea would be to logon to Three's X-Series blog and complain about the service here, I know its kinda off topic but it might raise our plight!

h57xiucj2z946q

the fact we are all sharing a handful of ip's is having a knock on affect.

Try connecting to irc.rizon.net with an irc client from 3 mobile/usb modem. you get disconnected saying "compromised host". obviously someone on 3 has their pc infected with spyware and their ip got banned of the network, now its affecting me.

WezzyB

Looks like bluefrog already posted on the X-Series blog, everyone else should too!
http://xseries.typepad.com/xseries/2007/07/x-series-and-ir.html

tdkeaveny

as someone said it all seems very random. i have an e61 on billpay with 250mb data, with me gmail and opera work fine but fring, skype, msn (new one) and gizmo do not. i joined 3 just for te data plan and now half of the programs dont work. does it say anywere in the t&c that this will happed? if nor im switching today

Bluefrog

Yes I posted to the X-Series blog and I am far from done. As a web developer I know a little more than most about how to highlight issues on the web and I am now undertaking an online war of attrition on Three in the hopes that they will finally get the message.

I will not tolerate my service from Three being dealt out in such a haphazard and shoddy fashion and nor will I pay for it.

The following email has just gone to Three customer support at support@3ireland.ie and their head of communications (hah!) there <snip> at [email]<snip>[/email] on the back of a bill I received from them this morning.

RE: A/C No.xxx & Bill No. xxx

Hi,

I am nothing short of furious to see that I am to be charged for my forced switch between unlimited broadband and X-Series during the month of August though given a credit on my unlimited broadband addon. This is truly the last straw.

Neither the unlimited broadband addon or the X-Series addon worked as advertised for the majority of the month or indeed are working now. I had sporadic and very short lived access to any service that did not run on port 80, and on several occasions of which I received no notice, I had no service whatsoever on any port. I spent innumerable hours chasing down people in technical support for answers and was told a plethora of what basically amounted to lies about the state of the service ranging from 'you are the only one having difficulties' when a visit to boards.ie made it quite apparent that I wasn't, to 'these issues will be resolved in 24 hours' when there was no basis to give me such information. I was sent out a replacement SIM to solve the issues when it was obvious that they were network based and there was on problem with the original SIM card. To add insult to injury, the original SIM card was disabled before the new one arrived leaving me with no mobile phone service for over a day!

I only requested the switch to X-Series as a last resort having gotten nowhere with customer service or support over a period of 2 weeks and at least 6 separate half hour long phone calls since the so called 'upgrade' of August 9th.

In my opinion, at this point Three should be paying me as it seems my custom is being used for network testing purposes while your technical team who seem nothing short of incompetent wrestle with their configurations.

Now let me make it clear. Should this charge of €19.00 not be refunded to me in my next bill I will take legal action. Furthermore, should I be charged for the X-Series addon next month with continuing access problems to services running on ports other than 80 I will take legal action.

It is my intention to take Three Ireland to the small claims court where I will be seeking the maximum award for lack of service and time lost, and I am also hereby committing to lodge official complaints with COMREG and the advertising standards authority. The purpose of these actions is not to escape from my contract. The purpose is to force Three to provide the services I enjoyed before August 9th and I intend to settle for nothing less.

While I know that COMREG does not regulate broadband directly which may have been an out for Three in relation to it's USB broadband customers, they do regulate mobile phone services. It will be my contention that Three obtained my custom for their phone service under false pretences - i.e. undertaking that they would provide an 'unlimited' data addon which obviously they have totally failed to do in the past month. I believe it is a matter COMREG must pursue and it is my firm intention to compel them to do so.

For documentation purposes I am publishing this letter publicly on boards.ie. It is also my intention to forward a copy to the NCA.

Finally, I expect all future correspondence between Three Ireland and myself on this matter to be in writing. No phone calls from India will be entertained.


Kind regards etc.

This will also appear on the X-Series blog shortly.

WezzyB

Well put Bluefrog! Exactly my sentiments.

I signed up to: next.three.com (also accessible on my phone, via three! shock horror)
I was thinking of suggesting fring, opera and live messenger and then saying how great they were before the recent network change......

Terrontress

I am going to write a message to the addresses you have specified detailing my problems.

I've noticed since I changed from unlimited broadband to x-series gold that I can't get access to tinytube.net. It's firewalled and there is no offensive material on there at all. No reason to firewall it other than people may use bandwidth to download videos.

Getting deeply suspicious

The_Hustler

Thanks for that site! I haven't been able to stream for age but I can still download those videos fine.

Bluefrog

No site should be firewalled, blocked etc. I'm an adult and I expect uncensored access to any site I choose to visit. I also expect that all ports will be open to me to use as I please as long as I don't contravene the fair usage policy - whatever that is.

My streaming has returned today but it continues to cut out after 3 to 5 minutes on X-Series Gold. No Fring on MSN or various java app network access.

Awaiting Three's response to my letter.

Terrontress

I was showing the phone to a friend and we decided to look up page3.com. Joke if you will. Anyway it seemed to block it out. Fair enough a block on adult sites. Now page3 may not be in my top ten sites but it's hardly corrupting. But then it turns out 3UK have a soft porn service through Planet3. i know Ireland is a country of prudes but let the individual make their own choice!

And now I get the same message for tinyTube.

Sam Vimes

Terrontress wrote:

I was showing the phone to a friend and we decided to look up page3.com. Joke if you will. Anyway it seemed to block it out. Fair enough a block on adult sites. Now page3 may not be in my top ten sites but it's hardly corrupting. But then it turns out 3UK have a soft porn service through Planet3. i know Ireland is a country of prudes but let the individual make their own choice!

And now I get the same message for tinyTube.

i got onto page3.com fine just there. Tinytube.com loaded but nothing came up in any of the search results. Is that what happened to you?

ciaran76

Page3.com worked for me but tinytube said it was a forbidden url !!!!

I don't get it !

Idleater

Terrontress wrote:

But then it turns out 3UK have a soft porn service through Planet3.

There was some "advert" link thing on my 3 home page when I connected last night to some dancing girls video.

"Heatworld" is my guess.

Terrontress

nereid wrote:

There was some "advert" link thing on my 3 home page when I connected last night to some dancing girls video.

"Heatworld" is my guess.

Look at these

http://www.three.co.uk/personal/products_services_/planetthreedetail.omp?cid=1139512467587

and

http://www.three.co.uk/personal/products_services_/planetthreedetail.omp?cid=1139512467563

It all seems fairly porny to me.

I have no great desire to go looking at dirty pictures but as Bluefrog says, we should not have any firewalls put up. We can each take personal responsibility for our actions without 3's censorship.

Bluefrog

Actually, I don't want the adult content to become a bit of a red herring here - all I meant was that 'unlimited' should mean just that. Notwithstanding bandwidth caps, I should be able to use any site, any port, access any service I choose as long as I don't contravene fair usage policies and by fair usage I mean fair to other users -not hogging bandwidth.

When I do take my legal action against Three, which it now looks increasingly like I will have to to get the service they contracted to supply me with, this will be my main contention.

Unlimited means unlimited.

Are the rest of your guys finding other 3rd party apps blocked on your phones now. Does your streaming in Real still get interupted?

tdkeaveny

could anyone make a rough time-line when things changed? like when certain apps worked and then stopped working (fring msn gizmo etc) I'm new to this so id like some info to argue my case when i go to complain. ill owe you big time

Terrontress

Bluefrog wrote:

Actually, I don't want the adult content to become a bit of a red herring here - all I meant was that 'unlimited' should mean just that. Notwithstanding bandwidth caps, I should be able to use any site, any port, access any service I choose as long as I don't contravene fair usage policies and by fair usage I mean fair to other users -not hogging bandwidth.

When I do take my legal action against Three, which it now looks increasingly like I will have to to get the service they contracted to supply me with, this will be my main contention.

Unlimited means unlimited.

Are the rest of your guys finding other 3rd party apps blocked on your phones now. Does your streaming in Real still get interupted?

Is your legal action going to be for the return of all fees you have paid to them?

I suspect they may not even defend that.

The_Hustler

Commander Vimes wrote:

i got onto page3.com fine just there. Tinytube.com loaded but nothing came up in any of the search results. Is that what happened to you?

I get search results just fine. The only problem I've had is that streaming doesn't work.

postie

It seems that all useful 3rd party apps especially Fring are still blocked. Its possibly a coincidence that it coincides with the launch of x-series...which is only available on non HSDPA phones. Useless. I think Bluefrogs approach to 3 may be the best one...