NIH BlackBerry

What is the coverage area for the BlackBerry Devices?

Currently, the BlackBerry device has coverage in both the United States and Canada without roaming or long distance charges (if you would like to travel between the two countries, you will need to order specific service) for the BlackBerry 950 and 957. You can search for United States coverage at:

Cingular/Mobitex Wireless Data Network

 

The BlackBerry 6710 and other devices run on completely different networks, called GSM/GPRS (T-Mobile), CDMA2000 (Verizon) and iDen (NexTel).  Here are their coverage maps by carrier:

T-Mobile

Nextel

Verizon

AT&T;


How can I view or print attachments?

Attachment Reader for your BlackBerry:

You may open most popular document types via the RIM build in browser.
The option to Open Attachment should appear in the menu of a message containing an attachment on the BlackBerry device.

How to get your attachments printed via a fax:

This will enable printing of e-mail and attachments from a BlackBerry to any FAX machine.

Very simply, you can forward any message you receive on your BlackBerry to an e-mail address that contains the phone number of the FAX machine nearest to you. This could be a hotel FAX, an office FAX, or a home FAX...any FAX machine.

This is the format of the e-mail address to use when forwarding a message:

        Your.Name%faxnumber@fax.hub.nih.gov

Ex.

        Joe.User%914079343425@fax.hub.nih.gov

A message forwarded to the above address will print at a FAX machine at a conference center in Disney World (an appropriate example). Any attached Word, Excel etc. files will also automatically print.

Keep in mind that this FAX is being sent from the NIH (regardless where you may be), so a local number needs to be proceeded with a '9' and a long distance number with a '91'.

The FAX cover page will print with the 'Your.Name' part of the address as the 'To:' line. E-mail addresses don't like spaces, hence the '.' separator. If you are staying in Hotel room #1237 (for example), you could use the address:

        Your.Name.rm.1237%number@fax.hub.nih.gov

This will allow the front desk staff  to have the FAX delivered directly to your room.

Lastly, to simplify the repeated use of this addressing, you can create a new address in your address book (or contacts)..call it something like 'Remote FAX' and for the e-mail field put in:

    Your.Name%91xxxxxxxxxx@fax.hub.nih.gov

As you travel simply 'Edit' the x's with the FAX number you wish to use.

Stay tuned for other attachment tools...

How can I get the Global Address Book on my BlackBerry?

To search against an HHS address list, simply send an email to:

dir@nih.gov ('Directory Lookup' in the Global Address List)

On the 'Subject' line, enter at least the last name of the person, or the entire name in the format:

firstname lastname

Wildcards or partial names are permitted

Examples:

You should receive a reply to your message from Directory Lookup shortly after it was sent.  If the query (i.e. the name you were looking for) results in a single response of one address, you will also receive an attachment listed at the bottom of the message as "Address Book:Firstname Lastname".  You can then move the cursor over the attachment and press the thumbwheel to 'Open Attachment'.  Once opened pressing the thumbwheel again will allow you to save the contents into your BlackBerry's address book. 

NEW! This feature now also includes the BlackBerry PIN number. This is useful if direct PIN-PIN contact is required.

How do I change the default signature?

A signature is the little bit of text automatically added at the end of a message you create that usually gives information about the person who sent the message, like their title, address, etc.

BlackBerry ships with a default signature which includes some advertising in it. We normally change that signature to reflect our own NIH credentials. Here are the steps to make that change.

  1. On your Desktop Computer, there is an application called "Desktop Manager". Please open it. You can find it on your desktop of your computer or as a little picture of a pager in the bottom-right hand corner of your computer screen. 
  2. There is an option in the Desktop Manager called Redirector Settings. Double-click on it.
  3. There is a box that has the signature in it right there. You can change it and place whatever you would like inside it. Click the OK button.

What about other software for the BlackBerry?

There are several web sites that you can visit that have downloads of applications for the BlackBerry Handheld devices. Here are a couple of them:

Why do some messages seem to be cut off?

The BlackBerry receives a certain amount of data at a time. Sometimes, an email message can be too long to fit within that amount of data.  If you get a message which states "More Available" at the end, simply click the scroll wheel and choose "More".  Once you do, the BlackBerry will request more of the message and it will be added on to the message to allow you to read it.

How can I access scientific information on my BlackBerry?

While we are starting to get applications for the BlackBerry Devices to access scientific and enterprise information, there are several avenues available to you right now to get this type of information.

If you have a web browser on your device, you can use the web-based retrieval and sequence capability of GenBank.  Specific instructions on how to access this tool can be found at:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Entrez/.