Troubleshooting BlackBerry PlayBook Bridge Issues – Fix Coming

Last week I confirmed with a contact at RIM that there are some reported issues for certain users trying to pair their BlackBerry PlayBook with their BlackBerry phone. RIM has confirmed this in a knowledge base article published today along with providing a pretty comprehensive resolution or workaround option that attempts to resolve a few issues. My contact told me this may be related to certain BlackBerry smartphone OS builds so you may want to also try upgrading your OS if all else fails. RIM’s publication claims the issue is only related to OS 6.0 devices so let us know if you are experiencing issues with OS 5.0 devices.

Here is how RIM describes the issue and workaround:

When attempting to pair (manually or automatically) a BlackBerry® smartphone with the BlackBerry®PlayBook™ tablet, one of the following errors is displayed:

On the BlackBerry® tablet

"Unable to connect BlackBerry® Bridge with BlackBerry smartphone. Please ensure you have BlackBerry Bridge installed on your device and turned on"

or

“Unable to pair with playbook. Try again”

or

“Failed to pair with BlackBerry model”

On the BlackBerry smartphone

“Unable to pair with PlayBook. Try again” – BlackBerry device

Environment

• BlackBerry® smartphones running BlackBerry 6 OS
• BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet
• BlackBerry® Bridge

Resolution

This is a previously reported issue that is being investigated by our development team. No resolution time frame is currently available.

Workaround

Delete the paired device on the BlackBerry smartphone and BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.  Attempt to pair again using BlackBerry Bridge.

Step 1: Disconnect from BlackBerry Bridge and delete the paired device from the BlackBerry PlayBooktablet:

1. Select the Options icon from the top right corner of the main screen.
2. Select the BlackBerry Bridge item from the left side.
3. Select the Disconnect button from the bottom right side.
4. Select the Bluetooth® menu item from the left side menu from within the Options.
5. Select the Pencil button.
6. Click the Trash icon beside the paired BlackBerry smartphone.

Step 2: Delete a paired Bluetooth enable device

To perform this task, you must first disconnect your BlackBerry device from the Bluetooth enabled device.

1. On the Home screen, click the connections area at the top of the screen, or click the Manage Connections icon.
2. Click Bluetooth Connections.
3. Highlight a paired Bluetooth enabled device.
4. Press the Menu key > Delete Device.

Step 3: Uncheck all Bluetooth Message Services on the BlackBerry device

1. On the BlackBerry device home screen, Click on Options > Network and Connections > Bluetooth Connections
2. Click the Menu key and select MAP Options
3. Uncheck all Email addresses under Message Services
4. Save and exit

Step 4: Remove unused Serial Port Profiles (PlayBook uses the Data Transfer Serial Port Profile)

1. Open Bluetooth Connections from Manage Connections icon in home screen.
2. Click the Menu key and select Options
3. Uncheck unused Serial Port Profile entries except Data Transfer (Desktop Connectivity, SIM Access Profile, Wireless Bypass) 
4. Save and Exit

Step 5: Restart the BlackBery smartphone and BlackBerry PlayBook tablet

1.  Perform a hard reset on the BlackBerry device, KB02141
2.  Perform a hard reset on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, by holding the Power button for 10 seconds

Step 6: Connect your tablet and smartphone using BlackBerry Bridge

To connect your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet to your BlackBerry smartphone, you need to install the BlackBerry Bridge app on your smartphone.  You can download it from the BlackBerry App World storefront.

1. On your tablet home screen, on the status bar, tab Options icon and select BlackBerry Bridge
2. Tap Setup > Continue
3. In the BlackBerry Bridge app on your smartphone, tap Add Device > Next
4. Point your smartphone camera at the barcode that appears on your tablet to scan the barcode

Official workaround for using Bridge with PlayBook on AT&T!

Yes, you did read the title correctly. RIM has posted an official workaround for the problem of AT&T users not being able to bridge a PlayBook with a BlackBerry device under it's service, available here (KB26699). This is for users who get the following errors on their PlayBook:

• "Unable to connect BlackBerry Bridge with BlackBerry smartphone. Please ensure you have BlackBerry Bridge installed on your device and turned on"
• “Unable to pair with playbook. Try again”
• “Failed to pair with BlackBerry model”

And it also applies to users who get the error message “Unable to pair with PlayBook. Try again“ on their BlackBerry Smartphone.

Read the full workaround below:

Quote:

---

Environment:

• BlackBerry® smartphones running BlackBerry 6 OS
• BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet
• BlackBerry® Bridge

Resolution:

This is a previously reported issue that is being investigated by our development team. No resolution time frame is currently available.

Workaround

Delete the paired device on the BlackBerry smartphone and BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. Attempt to pair again using BlackBery Bridge.

Step 1: Disconnect from BlackBerry Bridge and delete the paired device from the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet:

1. Select the Options icon from the top right corner of the main screen.
2. Select the BlackBerry Bridge item from the left side.
3. Select the Disconnect button from the bottom right side.
4. Select the Bluetooth® menu item from the left side menu from within the Options.
5. Select the Pencil button.
6. Click the Trash icon beside the paired BlackBerry smartphone.


Step 2: Delete a paired Bluetooth enable device

To perform this task, you must first disconnect your BlackBerry device from the Bluetooth enabled device.

1. On the Home screen, click the connections area at the top of the screen, or click the Manage Connections icon.
2. Click Bluetooth Connections.
3. Highlight a paired Bluetooth enabled device.
4. Press the Menu key > Delete Device.

Step 3: Uncheck all Bluetooth Message Services on the BlackBerry device

1. On the BlackBerry device home screen, Click on Options > Network and Connections > Bluetooth Connections
2. Click the Menu key and select MAP Options
3. Uncheck all Email addresses under Message Services
4. Save and exit


Step 4: Remove unused Serial Port Profiles (PlayBook uses the Data Transfer Serial Port Profile)

Open Bluetooth Connections from Manage Connections icon in home screen.
Click the Menu key and select Options
Uncheck unused Serial Port Profile entries except Data Transfer (Desktop Connectivity, SIM Access Profile, Wireless Bypass)
Save and Exit
Step 5: Restart the BlackBery smartphone and BlackBerry PlayBook tablet

1. Perform a hard reset on the BlackBerry device, KB02141
2. Perform a hard reset on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, by holding the Power button for 10 seconds


Step 6: Connect your tablet and smartphone using BlackBerry Bridge

To connect your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet to your BlackBerry smartphone, you need to install the BlackBerry Bridge app on your smartphone. You can download it from the BlackBerry App World storefront.

1. On your tablet home screen, on the status bar, tab Options icon and select BlackBerry Bridge
2. Tap Setup > Continue
3. In the BlackBerry Bridge app on your smartphone, tap Add Device > Next
4. Point your smartphone camera at the barcode that appears on your tablet to scan the barcode

---

Did this work for you? Tell us in the comments!

source blackberry.com

How to remove applications from the BlackBerry PlayBook

To remove an application from the BlackBerry PlayBook complete the following steps:

Method 1 (via App World):

1. Launch BlackBerry AppWorld and tap My World at the top of the screen.
2. A list of currently installed applications will appear. Tap on the Delete button next to the application to be remove.
3. When prompted, tap OK to complete the deletion.

Note: Applications can be reinstalled at any time by tapping on the Uninstalled section of this screen in the upper right, then tapping the Reinstall button next to the desired application.

Method 2:

1. Expand the application drawer on the All tab.
2. Press and hold (sometimes known as a long press) on any icon to enter Edit mode.
3. Tap the trash can icon below the icon for the application you wish to delete.

Note: This will allow deletion of any application, including system defaults. Default applications can only be restored through a system software update.

BlackBerry PlayBook - Power Button Explained

The BlackBerry PlayBook Power button serves serveral functions:

1. Stand-by - Click the Power button for less than 2 seconds. The BlackBerry PlayBook Screen will goes off, background services will continue to operate, this includes Bluetooth and WIFI
2. Shutdown/Restart - Click and hold the Power button for 2 seconds. This will bring up a prompt asking to Turn Off, or Restart
3. Forced Power Off - Click and hold the Power button for 10 seconds. This will force the BlackBerry PlayBook to power off.

How to change the payment method in BlackBerry App World for BlackBerry PlayBook

In addition to PayPal, you can now pay for apps and make purchases within an app using a credit card or charge them straight to your wireless bill.
To change the payment method for BlackBerry App World on a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, complete the following:

1. From a PC or Mac, visit appworld.blackberry.com/webstore
2. Click the Sign In link in the upper right area of the website
3. Enter in your BlackBerry ID username and password, then click Login
4. This will then return to the App World Featured Items carousel. In the upper right area of the website, click My Payment Options
5. Select the method of payment to change to, then click Next
6. Depending on the method of payment you selected, fill in the required information to proceed
7. A prompt will be presented to confirm the change of payment options

Note: When visiting BlackBerry App World storefront on a Mac, a prompt will advise that some features are not compatible with this operating system. Select Continue Browsing to continue into the BlackBerry App World storefront to browse applications and change the payment method for the BlackBerry ID. Syncing applications via a wired connection to the BlackBerry smartphone is NOT supported on the Mac at this time.

Source

How to import security certificates on the BlackBerry PlayBook

Please complete the following steps to import and use security certificates on the BlackBerry PlayBook:

1. Connect the PlayBook to a computer using a USB cable
   1. If it hasn't already been completed, follow the steps on the PlayBook screen and the computer to install the drivers
2. On the PlayBook navigate to the Gear icon and select About
3. In the Information drop down list, select Network
4. Copy either the IPv4 address listed under USB or Wireless
   1. On a Windows computer, open the Run dialog box and type \\127.1.1.1 (where 127.1.1.1 should be replaced with the actual IP address of the BlackBerry PlayBook)
   2. On a Mac computer, select Go -> Connect to Server... and type smb://127.1.1.1 (where 127.1.1.1 should be replaced with the actual IP address of the BlackBerry PlayBook)
5. Copy the certificate file to the certs share on the BlackBerry PlayBook
6. Touch the Gear icon in the top right hand corner of the PlayBook and select Security
7. Within the Security menu, select Certificates
8. Touch the Import button in the bottom right corner
9. Select the certificate to be imported and touch Next
10. Select the Class and which certificate store(s) to import the certificate into
11. The certificate will now be available when creating a VPN profile, Wi-Fi profile, or when a accessing a secure website

Tutorial Source

How to setup Bluetooth Internet Tethering on the BlackBerry PlayBook

Depending on the wireless service provider, a BlackBerry smartphone or Bluetooth® device can be connected to a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet with a Bluetooth connection and be used as a modem to connect to the Internet when the BlackBerry tablet might not otherwise have access to the Internet.

One BlackBerry smartphone can be used as a modem at a single time. If the BlackBerry smartphone is associated with a BlackBerry® Enterprise Server, contact the administrator to make sure that the appropriate IT policy is turned on to use this feature.

Complete the following steps to setup Internet Tethering on the BlackBerry tablet:

1. From the Home Screen, select the Settings icon.
2. From the Settings screen, select Internet Tethering.
3. Select a device from the list of already paired Bluetooth devices. See the additional information on how to to pair a Bluetooth device.
   
   
   
4. Do any of the following:
1. Select the Carrier from the list of pre-configured Wireless Service Profiles.
   
   
   
2. Click on the Add button to create a customer Internet Tethering Profile. Enter all the required information and select Connect.

Note: In order to setup Bluetooth Internet Tethering on the BlackBerry PlayBook the mobile device must support Bluetooth Dial-Up Networking (DUN).

Tutorial Source