Noob here. Got a hand-me-down 3GS. Had to wait 2 months until my AT&T contract ended. In the meantime I played with the phone (which had been completely reset to factory) and found I could make it functional on Wi-Fi. I installed Gmail, Opera browser, an alternate Calendar app that synched with my Google Calendar, an alternate weather app and the new Google Maps app when it came out. All worked find on Wi-Fi. I even installed Google Voice and was able to make phone calls while on wi-fi!
While waiting I also checked out alternate, lower cost carriers to replace AT&T and settled on Consumer Cellular since they use the AT&T network so the coverage should be the same as I am used to. A complicating factor: although I am a retired IT guy and know my way around PCs and such this is the first 'Smart Phone' I have played with. I THOUGHT I would have to unlock the phone to change carriers - and then I read that I would have to jailbreak the phone in order to unlock it. So I did! Turns out going with Consumer Cellular I didn't need to do either. I was able to go to Radio Shack or Sears and buy a new CC SIM card for ten dollars - and they credited me for that purchase!
Once the AT&T contract expired I called CC and activated the 3GS. The phone function has been working fine for several weeks. One glitch - the first rep at CC didn't set me up for data so, even though I was on a data plan I wasn't able to access data away from a wi-fi connection. Another call to CC and someone finished the setup. (APN or something)
Which at long last brings me to the question. Even though I removed all the apps I had played with in the 2 months when the phone wasn't activated, the built-in apps Mail, Safari, Calendar, Weather and Maps still do not work. What's up with that?
Even with the Gmail app removed the built-in Mail, Safari, Calendar and Maps apps just open up to white background screen. The Weather app opens up for just a moment then quits. These apps can of course be replaced with the alternates I was playing with but why don't the included ones work? No amount of fiddling with the Settings seems to get them working.
Additional note about the 'complicating factor' - the 3GS still has the Cydia application on it which likely means it was successfully jailbroken but tapping on it causes it to open and then shut immediately, making it useless. I think this puppy is going to require advice from far more knowledgeable people than myself! Hopefully someone can help.
While waiting I also checked out alternate, lower cost carriers to replace AT&T and settled on Consumer Cellular since they use the AT&T network so the coverage should be the same as I am used to. A complicating factor: although I am a retired IT guy and know my way around PCs and such this is the first 'Smart Phone' I have played with. I THOUGHT I would have to unlock the phone to change carriers - and then I read that I would have to jailbreak the phone in order to unlock it. So I did! Turns out going with Consumer Cellular I didn't need to do either. I was able to go to Radio Shack or Sears and buy a new CC SIM card for ten dollars - and they credited me for that purchase!
Once the AT&T contract expired I called CC and activated the 3GS. The phone function has been working fine for several weeks. One glitch - the first rep at CC didn't set me up for data so, even though I was on a data plan I wasn't able to access data away from a wi-fi connection. Another call to CC and someone finished the setup. (APN or something)
Which at long last brings me to the question. Even though I removed all the apps I had played with in the 2 months when the phone wasn't activated, the built-in apps Mail, Safari, Calendar, Weather and Maps still do not work. What's up with that?
Even with the Gmail app removed the built-in Mail, Safari, Calendar and Maps apps just open up to white background screen. The Weather app opens up for just a moment then quits. These apps can of course be replaced with the alternates I was playing with but why don't the included ones work? No amount of fiddling with the Settings seems to get them working.
Additional note about the 'complicating factor' - the 3GS still has the Cydia application on it which likely means it was successfully jailbroken but tapping on it causes it to open and then shut immediately, making it useless. I think this puppy is going to require advice from far more knowledgeable people than myself! Hopefully someone can help.
