Ramble FAQ
If you have any questions about the Ramble® IM software, please take a look at the questions and answers below. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, please feel to contact us with your question. Also, keep watching this page for more questions and answers in the future.
General
Features & Requirements
Installation Problems
Login & Connection Problems
Problems Running Ramble
What is Ramble® Instant Messenger?
Ramble is an application designed to let users access the AOL Instant Messenger™ network via a Research in Motion BlackBerry® device. The application was designed as a technology demonstration by SRA International, Inc. Wireless Integrations Services group. The application is free for use, but not open source. Accordingly, feel free to download the application and send us your feedback at ramble-im@sra.com. Also watch this site in the future for upgrades to the product.
As a technology demonstration, Ramble has been developed from the ground up as BlackBerry application integrated into key areas of Blackberry operating system. The software will function on BlackBerry devices with version 4.0 or higher of the operating system. Check your user manual to learn how to find this information.
Who makes Ramble® Instant Messenger?
Ramble Instant Messenger is produced by SRA International, Inc. as a service to the BlackBerry community.
Is Ramble® open source?
Ramble Instant Messenger is not an open source application, but it is free for use.
Why Is Ramble® free to use?
Ramble is provided as a service to the BlackBerry community by SRA International, Inc. and as such, is free to use.
Why do features keep changing?
As a technology demonstration, Ramble is under constant development. While stability is certainly a goal of Ramble, in the current pre-1.0 period, features often change, and new bugs can arise.
What BlackBerry devices can I run Ramble® IM on?
Ramble can be run on any BlackBerry with Operating System version 4.0 or higher.
Is Ramble® compatible with Mac users?
Users of iChat cannot login to Ramble because Ramble connects directly to the AOL Instant Message server, while iChat users connect via a Jabber connection which provides a relay to the AOL network.
Users of Ramble may also find themselves unable to talk to iChat users due to a shortcoming in the protocol that Ramble uses to connect to AOL. This could change in the future if AOL adds the capability to their TOC protocol.
Does Ramble® use SMS?
No. Ramble connects to the network via the BlackBerry data network, not via SMS. You will not incur SMS charges when using Ramble IM
What are Ramble® Extensions?
A new feature of Ramble, called Ramble Extensions, allows for the addition of optional features to Ramble. Ramble Extensions allow us to offer useful features that every user might not want or need without modifying the core client.
Can I used my linked screen names when I login to Ramble®?
No. The TOC protocol that Ramble uses to connect to AOL does not support linked screen names.
When I download the Ramble.jad file to my Desktop, I can’t get it to install?
The Ramble.jad is meant to be accessed by your BlackBerry web browser in order to provide Over-The-Air installation of Ramble. If you need to install Ramble via your Desktop Manager, select the ‘Download Desktop Files’ option when downloading Ramble®
When I download Ramble®, I get the error ‘Invalid Jar’. What does this mean?
There may be a restriction on your network, or a problem installing the application over the air. Try downloading Ramble® desktop files and using your Desktop Manager to install the software.
When I download Ramble®, I get ‘Midlet Error’A Midlet Error is typically the result of trying to install Ramble on a BlackBerry with an operating system prior to 4.0. Make sure you’re running at least version 4.0
I can’t login, what should I do?
Take a look at the questions and answers contained in this document first. If you can’t find the answer here, email us and we’ll try to help you out.
What does ‘Invalid Connection String: could not open tunnel- failed’ mean?
When you try to login to Ramble and receive this error, or a similar error, it is likely that your device needs to be configured to properly run Ramble.
If you are a corporate user, you should check with your system administrator to ensure that MDS is enabled for your device. If you are a carrier user, you will need to configure TCP and set Ramble IM Options.
If you’re not sure if you’re a corporate user or a carrier user, your email address can help you figure it out. Let’s say your company is named Foo. If your BlackBerry email address is yourname@foo.com, you’re probably a corporate user. If your BlackBerry carrier is MyCarrier, and your email address is something like yourname@blackberry.mycarrier.com, you’re probably a carrier user.
Take a look at the configurations page for information on how to configure your TCP settings for use with Ramble.
Why does Ramble® work for some people right away, but others have to configure their device for it?
Certain carriers, Nextel, Verizon, and some others have their devices pre-configured for TCP, so when those users try to login to Ramble, they are able to login without having to enter any configuration data.
When I try to login to Ramble® it just displays the ‘Connecting, please wait’ dialog forever. Why can’t I log in?
This is commonly caused by a firewall issue. Ramble is allowed to try to open a connection, but the packets never reach their destination or the response is never received. If you are a corporate user, check with your system administrator to see if toc.oscar.aol.com TCP traffic is blocked. If it is, you can either ask them to open it, or you can try to use the BlackBerry TCP and configure that.
I get the message ‘Login Failed! Reason unknown, Error code: 989′ when I try to login. What does this mean?
The good news is that Error Code 989 means you are properly communicating with the AOL server. The bad news is that error code 989 is literally an ‘undefined error’ used when an otherwise unexpected problem was encountered. Sometimes simply logging in again will resolve the problem. This error is sometimes encountered when a user is logged into AOL through another application. Try logging out of that other application, and try logging into Ramble® again.
What are TCP settings and where can I find them?
TCP settings on your BlackBerry device tell the device how to connect internet-based applications to their servers. TCP settings are specific to each carrier, and typically consist of three settings: APN, Username, and Password.
To find your TCP settings open the ‘Options’ application, then open the ‘TCP’ item. If you’ve got a series 7100 series device, you will need to open ‘Options’, then ‘Settings’, then ‘TCP’. TCP is pre-configured on most CDMA devices, and on Nextel devices, therefore TCP will not show up.
What is MDS and how can I tell if I use it or not?
MDS stands for Mobile Data Service and provides corporate users with access to the internet and internet-based applications like Ramble® IM.
If you’re not sure if you’re a corporate user or a carrier user, your email address can help you figure it out. Let’s say your company is named Foo. If your BlackBerry email address is yourname@foo.com, you’re probably a corporate user. If your BlackBerry carrier is MyCarrier, and your email address is something like yourname@blackberry.mycarrier.com, you’re probably a carrier user.
My 7100 series device won’t play alerts, why not?
There is a known issue with 7100 series devices and audible alerts. It will be fixed in an upcoming release (although there is no release date yet).
I’m not being notified of new messages when I’m not in the app?
This is a limitation of the current notification system. The notification system has been reworked in an upcoming release and this is no longer a limitation.
Why does Buddy Info not work, I just get a white screen?
Buddy Info is only available on the server to which a user is connected, but sometimes Ramble® is unable to connect to that server due to a limitation in the way BlackBerry network connections are made. When you see a white screen, Ramble was unable to locate the buddy information. Simply hit escape to back out of the white display screen.
Sometimes while I’m using Ramble®, I don’t receive phone calls, they go right to voice mail, why is that?
Depending on the network you’re using (CDMA vs. GSM/GPRS vs. Nextel) open network connections can block incoming voice calls. This is a limitation of the network, not the BlackBerry or Ramble, and most carriers are on a path to upgrade around this problem.
How can I delete Ramble®?
We’re sorry that you didn’t like Ramble, but please check back with us in the future as the product is always evolving. Read on for instructions on removal.
You can either delete Ramble using your Desktop Manager, or you can delete it right from your BlackBerry by opening the Options application, and selecting ‘Applications’ (Options -> Settings -> Applications on 7100 series devices). Once you’re in the Application screen, scroll down until you see Ramble listed, click to bring up the menu and select ‘Delete’.
After the delete has finished, your BlackBerry may prompt you to reboot. Go ahead and reboot. If Ramble still shows up, you will need to enter the Applications screen again as above, except this time click to bring up the menu and select ‘Modules’. Scroll all the way down to Ramble, and if it is there, click to bring up the menu, and select ‘Delete’. Confirm when asked, and reboot if asked.