Geek Testing

So I just got the Google Nexus One phone over the weekend, and decided to get a BSNL 3G connection to use with it. I picked the Rs 399/month plan which has a 1GB data limit.

The SIM was activated within a few hours, but the problem was getting the access point settings for BSNL 3G for my phone. The Nexus One isn't sold in India, so when you send a "<MAKE> <MODEL>" SMS to 58355, BSNL doesn't recognize your phone.

A lot of Googling and experimentation later, I finally have 3G working. This post is for those of you who want to use BSNL 3G with the Nexus One. Please note, this is for a Chennai post-paid connection. Settings might vary for other cities.

1. Open the Settings application
2. Click on Wireless & Networks
3. Click on Mobile networks
4. Click on Access Point Names
5. Bring up the Options menu (the second button from the left on the soft-touch pad, the one with the horizontal lines) and click New APN
6. Use the following settings
   • Name: Give any name here. I used BSNL 3G
   • APN: bsnlnet (This might be the only thing you need to change depending on your city)
   • Proxy: Leave this as Not set
   • Port: Leave this as Not set
   • Username: Leave this as Not set
   • Password: Leave this as Not set
   • Server: Leave this as Not set
   • MMSC: Leave this as Not set
   • MMS Proxy: Leave this as Not set
   • MMS Port: Leave this as Not set
   • MCC: 404 (This was the default value on my phone. I didn't change it)
   • MNC: 64 (This was the default value on my phone. I didn't change it)
   • Authentication type: None
   • APN type: Leave this as Not set

I'll probably want to figure out the MMS settings some day, but for now I don't need them.

Do leave comments about whether this helped!

Labels: Android, Technology