Internet and Arabic on the iPhone with Qtel

11 Jan, 2009  Random

untitled-1 I thought I’d answer some of the most common questions which are asked on ILQ related to the iPhone.

Can I read arabic messages?
The iPhone has arabic character support (the 3g version anyway) however it’s backwards and NOT connected. Update: Version 3.0 firmware fully supports arabic.

How can I read PROPER arabic?
The solution is to use Arabtaller It will have arabic displaying nicely on your iPhone AND install an arabic keyboard.

I also recommend installing SB Settings which is a useful app which you can find in the Cydia app.

What’s Cydia?
If you’re asking me that then you haven’t jailbroken your phone which you should have done a long time ago. I recommend searching and using a program called QUICKPWN which will do it all for you in one handy app.

What about internet? How can I access GPRS, Edge, Wap, 3G?

It’s actually very simple. You’re using a 3G iphone, so why are you asking about Edge or Wap? 3G Gprs is what you should be concerned about.

If you’re on Qtel, here are the settings.

Go to SETTINGS > GENERAL > NETWORK > CELLULAR DATA > APN > then input web.qtel

Thats it!! No username of password! You’re done! It’ll set up 3g gprs anda if you’re out of range for 3g then it automatically switches to edge.

For this to work you need both INTERNET and EMAIL activated on your phone. Just call your network. (In Qtel’s case, make sure you have Mobinet AND Email download access)

30 Comments so far »

  1. Dlight said,

    Wrote on January 28, 2009 @ 2:25 pm

    I try to use 3G on my iPhone with the settings you told me, but it won’t work..

  2. Kei said,

    Wrote on January 29, 2009 @ 10:00 pm

    you need to make sure that you have a 3G network.

  3. Lovedoc said,

    Wrote on February 2, 2009 @ 11:29 am

    I tried the above settings but it does not work.

    What do you mean by “you need to make sure that you have a 3G network.”?

    My 3G is enabled under General – Network

  4. Kei said,

    Wrote on February 2, 2009 @ 2:48 pm

    It means that you should make sure that you have the little 3g icon next to your signal bar which shows you have 3g reception.

    Hmm it’s unusual that the settings don’t work..

    Have you subscribed with Qtel for the service? (mail etc..)

  5. PRG2DOH said,

    Wrote on February 3, 2009 @ 5:27 pm

    I’m trying also with Qtel, and I continue to get a message that I’m not subscribed to a cellular data plan, even tho when I call Qtel, they tell me I am subscribed. Any help??

  6. Kei said,

    Wrote on February 5, 2009 @ 2:49 pm

    This is very odd..

    Here are my exact settings

    Enable 3G ON
    Data Roaming OFF
    VPN not configured

    Cellular Data
    Advanced
    APN: web.qtel
    User: blank
    Pass: blank

  7. Dlight said,

    Wrote on February 11, 2009 @ 7:29 pm

    Is your iPhone legally unlocked or with yellowsn0w?

    and are you with shahry, hala or postpaid?

  8. Kei said,

    Wrote on February 11, 2009 @ 9:02 pm

    @dlight, it’s unlocked from Apple and I’m on postpaid. (I should note that there is no difference between Shahry and Postpaid except for the free allowances.)

  9. Kei said,

    Wrote on February 16, 2009 @ 3:31 pm

    @N.hazem

    First you need to make sure you are getting Edge signal (You will see a small E next to the signal).

    In the username and password you must leave it empty.

    Finally, you must make sure you have Mobinet. Call 111 for Qtel and ask them for the service :)

  10. N.hazem said,

    Wrote on February 16, 2009 @ 3:49 pm

    Thank you Kei…..i called Qtel now they told me that mobinet is only for GPS and it is different than the APN and internet…they told me to put g for username and g for password but still not working and they dont have an answer after that do u?! :D thnx again very much for your help

  11. Kei said,

    Wrote on February 16, 2009 @ 5:53 pm

    Doesn’t matter what they say, just ignore them.

    Just get Mobinet and put the APN settings I asked for. If they asked what phone, just say iPhone. If they say it doesn’t work, say you tried it before and it works.

    Just ignore them and follow my instructions :)

  12. manny said,

    Wrote on February 24, 2009 @ 12:21 am

    Thanks Kei, but for some reason it still doesnt work. I just got a 3G unlocked iphone. When I put in my sim the phone works just fine but no internet. When i put the same sim card in other phones the internet is fine. Qtel tells me that I have a plan called “mobile internet service” which is apparently different than “mobinet” and has different APN settings. I tried those APN settings and they did not work. I then also tried your APN settings and that did not work either. I just can’t figure out what else i could do here.

  13. Kei said,

    Wrote on February 24, 2009 @ 7:49 am

    hello manny, yep you’ll need to subscribe to Mobinet.

    (Around 20qr a month I think)

    Then everything should be fine :)

    I just did 5 iPhones for friends.

  14. James Dylan said,

    Wrote on April 27, 2009 @ 3:30 am

    Hi, I am one of the original guys with a 3G iPhone in Qatar, over one year now. I have NEVER gotten APN to work, when I call 111 they say they don’t support iPhone. Can you help me, Kei? I am not subscribed to Mobinet, as I am always told they don’t support iPhone. I even went to the QTel store and they all talked and said “sorry”.

    James

    jdylan@yahoo.com

  15. Kei said,

    Wrote on April 27, 2009 @ 8:53 am

    Hi, I’ve set it up on all my friends iPhones so far. I ask them for Mobinet 20 and Email access.

    If you ask for iPhone support they will ALWAYS say they can’t help you. If you talk about APN usage they may block you because they know you’ll use it with your iphone (maybe).

    The main thing is to ensure 3G is on. You have NO username or password in the Cellular Data field. I’m sorry I can’t help more.

  16. James Dylan said,

    Wrote on April 29, 2009 @ 1:53 am

    Thanks, I’ll go to QTel tomorrow at the mall and sign up for it. Now I use hala cards, hope I don’t have to sign up for monthly billing to get Mobinet 20…

  17. Sara said,

    Wrote on June 21, 2009 @ 8:17 am

    Works for me thanks!

  18. Nacim said,

    Wrote on June 21, 2009 @ 12:20 pm

    Hi, I have Mobinet and a normal Qtel line, Have changed the setting to the above and still did not work. Is there any other tip???

    Cheers

  19. Kei said,

    Wrote on June 21, 2009 @ 1:08 pm

    make sure you tell them you want email access too.

    Just make sure you call and ask for mobinet and email download access.

  20. cryogenic said,

    Wrote on June 22, 2009 @ 5:20 pm

    wow cool i never thot my i phone would ever work beyond my safe confines of my wifi and i just was paying 20 riyals every month for the past seve4ral months for the QPRS connection which never did me any good.
    Today just stumbled on thiss article on QL and just did it and voila it works just fine. Great Thansk guys.

  21. Chuck Pierce said,

    Wrote on June 24, 2009 @ 5:20 pm

    Just an fyi to all; it looks like Qtel also has a new blackberry service. It’s more expensive 120 qar per month, vs the 20 qar per month for mobinet; but it gives you unlimited data service. It’s also much easier just to tell them that you have a blackberry when you call and they actually know how to properly add your account :)

  22. Kei said,

    Wrote on June 24, 2009 @ 6:54 pm

    So if I say that I have a blackberry, I can get unlimited data on my iPhone?
    If so that’s a fantastic tip!

  23. Iain Walker said,

    Wrote on June 29, 2009 @ 2:52 pm

    I’m going crazy trying to setup my gemail and other imap / pop emails on my Nokia E71. Any advice? The handset has GPRS settings and can web browse but I can’t connect to email servers.

    Have phoned Qtel and get different answers each time which make no sense anyway.

    Do I need to have their ‘mobile email’ subscription? If so why? The phone has the ability to just setup email access directly but something seems to be getting in the way.

  24. Kei said,

    Wrote on June 29, 2009 @ 11:19 pm

    I’d imagine that you do because they limit pop and imap access unless you have the email support enabled through Qtel.

    (I was using an E75 and had to do that)

  25. Hamad said,

    Wrote on June 30, 2009 @ 10:41 am

    what is Email download access??
    and how much it will cost me monthly?

  26. Kei said,

    Wrote on June 30, 2009 @ 2:32 pm

    It allows you to access emails via an email app on your mobile which uses pop3 or imap settings.

    I think it’s 5 QR a month.

  27. Sulaiti said,

    Wrote on July 9, 2009 @ 12:31 pm

    Hey any knows if i can get the blackberry access on my iphone? Or is it a maybe & just speculation that might not be true? I need unlimited data
    http://www.qtel.com.qa/BlackBerryIS.do?prodtype=1

    If anyone sure of the answer, please email me the answer on outcell AT gmail .com

    Thanks

  28. Kei said,

    Wrote on July 9, 2009 @ 6:36 pm

    hey there,

    What do you mean by blackberry access? Mail? If so then you can set the iphone up using pop3 or I recommend IMAP and receive your email dynamically via push.

    I’m not sure myself but I may try doing it.

    In theory it makes sense. Tell them you have a blackberry, you need to activate the service (which comes with unlimited data), and then just use the iphone. Not sure though.

  29. noelle said,

    Wrote on September 1, 2009 @ 2:06 am

    hey there,

    i have got an iphone factory unlocked.. i have used it in malaysia, france and uae with no problem.. but then now in qatar… i can make calls with my iphone BUT THEN I CAN SEEMS TO RECEIVE INCOMING CALLS… Please help…

    Thanks…

  30. noelle said,

    Wrote on September 1, 2009 @ 2:07 am

    hey there,

    (sorry error from my earlier message. I meant i can^t receive any incoming calls from my iphone)

    i have got an iphone factory unlocked.. i have used it in malaysia, france and uae with no problem.. but then now in qatar… i can make calls with my iphone BUT THEN I CAN’T SEEMS TO RECEIVE INCOMING CALLS… Please help…

    Thanks…

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