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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • How can I contact BBC mobile?

    If you have a comment or suggestion about BBC mobile, or a question that isn't covered by these FAQ, please use the feedback form to get in touch.

  • How can I get the BBC website on my phone?

    Type www.bbc.co.uk/mobile into your phone's internet browser, or use our step-by-step How To guide.

  • How can I turn the pictures on (or off)?

    When you visit BBC Mobile, we check what kind of handset you've got and will automatically include pictures if it's able to show them. You can also choose whether or not you want to see pictures. Follow the FAQ link at the bottom of the BBC mobile homepage to find a link to turn pictures on or off.

  • How can I get BBC news on my mobile?

    We offer a range of news services, which should work on most mobile phones.

    To get the BBC News website on your mobile device, you can type www.bbc.co.uk/news into your phone's internet browser, or text NEWS to 81010 (within the UK) and we'll send you a link to the site.

    We also offer:

  • What BBC news services can I get outside the UK?

    To get the BBC News website on your mobile device, you can type www.bbc.com/news into your phone's internet browser, or text NEWS to +44 76 2488 2488 and we'll send you a link to the site.

    You can get BBC mobile news in the following languages:

  • How can I get BBC news or sports news sent to my mobile?

    If you're in the UK, you can get BBC News on your mobile. You can sign up to get breaking news sent by SMS or by email to your mobile.

    You can also get top sports stories, scores and results through your mobile, though currently not by SMS. Find out more about BBC Sport on your mobile.

  • Can I change how BBC mobile looks on my phone?

    There are three ways to view the BBC internet on your mobile: Standard, Enhanced and Desktop versions.

    Choose the version that works best for your phone by following the 'Preferences' link at the bottom of the BBC mobile homepage.

  • Is it expensive to browse BBC on my mobile?

    It needn't be. The BBC doesn't charge you to look at content, so it depends on your network and tariff and what you want to look at. Generally, it costs only a few pence to look at a simple webpage, though audio and video will cost considerably more. If you're unsure you can check with your operator. However, there are ways to limit your costs to get BBC content as cheaply as possible.

  • How much does it cost to watch video content on my phone?

    Video content costs more to view than text because there's much more data to download. The cost depends on your network and tariff. If you watch a lot of video on your phone, there are ways to limit your costs to get BBC content as cheaply as possible.

  • How can I get BBC content as cheaply as possible?

    1. Go online - video clips on BBC mobile are also available online at the relevant BBC website. For example, a video on the Doctor Who mobile site can also be viewed on the Doctor Who website. Sometimes, you can download the file to your mobile to watch on the move.
       
    2. Get a data bundle - you can sign up to a flat-rate or capped data package, so you pay a fixed amount each month for using the mobile internet. This will limit your monthly spend on browsing the mobile internet and downloading video clips, especially if you do this a lot. Contact your network operator to find out what they offer.
       
    3. Use Wi-Fi - an increasing number of mobile phones now come with Wi-Fi built in. If you access BBC mobile via Wi-Fi, through a wireless connection at home or a wireless hotspot, you won't pay for data downloaded. If you're not sure whether your phone has Wi-Fi built in, contact the manufacturer or your network operator.
       
    4. Use Bluetooth - this is a way to send messages between nearby phones. Many of the BBC's audio and video clips are not 'locked'. This means they can be sent via Bluetooth to other phones, so you can share them with your friends! You can also share these files by 'sideloading' to another phone.

  • How much does it cost to send a text message to the BBC?

    SMS (text messages) sent to the BBC cost between 10p and 15p, depending on your network and what the message is for. Whenever you're invited to send an SMS to the BBC, we'll tell you how much it costs and, where relevant, what you'll get back.

  • I don't want to get any more text messages from the BBC

    If you've subscribed to a BBC SMS (text message) service, such as BBC News Alerts, you can find information about how to unsubscribe on the FAQ page for the service.

    Generally, you can unsubscribe by replying to the message with the word STOP.

  • Can I get BBC iPlayer on my mobile?

    Currently, BBC iPlayer is available for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch, Nokia N85, 5800 and N96, Xperia X1, Sony Eriksson C905, Samsung Omnia and HTC Touch HD. We're doing our best to make it available for more phones as soon as possible.

  • Can I put programmes from BBC iPlayer on my phone to watch later?

    It depends on the type of phone you have. You can download programmes directly from the mobile version of BBC iPlayer to some phones. For others, you'll need to download from the desktop version of BBC iPlayer then copy ('sideload') the video file to your phone.

    However, you won't be able to put download BBC iPlayer programmes onto all phones, as some aren't compatible. This may be because they aren't yet compatible with BBC iPlayer or because, for example if they don't support our DRM (rights protection) system.

  • Why can't I watch video outside the UK?

    We're funded by the UK licence fee, so most of our rights agreements only cover the UK. Where we have the rights to do so, we'll make video content available to everyone, regardless of their location.

    We know this can be frustrating for UK residents travelling abroad, and that many people overseas would like to watch our programmes and videos, so we're looking at ways to make this happen.

  • Why do you tell me I'm outside the UK when I'm not?

    Sometimes even though you're in the UK it's possible you may see a message saying you're not - and you won't be able to watch video clips or programmes.

    This could be because your phone is on a foreign-based network, or your network operator may temporarily be diverting you to one of its overseas connections.

    Sometimes it's just a simple network error, so try closing your browser or router and re-open it.

    Otherwise, the best thing to do is contact your network operator or ISP and ask them to check that your IP address is registered as in the UK.

Jargon Buster

WHAT IS SIDELOADING?

Sideloading means transferring data between two different devices, often where one is a mobile phone. For example, you can download pictures, music or video files from a website to a desktop computer then 'sideload' them to your mobile phone to use on the move.

WHAT IS BLUETOOTH?

Bluetooth is a type of wireless connection that allows nearby devices, such as mobile phones, to swap data. The name comes from the story of Harald Bluetooth, a Viking ruler who was famed for his bridge building!

WHAT IS WIFI?

Wireless Fidelity (also known as Wireless Local Area Network or WLAN) provides short-range, high-speed connections for mobile devices.

WHAT DOES 3G MEAN?

3G stands for Third Generation and refers to recent mobile technology that gives a faster connection to the Internet.


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