Tips and tricks for using Skyfire

Here are some handy resources so you can make the most of your Skyfire experience. Happy browsing!

Installing and Connecting Skyfire FAQs

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Q: How can I get Skyfire?
A: There are three ways:

  1. From your phone's current browser, go to http://m.skyfire.com.
  2. From your desktop PC, go to http://get.skyfire.com. Select "Send a link to your phone" to send an SMS/text message to your phone with a link to download.
  3. From your desktop PC, go to http://get.skyfire.com. Select "Install through your PC" to sideload from your PC.

Q: How do I install Skyfire from my phone?
A: Windows Mobile phones

  1. Launch the standard browser (Pocket Internet Explorer) on your mobile phone and point it to http://m.skyfire.com
  2. Select the installer appropriate for your phone (e.g. Windows Mobile touch screen, or Windows Mobile non-touch screen) if it is not automatically suggested. (In case you happen to see the full PC site then you can download as well by selecting your phone type at the "Install through your PC" section on the lower right part of the page).
  3. Click "Download" and the installer will automatically start.
  4. Accept the default options. We recommend installing Skyfire directly on your phone's internal memory, not on a storage card.
  5. Once the installation is complete, you can find Skyfire on your phone under Start | Programs
Nokia/Symbian phones
  1. Launch the standard web browser on your Nokia phone and point it to http://m.skyfire.com
  2. Select the installer appropriate for your phone (e.g. Nokia E or N Series) if it is not automatically suggested.
  3. Click "Download" and the installer will automatically start.
  4. Accept the default options. We recommend installing Skyfire directly on your phone, not on a storage card.
  5. Once done, you can find Skyfire on your phone under Menu > Applications

Q: Do I need to uninstall the earlier version of Skyfire already on my phone before I can install
     the latest release?
A: No. Unless a version prior to 0.8.5 is installed on your phone, you can just follow the standard installation procedure. The installer will remove the prior version of Skyfire and upgrade you to the newest one.

Q: I can't connect and I am stuck at "locating" and keep getting the message "Check flight mode."
     What should I do?
A: If Skyfire is stuck on "locating...Check flight mode" and fails to connect, then you might have an incorrect connection setting on your phone. Skyfire requires TCP (port 443) and UDP connectivity to function properly. This type of connection is sometimes not available depending on the data plan and APN configuration provided by your carrier. Skyfire will not work via Gateways or mobile operator proxies, please check that you select a configuration that allows 'internet' connectivity.

To select 'internet' settings and turn off the proxy setting (in Windows Mobile):

  1. Go to Settings, then to the Connections tab
  2. Connections > Advanced > Select Networks
  3. Under "Programs that automatically connect to the Internet, should connect using"
  4. Select (in the US):
    • MediaNet for AT&T users
    • T-Mobile Data for T-Mobile users
    • Sprint - MyISP - PowerVision
    • Verizon - MyISP - Broadband Access
  5. In Proxy Settings, make sure to UNCHECK: "This network connects to the internet" and "This network uses a proxy server to connect to the internet"

If you are a Sprint or Verizon customer who is using "My Work Network", make sure to UNCHECK usage of the Proxy server.

To select the correct plan on Nokia Symbian phones:
  1. Start Skyfire
  2. The 'Select Access Point' dialog appears:
  3. Select (in the US):
    • MediaNet for AT&T users
    • T-Mobile Internet for T-Mobile users
    • Sprint - MyISP - PowerVision
    • Verizon - MyISP - Broadband Access

Please watch as well http://www.skyfire.com/support/config/, as we will make available in the future configuration information for different mobile operators that has confirmed to work with Skyfire.

Alternatively you can select a WiFi connection if available at your location and on your phone.

If you are a T-mobile T-zones plan user, your plan only allows WAP web access and connections only through port 80. Skyfire cannot connect using this plan. Please us the T-Mobile 'Internet' plan.

In addition to checking your proxy setting, please also check your phone's signal strength. This can affect Skyfire's ability to connect as well.

Q: I did not receive the SMS/text message with the download link. What should I do?
A: If you are unable to receive the text message, please type the following URL into the default browser of your phone: http://m.skyfire.com.

Q: How do I install Skyfire from my PC via sideloading?
A: From your PC's browser, go to our website http://get.skyfire.com. Choose the delivery method "Install through your PC" and select your phone type.

  1. Click "Download." The installation file will be downloaded to your PC.
  2. After the download is complete, using your phone's data cable, transfer the Skyfire files to your phone. (Do not open the files from your PC; they will not work on your PC.)
  3. After you have transferred Skyfire to your phone, use file explorer to ifne the installation file and select it to launch the installation of Skyfire on your phone.
  4. Accept the default options. We recommend installing Skyfire directly on your phone, not on a storage card.

When installation is complete you can find Skyfire on your phone under Start / Programs (Windows Mobile) or Menu / Applications (Symbian).

Q: I live outside the US, Canada or UK and I cannot connect? What should I do?
A: The most likely reason that you cannot connect is the availability of an appropriate APN or Access Point configuration for your specific carrier. Please check the 'I can't connect' section in this FAQ for tips for configuration. Please check with your carrier that your data plan supports access to TCP port 443 (SSL) and UDP (for audio) for Skyfire to function properly.

If you are connecting via WiFi please make sure that your home router (or your IT department at work) does not block TCP port 443 or UDP.

Please watch as well http://www.skyfire.com/support/config/, as we will make available configuration information for different mobile operators that has been verified to work with Skyfire.

We encourage all users to participate in our forum at http://support.skyfire.com/forums/ where users share their experiences. Frequently users are able to find solutions from fellow Skyfire users in their country.

Q: I never ever got audio to work on my phone. What is going on?
A: : If you're experiencing audio issues, please check to make sure one of these things are not the cause.

  1. The UDP port, required for audio, is blocked. UDP traffic can be blocked by ISPs, routers, firewalls or connections. Check your router/firewall settings and documentation to see if UDP traffic is blocked. You can also contact your ISP directly to see if they block UDP traffic.

    On a Windows Mobile phone, you will not get audio on Skyfire if your phone is connected to your computer via USB through ActiveSync.
  2. Your phone is muted. Make sure your device is not muted and you have sound turned up loud enough to hear (you can verify this by using another app that produces sound)
  3. Skyfire is muted. Make sure Skyfire is not muted within the app (Menu -> Actions -> Mute Audio).
  4. Audio is being directed to Bluetooth headphones.
  5. The media is muted. Make sure the media you're trying to play isn't muted or the volume turned down. On a touchscreen phone, click/drag/hover over the controls to see if the volume is low or muted. On WinMo touchscreen , enable "show drag controls" and select the pointer instead of the default hand, click and drag to kind of simulate hovering (drag until you're over the thing you want to hover on).
  6. Please make sure you're using the most recent release of Skyfire.

Please watch as well http://www.skyfire.com/support/config/, as we will make available configuration information for different mobile operators that has been verified to work with Skyfire .

We encourage all users to participate in our forum at http://support.skyfire.com/forums/ where users share their experiences. Frequently users are able to find solutions from fellow Skyfire users in their country.

Q: Can I use WiFi for my browsing if I have both WiFi and a data plan?
A: Yes, you can use WiFi instead of your data plan to browse with Skyfire. Specific support for WiFi depends on your phone. Please ensure that you can use both TCP and UDP from your WiFi hotspot, as otherwise you might not be able to get the full Skyfire experience (for example, audio requires UDP).

Q: I can't log into my Skyfire account. I keep getting "invalid username/password." What should I do?
A: First make sure that:

  1. You did not inadvertently insert an empty character at the end of either username and password (happens to the best of us).
  2. You are running the newest Skyfire client. We have updated the handling of usernames and password. Get it here: http://get.skyfire.com.
  3. Skyfire is installed on your phone's internal memory (not on a memory card).
  4. Exit Skyfire, start again and try to log in again.

If you are not sure that you remember the correct password, then you can request a password reset on the log-in page. This requires that you provided a valid Email address when you registered (for the reset validation Email). Otherwise simply create a new account.

If you need additional assistance, please visit us in the forums or at our Skyfire support page.

Q: My phone required a hard reset (or ROM upgrade). How can I reinstall Skyfire?
A: Follow the instructions to install Skyfire at http://get.skyfire.com. If you had a Skyfire account, simply log in after you've launched, and your previous settings, cookies, and history will be there.

Q:Should I install Skyfire to my removable memory card?
A: We recommend that you install Skyfire on your phone's internal memory, not an external memory card. It will give you better performance. Skyfire is not a big program and we do not cache files locally, so this should not be an issue.

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