After about two months of trying, success! We finally have liftoff, Houston, or more importantly, we’ve been able to get a Blackberry (attached to our corporate BES) going in Japan.

Background: SSID here in Canada operates numerous communication networks for mobile devices ranging from the ultra-secure Exchange/ActiveSync over the air with SSL and IP tunnelling, to Blackberry Enterprise, to run of the mill IMAP4 with GPRS.

Late last year, I purchased a few Blackberry 8707′s to attach to our Blackberry Enterprise network. These devices are set up for GSM, GPRS, EDGE and UMTS (for use in Japan). This setup theoretically makes it possible to use the device in Japan.

Problem #1: Our Blackberries are activated with Rogers Wireless.

I find that large Canadian companies don’t really provide support to technically saavy customers or early adopters. If you buy a Vodafone-branded BB 8707, you’re SOL if you need help from the carrier.

The details for roaming in Japan on the Rogers website are sketchy. We’ve used Blackberries in Russia, Ukraine, Thailand, India, France, Germany and even China. Japan’s networks are quite different since they don’t really support GSM out there.

Rogers reccomends that you rent a phone while in Japan (along with a new phone number, etc.). The proliferation of quad-band phones like the Nokia E61 and Blackberry 8707 makes it possible for these phones to work in Japan without renting a phone but there is the question of a roaming agreement between Rogers and the Japanese carriers (in this case, Softbank and NTT DoCoMo).

After several phone calls to Rogers where I got a myriad of responses from somewhat clueless customer service agents telling me to refer to their website to flat out refusals to answer questions because I’m using an unsupported device (DUH! If I could buy a supported device for this application, I WOULD).

Problem #2: Which carrier do I select in Japan? DoCoMo? Vodafone (who obviously supports the hardware)? SoftBank? KDDI?

Well, after encountering all the rhetoric from the people at the network, there was a thought of switching all of our users off of Rogers on to a network that works, even if we have to go offshore and spend money upfront to secure the accounts. At this point, reliability outweighs the cost.

On the same trip, the Blackberry was tested and worked flawlessly. Australia (where we picked up a spare couple of Vodafone simcards activated and ready to go in case) and Thailand.

Upon arrival to Japan, when loaded with a Rogers simcard, the device stated that the connection was refused. The Vodafone simcard worked without a hitch.

I decided to report this issue to Rogers who’s agent, after some investigation, mentioned the account didn’t have “Blackberry Dot Net” on the account. Strange but apparently this didn’t affect the device in other countries but did in Japan.

Anyhow, after that small addition to the account, it was good to go. Finally, global communications on NTT DoCoMo.

PS – Vodafone staff are very helpful with roaming in Japan. Probably has something to do with Australia being i-mode enabled (therefore having strong ties to Japan) thanks to people like Walter Adamson.

FUEL Restaurant, located at 1944 West 4th Ave Vancouver, BC, (previous blog postings HERE and HERE) is closed Monday and Tuesday. They’re definitely open for lunch onwards every other day including on Sunday.

Jules Bistro recently opened up in Gastown’s Dominion Hotel. Vitamin V broke the story as part of their reporting this week:

When we hear the word “jewels” our ears tend to perk up.

In this case, it turned out to be “Jules,” but we were sure glad we were listening.

Just opened by a pair of Frenchmen who know their Gaelic classics is the lovely Jules bistro in the Dominion Hotel.

(Having just built Fuel and Gastropod, one of the owners knows his design, too.)

We loved the pretty chandeliers, black lacquered ceiling, traditional tiled floor and exposed brick.

What we loved even more was the steak frites ($15) and half roast chicken with thyme jus and pommes purée ($15) at dinner.

Starters like Salade Niçoise, Tartare de Saumon and Terrine de Campagne are all less than $8, and the prix-fixe salad, steak frites and crème caramel is just $21.

We think you’ll agree that this one is indeed a jewel.

Jules Casual French Bistro, 216 Abbott St., 604-669-0033, www.julesbistro.ca

Here are some photos from the restaurant including lunch which included Jambon Persille, Crème de Moutarde (Classic Dijon Style Ham and a Cream of Mustard) and Merguez Hot-Dog (Spicy Sausage with Tomatoes, Onions and Dijon Mustard and Fresh Baguette):

We waited a bit longer than we liked for someone to take our order as well as the food but I suspect given the buzz and the fact that they’re freshly minted, these ‘little bugs’ will soon go away.

Salt Tasting Room (see the blog posting, HERE) is now open 7 days a week for lunch. Jay Jones is off to Australia, Kurtis Kolt (who went over to run Lucky Diner) is back running Salt in Gastown. Mark Brand who came over from Chambar is now doing his own thing. He’s been seen working as a consultant for Baru (formerly Baru Latino on Alma Street between Broadway and 10th).

Kei’s has closed down (see blog posting, HERE) but there’s hope. They now have signage up for another restaurant called Mango’s. Definitely will check it out once it’s opened up.

Ambrozia at 911 Denman Street is no longer. Stefan Minchev, former owner of Ambrozia, reports that the new owners have a great concept and deep pockets. Indeed since the rent for the location is reported to surpass $20,000 per month. It should take a month for the changeover to complete.

Tojo’s new location at 1133 W. Broadway Street looks like $7M well spent. Here’s some photos from the last two recent dinners in the new space:

Some of what you’ll see above:

• albacore tuna sashimi
• organic shitake mushrooms from langley with a fish base and daikon radish
• canadian sablefish honey ginger sauce mushrooms
• dungeness crab and fuji apple and pickled cabbage oshinko

Glowbal celebrates their five year anniversary in March. The event will be held at Coast Restaurant in Yaletown.

Italian Kitchen, the latest venture by the Glowbal Restaurant Group, is scheduled to open in July. Keep checking the blog for more.

Video Monster aka VM Lounge is no longer. The building is being developed into a condo. Duran is working at a web studio, web address: www.fatnik.com.

Vancouver now has a Ceilis. Located in the former Skybar site, they’ve done some major renovations. Ceilis Vancouver features the Dublin Bar, the Belfast Bar, a Rooftop patio – Fighting Irish Bar, Private room upstairs – Banshee Bar, Railway car – railway car and booths and the Titanic room – overlooks granville street, great for people watching.

GoDaddy, domain registrar, amongst many other things – known for their ridiculous superbowl ads, outspoken vietnam veteran Founder / mouthpiece CEO and cheap domain registration, goodbye.

I find it very irksome to hear that a domain name registrar would have something to do with a taking a domain offline due to the possibility that objectionable content resides on that system. No DMCA takedown notice. No legal process. It’s stated in their agreement – something about morally objectionable content:

You agree that Go Daddy, in its sole discretion and without liability to You, may refuse to accept the registration of any domain name. Go Daddy also may in its sole discretion and without liability to You delete the registration of any domain name during the first thirty (30) days after registration has taken place. Go Daddy may also cancel the registration of a domain name, after thirty (30) days, if that name is being used, as determined by Go Daddy in its sole discretion, in association with spam or morally objectionable activities. Morally objectionable activities will include, but not be limited to: activities designed to defame, embarrass, harm, abuse, threaten, slander or harass third parties; activities prohibited by the laws of the United States and/or foreign territories in which You conduct business; activities designed to encourage unlawful behavior by others, such as hate crimes, terrorism and child pornography; activities that are tortious, vulgar, obscene, invasive of the privacy of a third party, racially, ethnically, or otherwise objectionable; activities designed to impersonate the identity of a third party; and activities designed to harm or use unethically minors in any way. In the event Go Daddy refuses a registration or deletes an existing registration during the first thirty (30) days after registration, You will receive a refund of any fees paid to Go Daddy in connection with the registration either being canceled or refused. In the event Go Daddy deletes the registration of a domain name being used in association with spam or morally objectionable activities, no refund will be issued.

Well, who decides what’s morally acceptable and what isn’t? Lesson learned – read the fine print.

Other followup on this posting: WIRED Blogs, Mashable