So how do I use BuddyBuzz?

You'll need to both get a BuddyBuzz account and download BuddyBuzz to your phone.

Here are instructions for operating the BuddyBuzz software.

How can I use BuddyBuzz on my desktop?

Get MPowerPlayer (a desktop midlet emulator). After installing, open MPowerPlayer, pick File|Open URL, and enter: http://get.buddybuzz.net/BuddyBuzz.jad. This will download and install BuddyBuzz.

Use the same username and passcode as on the phone.

Where do you get your articles?

For our research phase, we've partnered with Reuters and CNET. They're providing us with 700 news stories each day, as well as articles about culture, technology, health, science, sports, and more. We're also proud to bring you articles written by select bloggers in the technology community. Once you have an account, you can also add your own content to the BuddyBuzz system, for example, the novel "War and Peace."

I have a Treo and BuddyBuzz isn't working. How can I get it to work?

For help specific to the Treo, visit the Treo help page.

How do I run BuddyBuzz on Windows Mobile phones?

Get the WebSphere Everyplace Micro Environment (WEME) runtime installed on your device. This is the same thing that Treo 600 users need to do; the Treo uses ver. 5.7.1 and Windows Mobile uses ver. 5.7.2. We have not heard about the new ver. 6.0 from IBM. A trial version can be downloaded from IBM. Be sure to get a runtime that supports MIDP (either version, but 2.0 is best).

Does it work in other countries?

BuddyBuzz works anywhere on the planet when you can browse the Internet.

Help please?

You can contact BuddyBuzz support via email at support@buddybuzz.net

Do you have a press kit?

If you'd like a kit, please contact us at press@buddybuzz.net.

What's my BuzzBox?

Your BuzzBox is used to store all the articles you've uploaded for your personal reading. Login to upload articles.

Why does my phone crash? Why are there bugs? Why isn't it perfect?

BuddyBuzz is still under development. However, we think that BuddyBuzz is cool enough to be shown in public. Also, keep in mind that often the problem may be your phone's internet reception, since internet reception isn't nearly as widespread as general cellular support.

Can I buzz without an account?

You'll need an account before you can buzz so go ahead and join. It's free.

So who do I pay?

No one. BuddyBuzz is currently free to sign up for and free to use.

Who does BuddyBuzz?

The Stanford Persuasive Technology Lab, led by Dr. BJ Fogg created BuddyBuzz. See the about page for more information.

I get the error "BuddyBuzz could not contact the beehive"

 From the same physical location where timeouts are occurring, try browsing these URLs (case-sensitive) in the given order using the browser on your cellphone to determine whether you get a response from the server or not:

a.  http://www.google.com/wml
b.  http://get.buddybuzz.net/
c.  http://rel.buddybuzz.net/test.php

From that same physical location, if all of these URLs can get a response from the server (anything except "host not reachable" or "no such host", etc., "Page Unacceptable" or "404, Not Found" are real server responses) but you still cannot connect to the "beehive" with BuddyBuzz, then there is something about your carrier and the cellphone dataplan you are using that is limiting your access the Internet via a phone application (the so-called "walled garden").

If you think you really do have full Internet access, see the answer for the error "unacceptable"/"not allowed".

If you are limited by your dataplan, you should ask you carrier why you can install a J2ME/midlet application but the application cannot open an HTTP connection on port 80 for the host rel.buddybuzz.net.

If your phone is listed as working or you know your phone can run Java midlets/J2ME applications, but you receive "unacceptable" or "not allowed" when you try to download, you might need to change a setting on your phone to set your Internet Access Point for applications. See the help information about IAP at Opera.com and the access point page at reqwireless.com also applies to BuddyBuzz.

Having trouble logging in?

If you just signed up, verify that you can login by signing in on the home page or from the sign-in box on this page.

The 4 digit passcode is numeric and you must be careful to enter numbers (only * is displayed in the old versions of BuddyBuzz.)

If you have a Treo, some data entry forms, will automatically switch to numeric input, but in this case you need to lock the number shift key by hitting it twice, and then enter your 4 digit numeric code.