app to lock an android device to a specific mobile network?

[morphen]

Our situation;

The current mobile operator we use (Network Norway) does not currently have it's own network in the northern parts of Norway, and the service-software we use requires an all-time data connection.

This results in us having to enable data while roaming, to enable data over the Telenor's mobile network.

Our problem;

One of our offices work close to the Finnish/Russian border, and sometimes the signal strength is higher from mobile networks in these countries, or Telenor is not available at all.

Many does not notice this, and this results in....big bills :p

My Question;

Is there any app for lock an android device to a specific mobile network? I've tried searching, but I can't find anything, not in market or anyplace.

[Nick H. Supervisor]

There is an option with all mobile devices to set the network selection to manual. Select Telenor from the options, then when you go somewhere where Telenor cannot be found you just have to select a different service provider.

I never have my phone set to automatic for exactly the reason you mentioned.

[morphen]

  On 26/04/2011 at 07:24, Intrinsica said:

There is an option with all mobile devices to set the network selection to manual. Select Telenor from the options, then when you go somewhere where Telenor cannot be found you just have to select a different service provider.

I never have my phone set to automatic for exactly the reason you mentioned.

they are instructed to do this, but still the bills keep on coming :p

Best of all would be if there were a "policy" bit we could set:p

[Nick H. Supervisor]

  On 26/04/2011 at 07:35, morphen said:

they are instructed to do this, but still the bills keep on coming :p

If that were happening here despite us having told them what to do and how to do it, we would send them the bill.

How would you get around this? You can't mass-distribute an application to all devices without physically downloading the app to each device. So then you would have to either do it yourself, or get the employees to each do it. If the employees get left to do it then you'll still be in the same position (they won't) and if you have to do it to each device yourself then you may as well just use the phone's option to prevent automatic switching of networks.

[alexalex]

  On 26/04/2011 at 07:49, Intrinsica said:

If that were happening here despite us having told them what to do and how to do it, we would send them the bill.

How would you get around this? You can't mass-distribute an application to all devices without physically downloading the app to each device. So then you would have to either do it yourself, or get the employees to each do it. If the employees get left to do it then you'll still be in the same position (they won't) and if you have to do it to each device yourself then you may as well just use the phone's option to prevent automatic switching of networks.

The office can use Android central management , like : ubi-Suite Android mobile management and others.

[Grepus]

Just disable data roaming, this will stop all data connectivity whilst not on your home network. Go to Settings > Wireless & Networks > Mobile Networks and de-tick "Data Roaming".

[Ambroos]

  On 26/04/2011 at 07:21, morphen said:

The current mobile operator we use (Network Norway) does not currently have it's own network in the northern parts of Norway, and the service-software we use requires an all-time data connection.

This results in us having to enable data while roaming, to enable data over the Telenor's mobile network.

  On 26/04/2011 at 08:12, Grepus said:

Just disable data roaming, this will stop all data connectivity whilst not on your home network. Go to Settings > Wireless & Networks > Mobile Networks and de-tick "Data Roaming".

That won't work.

I don't have an Android device anymore, but doesn't it have some kind of setting that enables roaming in-country only? I remember seeing something like it on my Android...

[morphen]

  On 26/04/2011 at 08:12, Grepus said:

Just disable data roaming, this will stop all data connectivity whilst not on your home network. Go to Settings > Wireless & Networks > Mobile Networks and de-tick "Data Roaming".

Won't work, seeing as Network norway only has a native/their own network in southern parts of norway, in the rest of the country they use Telenor's network...so we are roaming :p

[morphen]

  On 26/04/2011 at 07:49, Intrinsica said:

If that were happening here despite us having told them what to do and how to do it, we would send them the bill.

How would you get around this? You can't mass-distribute an application to all devices without physically downloading the app to each device. So then you would have to either do it yourself, or get the employees to each do it. If the employees get left to do it then you'll still be in the same position (they won't) and if you have to do it to each device yourself then you may as well just use the phone's option to prevent automatic switching of networks.

We have a service on the subscriptions now, that blocks all data traffic on foreign networks when they reach 500NOK in costs.

But; the problem is; sometimes Telenor has no coverage and/or they drive through Finland, they need to connect to a foreign network:p

[Nick H. Supervisor]

  On 26/04/2011 at 12:57, morphen said:

We have a service on the subscriptions now, that blocks all data traffic on foreign networks when they reach 500NOK in costs.

But; the problem is; sometimes Telenor has no coverage and/or they drive through Finland, they need to connect to a foreign network:p

Ok, so let me just see if I have this right.

Your current system allows them to use a foreign provider for data up to 500NOK (80CHF here). The problem is that because of how close they are to the border, they sometimes move over to a foreign provider without needing to, meaning that they hit their 500NOK quota without intending on doing so?

So you want an application that denies them access to different networks when they are in one location, but when they move through to another location (passing through Finland, for example) you want it to automatically allow them to switch?

If that's right, it sounds like you want an application that bases a change of network upon their geographical location rather than just signal strength. If they are at the office it denies them the ability to change, but once they are out of the office it will allow them but only if Telenor isn't available.

That sounds like a pretty specific application. :laugh: Have you considered hiring an Android app developer to make it for you? He could even create it so that it could be sold to others, by providing options such as "Which location do you want to lock?" "Which networks should the phone switch to once outside of the location?" and so on.

[morphen]

  On 26/04/2011 at 13:14, Intrinsica said:

Ok, so let me just see if I have this right.

Your current system allows them to use a foreign provider for data up to 500NOK (80CHF here). The problem is that because of how close they are to the border, they sometimes move over to a foreign provider without needing to, meaning that they hit their 500NOK quota without intending on doing so?

So you want an application that denies them access to different networks when they are in one location, but when they move through to another location (passing through Finland, for example) you want it to automatically allow them to switch?

If that's right, it sounds like you want an application that bases a change of network upon their geographical location rather than just signal strength. If they are at the office it denies them the ability to change, but once they are out of the office it will allow them but only if Telenor isn't available.

That sounds like a pretty specific application. :laugh: Have you considered hiring an Android app developer to make it for you? He could even create it so that it could be sold to others, by providing options such as "Which location do you want to lock?" "Which networks should the phone switch to once outside of the location?" and so on.

Hehe, ok, I'll lay out what I think would be optimal;

I don't want a forced setting controlled from the main office.

Optimal would be; A switch-widget where the standard setting would be "locked to native network" or somthing like that, and when you hit it, you would allow the phone to connect to other networks.

I guess I'll have code the thing myself...but first I need to learn java :p guess the best thing would be to hire someone...or beat some sense it to our employees ;)

[TangoEight]

Could you do this with tasker? Set up a task that turns roaming on or off depending on location.