MSNBC.com Mobile User FAQs

1. What is MSNBC.com Mobile?

MSNBC.com Mobile is a news service that runs on your mobile device. It lets you read MSNBC.com news articles, save news articles for later viewing, or watch news videos and photo slideshows.

2. Does it have all the same features as MSNBC.com?

Consumer needs for news consumption are different on a mobile device. MSNBC.com’s goal is to find the optimal content volume and packaging for mobile. We anticipate adding new features to the mobile service so consumers should check their device regularly for updates. These features will automatically update on your device as they become available. We also encourage consumer feedback at msnbc@actionengine.com.

3. How much do I have to pay to use the service?

MSNBC.com Mobile is free! We don’t charge consumers for using the service. All costs are paid by our advertising sponsors.

4. Why do I get an error message and what do I do when it happens?

You may receive communication errors while using the service when your device has limited or no connectivity to the data network. To resolve this issue, change your location.

5. How do I close Windows Media Player screen and go back to MSNBC.com Video page after playing
a video clip?

If after watching a video clip and returning to the main MSNBC.com Mobile service, you still hear audio, navigate to Start > Windows Media Player and click on the Pause button. You may then navigate back to the MSNBC.com Mobile service via the Start menu.

6. How do I access the blue bar at the bottom of the news article and what does it do?

The blue bar has 3 icons –Home, Save and SMS. Click the “pound” key to enable the blue bar. To get back to the MSNBC.com Mobile Home screen, select “Home” icon or click the number 1. To save your news article, select “Save” icon or click the number 2. You can find your saved articles in the saved results folder on the MSNBC.com Mobile Home screen. To text the article, select “SMS” icon or click the number 3.

7. How can I remove MSNBC.com Mobile service from my device?

If you have a Windows Mobile-powered device, navigate to the Start > Settings > System tab > Remove Programs control panel, select MSNBC.com Mobile from the list and choose “Remove”.

If you own a Java-enabled device, find the location where the MSNBC.com Mobile was saved, and look for an option to Remove. Often the option is hidden in the Menu or Options soft key menu. On some Nokia devices, the Manager applet located in the Tools folder is used to list and remove installed programs.

8. Why do some screen graphics inside the service display incorrectly?

This is a beta version of the service. It is possible that you might find a few bugs when using the service. The fully functional version of the MSNBC.com Mobile service will be available later this year. In the meantime, please let us know about problems you encounter. Please email your feedback to msnbc@actionengine.com.

9. Why am I getting the following error message: "Failed to connect to the server"?

Make sure the date and time are accurate on your device. (Date and time can usually be set under the Settings menu option.) If the date and time are incorrect the server will not allow a connection.

10. Why are there numbers in my MSNBC.com application on my Smartphone?

These numbers are called bubble numbers. They allow you to quickly make a menu selection with a single click of a button on your keypad. This feature prevents you from having to scroll down the menu list. Just select the number to the left of the menu item to make your choice.

11. How do I keep my backlight on when reading an article?

On your device go to 'Settings', than select the backlight icon. Here you can set the length of time to leave the backlight on when your device is not in use. Remember that the longer the backlight stays on the sooner you will need to charge your device's battery.

12. Why aren't the videos playing?

If you are having issues with watching the MSNBC.com videos you may be experiencing one of the following three issues:

i. Lack of bandwidth: Some devices do not support high bandwidth, in which case the low bandwidth option should be used. You can change the bandwidth option from "High" to "Low" on any screen that shows video content. Select the red “Change” option at the top of the video menu screen within the MSNBC.com Mobile service. You will be taken to a “Select Video Bandwidth” screen where you can change your bandwidth from "High" to “Low”.  Be sure to “Save” your selection before leaving the screen for the change to take effect. 

ii. Lack of memory on your device: You mobile phone may not have sufficient available program memory.  This condition is caused by having too many applications installed or open at the same time. To address this issue, you can close or uninstall programs to free up memory to play the video, and/or you can try playing a “Low” Bandwidth video (by following the steps detailed above). 

iii. Use of a proxy server to connect to the internet: Please make sure that your device is not trying to use a proxy server to connect to the internet. This will also cause problems with the video portion of the service. To change this, go to: Settings\Connections\Manage Existing Connections (Proxy Settings (bottom tab)) or Go to: Setup My Proxy Server depending on the type of device. Make sure that the “This network connects to the internet” box is unchecked.

13. If I would like to leave feedback or ask a question about the service, whom do I contact?

If you need help with the service, please email our customer support at msnbc@actionengine.com

14. Who is Action Engine?

Action Engine Corporation is the mobile application platform company that designed MSNBC.com Mobile. Services built using patented Action Engine Application Platform allow consumers to search for and discover mobile Internet content like news, videos, and sports scores without having to suffer through painful typing on a tiny device keypad and frequent between-click connection delays.