Facebook Connect for BlackBerry

Question

Hi

I'm looking for a solution similar to the iPhone Facebook Connect (http://wiki.developers.facebook.com/index.php/Facebook%5FConnect%5Ffor%5FiPhone) for the BlackBerry platform. Basically, I need my users to authenticate against Facebook from within a native BlackBerry application (so, not a Web based mobile application). Is there a library I could use, and if not, what will be the correct approach to achieve this?

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

As you can see in Facebook Platform for Mobile, options for BlackBerry are:

• Use SMS interaction API for simple queries
• Use Facebook Connect for Mobile Web on your own server to provide access for mobile client app
• UPDATE Use REST API approach provided by Eki Y. Baskoro

Other option is try to port JavaFB from J2SE to J2ME

Answer 2

I managed to go through Facebook Connect authentication within my BB app. After cracking my head for three days I realised that it is the URL that is the culprit!

Basically these are what you need (assuming you are developing for 4.5 platform):

1. Using Browser Field, do a POST to http://m.facebook.com/login.php (the mobile version of Facebook) passing all the necessary arguments as per the Desktop application counterparts (one challenge is to get the signature generation correct).
2. Once the User successfully grants access, capture the URL of the success screen. You will obtain your auth_token.
3. Do a POST to the REST server to obtain the session key and secret given the auth_token you obtain.
4. Save the returned session key and secret, persist it, and wholla! your app is up and running.

I am developing a custom LoginScreen and FacebookFacade object to incorporate the first three steps above, if anyone is ever interested to reuse my code. It'll be GPLed, I suppose ;)

Answer 3

Wow, that's great - just wondering - out of interest, how did you manage to get over the problem that after the user has logged in, they end up on their home page (with your app sitting in the background)? Very interested in your code base when it's available...

Answer 4

I tried it on Bold 9000. It doesnt do anything when I press "Connect" button on m.facebook login page.

If I enter wrong ID/Password, It says Invalid user name or password but nothing happens when I enter the correct credentials and press connect. I have experienced the exact same issue when I just opened m.faebook.com web site from inside a web field. What am I missing here ?

Afzal

Answer 5

Afzal, I had a similar problem and I've found out that I actually had a problem with my connection string. You can look at the following link there is some explanation and code for creating the correct connection string http://www.localytics.com/blog/post/how-to-reliably-establish-a-network-connection-on-any-blackberry-device/

and just add the connection string to the FetchThread where it opens the connection:

connection = (HttpConnection)Connector.open(absoluteUrl+getConnectionString());

Answer 6

Guy Ephraim,

As I have mentioned, all other links in the Facebook connect page works except login button WHEN entered correct email and password.

I am using ";inteface=wifi" in every URL. I have no idea whats wrong. Please help.

Afzal

Answer 7

Hi all, Me again. I am facing issues for this facebook connect to get extended permissions. How to do that? the Blackberry browser field does not show the permission popups!

Please help !

Afzal

Answer 8

hi i was using the code from http://www.baskoro.web.id/facebook-connect-blackberry-HOWTO.html

It was working previously. But just from today after login I see a page with string success written. In the url i don't get the auth_token. So I had to stay in that page. And it shows an error message.

The application gets permitted and i can see in my facebook application settings. Did facebook change anything?

regards

Answer 9

Hi, I was using the code from http://www.baskoro.web.id/facebook-connect-blackberry-HOWTO.html as well. I get the login screen and I enter my username and password. Once I do I get a white blank screen with Success written on it. Beyond that nothing happens. Any idea whats going on?

Answer 10

any more updates?? am also facing the same problem.