Use Bb As Modem

[dglover]

I hear that you caN use your BB as I modem to link onto PC. Can anyone shed some light as to how you can go about this & what it costs?
Cheers

[GaryCutri]

Originally Posted by dglover

I hear that you caN use your BB as I modem to link onto PC. Can anyone shed some light as to how you can go about this & what it costs?
Cheers

Hi,

Setting your BlackBerry up as a modem is a simple process but it will require you to get an additional data service added to your account. These additional data charges will be different depending on your service provider but can average $29 to $49 per month for a basic plan. The second issue is the speed of which a BlackBerry Curve can actually download data as it is limited by the GPRS or EDGE network, this speed can be considered the same as a dialup modem. If you would like to proceed please follow these steps:


Connect a computer to the Internet using a GPRS, EDGE, or UMTS BlackBerry smartphone as a tethered modem

Doc ID : KB05196
Last Modified : 2007-12-13
Document Type : How To


Environment

• BlackBerry® 7130 Series
• BlackBerry® 7200 Series
• BlackBerry® 8100 Series
• BlackBerry® 8300 Series
• BlackBerry® 8700 Series
• BlackBerry® 8800 smartphone
• BlackBerry® Desktop Software 4.1 and later
• Microsoft® Windows® 2000 and XP

Note: Research In Motion (RIM) provides some support for the tethered modem; the installation of the Standard Modem Driver is supported. See KB05178 for more details about support for the tethered modem.

Important: Contact your service provider to obtain the user name and password you require to configure dial-up networking. Also, ask your service provider if additional charges are incorporated when connecting to the Internet using the BlackBerry smartphone as a tethered modem.

Procedure

A BlackBerry smartphone with tethered modem capabilities can be used as an external modem to connect a computer or laptop computer to the Internet.

Summary of Tasks


To set up a tethered modem, complete the following tasks:

1. Install BlackBerry Desktop Software 4.1 or later (one time only).
2. Set up the Internet access point name (APN) (one time only).
3. Configure dial-up networking (one time only).
4. Connect to the Internet using dial-up networking.

Task 1

Install BlackBerry Desktop Software 4.1 or later on the computer.
When you install BlackBerry Desktop Software, the drivers that allow the BlackBerry smartphone to communicate through the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port and virtual COM port are installed. The Standard Modem, which is used by dial-up networking, is also installed.

Note: If upgrading your BlackBerry Desktop Software from version 4.0 to 4.1, the required Virtual COM Port and Standard Modem might be removed during the upgrade process. If this is the case, re-install the BlackBerry Desktop Software 4.1 or later and choose the Repair option to re-install these components.

Task 2

Set up an Internet APN.

1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
2. Double-click Phone and Modem Options.
3. In the Phone and Modem Options window, click the Modems tab.
4. Select Standard Modem and click Properties.
5. Click Change Settings.
6. In the Standard Modem Properties window, click the Advanced tab.
7. In the Extra initialization commands field, type the following: +cgdcont=1,"IP","<your Internet APN>"
   Note: The following is applicable for T-Mobile® customers only:
   The extra initialization command is: +cgdcont=1,"IP","wap.voicestream.com"
   Note: If you do not know your Internet APN, or if you do not have an Internet APN, contact your service provider.
8. Click OK.
9. In the Phone and Modem Options window, click OK.

Task 3

To configure dial-up networking, complete the procedure that is appropriate to the operating system you are using:

Microsoft Windows Vista

Click Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Phone and Modem Options

If you are opening Phone and Modem Options for the first time, a dialog box displays prompting you to enter an area code and access codes.


Windows XP operating system

1. Click Start > Settings > Network Connections.
2. Double-click New Connection Wizard. The New Connection Wizard opens.
3. Click Next.
4. Select the Connect to the Internet option. Click Next.
5. Select Set up my connection manually. Click Next.
6. Select Connect using a dial-up modem. Click Next.
7. If the Select a Device screen appears, select the Modem - Standard Modem check box. Click Next.
8. In the ISP Name field, type a name for your connection. Click Next.
9. In the Phone number field, type *99#. Click Next.
10. Indicate which users will have access to the connection. Click Next.
11. Type the user name and password provided by your service provider. Click Next.
12. Click Finish.
13. In the Connect window, click Properties.
14. In the Properties window, verify that Modem - Standard Modem appears beneath the Connect using heading, and then click Configure.
15. In the Modem Configuration window, clear the Enable hardware flow control check box and make sure none of the other check boxes are selected. Click OK. In the Properties window, click OK.

Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system

1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
2. Double-click Network and Dial-up Connections. Note: The following is applicable for T-Mobile customers only:
   Under the networking tab in the properties window for the dial-up connection, clear the Enable LCP Extensions check box, as well as every other box beneath the PPP window.
3. Double-click Make New Connection. The Network Connection Wizard opens.
4. Click Next.
5. Choose Dial-up to private network. Click Next.
6. In the Phone number field, type *99#. Click Next.
7. Indicate which users will have access to the connection. Click Next.
8. Type a name for your connection. Click Finish.
9. In the Connect window, click Properties.
10. In the Properties window, verify that Modem - Standard Modem is selected, then click Configure.
11. In the Modem Configuration window, clear the Enable hardware flow control check box and make sure none of the other check boxes are selected. Click OK.
12. In the Properties window, click OK.

Task 4

Connect to the Internet using dial-up networking.

Note: During this procedure, do not operate the BlackBerry® Browser or any third-party applications on the BlackBerry smartphone. An active data session may interfere with the modem connection. Also, make sure an ethernet connection is not active at the same time.

1. Connect the BlackBerry smartphone to the computer.
2. Open BlackBerry Desktop Manager.
3. Click Start > Settings > Network Connections > <name of your new connection>.
4. Type the user name and password provided by your service provider.
5. Click Dial.

[Shorty]

Goin on with that... will the connection go through the Blackberry browser or through Optus Zoo (or whatever the equivalent for Telstra is)? Because that's the decider on how much you're going to pay at the end of the month.

Anyone know?

[GaryCutri]

Originally Posted by Shorty

Goin on with that... will the connection go through the Blackberry browser or through Optus Zoo (or whatever the equivalent for Telstra is)? Because that's the decider on how much you're going to pay at the end of the month.

Anyone know?

When you use a BlackBerry as a modem it will access your service provider's WAP connection and this is charged at an additional cost. On Optus the APN "I think" is just internet and on Telstra it is telstra.internet.

[lancelot]

one problem though...when I plug my Curve 8300 into my Vista laptop via USB, vista does not detect that the BB has a modem built into it...

so, before I can even follow the walkthrough, I believe I would need to solve this issue?

I have done a manual "legacy" driver install with vista, and chose modem, and directed it to the c:\program files\common files\research in motion\modem drivers
and vista said that the driver there did not match a modem driver...

I'm using the 4.3 desktop manager with vista...
can anyone help?

[cavok]

Can you use the MDS feature with a laptop so you don't run up extra costs?

[lancelot]

Thanks for the quick reply Cavok, turns out Rogers here in Canada is giving out 6GB data plans on the BB for $30/month! so I have nothing to worry about going over my plan when I'm just doing research and checking my email.

My concern at this time is more how can I get the BB virtual modem driver installed in vista?

[GaryCutri]

Originally Posted by cavok

Can you use the MDS feature with a laptop so you don't run up extra costs?

You can't use the MDS service when using the device as a tethered modem so you will need an additional data plan.

[lancelot]

Cause I still can't tether...and Rogers cannot help me, and RIM has said that I have to pay for support...I may end up going that route, this 6GB plan is gunna save me tons of cash!
P.S.
Spoke with Rogers, they already knew that the BB users were going to tether like crazy with a plan like this, otherwise it's nearly impossible to use more than 20MB a month!

[GaryCutri]

As you are using Vista you should try installing the new BlackBerry Desktop Manager 4.6 using this download link HERE. Also prior to running the installer go to "Control Panel > User Accounts > Turn User Account Control on or off" and turn it off. By turn off UAC you will able to install applications and driver without any interference (like an Administrator on an XP machine).