1. Connecting Your Laptop to the Internet Using Your BlackBerry
Depending on your wireless carrier (phone company)
and the type of software you use, you should be able to use your
BlackBerry to connect your laptop (PC or Mac) to the Internet. This is
called tethered modem or tethering, or sometimes an IP modem. You need
the USB cable for PCs. With Macs you can usually tether with Bluetooth,
but if that does not work, you can use the USB cable.
NOTE
Not every BlackBerry wireless carrier supports
using your BlackBerry as a modem. Please check with your carrier if you
have trouble connecting.
1.1. Tethering Your BlackBerry Usually Costs Extra
Most, but not all, wireless carriers charge an extra
fee to allow you to use your BlackBerry as a tethered modem, or for
dial-up networking or phone-as-modem. Also, you may not be able to
connect using your BlackBerry as a modem unless you have specifically
signed up for the "BlackBerry as Modem" or similar data plan. We have
heard of users getting a surprise phone bill in the hundreds of dollars,
even with an "unlimited BlackBerry data plan" because their particular carrier did not include BlackBerry modem data in the unlimited plan.
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Some carriers allow you to turn the "BlackBerry as
Modem" extra service on and off. Check with your particular carrier.
Turn it off when you don't need it if you can. Also, beware that
changing turning this modem service on and off might extend or renew
your two-year commitment period. Ask your phone company for its
policies. Assuming there are no extra hidden costs or commitments, you
could just enable it for a scheduled trip and then turn it off when you
return home.
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We also want to thank Research In Motion, Ltd. and BlackBerry.com
for valuable information contained in their extensive BlackBerry
Technical Solution Center. We strongly encourage you to visit this site
for the latest information on using your BlackBerry as a modem and
anything else! Visit http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/supportcentral/supportcentral.do?id=m1, and search for "modem how to."
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When searching the BlackBerry Technical Solution
Center knowledgebase, do not enter your specific BlackBerry model; use
the series. For example, if you have a Bold 9700, enter Bold or 9700 series, or just leave that out of the search.
To locate the modem instructions for your particular
BlackBerry, you will need to know the network—3G, EDGE, GPRS, CDMA,
EVDO—on which your BlackBerry operates. The Bold 9700 series runs on the
3G/EDGE/GRPS networks.
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The steps and software to use your BlackBerry as a
modem have changed and continue to change frequently, almost on a
monthly basis.
So how can you find the latest information?
Please do a web search using terms like "BlackBerry as Modem," "BlackBerry Tethered Modem," or "BlackBerry IP Modem."
2. Understanding the Options for Tethering
You have a few options to use your BlackBerry as a tethered modem for your laptop:
Option 1: Purchase third-party software.
Option 2: Use your wireless carrier's software; contact your carried to ask if this is available.
Option 3:
Use the BlackBerry Desktop Manager Software. This is usually only an
option for you if carrier-specific software is not available.
2.1. Purchase Third-Party Software
Tether is a popular option (see Figure 1) and now works for both Windows and Mac computers. Check out its site at www.tether.com.
The bonus claimed by Tether is that you do not need to pay for a
separate modem plan from your carrier, and you may be able to save a lot
on monthly connection charges. Cost for Tether was about $30 at the
time of this writing, but the company offers a seven-day free trial, so
you can give it a try before you buy.
2.2. Use Your Wireless Carrier's Software
Contact your wireless carrier's technical support to
find out if they offer software and service plans for this option. Tell
them you want to use your BlackBerry as a modem for your laptop. In the
United States, AT&T, Sprint/Nextel, and Verizon have simple software
(e.g. Communication Manager or Verizon Access Manager) that you can
download and install.
2.3. Use Desktop Manager to Connect to the Internet
This works for both Windows and Mac computers. Windows computer users read on below.
