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Wireless Internet: BlackBerry Curve as Bluetooth Modem for OS-X Mac

Stay connected to the Internet wherever you go by using your BlackBerry Curve (8300) as a Bluetooth modem for your OS-X-powered Macintosh…

[ Apple MacBook ] This tutorial guides you through the process of connecting wirelessly to the Internet using your BlackBerry Curve (8300) as a Bluetooth modem for your Macintosh (running OS X) via native Bluetooth functionality. The benefits of such wireless connectivity are numerous, enabling greater productivity and maximized Internet access. The procedure is straightforward, and the tutorial assumes no prior knowledge of either Bluetooth or BlackBerry. Knowing your way around a Mac will help, but is not required. Note that using your BlackBerry as a wireless modem for your Mac (or any computer) is classified as tethering, and may or may not be covered by your wireless plan1. Having said that, the setup time for this tutorial should be well under thirty minutes, and requires2 the following three items:

All set? Let’s get started…

Install the BlackBerry Modem Script

Unzip the BlackBerry_8300.zip file and save a copy of the extension-less modem-script to the “Modem Scripts” directory on your Mac: FinderHard DiskLibraryModem Scripts

Pair the BlackBerry Curve with your Mac

Okay, now to pair the BlackBerry and Mac via Bluetooth. Crack open your BlackBerry, go to “Manage Connections”, and enable Bluetooth via checkmark (the icon should then show a yellow minus icon). Then, go to “Bluetooth Options”, press the menu key, select “Options”, and ensure that the “Discoverable” option is set to “Yes”.

Now, open System Preferences on your Mac and open the “Bluetooth” configuration panel. Enable Bluetooth and make it “Discoverable” [ Screenshot ].

Next, within the System Preferences panel, select the “Devices” tab and click “Set Up New Device…” to begin the setup process [ Screenshot ].

The first step in the device setup process is a “Welcome” screen. Click continue. Next, in the “Select Device Type” screen, select “Any Device” from the list and click “Continue”. Next is the “Searching” screen, which eventually (it may take a few moments) should indicate your BlackBerry device as a mobile phone. After the device is found, select in the list and click “Continue”.

Next is the “Gathering Information” screen, which displays the progress of the information gathering process. Wait until the process is complete and then click “Continue”. The next screen displays the all-important passkey. [ Screenshot ]. At this time, your BlackBerry should display its “Enter Numeric Passkey” prompt. Enter the passkey in the field provided (Note: there is a limited amounted of time for this step — if necessary, click “Go back” on the Mac and try again).

Upon successful entry of the passkey, a “Pairing Complete” message appears briefly, and a confirmation prompt appears asking if you would like to “Accept connection request from mac?”. First, select “Don’t ask this again” and then click the “Yes” button.

Configure the Bluetooth Connection

[ Image: BlackBerry Curve and Mac PowerBook ]
BlackBerry Wireless Modem for Mac
So far so good. We are almost finished! Now it is time to configure the Bluetooth connection. On your Mac, the “Devices” subpanel (System PreferencesBluetoothDevices tab) should display the BlackBerry 8300 on the Bluetooth device list [ Screenshot ]. Select the BlackBerry 8300 from the list and click on “Configure” to open the configuration dialogue (Note: the Device Configuration dialogue may have opened automatically after the device pairing process).

Next, in the “Select the services you want to use with your mobile phone” screen, select “Access the Internet with your phone’s data connection” and also select “Use a direct, higher speed connection to reach your Internet Service Provider (GPRS, 1xRTT)” [ Screenshot ]. Click “Continue”.

Then, in the Username/Password screen, leave the username and password fields blank, and enter *99***1# for the GPRS CID String. For the modem, click the dropdown menu and select the custom modem script, “BlackBerry 8300”. And finally, select “Show Modem status in the menu bar” and then click “Continue” [ Screenshot ].

Upon successful completion of the device configuration process, the “Congratulations” screen will display: “Accessing the Internet using a high speed wireless data service (e.g. GPRS) from your wireless operator.” — Excellent. Click “Quit” to seal the deal.

Connect to the Internet via BlackBerry

With everything properly connected and configured, we are ready now to connect to the Internet. Click on the small ‘Modem Status’ (telephone) icon in your menu bar and select “Open Internet Connect…” [ Screenshot ].

Within the Connections dialogue box, select the Bluetooth tab and populate the form fields with the following information:

  • Telephone: wap.voicestream.com (T-Mobile) or wap.cingular (Cingular/AT&T)
  • Username: guest (T-Mobile) or WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM (Cingular/AT&T)
  • Password: guest (T-Mobile) or CINGULAR1 (Cingular/AT&T)
  • Screenshot ]

All set? Click “Connect”! If everything went according to plan, your Mac should be using your BlackBerry Curve as a Bluetooth modem and you should now see the “Connection Status” dialogue box, indicating connectivity [ Screenshot ].

Footnotes

  • 1 For Cingular/At&T subscribers: According to the customer service department, unless your plan specifically supports tethering, tethered connections will only work until the system catches on and blacklists your device (only as a tethered modem). Also, the representative assured me that pre-blacklist connections would not be billed.
  • 2 These are the devices used for the production of this tutorial. It may be possible to connect via alternate devices/software with similar features.
  • 3 Different carriers provide different data/internet access plans and thus have different connection credentials (e.g., username, password). While covering every different plan is waaay beyond the scope of this article, the tutorial does provide connection credentials for both Cingular/AT&T and T-Mobile.

About the Author
Jeff Starr = Web Developer. Security Specialist. WordPress Buff.
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281 responses to “Wireless Internet: BlackBerry Curve as Bluetooth Modem for OS-X Mac”

  1. there was a fix in the new BB OS 4.5 which allows Macs to use the bluetooth.

  2. TMO 8320, MBP 15.5
    Installed Orange UK 4.5 setup as described above.

    The script above (http://www.fibble.org/BlackBerry.ccl.zip) should be placed in /Library/Modem Scripts/BlackBerry.ccl.

    BT setup:

    Under Network, create new BT connection. Select Advanced button. Select Vendor: Researach in Motion. Model: Blackberry 8100.
    Wait for dial tone, dialing by tone. Click OK.

    tel Number: wap.voicestream.com
    account name:
    password:

    Username and password are the same as what you use on internet access for TMobile account.
    Setup the Bluetooth device )pair your phone).

    Works fine on UMA, not able to access EDGE where I am. Will test later.

  3. PS: Running OS 10.5.4

  4. mike freeman 2008/08/12 12:45 pm

    So do you have to have a PC to install the Orange uk update?

  5. mike freeman 2008/08/12 12:51 pm

    Dennis – Thanks man, I don’t have a PC nor do I have windows – So I am out of luck I guess. They should make it work with mac without having to jump through hoops. Thanks though.

  6. Yes, Desktop Manager is required and is WIndows only. I am running Parallels and Windows XP or you can just use Bootcamp and WIndows.

  7. unfortunately, pocketmac doesn’t support the upgrade feature needed. So yes you do need a pc, but I used my Windows xp that exists on my VMfussion partition. It works. BTW there is a newer version of BB OS, it’s 4.5.0.69.It’s worked out a few more bugs.

  8. mike freeman 2008/08/12 2:26 pm

    Ok, I give up. I just spent that last hour installing/uninstalling the new update and couldn’t ever get it to work. I went to the T-mobile website, and they have an OLD version, so I assume they won’t rush out the new version. Any suggestions? Can I take it somewhere and have them do it?

  9. go to the crackberry website….go the the forums for the 83xx. and there are step by step instructions. It will work. If you are using the 4.5.0.55 there is sometimes a problem and an error with 3 little icons underneath them there will be “507”. just cancel and start over and it will work the next time around. If you are using the 4.5.0.69 there isn’t that problem.

  10. mike freeman 2008/08/12 4:41 pm

    I did! IT WORKED! Thanks for the help.

    Just an FYI…I had to read a couple of different places and didn’t notice it at first, but you have to download both the 4.5 OS and the 4.5 Desktop Manager.

    Thanks again!

  11. mike freeman 2008/08/12 4:49 pm

    Yea, its pretty sweet. The internet is surprisingly quick.

    Download Speed: 214 kbps (26.8 KB/sec transfer rate)
    Upload Speed: 41 kbps (5.1 KB/sec transfer rate)

    I gotta go grab a memory card for the camera, but its pretty awesome! Thanks.

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