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

Updated September 21, 2022 • 281 comments

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:

Macintosh running OS X with Bluetooth
BlackBerry Curve 8300 with Internet access³
Blackberry Modem Script← Click to download version 8300 ( 2.08 KB ZIP )

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: Finder → Hard Disk → Library → Modem 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 Preferences → Bluetooth → Devices 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 = Creative thinker. Passionate about free and open Web.

281 responses to “Wireless Internet: BlackBerry Curve as Bluetooth Modem for OS-X Mac”

chris sc 2008/01/27 7:58 pm

Same bizarre issue here.
Leopard/Curve/T-Mobile
I can get it working using the suggestions I found here. If I disconnect, or get disconnected – I can’t reconnect until I pull the battery on the curve…

I had this working over USB on XP with no problems – never tried bluetooth…fun stuff…

marsha 2008/01/27 11:27 pm

I have paired my curve 8300 with my mac book pro OS 10.4.11 several times and have never received the option to connect to my phone’s data connection. I am only getting the option to connect to the address book. Does anyone know how I can get the data connection option to populate? Thanks.

Alejandro 2008/02/10 12:03 pm

I have been trying to connect my blackberry curve to my Macbook pro to use it as my modemo but i have had many negative results, I live in Mexico and my carrier is Telcel I was hoping that somebody could help me.

TheShape 2008/02/14 12:13 pm

Forget it everyone. Its not going to work. Its just designed this way. They will have to come up with either an update from Blackberry or Apple itself. This as been pissing me off from the getgo. The problem is that you are able to connect once and it disconnects within a few mins. Some are lucky enough to be connected for 20 mins. Then either you get dissconnected or it boots your off. Then the second time around, it doesnt work anymore. If it took them this long to try to figure it out, that means that they will never get it right. I could of built a house by now. They need to have a Mac version of Blackberry Desktop sofware so we can USB it just like the PC.

eugene 2008/02/19 6:47 pm

I suggest to keep the thread open. I’m not aware of any other forum to discuss Apple+RIM issues and the very least we can all be notified when/if any of the relevant upgrades are released. Thanks.

YukiPeuki 2008/02/19 5:49 pm

I agree with 124. I have Leopard, T-Mobile and an 8320. Had some success but not more than 2 minutes. Had to pull the battery and reboot.

Called T-Mobile tech support 3 times and went to an Apple Store today. T-Mobile, Apple and RIM say they officially don’t support this and would like to send customers to the other 2.
This running forum has been going since June of last year and most of us say the same thing. One of the 3 companies have to take charge or this problem will continue.
I wish North America will catch up to Japan and Europe’s technology some day. We are like cavemen.

Jeff Starr 2008/02/19 6:37 pm

Hello everyone. Recent comments have left me wondering whether or not to continue allowing comments on this post. At several points since the conversation began last June, I have contemplated closing the thread. Along the way, there have been many useful insights and potential clues regarding this issue. On the one hand, it does seem as if all hope is lost. On the other hand, everyone knows this post is here, and that they can use it to communicate discoveries and learn about any future breakthroughs. So, my question to you is, should we continue the conversation in hopes of learning more, or close up shop and call it good (enough)..?

neville elder 2008/02/19 6:58 pm

I say close – the last few posts have been from people who haven’t read the thread and are along the lines of “help!” Well I suggest we archive the thread and start a new one when there is some new news or a solution in the works. Right now this thread is redundant.

David Sanders 2008/02/19 7:10 pm

I say leave it open. I agree with Eugene that it provides a nice vehicle to be notified if/when things change. Neville makes a good point, but I’m willing to be annoyed with the occasional post knowing that if there is a breakthrough I’ll hear it here, which means that I don’t have to continually search in the meantime.

Craig 2008/02/19 8:03 pm

I agree with those that say to leave it open. If you archive and another comes along, those of us that have followed it may miss any relevant posts (ie a breakthrough). There are always lazy folks that don’t read the thread and then ask a question that is already answered – I’ve been guilty of that more than once. What’s the downside? If someone is bothered, they can unsubscribe. My three cents….

Perishable 2008/02/19 9:16 pm • Post Author

Thank you all for the feedback. Based on what I have read so far, I am going to go ahead and leave this thread open indefinitely for any potentially useful information that may yet unfold. Of course, this means continued patience with periodic episodes of frustrated desperation, which may prove insignificant upon discovery of a possible solution. In other words, if you guys are willing to tolerate the noise, then so am I ;)

JEFF 2008/02/19 10:30 pm

I gave up…

My solution was to give one of my employees my Blackberry and to buy an iPhone.

I like the iPhone much more than the Blackberry, it has wifi, and I’m able to use it for many internet purposes and don’t really need to tether my notebook. While it doesn’t have the blackberry technology to push emails, it does check it every 15 minutes and the email is much easier to read on the iPhone.

Comments are closed for this post. Something to add? Let me know.

chris sc 2008/01/27 7:58 pm

Same bizarre issue here.
Leopard/Curve/T-Mobile
I can get it working using the suggestions I found here. If I disconnect, or get disconnected – I can’t reconnect until I pull the battery on the curve…

I had this working over USB on XP with no problems – never tried bluetooth…fun stuff…
marsha 2008/01/27 11:27 pm

I have paired my curve 8300 with my mac book pro OS 10.4.11 several times and have never received the option to connect to my phone’s data connection. I am only getting the option to connect to the address book. Does anyone know how I can get the data connection option to populate? Thanks.
Alejandro 2008/02/10 12:03 pm

I have been trying to connect my blackberry curve to my Macbook pro to use it as my modemo but i have had many negative results, I live in Mexico and my carrier is Telcel I was hoping that somebody could help me.
TheShape 2008/02/14 12:13 pm

Forget it everyone. Its not going to work. Its just designed this way. They will have to come up with either an update from Blackberry or Apple itself. This as been pissing me off from the getgo. The problem is that you are able to connect once and it disconnects within a few mins. Some are lucky enough to be connected for 20 mins. Then either you get dissconnected or it boots your off. Then the second time around, it doesnt work anymore. If it took them this long to try to figure it out, that means that they will never get it right. I could of built a house by now. They need to have a Mac version of Blackberry Desktop sofware so we can USB it just like the PC.
eugene 2008/02/19 6:47 pm

I suggest to keep the thread open. I’m not aware of any other forum to discuss Apple+RIM issues and the very least we can all be notified when/if any of the relevant upgrades are released. Thanks.
YukiPeuki 2008/02/19 5:49 pm

I agree with 124. I have Leopard, T-Mobile and an 8320. Had some success but not more than 2 minutes. Had to pull the battery and reboot.

Called T-Mobile tech support 3 times and went to an Apple Store today. T-Mobile, Apple and RIM say they officially don’t support this and would like to send customers to the other 2.
This running forum has been going since June of last year and most of us say the same thing. One of the 3 companies have to take charge or this problem will continue.
I wish North America will catch up to Japan and Europe’s technology some day. We are like cavemen.
Jeff Starr 2008/02/19 6:37 pm

Hello everyone. Recent comments have left me wondering whether or not to continue allowing comments on this post. At several points since the conversation began last June, I have contemplated closing the thread. Along the way, there have been many useful insights and potential clues regarding this issue. On the one hand, it does seem as if all hope is lost. On the other hand, everyone knows this post is here, and that they can use it to communicate discoveries and learn about any future breakthroughs. So, my question to you is, should we continue the conversation in hopes of learning more, or close up shop and call it good (enough)..?
neville elder 2008/02/19 6:58 pm

I say close – the last few posts have been from people who haven’t read the thread and are along the lines of “help!” Well I suggest we archive the thread and start a new one when there is some new news or a solution in the works. Right now this thread is redundant.
David Sanders 2008/02/19 7:10 pm

I say leave it open. I agree with Eugene that it provides a nice vehicle to be notified if/when things change. Neville makes a good point, but I’m willing to be annoyed with the occasional post knowing that if there is a breakthrough I’ll hear it here, which means that I don’t have to continually search in the meantime.
Craig 2008/02/19 8:03 pm

I agree with those that say to leave it open. If you archive and another comes along, those of us that have followed it may miss any relevant posts (ie a breakthrough). There are always lazy folks that don’t read the thread and then ask a question that is already answered – I’ve been guilty of that more than once. What’s the downside? If someone is bothered, they can unsubscribe. My three cents….
Perishable 2008/02/19 9:16 pm • Post Author

Thank you all for the feedback. Based on what I have read so far, I am going to go ahead and leave this thread open indefinitely for any potentially useful information that may yet unfold. Of course, this means continued patience with periodic episodes of frustrated desperation, which may prove insignificant upon discovery of a possible solution. In other words, if you guys are willing to tolerate the noise, then so am I ;)
JEFF 2008/02/19 10:30 pm

I gave up…

My solution was to give one of my employees my Blackberry and to buy an iPhone.

I like the iPhone much more than the Blackberry, it has wifi, and I’m able to use it for many internet purposes and don’t really need to tether my notebook. While it doesn’t have the blackberry technology to push emails, it does check it every 15 minutes and the email is much easier to read on the iPhone.

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