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 = Designer. Developer. Producer. Writer. Editor. Etc.

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

neville Elder 2007/12/02 11:36 am

I just read thru all the posts. I’m on At&t with an 8310 and a Mac osx vers: 10.4.11
1.what ever carrier you use you will find correct APN for you in options>advanced options>TCP…that will solve one mystery.
2.I was briefly able connect me with 8300 modem and correct APN but was unable to load safari – so this might not be a clean lock. Then everytime I got “Could not negotiate a connection with the remote PPP server. Please verify your settings and try again”.

I am going to check with ATT about the tethering issue (i.e. whether it is an optional extra to add as is mention above) that might clinch it.

Right now i’m not sure anyone has a reliable lasting connection – Has anyone? for a decent amount of time?

neville elder 2007/12/02 12:29 pm

This is from At&T website…try using WWAN modem script/8300 script…my attempt left me miserably disconnected again perhaps other users wil have more luck:

Connect to the Internet Using a Dial-up Networking Connection in Mac OS X Tiger via Bluetooth
SUBJECT:
Connect to the Internet Using a Dial-up Networking Connection in Mac OS X Tiger via Bluetooth
Create a Dial-up Networking Connection Mac OS X Tiger via Bluetooth
SYMPTOM:
Modem / Tethering
Informational Only | Unsupported: This solution is intended for informational purposes only. AT&T provides network, billing, and provisioning support for the wireless voice and data networks. AT&T does not provide technical support for Mac. AT&T makes no warranties, express, implied or statutory, as to the content within this solution; such content is provided “as is” and with all faults, and your use of the content is at your own risk. Questions regarding this solution or any additional Mac support must be directed to Apple at http://www.apple.com/support or your internal IT department.
FIX:
Prerequisite

Pair the device with the computer.

Procedure

Configure the Connection

Click the Apple Icon.

Select System Prefferences.

Select Network.

In the Show drop-down select Bluetooth.

Click the Lock icon to change settings.

Click the PPP tab.

Enter the following information.

Service Provider (User defined): AT&T
Account Name:
Password:
Telephone Number: *99#
Alternate Number: *99***1#

Click the TCP/IP tab.

Verify the Configure IPv4 is set to Using PPP (default).

Leave all other settings blank.

Click the Bluetooth Modem tab.

In the Modem drop-down select the appropriate Modem Script.
NOTE: For most devices the WWAN Support modem script can be used.
NOTE: Modem scripts for most devices can be found by performing an internet search for Modem+Scripts

Click Apply Now.
Connect to the Internet

Double-click the hard drive icon.

Double-click Applications.

Double-click Internet Connect.

Click Bluetooth.

Click Connect.
NOTE: Many handsets will prompt the user to allow the dial-up connection on the device before the connection can be established.

David Sanders 2007/12/02 5:26 pm

Neville,

Although I’m on T-Mobile rather than AT&T, I’ve seen the message you’re experiencing (“Could not negotiate a connection with the remote PPP server. Please verify your settings and try again”.) many times. The only way I’ve found to correct it is to reset the Blackberry (i.e., pop the batter and let the device reboot).

David

neville elder 2007/12/02 5:36 pm

right – that’s my experience. But i don’t think it’s a settings issue, I think it’s an AT&T note above issue by Perish in his intro:

“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.”

David Sanders 2007/12/02 7:15 pm

The T-Mobile Blackberry rate plan includes unlimited tethered connectivity. This leads me to believe that it’s not a blacklist issue since I (and many others) see the same error message. I think it’s a Blackberry and/or Mac OS X issue. If I use my old Motorola V360 I can tether via Bluetooth without any problems.

neville elder 2007/12/02 7:18 pm

Well that solves me some time on the phone with AT&T. Has anyone reached out to Apple?

Bobboya 2007/12/04 10:06 am

I have one of the new Intel Dualcore MacBooks. What is very interesting is that I can use my Tmo 8320 to tether using USB when I boot up in the Windows XP environment (download speeds of 56kB, clocked using an online site).

I do not know whether it is possible to use USB for tethering when running Mac OS (I have 10.4.11). On the other hand, I have been able to connect using bluetooth with the Mac OS. When I do this, I can download one webpage, and then web transfers slow to a crawl, and usually time out.

I still have not tried using bluetooth with Windows XP, but I hope to try that as soon as I get a minute.

So, the BB 8320 works as a USB modem in XP. Does not work well as bluetooth modem with Mac OS.

Still to be tried:
1) Mac OS USB tether
2) XP bluetooth tether

Ciao!
Bob

David Sanders 2007/12/04 4:21 pm

Please let me know if you get the USB tether to work on the Mac. The main issue there will be keeping the USB connection live. On Windows you must run the Blackberry Desktop Manager in the background.

On other thing you should try is a USB tether when running XP under Parallels or VM Ware Fusion and sharing the internet connection with the Mac. I’ve seen somewhere that it works, but have never had the patience to try.

Squished Squirrel 2007/12/11 8:16 am

I just noticed that AT&T had an update to the software for the curve on their site. (No, not the 4.3 update we are all clammoring for!)

It is 4.2.2.301 with Applications 4.2.2.166 and Platform 2.4.0.73.

Anyone see a difference with this version? I’ll give it a cursory test and see if it helps.

Rooster 2007/12/12 4:59 am

The AT&T update you speak of is for the 8300 curve only…

I have been fighting this problem as well and I have been able to get the Blackberry 8310 on AT&T with Leopard to show up via USB. I used the generic USB drivers…

matthew 2007/12/12 8:00 am

I have had the tmo curve 8320 for two months now. The issues you are all encountering are not mac specific as I am using a pc with windows xp, and have found the same connectivity problems. Have to pull battery to get another 20 sec. to 10 min. connection time. The oddest part is that the day i set up my tethered connection i was able to stay online for almost two hours without interruption.

After tens of hours on the phone with both BB and Rim support I was finally able to speak to someone in engineering who was aware of the issue. I was told that the problem lies in an error in a line of code within the BB operating system. (hence why the issue spans all carriers and macs/pc). I was told to wait for future software updates.

as i am sure everyone knows the 3200 was pushed out to market before half the kinks were worked out. Lame, yes! but thats capitalism at its finest.

Rolland Baker 2007/12/12 8:46 am

Does the current v4.2.2.180 updater work with all the other suggestions (APN in, etc.)?

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

neville Elder 2007/12/02 11:36 am

I just read thru all the posts. I’m on At&t with an 8310 and a Mac osx vers: 10.4.11
1.what ever carrier you use you will find correct APN for you in options>advanced options>TCP…that will solve one mystery.
2.I was briefly able connect me with 8300 modem and correct APN but was unable to load safari – so this might not be a clean lock. Then everytime I got “Could not negotiate a connection with the remote PPP server. Please verify your settings and try again”.

I am going to check with ATT about the tethering issue (i.e. whether it is an optional extra to add as is mention above) that might clinch it.

Right now i’m not sure anyone has a reliable lasting connection – Has anyone? for a decent amount of time?
neville elder 2007/12/02 12:29 pm

This is from At&T website…try using WWAN modem script/8300 script…my attempt left me miserably disconnected again perhaps other users wil have more luck:

Connect to the Internet Using a Dial-up Networking Connection in Mac OS X Tiger via Bluetooth
SUBJECT:
Connect to the Internet Using a Dial-up Networking Connection in Mac OS X Tiger via Bluetooth
Create a Dial-up Networking Connection Mac OS X Tiger via Bluetooth
SYMPTOM:
Modem / Tethering
Informational Only | Unsupported: This solution is intended for informational purposes only. AT&T provides network, billing, and provisioning support for the wireless voice and data networks. AT&T does not provide technical support for Mac. AT&T makes no warranties, express, implied or statutory, as to the content within this solution; such content is provided “as is” and with all faults, and your use of the content is at your own risk. Questions regarding this solution or any additional Mac support must be directed to Apple at http://www.apple.com/support or your internal IT department.
FIX:
Prerequisite

Pair the device with the computer.

Procedure

Configure the Connection

Click the Apple Icon.

Select System Prefferences.

Select Network.

In the Show drop-down select Bluetooth.

Click the Lock icon to change settings.

Click the PPP tab.

Enter the following information.

Service Provider (User defined): AT&T
Account Name:
Password:
Telephone Number: *99#
Alternate Number: *99***1#

Click the TCP/IP tab.

Verify the Configure IPv4 is set to Using PPP (default).

Leave all other settings blank.

Click the Bluetooth Modem tab.

In the Modem drop-down select the appropriate Modem Script.
NOTE: For most devices the WWAN Support modem script can be used.
NOTE: Modem scripts for most devices can be found by performing an internet search for Modem+Scripts

Click Apply Now.
Connect to the Internet

Double-click the hard drive icon.

Double-click Applications.

Double-click Internet Connect.

Click Bluetooth.

Click Connect.
NOTE: Many handsets will prompt the user to allow the dial-up connection on the device before the connection can be established.
David Sanders 2007/12/02 5:26 pm

Neville,

Although I’m on T-Mobile rather than AT&T, I’ve seen the message you’re experiencing (“Could not negotiate a connection with the remote PPP server. Please verify your settings and try again”.) many times. The only way I’ve found to correct it is to reset the Blackberry (i.e., pop the batter and let the device reboot).

David
neville elder 2007/12/02 5:36 pm

right – that’s my experience. But i don’t think it’s a settings issue, I think it’s an AT&T note above issue by Perish in his intro:

“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.”
David Sanders 2007/12/02 7:15 pm

The T-Mobile Blackberry rate plan includes unlimited tethered connectivity. This leads me to believe that it’s not a blacklist issue since I (and many others) see the same error message. I think it’s a Blackberry and/or Mac OS X issue. If I use my old Motorola V360 I can tether via Bluetooth without any problems.
neville elder 2007/12/02 7:18 pm

Well that solves me some time on the phone with AT&T. Has anyone reached out to Apple?
Bobboya 2007/12/04 10:06 am

I have one of the new Intel Dualcore MacBooks. What is very interesting is that I can use my Tmo 8320 to tether using USB when I boot up in the Windows XP environment (download speeds of 56kB, clocked using an online site).

I do not know whether it is possible to use USB for tethering when running Mac OS (I have 10.4.11). On the other hand, I have been able to connect using bluetooth with the Mac OS. When I do this, I can download one webpage, and then web transfers slow to a crawl, and usually time out.

I still have not tried using bluetooth with Windows XP, but I hope to try that as soon as I get a minute.

So, the BB 8320 works as a USB modem in XP. Does not work well as bluetooth modem with Mac OS.

Still to be tried:
1) Mac OS USB tether
2) XP bluetooth tether

Ciao!
Bob
David Sanders 2007/12/04 4:21 pm

Please let me know if you get the USB tether to work on the Mac. The main issue there will be keeping the USB connection live. On Windows you must run the Blackberry Desktop Manager in the background.

On other thing you should try is a USB tether when running XP under Parallels or VM Ware Fusion and sharing the internet connection with the Mac. I’ve seen somewhere that it works, but have never had the patience to try.
Squished Squirrel 2007/12/11 8:16 am

I just noticed that AT&T had an update to the software for the curve on their site. (No, not the 4.3 update we are all clammoring for!)

It is 4.2.2.301 with Applications 4.2.2.166 and Platform 2.4.0.73.

Anyone see a difference with this version? I’ll give it a cursory test and see if it helps.
Rooster 2007/12/12 4:59 am

The AT&T update you speak of is for the 8300 curve only…

I have been fighting this problem as well and I have been able to get the Blackberry 8310 on AT&T with Leopard to show up via USB. I used the generic USB drivers…
matthew 2007/12/12 8:00 am

I have had the tmo curve 8320 for two months now. The issues you are all encountering are not mac specific as I am using a pc with windows xp, and have found the same connectivity problems. Have to pull battery to get another 20 sec. to 10 min. connection time. The oddest part is that the day i set up my tethered connection i was able to stay online for almost two hours without interruption.

After tens of hours on the phone with both BB and Rim support I was finally able to speak to someone in engineering who was aware of the issue. I was told that the problem lies in an error in a line of code within the BB operating system. (hence why the issue spans all carriers and macs/pc). I was told to wait for future software updates.

as i am sure everyone knows the 3200 was pushed out to market before half the kinks were worked out. Lame, yes! but thats capitalism at its finest.
Rolland Baker 2007/12/12 8:46 am

Does the current v4.2.2.180 updater work with all the other suggestions (APN in, etc.)?

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