Connecting a BlackBerry to a computer as a modem.

A BlackBerry phone is dedicated to supplying the user with a constant and secure connection to one or more e-mail accounts. BlackBerry services comes in two flavors,  BlackBerry Internet Services and BlackBerry Enterprise Solution. Additionally, phones support access to the internet or intranet and a full scope of attachment viewing.

BlackBerry Internet Services

BlackBerry Internet Services allows access to up to 10 work and personal e-mail accounts, plus an optional, new BlackBerry email address that comes with your BlackBerry phone.
You can browse websites and use instant messaging just as you would on your desktop browser.
It is possible to access to your calendar, address book, task and memo pad information and import the contacts from your existing desktop organizer software through synchronization with a PC.

BlackBerry Enterprise Solution

BlackBerry Enterprise Solution maintains a constant wireless synchronization of e-mail, contacts, calendar, tasks and other information of your account on your corporate network.
Intranet web sites and applications are accessible via the browser.

Wireless Modem

A dial-up connection can be made using a BlackBerry phone as a modem. You can tether a BlackBerry to your computer and connect to the internet through the BlackBerry.
This can be realized using the bluetooth dial-up profile if the phone supports this, or with the USB cable.

The following illustrates the steps in Windows XP with Service Pack II to use the BlackBerry as a tethered modem via USB. Successfully tested with the BlackBerry 9800, BlackBerry 8820, BlackBerry 9780, BlackBerry 9520, BlackBerry 8700, BlackBerry 8330, BlackBerry 9300, BlackBerry Torch, BlackBerry 9650, BlackBerry Bold, BlackBerry Storm, BlackBerry Pearl.

Start the BlackBerry Desktop Manager and connect your BlackBerry with the USB cable.

On installing the Desktop Manager, the Standard Modem will appear in the Device Manager as follows:
(If the Standard Modem does not appear, re-install the Desktop Manager.)

 

If the Standard Modem still does not appear, it is necessary to manually add the modem.
Take note of the COM port numbers of the RIM Virtual Serial Port v2 in the devices under Ports (COM & LPT).

 

In the Control Panel go to Phone and Modem Options.
Choose to add a New Modem.
Choose to select it from a list.

 

Select the Standard 33600 bps Modem.
Select the COM ports that are used for the RIM Virtual Serial Port v2 in the Device Manager.

 

One or more Standard 33600 bps Modems will appear in the Device Manager.

In the case of using bluetooth to make the dial-up connection a "Standard Modem over Bluetooth" will appear in modem devices.

 

Open the Properties dialog box by right-clicking the modem in the Device Manger.
Go to the Diagnostics tab.
Click on Query Modem. It should answer with a number of responses.

 

In the Advanced tab fill in the dial-string in the Extra Initialization Commands.

In this case "internet" is the Access Point Name of the network provider.
Here are some other examples of dial-strings:

Rogers:	+cgdcont=1,"IP","internet.com"
Cingular Blue/AT&T:	+cgdcont=1,"IP","proxy"
Cingular Orange:	+cgdcont=1,"IP","ISP.CINGULAR"
UK Vodafone:	+cgdcont=1,"IP","internet"
SwissCom:	+cgdcont=1,"IP","gprs.swisscom.ch"
T-Mobile NL:	+cgdcont=1,"IP","internet","",0,0

This completes the installation of the modem.
Now the dial-up connection has to be made.

 

Dial-up Connection

In Control Panel go to Network Connections.
Choose Create a New Connection.

 

Choose to Connect to the Internet.

 

Choose to Set up the Connection Manually.

 

Choose to Connect using a dial-up modem.

 

If there are multiple modems to choose from, select the modem that connects to the BlackBerry.

 

Choose an Name for the connection.

 

Type in the phone number *99#.

 

Only fill in a User name and a Password if required by the by the network provider.

 

A new connection is made!

 

Choose Dial to make a connection (no user name or password entered if not necessary by the network provider).

 

The connection is being made....

 

To end the connection, right-click on the connection icon and choose Disconnect.

 

Errors

Here are some errors that may appear when dialing the connection:

Error 734 BlackBerry

"Error 734: The PPP link control protocol was terminated."

Error 651 BlackBerry

"Error 651: The modem (or other connecting device) has reported an error."

Error 692 BlackBerry

"Error 692: There was a hardware failure in the modem (or other connecting device)."

To resolve this, check to see if the dial-string is entered correctly in the Extra Initialization Commands.
Check that the Access Point Name in the dial-string corresponds to the Access Point Name of the network provider.

 

 

Alternative to making a dial-up connection: If the phone does not support the use as a modem it is also possible to purchase a third party application by the name of Shark Modem. In the case of BlackBerry Solution, this also allows access to the Intranet via the Blackberrys dial-up connection!