I have been wanting to use my blackberry as a modem for a long time, but never really had the motivation to do all the research needed to do so. But, I made up my mind today and researched around about it, and finally able to tether my Blackberry 9000 (Bold) to my laptop. Here’s how you do it.
- Make sure you installed your Blackberry Desktop Manager properly, open it, and connect your Blackberry Bold using USB cable. Your Blackberry Desktop Manager should recognize your device by showing “Device Connected(PIN): xxxxxxxx” Once your device is connected to your laptop, check in the Control Panel -> Phone and Modem Options -> Modem tab -> select your blackberry modem (it is listed just as “Standard Modem” in my computer”, and click “Properties” -> Diagnostics tab and click “Query Modem”, it should give you result in command and response field.
- Choose “Advanced” tab on the same window and enter this in the “Extra initialization commands” field: +cgdcont=1,”IP”,”wap.cingular” Ok, if everything went as it should, you are now able to use your Blackberry Bold as a modem. You just have make a dial-up connection to actually connect to the Internet.
- To create a new dial-up connection, go to your “Network Connection” and under “Network Task” choose “Create a new connection” A connection wizard will come up and ask you several questions. The main thing is to choose this: Connect to Internet -> Next -> “Set up my connection manually” -> Next -> “Connect using a Dial-up Modem” -> Next -> check your Blackberry Bold modem -> Next -> make up your own ISP name (it doesn’t matter what you put there) -> Next -> *99# as your phone number -> Next ->leave the username and password blank -> Next and Finish.
- Your newly created dial-up connection will show up in your Network Connection window under dial-up connections. Double-click it and hit dial.
There you go. That’s how you connect to the Internet using your Blackberry Bold. I think this will work also for other Blackberry devices. Let me know if you have any questions, ok! I’m not promising that I can solve your problem, but we can give it a try, right?
[Updated on 10/24/2009] – Instruction for Windows Vista
[Updated on 11/03/2009] – Tether using Blackberry Desktop Manager
[Updated on 02/01/2010] – Warning for additional fees
[Updated on 04/19/2010] – Instruction for Mac OS
[Updated on 04/16/2011] – Error 692: Hardware Failure in the Modem
– Instruction for Windows Vista (Thanks to Jerry Gunawan)
These tether instructions are for Windows Vista users:
1. Install and Run the Blackberry Desktop Manager.
2. Connect your blackberry using USB cable. It should show your Blackberry PIN number at the bottom left corner of the Blackberry Desktop Manager.
3. Go to Control Panel -> Phone and Modem Options -> Modem tab -> select Standard Modem -> click Properties -> Diagnostic Tab -> click Query Modem. It should show result in command and response field. Don’t click Ok button because we are not done yet.
4. Then on the same window go to General tab -> click Change Setting -> Advanced tab.
In the extra initialization commands, please enter: AT+CGDCONT=1,”IP”,”wap.cingular”. Then click Ok.
5. Create a dial-up connection. Go to Control Panel -> Network and Sharing Center -> Click Set Up Connection or network -> Click set up a dial-up connection -> Standard Modem ->
Enter Dial up phone number : *99#
User name : [email protected]
Password : CINGULAR1
You can create your own connection name, then click Ok.
– Tether using Blackberry Desktop Manager
I just found a faster way to tether your Blackberry (any) to your laptop. This technique is available thanks to the new version of BB Manager, Blackberry Desktop Manager 5.0.1. Here’s the way you do it:
- Open BB Desktop Manager, choose IP Modem in your BB Desktop Manager’s main menu. If the icon is gone, close BB Desktop Manager, and go to c:/Documents and Settings\all users\application data\research in motion\blackberry to find a file, “ip_modem_configuration.xml”
- Edit it, find your carrier, and set the “enabled” from “false” to “true.”
- Open BB Desktop Manager again, click IP Modem, and select your carrier. I’m using a new AT&T connection with user: wap.cingulargprs.com ; password: CINGULAR1 ; access Point: wap.cingular.
- Once a profile has been created and selected, you will be asked if you want to use BB as a modem. Click “continue” and hit “Connect.”
You now have different ways to connect to the Internet using Blackberry phone device. I hope they all be useful to you. Let me know if you have any problems.
– Warning for additional fees
First of all I want to thank you for all the good responses I received. I am glad I can help a lot of people through this post. However, just a reminder (thanks to Brian) that when you tether your blackberry to your laptop, standard internet usage charge will still apply. So if you don’t have unlimited data plan for your phone, I strongly recommend you to not tether your phone to your laptop as this will significantly increase your monthly bill.
– Instruction for Mac OS
This would be a reply to Martha. Thanks to Rod Father for the reply. I was searching for ways to tether using USB for MAC, but I can’t find one. It seems that the only option so far is by using Bluetooth connection.
I found this page very helpful as I am trying to set up a Dial Up connection for my friends ATT.
I myself have a mac and a curve, the only way i could get the tethering working on my macbook pro running snow leopard is by bluetooth connection, and i want to add my experience (by the way, I am on a different CDMA carrier)
I will assume you have already paired your BB to your mac.
Go to network preferences and add a new connection/interface, select BLUETOOTH DUN.
On telephone number add the connection number (in my carrier is #777, att I believe is *99#
Enter your username and password as instructed in this article.
Now click on Advanced, in the MODEM tab i have the following:
Vendor: Generic
Model: Dialup Device
I have “Enable error correction and compression in modem” checked, I have heard of people leaving it uncheck and still working.
Dial Mode: Wait for dial tone before dialing
Dialing: Tone
Sound: OnDNS and WINS tab is empty, in Proxies tab I had to setup proxies for my carrier which are wap.metropcs.net and the port number as well. I dont know about att.
Maybe someone can use this as a start and complete with ATT info, the official BB connect for mac will also recognize the phone as a modem, however with MetroPCS Bluetooth is the only way i have been able to get it working.
I myself have a mac and a curve, the only way i could get the tethering working on my macbook pro running snow leopard is by bluetooth connection, and i want to add my experience (by the way, I am on a different CDMA carrier)
I will assume you have already paired your BB to your mac.
Go to network preferences and add a new connection/interface, select BLUETOOTH DUN.
On telephone number add the connection number (in my carrier is #777, att I believe is *99#
Enter your username and password as instructed in this article.
Now click on Advanced, in the MODEM tab i have the following:
Vendor: Generic
Model: Dialup Device
I have “Enable error correction and compression in modem” checked, I have heard of people leaving it uncheck and still working.
Dial Mode: Wait for dial tone before dialing
Dialing: Tone
Sound: OnDNS and WINS tab is empty, in Proxies tab I had to setup proxies for my carrier which are wap.metropcs.net and the port number as well. I dont know about att.
Maybe someone can use this as a start and complete with ATT info, the official BB connect for mac will also recognize the phone as a modem, however with MetroPCS Bluetooth is the only way i have been able to get it working.
– Error 692: Hardware Failure in the Modem
Thanks to Tyler! He mentioned in the comment section below that he was having problem tethering his BB as a modem to his Win XP and the error was “Error 692: Hardware Failure in the Modem.” After further research, he found out what the problem was.
I finally came across a solution to 692 Hardware Failure (comment provided on another site).
I had the following error: Error 692: Hardware Failure in the ModemIt turns out that when I copied and pasted the initialization script, the quotation marks were not recognized by the modem (perhaps this is specific to my version of XP?).
Correction: Instead of using the following…
AT+CGDCONT=1,”IP”,”wap.cingular”
use the following
AT+CGDCONT=1,”IP”,”wap.cingular”Hope this helps.
I’ve used this techniques with my Blackberry Curve, works OK, a little slow but it does work.rnrnKen Whidden, DCrnEmerald Coast Chiropracticn.-= Ken Whidden´s last blog ..Migraines. Why not Chiropractic? =-.
I’ve used this techniques with my Blackberry Curve, works OK, a little slow but it does work.
Ken Whidden, DC
Emerald Coast Chiropractic
.-= Ken Whidden´s last blog ..Migraines. Why not Chiropractic? =-.
Hey, Im having a problem with this. I did everything exactly the same as u told but Im still not able to connect. It just said Failed to Connect. Any help here? Ive done everything as told. But just wondering whether is this the exact thing that I have to write in the extra initialization command field: +cgdcont=1,u201dIPu201d,u201dwap.cingularu201drnThats it right? Starting at + and ending at cingular” ?rnThx for the help :)rnGene.
Hey, Im having a problem with this. I did everything exactly the same as u told but Im still not able to connect. It just said Failed to Connect. Any help here? Ive done everything as told. But just wondering whether is this the exact thing that I have to write in the extra initialization command field: +cgdcont=1,”IP”,”wap.cingular”
Thats it right? Starting at + and ending at cingular” ?
Thx for the help 🙂
Gene.
@Ken: It depends on your carrier network most of the time. My Bold is running on ATT 3G network, so it’s pretty fast. It wasn’t blazing fast, but it’s decent.rnrn@Gene: That’s right, the initialization strings start with + and end with cingular” What carrier are you using? Make sure you open your Blackberry Desktop Manager first, and let the program recognize your Bold first before you do anything.
@Ken: It depends on your carrier network most of the time. My Bold is running on ATT 3G network, so it’s pretty fast. It wasn’t blazing fast, but it’s decent.
@Gene: That’s right, the initialization strings start with + and end with cingular” What carrier are you using? Make sure you open your Blackberry Desktop Manager first, and let the program recognize your Bold first before you do anything.
i really love the cool features of Blackberry. my hubby and i both have Blakberries and we use it all the time to communicate.
i really love the cool features of Blackberry. my hubby and i both have Blakberries and we use it all the time to communicate.
The information above works for Windows XP only. rnrnIf you have Windows Vista, please use these steps below.rnrnConnect your AT&T Blackberry to your laptop (for Windows Vista only)rnrn1. Install and Run the Blackberry Desktop Manager.rnrn2. Connect your blackberry using USB cable. It should show your Blackberry PIN number at the bottom left corner of the Blackberry Desktop Manager.rnrn3. Go to Control Panel -> Phone and Modem Options -> Modem tab -> select Standard Modem -> click Properties -> Diagnostic Tab -> click Query Modem. It should show result in command and response field. Donu2019t click Ok button because we are not done yet.rnrn4. Then on the same window go to General tab -> click Change Setting -> Advanced tab. rnIn the extra initialization commands, please enter: AT+CGDCONT=1,”IP”,”wap.cingular”. Then click Ok.rnrn5. Create a dial-up connection. Go to Control Panel -> Network and Sharing Center -> Click Set Up Connection or network -> Click set up a dial-up connection -> Standard Modem ->rnEnter Dial up phone number t: *99#rnUser namettt: [email protected]: CINGULAR1 trnYou can create your own connection name, then click Ok.rnrnAfter you are done with this you should be able to connect your Blackberry using the dial-up connection. Enjoy!
@Jerry: Thanks Jerry, you information is really helpful, especially for those who use Vista. I'm using Windows XP now, so I didn't know that the way to tether was different for Vista.
The information above works for Windows XP only.
If you have Windows Vista, please use these steps below.
Connect your AT&T Blackberry to your laptop (for Windows Vista only)
1. Install and Run the Blackberry Desktop Manager.
2. Connect your blackberry using USB cable. It should show your Blackberry PIN number at the bottom left corner of the Blackberry Desktop Manager.
3. Go to Control Panel -> Phone and Modem Options -> Modem tab -> select Standard Modem -> click Properties -> Diagnostic Tab -> click Query Modem. It should show result in command and response field. Don’t click Ok button because we are not done yet.
4. Then on the same window go to General tab -> click Change Setting -> Advanced tab.
In the extra initialization commands, please enter: AT+CGDCONT=1,”IP”,”wap.cingular”. Then click Ok.
5. Create a dial-up connection. Go to Control Panel -> Network and Sharing Center -> Click Set Up Connection or network -> Click set up a dial-up connection -> Standard Modem ->
Enter Dial up phone number : *99#
User name : [email protected]
Password : CINGULAR1
You can create your own connection name, then click Ok.
After you are done with this you should be able to connect your Blackberry using the dial-up connection. Enjoy!
@Jerry: Thanks Jerry, you information is really helpful, especially for those who use Vista. I'm using Windows XP now, so I didn't know that the way to tether was different for Vista.
Hi, thanks for posting the steps. I followed the steps for Vista, but I live outside the US and my BlackBerry isn’t an AT&T one, which caused it to not be able to connect, or at least I think that’s why it didn’t connect. Would the steps be any different if it was non-AT&T?
@Andy: What country are you live in? From I researched, the only difference would be the initialization strings, user name and password. Every cell phone carriers have different settings for this. May be you can tell me your carrier that you are using now. I'll post an update if I found some information for your carrier.
I'm in Malaysia. Carrier is Maxis. Thanks a lot!
Ok. I researched around about this, and I found out that for MAXIS, these are the settings: n nAPN: unet (the init string is +cgdcont=1,"IP","unet") nUsername: maxis nPassword: wap n nYou will still need to do STEP 1 though that says you need to run BB Desktop Manager and detect your modem. For the initialization string and creating new dial-up connection, use MAXIS specific settings. Let me know if it works or not.
Hi, thanks for posting the steps. I followed the steps for Vista, but I live outside the US and my BlackBerry isn’t an AT&T one, which caused it to not be able to connect, or at least I think that’s why it didn’t connect. Would the steps be any different if it was non-AT&T?
@Andy: What country are you live in? From I researched, the only difference would be the initialization strings, user name and password. Every cell phone carriers have different settings for this. May be you can tell me your carrier that you are using now. I'll post an update if I found some information for your carrier.
I'm in Malaysia. Carrier is Maxis. Thanks a lot!
Ok. I researched around about this, and I found out that for MAXIS, these are the settings:
APN: unet (the init string is +cgdcont=1,"IP","unet")
Username: maxis
Password: wap
You will still need to do STEP 1 though that says you need to run BB Desktop Manager and detect your modem. For the initialization string and creating new dial-up connection, use MAXIS specific settings. Let me know if it works or not.
so i did everything correct just like the guy up top, i have vista. it wont work when i setup the network connection it says it just won't connect. are the username and password case sensitive? and do u just put in *99# for the wireless number or is that *99 followed by my wireless number?
I'm not sure if the username is case sensitive or not, but I think the password is case sensitive. As for the dial up number, it is *99#, so the # is an actual character, not your wireless number. What cellphone provider are you using? Different providers will require different initialization strings. n nIf you still get the same error, what exactly the error is? if you can give me the error number and the error message, that would be great.
so i did everything correct just like the guy up top, i have vista. it wont work when i setup the network connection it says it just won't connect. are the username and password case sensitive? and do u just put in *99# for the wireless number or is that *99 followed by my wireless number?
I'm not sure if the username is case sensitive or not, but I think the password is case sensitive. As for the dial up number, it is *99#, so the # is an actual character, not your wireless number. What cellphone provider are you using? Different providers will require different initialization strings.
If you still get the same error, what exactly the error is? if you can give me the error number and the error message, that would be great.
Will this work for MAC OS X Leopard? Do you have the procedures or know where to get them? n nThanks much!
I haven't tested this yet, but from my research, there's this one guy get it to work. He's using OS X 10.5.6 and BB OS .167. Everything is the same; however, click "Advanced" (under Modem) and set Vender: Option, Model: GSM, APN: WAP.CINGULAR, CID: 1. Apply and hit connect. Hopefully this works.
Will this work for MAC OS X Leopard? Do you have the procedures or know where to get them?
Thanks much!
I haven't tested this yet, but from my research, there's this one guy get it to work. He's using OS X 10.5.6 and BB OS .167. Everything is the same; however, click "Advanced" (under Modem) and set Vender: Option, Model: GSM, APN: WAP.CINGULAR, CID: 1. Apply and hit connect. Hopefully this works.
Works like a charm on the Bold; now I'm going to figure out the strings for a Curve. Thanks so much for getting all this info together!
That's great. I'm glad to hear that. For Curve, I think you will use the same initialization string as with Bold. I can't verify that though since I don't have BB Curve. Let me know if it doesn't work.
Works like a charm on the Bold; now I'm going to figure out the strings for a Curve. Thanks so much for getting all this info together!
That's great. I'm glad to hear that. For Curve, I think you will use the same initialization string as with Bold. I can't verify that though since I don't have BB Curve. Let me know if it doesn't work.
i hope you realize that you forgot to tel people that att will charge you out the ass for this if you dont have their 60 dollar a month data plan
That's a good point. I will include that in the post. For me, it was $30 for unlimited internet though, instead of $60.
How does this work on a MacBook?
As far as I know, this method only works for Windows PC. I'll try to search around and post it on my blog. Make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed, so you'll know when the post is up. Thanks.
I found this page very helpful as I am trying to set up a Dial Up connection for my friends ATT.
I myself have a mac and a curve, the only way i could get the tethering working on my macbook pro running snow leopard is by bluetooth connection, and i want to add my experience (by the way, I am on a different CDMA carrier)
I will assume you have already paired your BB to your mac.
Go to network preferences and add a new connection/interface, select BLUETOOTH DUN.
On telephone number add the connection number (in my carrier is #777, att I believe is *99#
Enter your username and password as instructed in this article.
Now click on Advanced, in the MODEM tab i have the following:
Vendor: Generic
Model: Dialup Device
I have “Enable error correction and compression in modem” checked, I have heard of people leaving it uncheck and still working.
Dial Mode: Wait for dial tone before dialing
Dialing: Tone
Sound: On
DNS and WINS tab is empty, in Proxies tab I had to setup proxies for my carrier which are wap.metropcs.net and the port number as well. I dont know about att.
Maybe someone can use this as a start and complete with ATT info, the official BB connect for mac will also recognize the phone as a modem, however with MetroPCS Bluetooth is the only way i have been able to get it working.
Can the BB Desktop Manager method be used by itself, or is it needed to have added a previous dial up connection with the extra +cgdcont=1 .. …. . .. ?
If you connect using BB Desktop Manager, you don’t have to add those extra initialization strings anymore.
If you connect using BB Desktop Manager, you don't have to add those extra initialization strings anymore.
Jigan, I have just updated the post to connect your Blackberry to your Mac OS. Please give it a try. 😉
Martha, I just updated the post to tether your Blackberry to Mac OS. Please give it a try. 😉
Martha, I just updated the post to tether your Blackberry to Mac OS. Please give it a try. 😉
If you connect using BB Desktop Manager, you don't have to add those extra initialization strings anymore.
Martha, I just updated the post to tether your Blackberry to Mac OS. Please give it a try. 😉
i have unlimited data, but will tethering incur a tethering fee?
No…tethering will not incur more fees as long as you have unlimited data plan. Think of it as using Internet on your phone, but instead of opening it on your phone, you open it through your laptop.
No…tethering will not incur more fees as long as you have unlimited data plan. Think of it as using Internet on your phone, but instead of opening it on your phone, you open it through your laptop.
No…tethering will not incur more fees as long as you have unlimited data plan. Think of it as using Internet on your phone, but instead of opening it on your phone, you open it through your laptop.
No…tethering will not incur more fees as long as you have unlimited data plan. Think of it as using Internet on your phone, but instead of opening it on your phone, you open it through your laptop.
No…tethering will not incur more fees as long as you have unlimited data plan. Think of it as using Internet on your phone, but instead of opening it on your phone, you open it through your laptop.
No…tethering will not incur more fees as long as you have unlimited data plan. Think of it as using Internet on your phone, but instead of opening it on your phone, you open it through your laptop.
No…tethering will not incur more fees as long as you have unlimited data plan. Think of it as using Internet on your phone, but instead of opening it on your phone, you open it through your laptop.
No…tethering will not incur more fees as long as you have unlimited data plan. Think of it as using Internet on your phone, but instead of opening it on your phone, you open it through your laptop.
No…tethering will not incur more fees as long as you have unlimited data plan. Think of it as using Internet on your phone, but instead of opening it on your phone, you open it through your laptop.
No…tethering will not incur more fees as long as you have unlimited data plan. Think of it as using Internet on your phone, but instead of opening it on your phone, you open it through your laptop.
No…tethering will not incur more fees as long as you have unlimited data plan. Think of it as using Internet on your phone, but instead of opening it on your phone, you open it through your laptop.
No…tethering will not incur more fees as long as you have unlimited data plan. Think of it as using Internet on your phone, but instead of opening it on your phone, you open it through your laptop.
No…tethering will not incur more fees as long as you have unlimited data plan. Think of it as using Internet on your phone, but instead of opening it on your phone, you open it through your laptop.
No…tethering will not incur more fees as long as you have unlimited data plan. Think of it as using Internet on your phone, but instead of opening it on your phone, you open it through your laptop.
No…tethering will not incur more fees as long as you have unlimited data plan. Think of it as using Internet on your phone, but instead of opening it on your phone, you open it through your laptop.
No…tethering will not incur more fees as long as you have unlimited data plan. Think of it as using Internet on your phone, but instead of opening it on your phone, you open it through your laptop.
No…tethering will not incur more fees as long as you have unlimited data plan. Think of it as using Internet on your phone, but instead of opening it on your phone, you open it through your laptop.
No…tethering will not incur more fees as long as you have unlimited data plan. Think of it as using Internet on your phone, but instead of opening it on your phone, you open it through your laptop.
No…tethering will not incur more fees as long as you have unlimited data plan. Think of it as using Internet on your phone, but instead of opening it on your phone, you open it through your laptop.