HOWTO: BlackBerry As Modem For Laptop

SUCCESSFUL CARRIERS: T-Mobile, AT&T, Vodafone, Rogers
SUCCESSFUL MODELS: 7100 and 7290
SHOULD BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT UNTESTED: Cingular 7290 (need custom username/password)
SHOULD BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT UNTESTED: Nextel 7520 (need to dial S=2 instead of *99#)

1. Introduction
   Did you know that BlackBerry can now be used just like an external modem for a laptop computer, so that a laptop can have full Internet access? This is useful when you need to do certain things that a BlackBerry cannot yet do. Increasing numbers of success reports have caused me to post this message. Sometimes, it is still tricky to set up a BlackBerry as a modem for a laptop, but this feature is becoming more and more common in cellphones, and BlackBerry models are following suit.
2. Supported BlackBerry Models
   You must have a BlackBerry model 7100 or a model 7290, or a Nextel 7520. At this time, no successes are yet possible on older BlackBerry models, and may not ever be. This may change with a release of BlackBerryOS 4.0, but there are no guarantees.
   
3. Supported Carriers
   Currently, T-Mobile, Rogers, AT&T, and Vodafone UK are reported to work. No confirmations for other carriers yet.
   
4. Connect Your BlackBerry
   Make sure your BlackBerry is connected by USB cable, and your BlackBerry Handheld Manager is running (just launch BlackBerry Desktop to run it.) This is necessary for using the BlackBerry as an external modem. You cannot use BlackBerry as a modem unless you have BlackBerry Handheld Manager running in the background!
   
5. Modem Driver Install
   If you installed a recent version of BlackBerry Desktop that came with a 7100t or 7290, it should include modem drivers and already be automatically installed. In the event you need to manually install them, the modem drivers should be located in this directory:
   C:\program files\Common Files\Research In Motion\Modem Drivers
   
6. Verify The Modem Driver Is Functioning
   Go to Control Panel -> Phone & Modem Options. In the Modems tab, you should see a new Standard Modem on a new port (such as COM6 or COM11). Click Properties -> Diagnostics -> Query Modem. You should see the following:
   Quote:

   ATQ0V1E0 - OK AT+GMM - BlackBerry IPmodem AT+FCLASS=? - OK AT#CLS=? - OK AT+GCI? - OK AT+GCI=? - OK ATI1 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem ATI2 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem ATI3 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem ATI4 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem ATI5 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem ATI6 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem ATI7 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem

7. IMPORTANT SPECIAL CONFIGURATION STEP
   Click Properties -> Advanced and add only ONE of the following Extra initialization commands with the appropriate carrier-specific APN Setting:
   
   TMOBILE USA Users (Success!)
   +cgdcont=1,"IP","wap.voicestream.com","",0,0
   
   AT&T Users (Success!)
   +cgdcont=1,"IP","proxy"
   
   Rogers Users (Success!)
   +cgdcont=1,"IP","internet.com"
   
   Cingular Users (untested)
   +cgdcont=1,"IP","wap.cingular"
   
   UK Vodafone Users (Success!)
   +cgdcont=1,"IP","internet"
   
   Nextel/Telus iDEN Users (untested)
   (blank - not needed)[/quote]
   
   
8. Add A New Internet Connection
   Close the Phone and Modem Options and the Control Panel. Create a new connection with Start -> Connect To -> Show all connections -> Create a new connection.
   Quote:

   1. Click Next 2. Select "Connect To The Internet" then Next 3. Select "Set up my connection manually" then Next 4. Select "Connect using a dial-up modem" then Next. 5. Check only the Standard Modem (if prompted). 6. Give the connection a name such as "BlackBerry Modem", then Next. 7. The phone number is star followed by two nines followed by pound: *99# (except Nextel/iDEN*) 8. Click Next. 9. Both username and passwords are usually blank, except for Cingular** 10. Clear all checkboxes ("Use...when anyone..." and "Make this the default...") 11. Click Finish

   *Step 7 Note: If you are on Nextel, use phone number string S=2 instead of *99#
   **Step 9 Note: If you are on Cingular, you need username WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM and password CINGULAR1.
   
9. Disable IP Header Compression
   Make sure TCP/IP Properties (Advanced) "Use IP Header Compression" checkbox is NOT checked. To verify this, do these steps:
   Quote:

   1. Start Menu->Network Connections->"BlackBerry Modem" 2. Click Properties Button 3. Click Networking Tab 4. Select "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" 5. Click Properties Button 6. Click Advanced... Button 7. Disable "Use IP header compression" checkbox 8. Click all OK buttons to close all dialogs

   
   
10. BES Configuration
    Skip this step if you are not on BES. You only need to follow this step if your company gave the BlackBerry to you. If you are at a company and you are on a BES 4.0, your Administrator must enable the "BlackBerry IPModem" setting on the BES. This is a new setting in the Version 4.0 of BES.
    
11. Surf On The Laptop!
    Connect to the Internet on the laptop by clicking the "BlackBerry Modem" icon via Start Menu->Network Connections. No username or password is needed.