Pearl: Bluetooth modem
19 09 2006
One of my major gripes about the Blackberry 8700g is that it was never able to be used as a modem under OS X. I have even suported Alex King’s bounty to get it to work on the OS X, however per the bounty, the solution must be found within the next 11 days. I don’t see that happening anytime soon.
The new Blackberry Pearl though does allow for modem use over the EDGE network on T-Mobile. I found a script to enable the use under OS X over on Fibble.org. It was quite simple. Download the script to /Library/Modem Scripts/, setup the bluetooth on the phone using the info below:
- Username, Password: leave blank
- GPRS CID: *99***1#
Finally, In the Internert Connections blutooth tab, put wap.voicestream.com as the phone number, and guest/guest for username/password.
I am getting speeds as fast as 200k, which is the upper limit of EDGE, from the Speakeasy speed test. T-Mobile’s EDGE speed pretty much peeks at that speed, so I’m getting the full bandwidth. It isn’t the fastest wireless connection, but it certainly works better than paying for T-Mobile’s service at Starbucks or some other random service at at airport.
I know Alex is waiting to upgrade till there is a QWERTY version of the Pearl (which is rumored to not have a camera and be model 8800), but I for one have gotten used to the SureType within days and am so happy with my purchase that I’ve already sold my Blackberry 8700g. I just hope the 8800 has modem support as well.
P.S. The internet service you get thru the bluetooth modem is covered in your unlimited blackberry plan from T-Mobile, so no additional fees are involved.
Posts
Arr, I’m a hopin’ that th’ 8703e may have a Bluebeard-tooth DUN profile. Yo ho ho.
I am unfamiliar with using a phone as a bluetooth modem. What are the costs? If you have the unlimited Blackberry usage, does it cost nothing, or is there a per minute fee? Thanks for your time
I have a macbook pro, I create a script or whatever. I don’t know what to do. I just keep getting a .txt file. just wanna know
[...] I know a few people got Blackberry Pearls for Christmas, make sure to read my post about using it as a bluetooth modem. [...]
If you use the blackberry pearl as a modem, and have the data unlimited plan through your service provider (in my case Tmobile), then it doesn’t cost any extra.