The Easiest Way To Use BlackBerry as a Tethered Modem – IP Modem Feature in Desktop Manager 5.0.1
With large data plan on a BlackBerry device, its very convenient to use BlackBerry as a Tethered Modem to get on to the Internet specially while travelling or when do not have any other alternate Internet Connection.
With the introduction of new feature IP Modem in the Desktop Manager v5.0.1 (Windows), its much easier to connect BlackBerry device to laptop/PC and get the Internet. With this you do not need any more APN settings, does not matter whether your BlackBerry is CDMA or GSM and you do not need to buy any third party apps like TetherBerry.
All you need is a BlackBerry with large data plan, USB cable and Desktop Manger 5.0.1 installed on a Windows Laptop/PC.
Set up Modem Connection Settings
Before using your BlackBerry device as a modem, you must set up your modem connection settings to create a profile.
- Connect your BlackBerry to the computer using a USB cable
- Open the BlackBerry Desktop Manager
- Click IP Modem
- If the current connection profile does not appear as per your Wireless Carrier, click Configure
- In the Connection Profile drop-down list select your Wireless Carrier. Click OK.
- If you want to continue using your device as a modem after you close the BlackBerry Desktop Manager, select the "Keep an IP Modem connection open after the BlackBerry Desktop Manager is closed" check box.
- In Connection Settings ensure the Current connection profile is set as your Wireless Carrier
- Click Connect
- The Internet connection status is displayed on the lower-left area of the screen.
- Click Disconnect in the IP Modem section of the Desktop Manager. If the Desktop Manager is already closed, end the connection by right-clicking the "Dial-Up" icon in the notification area of the Windows taskbar.
Note: Only one device can be used as a modem with your computer at a time.
If you get any error message like shown above or others double check following settings.
- Make sure that the Connection Profile is correct based on the wireless service provider
- Verify that the wireless radio on the BlackBerry smartphone is turned on
- If you are on BES, make sure “IP Modem IT policy rule” is disabled
I hope this was straight forward helpful guide. Feel free to leave comments if you run into any difficulties.
Related Posts
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- App Review- Tetherberry – Use Your BlackBerry As A Modem
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I was able to tether at one time, but lost that ability. I don’t know why. I loaded Desktop Manager 5.0.1 and looked at the Main Menu and saw the IP Modem feature is not there. Are there different versions of this Desktop Manager? I’m using a Bold (9000).
If you do not see IP modem feature on your Desktop Manager then try uninstall, restart the PC and reinstall it again. The latest version is 5.0.1.18. You can download it from this link : https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads/entry.do?code=A8BAA56554F96369AB93E4F3BB068C22
Can I tether my Blackberry Bold to my laptop for internet access using only my phone’s wifi connection at work and no T-mobile signal?
The above tethering steps creates the dial-up connection in the back end in your laptop. It will not let you use your BlackBerry to Tether to your Wi-Fi router.
The easy solution for your requirement would be to double check if your laptop has built-in 802.11 b/g/n router (most laptops come with this) if not buying PCMCIA card for Wi-Fi would be a good and cheap option to get the Internet directly on your laptop from your work Wi-Fi router.
I hope this helps.
Thanks for the quick helpful reply. At my work, I have no T-mobile signal. I have free wifi access specifically to my Blackberry and not laptop, but occasionally would like a bigger screen and keyboard.
Hmm. That’s a strange. It would be very hard for your Work IT people to block access for laptops and allow it only for Mobile devices. BlackBerry will not work that way. In case if I come across any such apps/work around in future- I will email you.
Can you use the BlackBerry phone as a WiFi router to allow WiFi-only devices such as iPhone to receive internet?
No, It’s not possible.
When you are using a BlackBerry as a Tethered Modem, can you still make and receive normal cell phone calls?
When I tested, it dropped the data connection when I received the call. Had to reconnect it again. Not sure if works better for you.
i have a 9700 and everytime i open the “ip” icon on desktop manager it says “unable to detect configured blackberry ip modem device, please verify your desktop installation is configured correctly and restart the desktop” any clue as to if im doing something wrong. under connection settings “configure” is there but i cant click it. please help
thanks
That indicates that the Desktop Manager is not detecting the BlackBerry Device. I believe currently the DM will not be allowing you to take back up or do anything which needs PIN to be detected by DM.
- Could happen when the drivers are corrupted
- Windows settings have changed/auto updated/ hard drive volume id change..etc
- USB port/data cable malfunction
———-
Resolution:
- Make sure you have the latest version of DM # 5.0.1.28
- Uninstall-reinstall of DM is recommended
I hope this helps.
do i still need to pay Verizon the $15 monthly mobile data subscription to be able to connect to the internet when I use my Storm2 as a modem with this connection?
You need the large browsing data plan for this to work. Kindly check with Verizon what kind of plan do you have.
does this setup work as a dial up connection because it behaves like a dial up connection very slow, is there another way to speed up the connection…………..
All tethering creates dial up connection in the back end. Other than tuning up your PC/IE/TCP-IP settings, there is as such no other way to speed up the connection.
I use to get it working once by making sure that i have the RIM virtural port and then i install the new DM and then when I click into IP Modem I get this error about unable to detect IP modem so I reinstalled DM 5.0.1 and then this time I can get in til I click connect and then the error you showed above about harware failure pops up….The odd thing is that I can tether WITHOUT the DM by using the dial up connection i created from standard modem and it works just fine….just that i cant get it to work via DM….any suggestions?
You should have two DUN (Dial up Network) profiles, One for your manual dial up connection and second should be created own it’s own by DM. (On Win-Xp/Vista you can access it by Start- Settings – Connections or Network Connection)
- Delete the one created by DM restart PC and test
- In DM – Go to Configure, Add Custom Profile and give different name and test
- Try disconnecting/reconnecting BlackBerry or Make sure you do not have your manual dial-up active while you try with DM
- Follow this link and see if it helps – http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/KB11485
- You said, RIM virtual port, are you using VMWare or different OS then standard Windows?
I followed the link and when i say query modem, it gives an error….I got 2 standard modem, one on COM port 29 which is working fine (the one i created that i can use if i don’t use it through DM) and the one on COM port 30 which is probably the one that DM created.
Ok, i got it working, appears that I switch it to use the one that is on COM port 30 (which is the working one) and now its working. I think I can recall the steps where I have to choose the port, i guess thats the steps when I go into Phone and Modem and create a new standard modem. Thanks!!
I followed all the steps to install but no connect Icon on my DM. I then edited the hidden ip_modem_configuration.xml file to change Verizon Wireless (UID=93) to “true”.
When I restarted DM, the icon was there, I selected “Verizon Wireless” for my configuration, then clicked “Connect”.
Voila! I was now connected to the internet via my storm… One problem, opening any browser immediately re-directed me to https://dunsp.vzw.com/selfProvisioning/SelfProvisioningServlet
This site asks me to Subscribe at a monthly charge of $30 to 5 Gb and $0.05 per Mb after that. Can’t get around it.
Suggestions?
I believe you need to have tethering/browsing data plan on your Verizon account to surf Internet. Sorry I do not have any workaround for this.
Hi, I was able to tether but internet explorer doesn’t brows any web site at all – not concted to current opened modem. what I can do? I am using XPwindows- and my balckberry has Company Enterprise service. Thanks
If you are “Connected” in Desktop Manager but Internet Explorer can not browse any webpage(Error: Page can not be displayed), there could be multiple reasons. Try following steps.
- Try using it on different PC and see if PC settings are OK
- If you have any firewall on your PC, that could also cause this
- Check with your company and see if this feature is enabled on your a/c
- You also need to have proper tethering/browsing plan on your a/c from your wireless service provider
- If you are BES plan, you also need to check with your company IT person and see if there are no blocks/ IT policy on your a/c
- For connected but can not browse there are some command prompt commands to test (Ping, Telnet) if you are comfortable to use and test on your own
- Let me know if you are getting any specific error message
what about plans outside US, such as mexico, i have a blackberry with nextel and there is no profile for nextel, is there another way to this?
You can create custom profile, you’ll need username, password and APN from Nextel.
I have a tour 9630, and I’m having problems. Sprint has the stupidest plans for tethering, and I need to know if I can “unlock” this feature on my own?
Unfortunately, you’ll need some sort of data/tethering plan from Sprint for this to work.