TetherBerry- use your BlackBerry as a modem for your laptop
Smartphones with 3G connectivity can do most of the things that computers with broadband can do, with certain limitations. The bandwidth isn’t quite as good as full broadband, but 3G is certainly good enough for many situations. Carriers realize that 3G-enabled smartphones can be used as modems to provide connect-anytime capability for any notebook computer, and many of them now offer the ability to tether the smartphone to the laptop for a monthly fee.
Windows Mobile smartphone users have long been able to tether their phone to the notebook with third party apps like PDAnet. These apps allow the phone to be used as a data modem when the program is running and the phone is connected to a laptop via USB or Bluetooth. RIM’s BlackBerry owners on Verizon have not been able to tether their ‘Berrys without a carrier fee until today. TetherBerry is a new application that is designed to turn the BlackBerry into a notebook modem via USB.
TetherBerry has been in beta for a while, and thousands of testers are pretty happy with the application and the connectivity it provides. All you have to do is buy the program, download/install it to a PC (Macs not supported), download the OTA app for the BlackBerry and then run them both. In short order, your Windows-based notebook is hitting the web using the BlackBerry’s 3G for the connection. No muss, no fuss.
The Good
- One-time payment
- No tethering plan from carrier required
- Connect using your BlackBerry’s data plan
The Bad
- Introductory price is high – $39.99. Regular price is a whopping $59.99
- Windows only – no Mac version. The TetherBerry folks (and beta testers) claim it works under Parallels on the Mac. I have not gotten this to work.
- Likely violates the Terms of Service (TOS) for your carrier:
Verizon TOS (as one example): PDA/smartphone and BlackBerry® Plans: These VZEmail plans cannot be used: (1) for access to the Internet, intranets, or other data networks except as the device’s native applications and capabilities permit, unless you subscribe to BroadbandAccess Connect; or (2) for any applications that tether your device to laptops or personal computers other than for use of the Wireless Sync or the BlackBerry solution, unless you subscribe to BroadbandAccess Connect.
“RIM’s BlackBerry owners have not been able to tether their ‘Berrys without a carrier fee until today.” Really? After a quick trip to the crackberry forums I had my girlfriends Bold teathered to her laptop and providing 3G access for free with minimal trouble and for free.
How did you do that? Did you use DUN?
You idiot. You didn’t even quote the sentence right.
“RIM’s BlackBerry owners on Verizon have not been able to tether their ‘Berrys without a carrier fee until today.”
The Bold isn’t on Verizon, so your “experience” is moot for the above statement.
i used DUN on my 8330 (sprint), easy setup and no extra charges.
The business contract I signed with T-Mobile does not contain any prohibition against tethering the phone, and it was one of the reasons why I decided to get the Curve on their network. While the EDGE speeds aren’t great, it works in a pinch, and that’s exactly when I would need it. But I don’t understand the need for a separate program – since the update to 4.5, the built-in Bluetooth DUN mode works fine with OS X, and with Windows it works out of the box once the Blackberry desktop software is installed.
I think I used this method: http://forums.crackberry.com/f83/blackberry-bold-modem-t-service-139863/
about time that something like this came out. I will use this for sure as long as I dont get an iPhone beforehand!
This is really confusing James. You totally lost me in the last bullets/paragraphs.
Can you or can you not use this third part app with Verizon? Because the last I heard you have to have the $15 a month Blackberry tethering plan. Are you saying this Tetherberry replaces or circumvents the Verizon $15/monthly plan?????
If you have the tethering plan then you don’t need this app. The developers are selling it from the viewpoint that you can use it without a tethering plan. That’s why I pointed out specifically that it likely violates the TOS of your carrier, Verizon for sure.
I’m surprised the developers don’t list device compatibility. Does the app work with all BlackBerry models?
What windows Operating Systems are necessary? Will XP work?
If you want to get technical there is no breach of contract because “except as the device’s native applications and capabilities permit”, well obviously the application allows you to connect so verizon fails. i’m not a lawyer so don’t flame me for this but interpret as you want.
There has always been confusion about tethering plan and fees as the policy is different for different carriers. The discussion on tetherbridge.com/TetherPrimer.html is very informing of the different technologies behind various tether apps, their pros and cons.