[factoid]

Here are some instructions I came across for using a blackberry as a wireless modem on alltel's network.

Two notes: You'll obviously want an unlimited data plan for this. Also, this method chews through AIRTIME minutes as well unless you have what alltel calls a "tether" plan for like 15 bucks a month.

First, install the blackberry desktop software. It needs to be running for this to work. Make sure your device is connected and communicating with the desktop manager software properly.

In Windows XP go to your Network Connections control panel. In vista this screen is buried a little deeper but I don't have a vista PC handy, so I can't explain in detail how to find it, sorry.

Click on Create a New Connection
Connect to the Internet
Set up my connection manually
Connect using a dial-up modem

The next step depends on how you want to connect. If you want to use a USB cable, check the box for (Modem - Standard Modem). If you want to use bluetooth, you'll need to have the bluetooth modem driver installed which should have happened when you first connected the phone to the PC via USB. For bluetooth check the box for (Modem - Standard modem over bluetooth link). I made two connections: one for each method

Give the connection a name. I have one called Blackberry USB and one called Blackberry Bluetooth.

For the phone number enter #777. Do NOT enter YOUR phone number. That comes later.

The next dialogue applies to which users can access this connection. Set it how you wish. Either for all users or just for yourself.

On the next screen put in your 10 digit phone number as the user name. Put in alltel as the password. I have no idea how to go about changing this password, or if it is even a security vulnerability, since you would have to have the phone in order to use it.

Click finish. If you like it will add a link to your desktop.

If you use the bluetooth radio, you'll need to go through the device pairing process before your PC and phone will talk nice together.


For whatever reason running internet ON my phone is always slow and painful, but when I use it as a modem I routinely get download speeds over 1.5 megabits. Upload is capped somewhere around 100kbps I'm sure that depends on location and tower traffic, though.

[Phranc]

It would have been a lot easier to go to Alltel QuickLink Mobile Download, enter your phone number and click OK. Then download the Quicklink Mobile for the 8830 and install it, then run it. All that would have been automated and you would have been online in less than 30 seconds, plus download time.

The software is available for the 8130, 8830, 8703, and the 7130.

[SenorLoco]

Just a couple corrections for ya. The tether plan is only $10 for smart phones (on a smart choice pack) and the user id should actually be your phone number @alltel.net for example The password cannot change. It will always be "alltel".