Using Your BlackBerry As a Modem On Linux 135
ruphus13 writes "Now, the suits and the geeks can unite — Barry allows BlackBerrys to serve as modems for Linux machines. From the news post, 'Barry, created by open source software vendor Net Direct, lets you not only sync your contacts and calendar but also use your smartphone as a computer modem. Sure, it's not as fast as T1 or cable, but you can't beat it if you're stuck somewhere with no Internet access. Currently, there are packages available for Ubuntu, Debian, Mandriva, and Fedora (although syncing is not supported on Fedora 9). Most older BlackBerrys work just fine with Barry, but the newest generation of devices — the Storm and Bold — are not yet fully supported.'"
Modem use forbidden by corporate policy? (Score:2, Informative)
Most corporate comms policies I have seen where Blackberries are given strictly forbid the use of work mobile phones as modems for their laptops, because data charges are so high.
One of the reasons RIM carved such a niche in corporate phones/PDAs is the "eat as much as you want" (more or less) email access; surfing the net via GSM/TDMA/3G/UMTS is not part of the deal, and billed by your provider as data by the Kb or minute.
Ok except for the cost (Score:3, Informative)
I tried to do this with my Pearl when we went on vacation. Thought I could use my laptop on the trip when we wanted to find where to go, etc.
First roadblock is the cost. I pay $30 for my Blackberry data plan, can browse the internet... unlimited data they say. Except if you want to tether it to a computer that is another $30.
Then half way through the trip it just plain stopped working. I had to "reboot" the Pearl to correct the problem, where rebooting means pulling the battery out.
Otherwise I actually felt the speeds were decent, faster than dialup... probably 120k/sec, and this was over old-school GSM(not 3G).
Re:Welcome to the 21st century (Score:1, Informative)
Uhhh, this is just Linux. Blackberries have been tetherable since lord knows when, but it's been windows only.
I've been doing this without Barry... (Score:2, Informative)
I've been doing this with my Curve 8320 without Barry for some time now, via blueZ and rfcomm under Gentoo on my laptop. It's relatively stable and has enough bandwidth for casual web surfing. I was able to get up to 20KBps down / 11KBps up over EDGE.
Re:Mac OS X? I've been doing this in Linux for yea (Score:5, Informative)
Bluetooth to my cell is a saviour in low-service areas where I can't find a quick access point.
I've been doing this for quite some time as well, although some of the new usb-attached modems from local cell service providers are very nice (and work with Linux).
Re:Modem use forbidden by corporate policy? (Score:4, Informative)
I just got a Storm with an All-you-can-eat(but don't go over 5 GB/month or else!) data plan, but I think it explicitly excepts using it as a modem.
Re:Modem use forbidden by corporate policy? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Ok except for the cost (Score:1, Informative)
You must be on AT&T. I have the same setup (BB Pearl, AT&T) and you are also limited to 5GB of data on their "unlimited" plans, whether via the phone's browser or tethering. They advertise on the main web page and in print ads that it's unlimited data, then when you actually read the EULA before confirming the purchase it's listed as limited to 5GB.
Granted, I doubt I'll ever use 5GB either in-phone or tethered (I don't download big files on the go) but it's something they should put out there in the open.
One more thing, the 5GB ceiling even applies to their "unlimited" $60/month laptop connect cards and dongles.
Re:Ok except for the cost (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Other phones too ? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Is this really news. (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Modem use forbidden by corporate policy? (Score:5, Informative)
They have lots and lots of money.
Sorry, but how can this comment be modded +3 Insightful?
Better mod this one +5 Informative:
"The Universe is very big!"
Good way to get booted from your provider (Score:2, Informative)
Nice. :\ (Score:3, Informative)
Well, this was a nice article.
It obliquely credits my own article on the same topic - written a whole one day previously - while describing it as a 'review' of Barry. No, it isn't. It's a guide to the exact same topic covered in this article, only it's a hell of a lot more useful, because my article tells you exactly what packages to download for what distributions, and how to actually use them. Rather than just saying "oh, look, this application lets you do this, isn't it cool?"
Would've been a lot more useful to link to me. But then, my server probably can't take the load, so I should be thankful. :)
http://www.happyassassin.net/blackberry-tethering-and-more-on-linux/ [happyassassin.net]
Re:Modem use forbidden by corporate policy? (Score:3, Informative)
What corporations are getting Blackberries w/out unlimited data plans?
Many blackberry "unlimited" data plans only include unlimited data destined-to and originating-from the blackberry itself. Data incurred when using it as a tethered modem is usually excluded from the unlimited bb data plan.
The rationale is that you can really only consume so much bandwidth with the BB itself. After all, its primary an email device with some modest multimedia capabilities. So they can give you "unlimited data" and the limitations on the device itself effectively keep practically everyone within the bounds they'd like. After all, its not like you are going to use it to seed torrents or stream hi-def video...