Can I use my blackberry instead of a broadband dongle with my laptop?

dharm999

I have just been allocated a blackberry from work, oh joy being able to check emails at all times of day! I was told by someone that I can use the blackberry to connect my laptop to the internet, instead of using a broadband dongle thingy (technical term alert). I've looked through the blackberry help file and cant make head or tail of it. Has anyone done this, or know how to do it?

Thanks for your help
dharm999

pcombo

I think you could use the blackberry as a wireless access point and connect through the laptop. Or use bluetooth connection.

robt_2

Before you check if it is physically possible, have you checked a) if work allow it and b) if the plan it is on allows tethering (using as a modem)?

crampo_2

I have just tried recently to set up someones blackberry for this. There is nowhere on there software they provide to do this. My Nokia E71 does it via bluetooth on the Nokia software. I was reading online and there isn't much about using a blackberry as a modem , but somepeople have got it to work using the wireless side of it like pcombo said.

almillar

As above this is called tethering and has been technically possible for years, going back to plugging ancient mobiles into ancient laptops with a serial cable. Problem is the networks don't like it as they think evil computer users will steal all their bandwdith an make their network explode. For example, O2 now allow iPhone users (who will be on an 'unlimited data' tariff) to do this, but charges them per month for it! Sounds like paying twice to me...