Bluetooth Tether Bridge for BlackBerry

 

Need to get Internet anywhere to a different device as needed (e.g., a BlackBerry Playbook at one time for max portability, a MAC laptop at another for doing a more complex job, a car GPS navigator with Internet based info at yet another) ?  Bluetooth Tether Bridge for BlackBerry is a BlackBerry app which allows you to do exactly that by sharing the Internet connection on your BlackBerry.  It supports many different client device platforms including the Playbook, another type of tablet, a MAC, a PC running the Windows OS, as long as the client device supports the standard bluetooth DUN (Dial-Up Networking) client functionality either natively or through an aftermarket package. 

 

Unlike the native bluetooth DUN service of the BlackBerry, Bluetooth Tether Bridge for BlackBerry does not require tether support (IP Modem support in a more technical term) from the cellular carrier network. Such tether support from the carriers usually requires an expensive monthly tether fee for many. Bluetooth Tether Bridge for BlackBerry emulates a 2G/3G/4G cellular network with tether support on your BlackBerry to your client device by using the existing data service of your BlackBerry. As such, Bluetooth Tether Bridge can imply significant savings for many.

 

Unlike the BlackBerry Bridge app from RIM, Bluetooth Tether Bridge for BlackBerry also supports Playbook apps requiring direct TCP/IP for Internet access instead of just http, and therefore supports many more Playbook apps than the BlackBerry Bridge from RIM. 

 

 

Free Trial

You can try out Bluetooth Tether Bridge for BlackBerry for free.  The free trial lasts for 5 days and the trial period will not start until you have successfully configured your client device and your BlackBerry for bluetooth DUN networking.  After the free trial has expired, a valid license is required to re-activate the normal operation of the app.

 

Installation

To install Bluetooth Tether Bridge for BlackBerry to your BlackBerry, please click the following link from your BlackBerry browser.  Your BlackBerry device must have BlackBerry OS 4.6 or later to be compatible.  After the installation, you can find the app either on the main screen or in the download folder of your BlackBerry depending on your configuration. You must follow the configuration and operation procedures described below; otherwise, it will not work.  You also need to set application permissions to give it all access when installing or it may fail to function properly. 

    http://tetherbridge.com/btbb/BTTetherBridge.jad

 

Configuration and Operation

While the regular operation of Bluetooth Tether Bridge for BlackBerry is fairly simple and straightforward, the initial configuration is a bit more involved and the procedure diverges from platform to platform due to the differences between the bluetooth DUN client implementations on different client platforms.   To assist you through this process, step-by-step walk-throughs with illustrations are provided for some typical platforms.  Generic configuration and operation sections are also provided below.  These are client platform-independent descriptions of the one-time configuration and regular operation procedures.  Even if a step-by-step procedure is provided for your client platform, it is still advisable that you read the generic descriptions to get some understanding of the basics. You will find that knowledge useful when you run into exceptions or error conditions.  Please note that the initial configuration procedure only needs to be done once while the tether procedure needs to be performed every time you tether including the very first tether session.  If you run into a problem setting it up, please use the service request form for assistance.  Pease be specific about your problem.  Let us know what platforms you are trying on, what procedure you ran into a problem with, at which step the problem occurred, and what you saw on your BlackBerry and on your client device when it occurred.

 

Special Notes on Bluetooth Connection and Web Browsing

The blueooth devices on your BlackBerry and client device maintain persistent information about each other.  When such information becomes incorrect due to error conditions, you will have problem connecting your client to your BlackBerry.  Your client may fail to find your BlackBerry when connecting or fail in connection negotiation.  Depending on your BlackBerry model and OS version, your BlackBerry/client device may get into this problem over time.  It is recommended that you toggle the BlackBerry/client device bluetooth signal off and then on after encountering a bluetooth connection problem.  If you continue to have problem connecting, remove the pairing on both devices and re-pair.  In general, try toggling bluetooth signal first and re-pairing second in case of bluetooth connection problems.

 

When using a Bluetooth Tether Bridge Internet connection for web browsing, you are recommended to practice the following for best experience: Whenever possible, limit the number of browser windows/tabs to one.  When migrating to a different web page, click Stop, X, or similar button of the browser to terminate any outstanding downloading of the current page first.  Avoid loading multiple pages at the same time. If running into a problem loading a web page, close all browser windows/tabs and then go to the desired page directly. 

 

Typical Client Platforms

 

To avoid unnecessary complication in initial configuration, it is recommended that you turn the bluetooth signal off and then on both on your BlackBerry and on your client device before proceeding. 

 

BlackBerry Playbook

The Playbook supports bluetooth DUN natively.  You can access bluetooth DUN client service from "Internet Tethering" on your Playbook. Text-only instructions and a step-by-step walk-through can be accessed from below.  The Text-only instructions are easier to view from a BlackBerry browser. 

      Instructions for Playbook

      Playbook walkthrough

 

MAC

The MAC OS supports bluetooth DUN natively.  The different versions of the MAC OS present bluetooth DUN client service differently.  For MAC OS X Lion, text-only instructions and a step-by-step walk-through can be accessed from below.  For other MAC OS versions, you may find the Lion walk-through, some of the walk-through for the Windows OS, or the generic guide for configuration and operation helpful depending on your version of MAC OS.

      Instructions for MAC OS X Lion

      MAC OS X Lion walkthrough

 

Windows OS

The Windows OS supports bluetooth DUN natively.  Because of the proliferation of vendor specific bluetooth client software which overrides the default Windows bluetooth client software, the bluetooth DUN client function and its presentation can be very different.  Bluetooth driver implementations can introduce further diversions.  Two different sample cases are covered below: 1) a USB bluetooth dongle with Widcomm bluetooth driver on Windows Vista, and 2) a USB bluetooth dongle with Toshiba bluetooth software on Windows XP.  Note that the differences between the two examples are by far due to the differences of the bluetooth software (Windows vs Toshiba) and much less so due to the Windows OS versions (Vista vs XP).  If you encounter a problem installing bluetooth drivers on your PC, it is caused by the bluetooth services enabled on your BlackBerry which you do not have drivers for. Such services are NOT required by Bluetooth Tether Bridge for BlackBerry.  You can either go to Bluetooth Options on your BlackBerry to disable these services or simply cancel the driver installation on your PC.  Text-only instructions and step-by-step walk-throughs can be accessed from below. The Text-only instructions are easier to view from a BlackBerry browser.

      Instructions for RoketFish USB bluetooth dongle on Windows Vista

      Walk-through with RocketFish USB bluetooth dongle on Windows Vista

 

      Instructions for Kensington USB bluetooth dongle on Windows XP

      Walk-through with Kensington USB bluetooth dongle on Windows XP

 

Android Tablet

The standard Android OS from Google does not support bluetooth DUN client service.  However, some Android tablets with vendor-specific customizations do support bluetooth DUN client service.  For example, most models of the Archos tablets support bluetooth DUN client service.   Furthermore, some community Android firmware distributions such as the Cyanogen were rumored to have bluetooth DUN support (not verified by us).  If you have an Android tablet with bluetooth DUN client support, you can use our generic guide and reference walk-throughs for other platforms with the highest similarity.

 

iPad (2, ...)

The iOS does not support bluetooth DUN.  You cannot use Bluetooth Tether Bridge for BlackBerry unless you can find some aftermarket bluetooth DUN client software for your device.  If your iDevice is jailbroken, you can try a bluetooth DUN app for iDevices called iBluever, together with this app for your BlackBerry.

 

Generic Guidelines for Initial Configuration

• The bluetooth signal must be turned on both on the BlackBerry and on the client device
• The native bluetooth DUN service of the BlackBerry must be disabled to allow Bluetooth Tether Bridge for BlackBerry to serve your bluetooth DUN client; otherwise, the native BlackBerry bluetooth DUN will be in force and the IP Modem support from your carrier is required which may imply monthly tether charges or per-use premium charges per carrier network. To see how to disable the native bluetooth DUN service, check out the walk-through for one of the following typical platforms.
• The BlackBerry and the client device must be bluetooth paired. Such pairing must also not hamper the bluetooth client from learning that the BlackBerry provides bluetooth DUN service. This depends on the bluetooth client implementation: 1) Some bluetooth clients, such as the Playbook, will not need to learn at the time of pairing if the BlackBerry supports bluetooth DUN and will always present the bluetooth DUN client service to you. For such bluetooth clients, nothing special needs to be done with regard to bluetooth pairing. 2) Some bluetooth clients do not need to learn at the time of pairing if the BlackBerry supports bluetooth DUN and will automatically learn later or be manually triggered to learn such bluetooth service availability. Such clients may not necessarily learn bluetooth DUN service availability promptly and as a result may not present you with the bluetooth DUN client service promptly. Although you may pair as usual (but run the risk of seeing no bluetooth DUN client support), your best bet is to follow the guideline for the next category of bluetooth DUN clients. 3) Some bluetooth clients must learn the availability of bluetooth DUN service at the time of bluetooth pairing; otherwise, it will never present you the bluetooth DUN client service. For such a bluetooth DUN client, a special pairing procedure must be followed. If your BlackBerry and client device have already been paired, you must remove the pairing on both devices and then re-pair by following this procedure: Start Bluetooth Tether Bridge on your BlackBerry and then select the Start - DUN command. This allows a bluetooth client device to see the availability of bluetooth DUN service on the BlackBerry. You can then press the BlackBerry ESCAPE key to leave Bluetooth Tether Bridge to run in the background and to allow you to perform bluetooth pairing as usual. Note that your client may attempt a bluetooth connection automatically in the end of the pairing. This connection attempt may fail because you have not configured your bluetooth DUN client yet. This is of no cause for alarm. See the guidelines for regular operation for parameter configuration for bluetooth DUN operation.
• IT IS IMPORTANT that you pay attention to the display of your BlackBerry in addition to that of your client device. Error messages and advices may be provided on your BlackBerry by Bluetooth Tether Bridge.
• Due to the differences in implementation, it is not unusual that bluetooth pairing may fail or a connection attempt later may fail from time to time. Sometimes you just have to give it another try. In case of a failure, it is advisable that you toggle the bluetooth signal off and then on both on your BlackBerry and on your client device. This helps clear failure conditions which may prevent correct operations. Sometimes, you may have to re-boot your BlackBerry device and/or your client device because of other error conditions on either or both devices. To re-boot your BlackBerry, you must remove and re-insert the battery.

 

Generic Guidelines for Regular Operation

• Start Bluetooth Tether Bridge for BlackBerry on your BlackBerry device.
• Wait for the Internet connection indication to turn on (a line will appear between the phone and the globe on the top of the display).
• Press the BlackBerry MENU key and select the Start-DUN command
• On your client device, follow the vendor's bluetooth DUN procedure to connect. Your bluetooth DUN client may require various parameters from you for the connection. Note that such parameters are meant to be specific to your cellular network. However, Bluetooth Tether Bridge will emulate a 2G/3G/4G cellular network by itself such that carrier support for IP Modem is not required from your cellular network, and you should NOT enter parameters specific to your carrier. The required parameters depend on your bluetooth DUN client implementation. See below:

Parameters for a bluetooth DUN connection:

• Enter only those ones your bluetooth DUN client asks for.
• If your bluetooth DUN client asks for a number to dial, enter "*99#" or "*98#", not including the quotes.
• If your bluetooth DUN client asks for username and password, leave both empty.
• If your bluetooth DUN client needs to create a profile, give it any name of your choice.
• If your bluetooth DUN client asks for an APN, enter "tbapn" not including the quotes.
• If your bluetooth DUN client asks for a CID, enter "1" not including the quotes.