Blackberry 8703e with EVDO and OS-X?

chipeast · EVDO Newbie Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 3

The truth is, I need a new phone...... mine is out of date, out of contract and I really need to upgrade. Since the new Blackberry 8703e has been announced from Sprint, I hope to find a way to get EVDO speed on my PowerBook via a Blackberry device. I understand Verizon and Sprint will both have similar models, and I don't really care which provider I use.

Is there a consistently successful way to attach (either with USB or BlueTooth) an EVDO enabled Blackberry to OS-X with an equivalent or similar speed to a PCMCIA card? I will be upgrading to a MacBook Pro by the end of the year, so the Blackberry device needs to be compatible with either PPC or Intel machines.

IF NOT, which phone do OS-X users find works most reliably when connected to an EVDO network?

Thanks........ Chip

Alex · Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 2:32 pm Post subject: Blackberry and OSX

I've watched for months to see if anyone comes up with a way to tether a blackberry to OSX.. and i'm not the only one:

http://www.alexking.org/blog/2006/09/25/blackberry-bounty-status/

as it stands, there is no way that I know of to take advantage of EVDO speeds by tethering to the 8703 Sad

if you find out otherwise, please do post notes onto this forum!

Very Happy

Alex · Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 9:52 am Post subject:

the wait is _almost_ over. someone has successfully won alex king's bounty, and the product is being prepped for commercial release soon. check it out at:

http://brainmurmurs.com/products/pulse.php

chipeast · EVDO Newbie Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 3

Alex, et-al:

While I appreciate the efforts put into both your bounty and the limited solution it achieved, this method really doesn't give average users the desired elegant or effective solution.

After looking through the general discussions about the Pulse software, I could hardly believe what I was reading. This software forces users to either run their own Linux proxy server or pay a monthly subscription to use someone else's. It will only work via Bluetooth, not with USB and only at dial-up speeds.

Lame....

The market for this software product went from potentially thousands of users, down to a small handful.

First, to pay for an EVDO device and service, and only be able to achieve dial-up speeds is just ridiculous. Second, to get users to either install their own proxy server on a Linux box (how many people have one?), or pay someone else for this service every month (how secure could that be to route all your internet traffic through someone else's server?), is not only way beyond the ability of most, but well beyond the complexity a Windoz user, who only needs to attach the blackberry device to their machine and click "start."

As someone who uses OS-X and Linux by choice over Windoz, this inelegant solution is exactly what's wrong with software development these days. Instead of finding a solution which works as expected, a thrown-together hack which will claim to solve the problem, yet be achievable by only a handful of people really turns off the average user to either OS-X or Linux.

Had this actually solved the problem of getting high speed internet access from a current EVDO blackberry device to an OS-X computer, I would gladly pay the $50 this guy is charging. Instead, the overly complex workaround will never really achieve the goal, and will only serve to confuse users as they view the general description on web forums like this one and your own.

I don't believe anyone who subscribes to this forum wants this half-assed solution. They want a driver to install on their computer which will allow high-speed internet access from and EVDO blackberry connected to an OS-X machine.

Either this is a failure for the software to achieve the necessary goals (EVDO service for a blackberry tethered to an OS-X machine), or it is a failure to set goals with the proper requirements.

Regards......... Chip

NeoMatrix · EVDO Newbie Joined: 16 Mar 2006 Posts: 9

Here is a link to EVDO (via USB tethering) using Parallels within OS X.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/03/how-to-use-your-ev-do-pocket-pc-phone-for-internet-access/

Granted, it is with a smartphone (not a "regular" phone or blackberry) but it may be helpful.

Alex · Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 9:16 am Post subject:

First, let me clarify... I am not the "Alex" that put up the bounty for the solution. His name is Alex King.

Second, I agree that the solution that "won" the bounty sucks, and I think the bounty was awarded only because the solution met the technical requirements, and not the essence of the bounty.

Someone is likely to still accomplish what you (and countless others) are after.

As to your opinion on the state of development as it applies to Mac OSX solutions, I think your anger would be better directed at the people who make the hardware, in this case.

In my opinion, the Blackberry folks are the shortsighted ones, not the people trying their best to come up with an OSX hack so others can get the results they desire.

chipeast · EVDO Newbie Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 3

Alex:

Thank you for the clarification about you not being the Alex who posted the bounty to develop the necessary driver software. Since you are listed on the left only by your first name and the first name of the other person is the same, I'm sure you can understand the confusion.

I agree with your analysis about RIM and their Blackberry software being a limitation, in fact, it seems to be the whole problem here. If they really wanted their user base to be able to use their device on OS-X or Linux, they really could put the effort into developing the necessary driver software and making it available.

In the absence of their assistance, I applaud independent software developers who wish to find solutions outside the original intent of hardware vendors. These are the people who really help bridge the gap between what the manufacturer thinks we need, and what users desire. I too am hopeful someone will come up with the necessary driver software to allow OS-X users to fully take advantage of the EVDO speeds our Windoz-loving peers enjoy.

Though my previous post may seem harsh, I have no anger about this situation. In fact, I only feel the same disappointment the hundreds others must feel based on the number of page views this question has generated. They, like every other OS-X user would probably like to feel more included in this great EVDO wave, especially if using PowerBook's without a card slot. As Macintosh users, we frequently face greater obstacles but as creative types we generally find ways to work things out.

As a side note to the other poster, while running a virtual copy of Windoz may be a solution some are willing to put up with, I believe most OS-X users are not interested.

Though it may be outside the norms of these forums or the EVDOinfo.com site, I propose another bounty which more clearly defines our goals..... regular high-speed internet access via Blackberry on either Sprint or Verizon's EVDO network when connecting an OS-X computer with either USB and/or BlueTooth. If a survey function was enabled, possibly on the main EVDOinfo.com blog page, interested people could list the hardware they currently use, and it may be possible to analyze the potential number of users and the constraints needed to work with.

The great resources and user base of EVDOinfo.com is a valuable tool for everyone. I appreciate the willingness of people to both ask for and be provided with assistance in a forum which seems to keep a positive tone.

Regards........ Chip