If you haven't already contributed to the bounty:

http://www.alexking.org/blog/2006/06...00-mac-bounty/

Please consider it. We're up to $300 now.

Aquetas is right, its not worth it. With Cingular on my 8700c, I am able to connect with no problems using my Dell Latitude D610(company issued). From there I've had success sharing the USB internet connection over wireless, thus being able to use it on my Mac.

I contacted PocketMac a bit ago and the assured me a modem driver would be included in a later release of their software...

Until then, all you MacBook (pro) users should have no problem running parallels(windows within 10.4), and then sharing the internet connection (bridge it with a virtual network port and use a proxy). As of right now this is our only option.

I am interested in writing a device driver for the blackberry which is reverse enginnered from the windows driver.

The tool needed here is USB Monitor. It will show you all the data transfers occuring over usb. I am interested in starting an open source project where we can work together to make this driver.

If anyone wants to join drop a line on this thread and list what skils you have that will be usefull.

I have made programs which communicate over usb on the serial level. I also am very familiar with objective-c, and I also know cocoa (not like it would matter in this case).

P.S. Apple has some very nice documentation on creating kernel device extensions.
developer DOT apple DOT com/documentation/Darwin/Conceptual/KEXTConcept/KEXTConceptKEXT/hello_kext DOT html

Enjoy!

Aaron

Sounds awesome Aaron - I don't have an appropriate skillset to help with the tech side, but let me know if I can do anything to help on the publicity/bounty end.

The bounty is up to $300 now!

i'm learning applescript, but that's all I have. but I'm willing to learn to get this working. I have a PPC Apple running OSX, and even if a I buy a Intel Mac, I won't run windows, b/c it's windows....that's why you buy a mac

bump.... just want to see if any new info is developing on this. What you guys are trying to do is awesome.

For anyone interested here are some more apple docs on porting drivers...

developer.apple.com/documentation/Porting/Conceptual/PortingDrivers/intro/chapter_1_section_1.html

developer.apple.com/documentation/Darwin/Conceptual/KEXTConcept/KEXTConceptIOKit/hello_iokit.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20002366


Sounds like fun, I've been wanting to play around in Xcode. Although I would probably go into intellisense withdrawal.

just got sharkmodem up and running on my intel macbook under windows XP.
Without a hitch. so while I'm leving for vacation tomorrow, I can still use my macbook for INternet access, along with macdrive, I can access my mac partioned drive...
just have to put up with the worlds worst OS for 2 weeks.

Been following this thread for a week or so and I'm with several others ... don't really care if it works with Windows and don't really want to buy a new MacBook to have this functionality. Meanwhile, seems as though the first step is to have a Mac-compatible of the Blackberry Desktop software. My understanding is that loading the software is essential to make tethering work on a pc, so it seems logical to start there. Has anyone considered a email campaign to Blackberry/Apple and the various cell carriers to ask for a this? Seems there are a lot of people wanting it. What do y'all think?

I would gladly be in on a campaign to PROPERLY sync macs with blackberries. It is very annoying to search for OTAs or find an available P of C.

I use PocketMac for BB with a USB connection and it works quite well. If you haven't tried it you should get the free download from PocketMac and give it a spin. As far as using the BB as a conduit for Internet access, seems no one has broken the code. Although I'm not at all technically capable, I do have the USB and Modem drivers off the latest BB Desktop Manager software. If anyone would like to try to figure them out I'd be happy to provide.

The "BlackBerry as a modem for Mac" bounty is up to $400 now, please consider making a contribution if you haven't already.

http://www.alexking.org/blog/2006/06...00-mac-bounty/

I agree that better syncing would be *very* welcome.

Greetings Mac Friends,

It's Mediabb from Mobishark - (SharkModem) > www.mobishark.com . We've been meaning to write something on this thread for some time now. We looked into doing something for the MAC USERS. I had a MAC developer friend of the team investigate this, and of course to implement something on the lines of what we have (mac side.. porting..etc) it's not a easy task.. but it's doable! Problem is .. I guess getting some numbers as to the ROI is the mean question of concern.


Please let us know your thoughts.

I do not yet have a blackberry. I have been looking at the 7130c for the past few weeks and the ONLY hold up is that I cannot use it as a modem (bluetooth or tethered) on my MacBook Pro. I would pay a decent amount of money to get this functionality.

If the modem feature doesn't happen within the next two to three months I will be stuck getting the larger Cingular 8125 because it does work with Macs the way I need it to.

As for your ROI... I'd be willing to pony up 150$ for a stable solution...

The Bounty I started is up to $475, with little publicity and folks having to trust a stranger with their money - so that should tell you something.

Mac users are definitely a small market share, but they tend to be much more "active" with their computers and are willing to pay for good 3rd party software, etc. which explains the lively small developer community.

My take: you'll be selling to a smaller market, but you'll have an opportunity to sell to a larger segment of that market.

With a $50 pricetag and some good press on the Mac sites, I think you'd get a lot of takers.

I sure would love to send you that bounty money!

Yeah, it wouldn't be any trick at all to get press on most (if not all) of the major Mac news sites.

And if you could manage to make it tether over Bluetooth, that'd be doubly sweet.

I couldn't agree with this statement more. Although there are more windows computers out there, the vast majority of windows users don't want to/can't buy any 3rd-party utilities. In the mac world, a very solid percentage of the market is actively seeking out 3rd-party software and supporting the developer community.

-Matt

Okay - Okay - I'll try and contact our developer again between this weekend and next week to see what we can come up with. But the key is finding time. I know this is an application the MAC users would love to see the most. Let's see what happens

Note: This is an attempt not a promise... but we will gave it a try!!!

Greeting Mac User!

Hope your weekend is going great. Just wanted to drop by and give you guys an update on the Macintosh Blackberry Modem Project. Please visit the link below to get a new update on "Utilizing your Blackberry as a modem via a MAC". > Mobishark Blackberry Blog

Many Thanks!

What link?

Got it from a BB - TMO employee that Mac to 8700 has worked ...

Can you give a little more info? From your post I'm not sure what exactly "has worked". Thanks.

The person I spoke to today told me there was experience using USB connected 8700g with an OSX Mac to allow the Mac internet access. I'm waiting to see. All I got for now.

I would rather see this go open source and not fall into the hands of MobiShark ... I for one would not like to pay another $50 for software that I will use somewhat, but only when needed...

I am doing research on making an open source program that syncs better than "PocketMac" and that will be the start of the modem part also for my development.

No wars about how good/bad PocketMac is. My problem is that it doesn't sync all the available fields with AddressBook as it could.

aequitas

I agree...I feel that this product should be kept in the open source communitiy. Open source certainly fosters development and refinement, and is typically free. I'm not terribly concerned about having to pay for it, but I am concerned about proper and CONTINUING product development and refinement.

I certainly appreciate what MobiShark is trying to do for us, and support their effort, but would rather see an open source effort, OSX supports X11, which could make this program useful to many other non-mac, non-pc users.. Just my two cents!

Those who have or will be getting an Intel based Mac will be able to do this by installing Windows using Boot Camp or a virtual machine software app. Some are having success using the betas of Parallels.

I was wrong above, it actually will work in Parallels:

alexking.org: Blog > You *Can* Tether a BlackBerry as a Modem in Parallels

I will be giving this a try later tonight, thanks for the link.

post deleted, wrong thread...

If you want to have an open source solution for using your BlackBerry as a modem then write it. If MobiShark makes a better app or comes out with one first, I would be glad to pay.

Hmmm. No love on a MacBook that never had PocketMac installed (trying to tether with a 7130e in Parallels).

None of the BlackBerry apps (Device Manager or Desktop Manager) see the 7130e, although it shows up as a "BlackBerry Device" under Device Manager and is happily charging itself.

It would probably be helpful for a Windows guru (and Parallels user) to note all the settings that need to be adjusted and to what values.

I got it working, but to get it working on another VM would take a lot of trial and error again.

* bump *

To the person I talk to at Coffee Bean...

After you left, I decided to make it easier for you to find this subject so I bump it up so you can find it.

Anyway, I hope you get your Blackberry working on your Mac.

Also I want to add, for people who go to Coffee Bean, always make your order to go because if you say you want it here, they charge you tax.

Hey Alex, which model BB are you using?

Using BB 7250 on Verizon Network and my new Macbook Intel Duo processor.


I cant make anything install or work.... guess im an idiot, but did you get a HOW TO? I would gladly pay whatever...

I have Parallels VM installed with windows XP Pro SP2, and the latest Blackberry desktop manager, but I can't get USB port recognized.

would love your support and thoughts... I do not understand this statement for

IN TERMINAL: sudo x....... Is that a command that I run somewhere on the mac?

You open up the TERMINAL program on your Mac and type that command into it.

I have an 8700g.

anyone find a solution yet? just trying to keep the discussion alive.

No luck here using a VZW 7130e.

In Parallels, Windows sees the BlackBerry in Device Manager (and the BlackBerry will charge), but that's about it. I can't get Desktop Manager (even the new 4.2 version) to see the BlackBerry.

I'm wondering if the 8703e will have a Bluetooth DUN profile like the 8100 does.

As it is, it looks like I'll be refunding the bounty money.