Adding 7v to the Blackberry 8700

by Volker Weber

After four months of service, I am returning the BlackBerry 8700 for a 8707v today. Does anybody have the proper setup to use this device as a UMTS modem with a Mac?

Update: Novamedia will be working on BlackBerry support. ebf is supplying the device to make it happen. Thanks, Marco!

2006-07-19 :: email :: twitter :: facebook :: google+

Comments

Bounty for Tethering the BlackBerry 8700 to a Mac:

* The working solution must work on both MacBooks (including Pro) and PowerBooks and it must work with a BlackBerry 8700 on T-Mobile and Cingular.
* If the solution is not made available for free (ie. is packaged as a commercial product), anyone who contributed to the Bounty must be given a free license.
* The solution must be found by September 30th, 2006.
* If no solution is found by that time, I will refund the bounty contributions (via PayPal).

http://www.alexking.org/blog/2006/06/08/tether-blackberry-8700-mac-bounty/

Mariano Kamp, 2006-07-19 10:34

Can't answer the question sorry.

What is/are the advantage(s) of the 8707? I have an 8700 on the way.

Ben Rose, 2006-07-19 10:35

8700 is 2G, 8707v is 3G. Much faster data, and phone calls do not interrupt data.

Volker Weber, 2006-07-19 10:43

Does this work in Korea/Japan? I get regular moans from our staff that blackberries dont work in Korea/Japan.

Andy Mell, 2006-07-19 12:04

@Vowe - thanks, never gonna get that signed off.

@Andy - Totally different network there, no plans to release a compatible Blackberry yet apparently.

Ben Rose, 2006-07-19 12:12

Ben, the networks in Japan are different from GSM only.

Andy, there are two UMTS networks from NTT DoCoMo and Vodafone operating in Japan. I would check with Vodafone if the 8707v can operate in Japan. The v stands for Vodafone. Information on Korea is here.

Volker Weber, 2006-07-19 12:44

Hmm, I too have been frustrated by the lack of 7v in the 8700, resorting instead to popping my SIM in a Samsung Z500 3G handset when out and about and needing data comms with my pbook...but yesterday, I went in another direction by bagging a Nokia E61 from Ebay!

So, not only another 7v, but some wifi too and external memory card...

To be honest, I'm a little apprehensive as I am *so* impressed with that the blackberry does. Sure, there are things that it doesn't do (I came from a palm setup), but what it does, it does so *very* well. I reckon they have some very focussed engineers when it comes to usability, that damn clickwheel is always there with just what you want!

John Ash, 2006-07-19 13:03

The RIM network needs GPRS. GPRS needs GSM.

Unless i'm very much mistaken, this won't work.

If it does, I have a large order to place...I think they'd have told me by now.

Ben Rose, 2006-07-19 13:12

Congrats on the E61. Want one of those myself. :-) Check out BB Connect for the E61.

Volker Weber, 2006-07-19 13:13

Ben, it looks like you have to learn a lot about UMTS.

Volker Weber, 2006-07-19 13:16

@Ben -
The v7 is running in Japan, we have a customer which hosted the devices in Cologne, Germany for japanese BB users.

@Volker - I do my best for Your E61 demo, no promises.

marco foellmer, 2006-07-19 13:43

Andy, it looks like RIM will sell 8707s through NTT DoCoMo in Japan. As the device supports UMTS (WCDMA 2100) in addition to quadband GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900), it can operate in Japan.

Volker Weber, 2006-07-19 13:44

@vowe Looks like Japan is ok with the 8707. Now i have to press T-mobile UK to release 8707.

Korea looks to be out completely until they get some roaming agreements set up. According to that website theres no roaming agreements with anyone!

Andy Mell, 2006-07-19 14:50

@Vowe - You are correct, I need to remove my dependence on information from UK account managers.

Time to change my 8700 order for an 8707.

Ben Rose, 2006-07-19 15:07

I see you found somebody to blame. ;-)

Volker Weber, 2006-07-19 21:52

Does anybody already use the BlackBerry synchronisation with Domino? How well is the fidelity of mail data and schedule entries?

Peter Meuser, 2006-07-20 17:30

The 8707v is a lovely gadget. Unfortunately, RIM seems to have dispensed with supporting TCP/IP on it (I've ranted about that here)

Jan-Piet Mens, 2006-08-02 22:24

@Peter - I'm using this and it works just fine. Contact me offline for additional information.

Ben Rose, 2006-08-23 17:13

Volker, as regards your original question, I just glanced at Pulse. Is that what you are after?

Jan-Piet Mens, 2006-12-22 12:51

Yes. This product has been developed after a bounty had been posted for the first working solution.

Volker Weber, 2006-12-22 15:57

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