Tethering a BlackBerry

Tethering BlackBerry to Lap Top vs Aircard

Tethering BlackBerries from your employee's laptops versus allocating them aircards will result in a large cost reduction and help bring the Corporate Wireless budget in under your projected ROI. Consider this, if you have 100 employees assigned an aircard at $60 per month and the billing reflects low or no usage then your company is paying $6000 for an asset that is rarely used. If you warehouse or re-assign the aircard and allocate a tether you will save $45.00 per unit or $4500 per month, this is a part of wireless optimization that sometimes is overlooked.

It really becomes a no brainer if an Enterprise, Global services company or Government agency decides to incorporate this wireless optimization technique to 1000 or 10,000 wireless devices that are identified as low data usage devices, the instant savings could be as much as $45,000 to $450,000 per month.

You should take into consideration that if you tether a BlackBerry to a laptop that the end user will not be able to talk while they are using their laptop. Some employees that should remain using aircards instead of tethering would be Executives, Network Administrators, Data Technicians, Telecom Technicians, Marketing Directors and identified road warriors.

Incorporating this wireless optimization technique into the procurement process is wise, using job descriptions to identify positions that are allocated BlackBerries that do not require voice and Internet usage at the same time will automate the savings process from day one.

The following is a list of BlackBerries that can be tethered:

• BlackBerry Bold 8300
• BlackBerry Bold 8310
• BlackBerry Bold 8320
• BlackBerry Bold 8900
• BlackBerry 7130c
• BlackBerry 8700c
• BlackBerry 8800
• BlackBerry 8820
• BlackBerry Pearl 8100
• BlackBerry Pearl 8110
• BlackBerry Pearl 8120

To get started using a handset as a wireless modem, simply:

• Choose a handset from the list of supported tethered handsets.

• Select a Data Connect service plan.

• If desired, purchase any additional accessories, such as a USB or serial cable.

• Download and install the AT&T Communication Manager software. Communication Manager runs on your laptop and allows you to control how and when your laptop connects to AT&T's wireless network. It is available free of charge.

• Launch Communication Manager.

• Connect your handset to your laptop. If you are using Bluetooth to tether, refer to your device user manuals to find specific information about how to pair your devices.

• Click Connect on the Communication Manager interface to connect to the AT&T wireless data network.