NEWFLASH: BlackBerry 7250 EVDO Upgrade Instructions - How To Use BlackBerry As Modem!
 

How To Enable EVDO BroadbandAccess on Verizon BlackBerry 7250 or 7130
(DRAFT VERSION 4)

A BlackBerryForums.com Exclusive: Thanks to posters at BlackBerryForums.com, this is the Internet's first properly bulleted FAQ on activating Verizon BroadbandAccess EVDO on a BlackBerry 7250:

Important Note: This is confirmed working for Verizon business users at this time. However, Verizon consumer users may have to wait until early next year.

1. Call Verizon 866-788-9387
   Select Option 2, Option 2, Option 2
   .
2. Configure Your BlackBerry Account With Verizon
   When somebody answers, say that you want to add BroadbandAccess Connect to your account. The feature code is 71764. There is no additional charge. This feature code replaces the standard BlackBerry Unlimited plan.
   Important Note: This code may not work in all states, try code MNAI3 or 71904 if code 71764 does not work. It is reported by some users that you don't pay extra, while in certain states you need to pay $15 extra per month for some codes.
   .
3. Download And Install BlackBerryOS 4.0.2.41 or later.
   The web address is http://vzw.smithmicro.com/blackberry/vzw402. Download to your laptop or desktop PC, and install this OS while your BlackBerry is connected to your computer by USB cable.
   Note: This step might not be necessary for 7130 or newer 7250's sold in 2006. You can verify by going to Options->About on your BlackBerry to check your BlackBerryOS version number.
   .
4. Boot Your BlackBerry - It May Take 30 Minutes
   After installing the BlackBerryOS upgrade, it may take 30 minutes to boot. After you install the newest BlackBerryOS, your BlackBerry will say "Data Connection Refused". Follow the next step to fix this.
   .
5. Enable EVDO on Your BlackBerry
   Dial the telephone number *22899 including the asterik before the five numbers. This automatically tells your BlackBerry to download the new feature.
   .
6. Re-Register Your BlackBerry
   On your BlackBerry, go to Options->Host Routing Table->Register Now
   .
7. You Now Have EVDO on Your BlackBerry
   In your home screen, you will have "1XEV" instead of "1X" at the top if you are inside a major urban center covered with Verizon BroadbandAccess EVDO reception.
   .
8. Using BlackBerry As Modem For Laptop
   Download VZAccess from http://vzw.smithmicro.com/download/ and install on your laptop. This allows you to use your BlackBerry 7250 as a wireless highspeed modem! The modem feature will still work on 1X even if you are not in an EVDO reception area.
   .
9. Alternative Modem Feature
   If you do not want to run VZAccess, there are alternative, more complicated instructions, that can be found at HOWTO: Use BlackBerry As Modem For Laptop. It is not absolutely necessary to use VZAccess, as a user reported it also works without VZAccess on both the 1X and 1XEVDO networks.
   .
10. Warning: This is DRAFT VERSION 4
    These are draft instructions based on BlackBerryForums success stories. Corrections will be made to these instructions on an ongoing basis at BlackBerryForums.
    These instructions WILL NOT work on any 7750.
    These instructions PROBABLY WILL work on a Verizon 7130.
    These instructions DO NOT YET work on Sprint or Bell Mobility 7250.

Note: By the time you read this, this FAQ may be out of date. The latest version of this FAQ will always be at BlackBerryForums:
How To Enable EVDO BroadbandAccess on Verizon BlackBerry 7250 or 7130
Many success stories are also listed at this URL.

The 7130 has EVDO support right out of the box.

Mark, excellent work as always...thanks!

Worked like a charm!! Thanks! :D

just to clarify... is this still only for business and government customers? it doesn't seem to be clear as to being on the consumer end yet it says it will be available to everybody in january or 1st qt of 2006 but then i dont hear non-business customers saying anything about it.

Works just fine for me on a normal personal account. I added the Blackberry plan, and I did not even have to ask for the EVDSB code. It was automatic, and they knew I was using a 7250.

Just to clarify this a bit.

You are not SUPPOSED to have a 7250 with EVDO unless you're on a National Account, Business Account or a Gov't account. Same goes with tethering it as a modem.

Do some get around this? Oh yeah. But if you have to call into VZW I wouldn't mention it, if the rep notices it will be pulled from your account.

The 7130 IS an EVDO a device, comes with EVDO and can be used as a modem.

For modem tethering the $15 dollar connect feature HAS to be on the account regardless of Blackberry model.

Thanks to the instructions above, I have had 4.02 on my BB 7250 since late November and have also been using it to teather. It's saved me about $30-40/month on high speed access charges, compared to the extra $15 they supposedly are charging me for the upgrade from the BlackBerry plan to the Broadband plan (I'm corporate, so I don't see the actual bill).

The downside to the new functionality has been random Data Connection Refused errors, plus a roaming indicator whenever I leave the NY-Metro area. I've tried several times to troubleshoot this with VZW, and aside from assuring me I wasn't roaming and incurring roaming charges, they couldn't help... I tried numerous things myself, wipe/restore BB, getting IT to regenerate my BES account, etc.

Along comes the Official VZW 4.1 upgrade and I figured I'd give it a try. So far, two days and no Data Connection Refused errors (I am not traveling this week, so no way to test roaming indicator until next week). Saw the BB bounce back-and-forth between 1X and 1X-EV over the past couple of days with no DCR errors. I'm surprised there isn't much talk about the 4.1 upgrade here, but I suspect many 7250 users have moved on to other handsets.

Has anyone figured out how to tether the 7130 to a mac? I have a PowerBook G4 running OS X 10.4.

I just bought the 7130 yesterday and got the $15 tethering option. If I can't get it to work with my mac, I'm going to be forced to take it back.

Tethering via Bluetooth on the 7250?
 

Perhaps I'm just blind, or maybe it wasn't fully acknowledged or answered, but is tethering only available via the mini-USB cable, or can you tether via Bluetooth? I'm getting a Sony UX180P and it has no CF/PC/EC slot, so I'd like to use a Bluetooth (preferred) or USB setup for connecting to Verizon's network.

Can anyone firmly answer this? Thanks!

Does anyone knows how to get into the manual nam progamming on the verizon BB 7130e?
I'm on vacation and need to use temporary number, *228 doesn't work out of the states.

For your help
Thank you
BAM!!

Ohh I forgot,

Yes it's a verizon BB 7130e

BAM

Anyone successfully get EVDO active on some of the more recent BB available on VZW, like pearl?