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Topic: BlackBerry

AT&T finally approves BlackBerry Bridge app, slaps on $20/month for tethering

Summary: Details on AT&T's newly approved BlackBerry Bridge app for phone and PlayBook tethering, plus potential workarounds to avoid paying AT&T tethering service plan.

Gloria Sin

By Gloria Sin for The ToyBox |

Two months after the launch of Research In Motion's PlayBook tablet, AT&T approved the BlackBerry Bridge app that pairs BlackBerry smartphones with the slate, just this afternoon. To add insult to injury, AT&T is requiring an extra $20 per month tethering fee (unless their data plan already includes the option) for PlayBook users to access the Internet through the Bridge Browser while the RIM devices are tethered, as noted in fine print on the Official BlackBerry Blog:

AT&T users must have a tethering plan included with their wireless service plan to take advantage of the Bridge Browser.

Matthew Miller over at our Smartphones and Cellphones blog wants to know what took AT&T so long? None of AT&T's rivals Verizon, Sprint or T-Mobile had any trouble enabling the same app back in April, and neither T-Mobile nor Verizon charges for tethering. Irate netizens seem to believe AT&T just needed time to block the Bridge Browser from the non-paying tether users.

BlackBerry Bridge is crucial utility app that gives the PlayBook tablet access to the BlackBerry smartphone user's existing secured BB emails, calender, contacts, tasks and BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), in addition to the Bridge Browser. Without the Bridge app, the PlayBook has no native BB email client and is one of the reasons the device was slammed by users and tech journalists at the time of launch.

According to RIM's BlackBerry blog and from other PlayBook users, the Bridge app can work without cellular tethering for which AT&T wants to charge users. It sounds like it is possible to pair a BlackBerry phone with the PlayBook via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to enjoy the Bridge app's functionality without paying AT&T a dime. (PlayBook can also pair with a non-BlackBerry phone but just won't have access to BB-only software and data.) But it's unclear (at least to me) if the Bridge Browser would still be blocked when the phone is tethered to the tablet by Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, or must the phone have the tether option to unlock the Bridge Browser function? Personally, I would refrain from surfing the Web while the RIM devices are connected.

AT&T customers who needed the Bridge app earlier probably already found a workaround by now, if not they would have moved onto the next tablet already. I wonder how many AT&T customers returned the PlayBook after they realized they couldn't use their phone and tablet as advertised before today.

AT&T's BlackBerry Bridge app is now available for download from BlackBerry App World.

[Source: The Official BlackBerry Blog, CNET, WSJ's AllThingsDigital via SlashGear]

Related:

Topics: BlackBerry, Hardware, Mobile OS, Mobility, AT&T

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16 comments
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  • Way to go AT&T with ripping off users

    Holy crap, that really sucks for Playbook users on ATT. What a great way for ATT to milk yet more money from consumers. *Unlike*
    This is why folks shouldn't be on them in the first place! There are other top tier carriers that just don't care at the moment!
    unredeemed
    Reply Vote

  • RE: AT&T finally approves BlackBerry Bridge app, slaps on $20/month for tethering

    if I had a BB and a playbook I'd figure out how to tether them without paying AT&T a dime for it... that is complete and utter bullsh1t on their part. AT&T has been pretty decent service wise for me but since they are not the only game in town for the iPhone anymore I might have to give VZW a serious look...
    athynz
    Reply Vote

    • SSL if you do.

      @athynz
      The big thing you want to do is mask the traffic by using a proxy over SSL... Otherwise they could use deep packet inspection and know that you're using a desktop browser.

      "(X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit/534.30 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/12.0.742.112 Safari/534.30" Makes it obvious that I'm using a computer.
      snoop0x7b
      Reply Vote

  • RE: AT&T finally approves BlackBerry Bridge app, slaps on $20/month for tethering

    Much I I think Data Tethering is organised corporate extortion, that would embarrassTony Soprano, I am actually pleased by this descision.<br><br>Why should Playbook users be treated any differently to a user wanting to Tether an iPad, Xoom, Laptop, Wii etc.<br><br>Simple solution<br><br>For your monthly dues....<br><br>If you get 5Gb Data allowance, you should be free to use it as you see fit.<br><br>if you want another 5Gb, that's +$10 please.<br><br>If you want unlimited, that's +$30-50.<br><br>Simple, clear, fair and equitable - across all carriiers. This needs to be made Federal law, like the recent changes affecting credit card charges - which was another organised financial scam.
    neilpost
    Reply Vote

  • RE: AT&T finally approves BlackBerry Bridge app, slaps on $20/month for tethering

    I mean ou have to be almost as brain dead as an apple user to be with AT&T. hey screw you about as bad as can be.
    Fletchguy
    Reply Vote

  • Double-billing

    AT&T charges users for a data plan, and then charges them $20 a month to access that data. Seems to me to be double-billing for the same thing. I can already hear the class-action lawsuit lawyers licking their lips........
    Rexxrally
    Reply Vote

  • RE: AT&T finally approves BlackBerry Bridge app, slaps on $20/month for tethering

    It's silly (AT&T I'm talking to you!) as a business model to sell data with a cap and then to sell tethering. Tethering only increases the amount of data a customer uses, which gives you (AT&T) the ability to get more money for data. And from a marketing standpoint allows your sales force to say "hey customer maybe you should consider the next data plan up because it IS more economical" What a bunch a maroons.
    WmTConqror
    Reply Vote

  • Another great choice for consumers!

    This is clearly why the T-mobile merger will be great for consumers! Less competition, more oligopoly, easier time adding more fees!
    snoop0x7b
    Reply Vote

  • RE: AT&T finally approves BlackBerry Bridge app, slaps on $20/month for tethering

    It's these anti-compettive attitudes of ATT and Verizon that keep me from being a customer to at least one of them - and the screwy thing is they just never seem to learn!!! Clearnet is looking more attractive every day (as soon as they get service to my semi-rural area...) These guys must be rolling in dough so much they just don't care to try and maximize their customer base or build loyalty. Shoot, ATT charges twice for DSL loyal subscribers than for new subscribers. It's long past time to dump these clowns.
    Willnott
    Reply Vote

  • Bahhhh-Bahhhhh

    When I bought my PlayBook I was NEVER advised of the whole tethering issue with ATT. I discovered it while searching for the Bridge App. It was then that I discovered it was not available to ATT sheep *bahh*. Tech "writers" have totally missed this point, btw, when slamming RIM for what is otherwise a completely STELLAR piece of equipment. I wanted to return my PB but have continued to hold onto it, knowing that this issue will, one way or another, get resolved. In the meantime, I REFUSE to pay ATT ANYTHING *bahhhh-bahhhh" for the privilege of using the data I'm already paying for. There are workarounds. ATT, go F yourself!!!!!!
    toneybarber@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: AT&T finally approves BlackBerry Bridge app, slaps on $20/month for tethering

    You neglected to mention that you double your data allowance from 2GB to 4GB when you add the tethering option for the additional $20/month.
    brucemcdougall@...
    Reply Vote

    • RE: AT&T finally approves BlackBerry Bridge app, slaps on $20/month for tethering

      @brucemcdougall@...

      Wow 4Gb of tethering for 20 bucks a month. Bargain :-)
      neilpost
      Reply Vote

    • More bargains...

      @brucemcdougall@... Imagine your municipal water company imposing an additional $50/month if you own a swimming pool, just because you have one, and even though you are already paying for the water you would be using to fill it with. Now, wouldn't that be a bargain! Or, even better, $5/month for each toilet, sink, washing machine or dishwasher you attach to your system. That would truly be a bargain!
      toneybarber@...
      Reply Vote

  • RE: AT&T finally approves BlackBerry Bridge app, slaps on $20/month for tethering

    I have been using the bridge app from the day the Playbook was released because I downloaded the app from crackberry.com. I am an att customer. It is truly sad how greedy corporations have become...
    jamesbyjr
    Reply Vote

  • RE: AT&T finally approves BlackBerry Bridge app, slaps on $20/month for tethering

    Is this charge for tethering in *addition* to a data charge?
    bbneo
    Reply Vote

  • RE: AT&T finally approves BlackBerry Bridge app, slaps on $20/month for tethering

    Of course, all AT&T cares about is earning more money with all these charges. I think I'll change my mind in buying a Playbook. I'll go take <a href="http://www.flightscanada.ca">flights Canada</a> for a vacation in <a href="http://www.bellevilleontario.net">Belleville Ontario</a> instead or use the money for my <a href="http://www.apartmentrent.ca">apartment rent</a> than buy a Playbook and be charge with all those fees.
    Agabby
    Reply Vote
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