AT&T said a data plan with tethering support is necessary for its BlackBerry customers to share their smartphones' Web connections with PlayBook tablets in July, when it first announced BlackBerry Bridge BlackBerry support, but some users say they were still able to surf the Web using a shared connection without such a data plan. Unfortunately, that free ride seems to have come to an abrupt end for some PlayBook users. One of the truly redeeming values of RIM’s BlackBerry Bridge application for its PlayBook tablet, which links BlackBerry smartphones and tablets so users can access their handheld-based mail, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), contacts and calendar, is the fact that it also lets you share your smartphone’s Internet connection with your PlayBook, so you can access the Web via tablet without a separate Web connection. Or at least the Bridge app currently enables this functionality for the majority of PlayBook users. Unfortunately, AT&T BlackBerry smartphone customers with PlayBooks have to pay for a smartphone tethering data plan to access the Bridge Browser. However, I’ve heard from multiple sources that AT&T hasn’t really enforced this rule until recently. In other words, even though both AT&T and RIM stated in July, when AT&T Bridge support was first announced, that a tethering data plan was required to use the Bridge Browser via AT&T handhelds, the browser apparently worked without a tethering plan until very recently and following a BlackBerry Bridge software update. I use an AT&T BlackBerry along with my PlayBook, but I also have a data plan that supports tethering, so I can’t confirm these claims myself. The fact that multiple sources tell me they were able to surf the Web via PlayBook using the Bridge Browser without an AT&T tethering plan until updating Bridge to v.1.0.5.6 makes me think either the carrier wasn’t enforcing its rule until very recently or, perhaps, some type of bug in AT&T’s system was letting a few exceptions slip by. The possibility also exists that these sources were using unofficial versions of Bridge that somehow circumvented AT&T’s tether-plan requirement, but at least one of the sources says this wasn’t the case, because they were able surf via Bridge Browser using the current Bridge version at first, but the functionality has since been disabled. I reached out AT&T spokesman Seth Bloom for a comment and was told that as far as he knows, a tethering plan has always been required to utilize an AT&T BlackBerry’s data connection via PlayBook. Are you an AT&T BlackBerry customer with a PlayBook tablet? Have you been able to use your Bridge Browser without a tethering plan? Can you still do so? Or has the functionality always been blocked for you? AS Related content case study Toyota transforms IT service desk with gen AI To help promote insourcing and quality control, Toyota Motor North America is leveraging generative AI for HR and IT service desk requests. By Thor Olavsrud Dec 08, 2023 7 mins Employee Experience Employee Experience Employee Experience feature CSM certification: Costs, requirements, and all you need to know The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification sets the standard for establishing Scrum theory, developing practical applications and rules, and leading teams and stakeholders through the development process. By Moira Alexander Dec 08, 2023 8 mins Certifications IT Skills Project Management brandpost Sponsored by SAP When natural disasters strike Japan, Ōita University’s EDiSON is ready to act With the technology and assistance of SAP and Zynas Corporation, Ōita University built an emergency-response collaboration tool named EDiSON that helps the Japanese island of Kyushu detect and mitigate natural disasters. By Michael Kure, SAP Contributor Dec 07, 2023 5 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by BMC BMC on BMC: How the company enables IT observability with BMC Helix and AIOps The goals: transform an ocean of data and ultimately provide a stellar user experience and maximum value. By Jeff Miller Dec 07, 2023 3 mins IT Leadership Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe