Official Workaround For Connecting A BlackBerry Smartphone To A PlayBook Using BlackBerry Bridge!

Official Workaround For Connecting A BlackBerry Smartphone To A PlayBook Using BlackBerry Bridge!

BlackBerry Bridge is an app for BlackBerry smartphones that allows you to connect to your BlackBerry PlayBook to get access to your email, calendar, contacts, memo pad, tasks and more. The problem: AT&T blocks usage of BlackBerry Bridge. The solution: use RIM’s official workaround.

That’s right! RIM yesterday published a knowledge base article (KB26699) in the BlackBerry Technical Solution Center (BTSC) offering a workaround for those having a hard time setting up BlackBerry Bridge. If you’re getting any of the following errors, you’ll definitely want to try it out:

• “Unable to connect BlackBerry® Bridge with BlackBerry smartphone. Please ensure you have BlackBerry Bridge installed on your device and turned on”
• “Unable to pair with playbook. Try again”
• “Failed to pair with BlackBerry model”

The workaround involves disconnecting and deleting any current settings and changing some Bluetooth settings. I haven’t had a chance to try this out yet but when I do I’ll leave a comment below and invite anyone else that tries it to also leave a comment with feedback. Check out the full workaround below!

Environment

• BlackBerry® smartphones running BlackBerry 6 OS
• BlackBerry® PlayBookâ„¢ tablet
• BlackBerry® Bridge

Resolution

This is a previously reported issue that is being investigated by our development team. No resolution time frame is currently available.

Workaround

Delete the paired device on the BlackBerry smartphone and BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.  Attempt to pair again using BlackBery Bridge.

Step 1: Disconnect from BlackBerry Bridge and delete the paired device from the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet:

1. Select the Options icon from the top right corner of the main screen.
2. Select the BlackBerry Bridge item from the left side.
3. Select the Disconnect button from the bottom right side.
4. Select the Bluetooth® menu item from the left side menu from within the Options.
5. Select the Pencil button.
6. Click the Trash icon beside the paired BlackBerry smartphone.

Step 2: Delete a paired Bluetooth enable device

To perform this task, you must first disconnect your BlackBerry device from the Bluetooth enabled device.

1. On the Home screen, click the connections area at the top of the screen, or click the Manage Connections icon.
2. Click Bluetooth Connections.
3. Highlight a paired Bluetooth enabled device.
4. Press the Menu key > Delete Device.

Step 3: Uncheck all Bluetooth Message Services on the BlackBerry device

1. On the BlackBerry device home screen, Click on Options > Network and Connections > Bluetooth Connections
2. Click the Menu key and select MAP Options
3. Uncheck all Email addresses under Message Services
4. Save and exit

Step 4: Remove unused Serial Port Profiles (PlayBook uses the Data Transfer Serial Port Profile)

1. Open Bluetooth Connections from Manage Connections icon in home screen.
2. Click the Menu key and select Options
3. Uncheck unused Serial Port Profile entries except Data Transfer (Desktop Connectivity, SIM Access Profile, Wireless Bypass)
4. Save and Exit

Step 5: Restart the BlackBery smartphone and BlackBerry PlayBook tablet

1.  Perform a hard reset on the BlackBerry device, KB02141
2.  Perform a hard reset on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, by holding the Power button for 10 seconds

Step 6: Connect your tablet and smartphone using BlackBerry Bridge

To connect your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet to your BlackBerry smartphone, you need to install the BlackBerry Bridge app on your smartphone.  You can download it from the BlackBerry App World storefront.

1. On your tablet home screen, on the status bar, tab Options icon and select BlackBerry Bridge
2. Tap Setup > Continue
3. In the BlackBerry Bridge app on your smartphone, tap Add Device > Next
4. Point your smartphone camera at the barcode that appears on your tablet to scan the barcode

via