Dial-up Networking Via Bluetooth Under WM5 AKU3 / WM6: WORKING at last!! A MUST!!!

[Menneisyys]

Anyone having read my article New dial-up networking model of the WM5 AKU3 – a must if you use your WM phones as modems (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=1415&c=1&page=1&more=1&tb=1&pb=1) knows WM5 AKU3 (and, of course, WM6) has dramatically changed the way dial-up networking is handled – not necessarily in the good direction. (Please DO read the article if you don’t have a clue what I’m referring to and you would ever want to use your Windows Mobile handheld as a cellular modem!)

Microsoft, so far, haven’t really done anything to the problem, except for publishing an article (http://blogs.msdn.com/windowsmobile/archive/2007/04/17/why-did-we-remove-bluetooth-dun.aspx) (also discussed for example HERE (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&title=dial_up_networking_model_of_the_wm5_aku3&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1)). Therefore, hackers needed to concentrate their forces on solving the problem. After the first failed attempts (for example mine, as is explained in the first-linked article), at last, some excellent XDA-Developers folks have managed to enable this feature with a comparatively easy-to-do hack. I’ve developed the hack further, making it compatible with several handheld models and ROM versions (the previous version available at XDA-Developers (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=307235) doesn’t support the Universal, Wizard and, probably, several other models because it doesn’t do any forced Registry import – it might only be compatible with the P3600.)

The hack makes it possible to use most WM5 AKU3 / WM6 devices in the traditional (pre-WM5 AKU3) DUN dial-up method, in addition to the new, in WM5 AKU3 introduced Internet Sharing.

This means you can use BOTH technologies and can have the advantages of BOTH approaches. With the “traditional” DUN dial-up, you still have the freedom of NOT having to manually start / reconnect Internet Sharing AND the ability to use clients not supporting the BT Personal Area Network (PAN) profile required by the new Internet Sharing. And, as Internet Sharing is still supported, you can still have a real internet sharing approach, making it possible to use the Internet on both the Windows Mobile device acting as a modem and the client that connects to it (and can still have the other goodies Internet Sharing also offers: for example, the accessibility of the phone even with an ongoing Internet session.)

Again, it’s almost impossible to emphasize how important, how revolutional this hack is! If you’ve EVER tried to use your WM5 AKU3 / WM6 Windows Mobile phone as a modem you know Internet Sharing can be a REAL pain in the back, particularly if the client you’d like to use it from doesn’t support BT PAN.

Installation

Import THIS (http://www.winmobiletech.com/042007SindbadDrPocket/WM5AKU3WM6DUNReEnableRegImp.reg) registry import file (via, say, the brand new, EXCELLENT desktop-side Registry editor of SOTI’s Pocket Controller 6 (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=2106&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1)) and copy the contents of THIS (http://www.winmobiletech.com/042007SindbadDrPocket/WM5AKU3WM6DUNReEnableHack.zip) file to the \Windows directory of your Windows Mobile device. Soft reset your device and voliá: after this, clients discovering the Bluetooth services your device provides will also see it offering the DUN service (in addition to the PAN one) as can also be seen in HERE (http://www.winmobiletech.com/042007SindbadDrPocket/UnivDUNDiscovery.png).

After this, everything will work just great – as in the pre-AKU3 days. Follow for example THIS (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=510&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1) tutorial on using DUN modems if you don’t know how it’s done.

Problems
It’s incompatible with some HTC Wizard ROM versions, namely, the official AKU 3.3 T-Mobile ROM – see THIS (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=1840&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1). It, however, has no problems with mfrazzz's XDA Mobile 6 Release 2a Full (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=315178) at all.
It seems it’s incompatible with WM6 MS Smartphones (Windows Mobile Standard). I’ve tested this on my HTC Vox (S710).

Compatibility

In my tests, it worked just great on my HTC Universal (WM6 Midget version) and HTC Wizard (WM6 mfrazzz version 2a). A lot of people have reported other success stories; for example, with the AKU3 HTC Trinity (P3600).

Verdict

Again and again: if you EVER plan to use your handheld as a modem, this hack is a MUST!

[Menneisyys]

UPDATE (10/02/2007): there is an even better, easier-to-install and, what is more, even MS Smartphone (Windows Mobile Standard)-compatible hack. Just download the CAB file linked from THIS (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1351044&postcount=21) post (I’ve also mirrored it HERE (http://www.winmobiletech.com/sekalaiset/WM6_BT_DUN.cab), just to be on the safe side, should you not want to register at XDA-Dev to access the download), install it (by simply clicking it on your handheld), power down your device (if it’s a Pocket PC – in order to make sure the Registry changes are all flushed) and restart it.

This hack will add full BT DUN to both platforms. I’ve thoroughly tested it on both my WM6 HTC Universal (a Pocket PC) and WM6 HTC s710 / Vox (a Smartphone) and found it excellent. Note that the traditional, BT PAN-based Internet Sharing will still work alongside with the added BT DUN (tested on both devices).

Note that it has a minor annoyance. After you terminate the connection, you will still be unable to access the Net on the Pocket PC or Smartphone that you used as a modem (also see THIS (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1407010&postcount=65) and THIS (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1407421&postcount=66) for similar bug reports). The solution to this is pretty simple: instead of (lengthy and/or awkward) soft resetting your handheld, just make sure you tap either the data connection icon in Comm Manager (this seem to be sufficient with Smartphones) or, as with, it seems, with Pocket PC’s (like the Universal), just dis- and, then, re-enable the phone connection itself (or, alternatively, en-, and, then, re-disable Flight mode). This all makes this small bug easy to live with.

Finally, Smartphone users: remember NOT to long-press the Red dial button to lock your device – it’ll also terminate the call. Instead, use the standard lock menu accessible via the Power button.

There is also a tutorial on making USB connection work with Modem Link HERE (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1480123&postcount=81), should it be messed up. Also, the entire thread (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=314371) might be worth giving a read, should you still have problems.

Thanks for FX Belloir for pointing out this hack!

Now, the original article is outdated. This means you’ll want to prefer the new hack explained above, NOT the old one I still keep for historical purposes only. It's only the first sections, which explain what this is all about, are worth reading for casual users.

[steverh]

I tried this on my Orange E650 (alias the HTC S710) but it has insufficient permission to run... any ideas??

[Menneisyys]

I tried this on my Orange E650 (alias the HTC S710) but it has insufficient permission to run... any ideas??

App unlock your phone - it's pretty easy. I've even written an article on this - search the forum for "app unlock" under my nick.

[steverh]

Thanks for the help. I can now use my TomTom ONE with my Orange SPV E650. For the benefit of any lurkers...

I got the "official" application un-locker from Orange at http://spvunlock.rd.francetelecom.com. Just fill in a form supplying the IMEI of the phone and some other details, agree to absolve then of all responsibility(!) and it is emailed as a CAB file with instructions.

I ran it, than ran the CAB file mentioned in your post of 10/02/2007. I was then able to pair with the TomTom.

I want to start developing software for the Smartphone so it's something I had to do anyway.

[Menneisyys]

Note that if you have a MS Smartphone (as opposed to a Pocket PC), it MUST be application unlocked for the hack to work. See for example See for example http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=2004&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 for more links on application unlocking. Note that app unlocking is absolutely legal.