Mobishark SharkModem for Blackberry: Having it makes you a better person
September 19, 2006 7:37 pm Reviews
Up until 20 minutes ago, I had no internet access from home. How could this be, you ask? Living as I do, in a rural part of the country, however, high speed access is not ubiquitous by any means. In my case, I could get cable, but until two weeks ago, my service provider was Adelphia (soon to be bought by Time Warner Cable), and now is Time Warner Cable (staffed apparently by new and different, yet equally incompetent, call center gnomes). Neither of these moronic corporate behemoths are able to muster the energy to appear at my domicile, even to extract an exorbitant $24.95 a month for ‘mediocre-speed’ 256kbps access on top of a $49.95 ‘installation fee,’ which is where the company’s tech gets paid training in how to set up a cable modem, and I get to pay him or her for it. Dialup is the same price, and therefore a rip-off in its own right. So what’s left? The Blackberry, dingus! Pay attention. Now, the fine folks at Mobishark, errr, Software? have created a truly interesting piece of software, not to mention a good way to stick it to the big wireless companies for their strong-arm tactics. Here’s the breakdown of the scam your service provider’s probably trying to pull: (1) An ‘unlimited’ data plan with a provider such as, say, Verizon Wireless grants you ‘unlimited access’ to use your Blackberry handheld to surf the web, no matter how many of those little bits and bytes you steal through the mysterious magic wires in the sky that let us all be ‘IN.’ (2) Your Blackberry can be a modem. Pure and simple. After all, Verizon’s perfectly willing to sell you their NationalAccess or BroadbandAccess plans for another $30 a month, so it must work, right? Heh, yup. Download the trial of SharkModem from Mobishark’s website, and you’ll find just how freaking easy it can be. Install it on your computer and use the app loader to put it on the Blackberry, and you’ll be up and running almost right away (albeit with a 5MB throughput limit on the demo). I was sold immediately. After all, it doesn’t make a whole heck of a lot of sense to be paying for unlimited data which is being unfairly limited (SharkModem uses the device itself to make HTTP and socket requests, so it’s exactly like surfing the web on the Blackberry, only with a real screen) solely to make free money for your wireless provider. At $34.97, on ’sale’ right now, SharkModem is around what I would’ve paid for a month’s service through my wireless provider, and it’s a one-time fee. The speed is not bad, although it’s nothing like Verizon’s BroadbandAccess in terms of being able to stream media or live content. Not surprisingly, the big delay is on the initial request, while (I assume) the device has to wait its turn to send the request through the tower to a computer, to the content’s host, back through the computer to the tower and back to the Blackberry. It can take up to 5 seconds before there’s a response (which you can see on SharkModem’s simple yet highly informative Connections tab), but once you’re going, download speeds on Verizon’s network average around 10KBps with 2 bars of service, or approximately 2x modem speed. And the price is right.
MediaBlackberry :
Date: May 30, 2007 @ 2:07 pm
Good Stuff : ) Hey .. when you get a moment contact me . I want to feed you some new info shortly to soon come down the pipe from the MobiTeam. - thanks!!
Lawrence Page :
Date: March 13, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
This is an excellent post. As a Blackberry user who is paying for unlimited data service, it’s nice to know I am not alone on this.
I have bought SharkModem and support their cause.
Thank you everyone! There is light at the end of the tunnel!
James :
Date: February 19, 2009 @ 10:20 pm
I wouldnt waist your time customer service sucks and after several weeks I have yet to get what I paid for
Chris Sellarole :
Date: April 23, 2009 @ 9:29 pm
Beware of MobiShark, iMobiMac, WireShark Media
I was looking for a service that enabled me to use my Blackberry Phone as a tethered modem which would enable me to use my phone’s internet connection to surf the web on my laptop. I paid $50 for MobiShark which claims to do this without a monthly subscription service.
I paid the $50 considering it a good investment for what it claimed; however this software is completely faulty. I was able to connect the internet; however could never actually browse the internet. This software is completely useless. I tried to resolve this with WireShark Media LLC and they refused to refund my $50 investment. I used Paypal and they do not have any authority it purchased outside of ebay to refund your purchase for item such as this; therefore I am completely out $50.
I have Verizon and they are offering 30 days free without a contract for their tethering service. Although you do pay a monthly subscription for this service, I can browse the internet in lightening speed and is indeed worth the monthly fees. Do not fall for the claims of software developers like MobiShark and the like–they are ripping people off and I created this blog for consumers considering this software to be ware of this company.
Here is my dispute with Paypal which has been closed:
-$49.97 USD
3/9/2009 15:38 PDT
WireShark Media, LLC
info@mobishark.com
Apr. 8, 2009 - PayPal: Email sent to seller
Apr. 8, 2009 - PayPal: Email sent to buyer
Apr. 8, 2009 - Buyer: Dispute escalated to claim
Apr. 6, 2009 - PayPal: Email sent to seller
Apr. 6, 2009 - PayPal: Email sent to seller
Apr. 6, 2009 - PayPal: Email sent to buyer
Apr. 8, 2009 - Buyer: Dispute filed
Apr. 1, 2009 - PayPal: Email sent to seller
Apr. 1, 2009 - PayPal: Email sent to buyer
Apr. 1, 2009 - Buyer: Dispute filed
4/8/2009 21:55 PDT - PayPal: Buyer escalated this dispute to a Claim.
4/8/2009 21:55 PDT - Buyer: I purchased this software from seller which claims that you can use you blackberry phone as a tethered modem without an additional wireless service plan. I have tried using this software for in several different areas and can manage to get an internet connection but cannot however browse or use the internet. The software does not do what it claims and is completely useless. If the product worked it would be worth the $50; however considering that it does not work I am entitled to a full refund. I can also show proof that I have since subscribed to a monthly wireless tethering service as a result of this product being faulty.
4/6/2009 21:14 PDT - Buyer: The product does not work. I should not be forced to pay for an application that has no value. I bought this in good faith and have had to purchase a tether plan through Verizon as a result. Please refund my money. Thanks
4/6/2009 21:14 PDT - PayPal: croosifyd requested a $49.97 USD refund.
4/6/2009 21:13 PDT - Buyer: what do you mean trial version applications? You are selling a product that you cannot guarantee will work? I ended up having to sign up for Verizon’s Blackberry Tethering plan because the application was useless. If it worked, the $50 is well spent but it does not work and there is no way that I should be on the hook for a bunk application. I emailed support and no follow up. I can provide my Verizon bill showing that I am now paying for the service because this MobiShark is useless.
Status
We’re unable to decide this claim in your favor at this time. PayPal’s Buyer Complaint Policy applies to the shipment of goods but not to disputes about merchandise quality.
What happens next
We encourage you to work directly with your seller to resolve this matter.
Curtis Hagen :
Date: June 8, 2009 @ 10:09 am
Mobishark is a rip off. I have spent 12 hours trying to make the ‘free trial” work. When i run Mobishark on my Blackberry it wants the registration code before it will start. The registration code is $49.97. I paid the $49.97, after I invested all this time on installing it I decided to take a chance. It has been 12 hrs since I paid mobishark and I have still not received a registration code! I contacted mobishark and they refuse to help me, saying wait for the paid code to arrive. Bottom line is this..
The MOBISHARK FREE TRIAL is NOT FREE, it is a scam to get you to purchase a registration key that they do not send you! When you click on Mobisharks Troubleshooting page, it is blank, when you try to contact live support, they are ‘OFFLINE” and Mobishark refuses to refund my $49.97 payment, which i will now have to dispute with paypal. Mobishark is a ‘Shark Of A Scam” that needs to be reported to the proper authorities.My only recourse is to help others not get scammed by Mobishark like I did!
Beware!