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torsoboy · Nov 1, 2006, 01:25 AM

I was thinking the other day that I would really like to get a cell phone with blue tooth capabilities so that I could surf the web when I am on the road somewhere. You know, so I wouldn't have to be connected to a wire or in a "hot spot" to do business, etc. Then I thought, why would I need a phone to do something like that? Why don't they have the same internet capabilities on laptops as they do phones? Why do I need a phone that I would never use just to get the data connection part from it?

So basically the question is why can't a computer have a data connection anywhere that a phone can? It seems that they could very very easily have a small antena built in that could pickup and relay the same data that a cell phone could... so why do I need a stinking phone that I would never use just to get this functionality? Is this some super sophisticated phone-only technology or something? I would gladly pay the internet fee for a traveling connection like the one that can be accomplished using a phone and I am sure a lot of other people would as well.

So what are your thoughts? Is this already done somewhere? If so, where can I read more about it?

goMac · Nov 1, 2006, 01:31 AM

Some laptops can already do it. Usually you just get a card for the computer's card slot to do it.

My complaint is it's freakin expensive.

torsoboy · Nov 1, 2006, 01:35 AM

Originally Posted by goMac

Some laptops can already do it. Usually you just get a card for the computer's card slot to do it.

My complaint is it's freakin expensive.

Where have you seen this before? And if it is a card that does it, it is not actually the laptop with the capabilities right?

Which is expensive, the service or the card?

goMac · Nov 1, 2006, 01:40 AM

Originally Posted by torsoboy

Where have you seen this before? And if it is a card that does it, it is not actually the laptop with the capabilities right?

Which is expensive, the service or the card?

It's an expansion card that goes right in your card slot in your laptop. Verizon has it, most providers do.

The service is expensive. At least $80 a month.

talisker · Nov 1, 2006, 04:38 AM

I had this on my work laptop in New Zealand, and now in the UK. Both supplied by Vodafone. It's a card that sticks out an inch or so from the side of the laptop, and has a SIM card in it. Works well if you have 3G coverage but it is expensive. Not sure I could justify one for personal use. You can usually find broadband access reasonably easily e.g. via wireless hotspots or hotel room access (which I'm sure works out cheaper than using a mobile card).

alligator · Nov 1, 2006, 07:38 AM

I'm considering this for my Sony Vaio. It has a Cingular card built in, but prices are $79 a month without a phone and $59/mo if you already have a phone with them. Speeds are around 280 kbs.

turtle777 · Nov 1, 2006, 09:45 AM

You could also download the internet to your cell phone

Just get BIIIIIIGGGGGG smart media card.

-t

Rumor · Nov 1, 2006, 11:16 AM

The service is generally expensive and horrible! I used to have it. Never again. Bad connections, dropped connections, slow connections. It was a huge pain in the ass. With the availability of hot spots growing, you're best bet is to stick with that.

Or buy a wi-fi sniffer and find unsecured spots.

FireWire · Nov 1, 2006, 11:17 AM

I'd just phase out the cellular network and use Wi-Fi everywhere... It would be cheaper for everyone. We'd use the same towers and signals for cell phone (VoIP on the go) and for Internet access.

jokell82 · Nov 1, 2006, 11:43 AM

FYI, you can get Cingular, Sprint, or Verizon service built-in on new Dell laptops (not a card sticking out).

I only know because I had to configure one for someone at work...

Gossamer · Nov 1, 2006, 02:32 PM

CDMA Phone as Mac OS X Modem
GSM Phone as Mac OS X Modem

Use your phone as a modem, only costs you minutes.

drnkn_stylz · Nov 1, 2006, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

CDMA Phone as Mac OS X Modem
GSM Phone as Mac OS X Modem

Use your phone as a modem, only costs you minutes.

That's really cool, but 14.4kbps? Damn, that's old school slow

jokell82 · Nov 1, 2006, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by drnkn_stylz

That's really cool, but 14.4kbps? Damn, that's old school slow

I'm using a similar method (Moto KRZR tethered via bluetooth to my MacBook), and I connect at EVDO speeds (~200k/sec down, ~75k/sec up).

drnkn_stylz · Nov 1, 2006, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by jokell82

I'm using a similar method (Moto KRZR tethered via bluetooth to my MacBook), and I connect at EVDO speeds (~200k/sec down, ~75k/sec up).

Now that's more like it. Do you have to pay a fee for doing that? Or does it just use minutes/charge you for internet usage as if you were using it on the phone?

Saetre · Nov 1, 2006, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by drnkn_stylz

That's really cool, but 14.4kbps? Damn, that's old school slow

Sadly Cingular seems to block this method. It works fine with the same phone in the UK with another provider. I found it very useful for "emercengies".

jokell82 · Nov 1, 2006, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by drnkn_stylz

Now that's more like it. Do you have to pay a fee for doing that? Or does it just use minutes/charge you for internet usage as if you were using it on the phone?

I'm using Verizon and it's not technically allowed in the plan that I'm on. However I've never been charged for using it (and as far as I can tell it doesn't go against my minutes either).

Check HowardForums: Your Mobile Phone Community & Resource - you'll be able to find out about a lot of this stuff there.

Gossamer · Nov 1, 2006, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by jokell82

I'm using a similar method (Moto KRZR tethered via bluetooth to my MacBook), and I connect at EVDO speeds (~200k/sec down, ~75k/sec up).

Do you have more specific details as to how you accomplish this? I'm on Verizon w/ a Nokia 6256i and I remembered reading something about how to do this, but I can't remember where I found them.

jokell82 · Nov 1, 2006, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Do you have more specific details as to how you accomplish this? I'm on Verizon w/ a Nokia 6256i and I remembered reading something about how to do this, but I can't remember where I found them.

Simply set up my phone as a bluetooth modem. Modem script to use is built into OS X, just use #777 as the phone number, XXXXXXXXXX@vzw3g.com as the account name (replace the Xs with your phone number), and vzw as the password.

Gossamer · Nov 2, 2006, 12:30 AM

Ha! I got the 14.4 USB cable modem working with my desktop. Loading the 'NN was horribly slow, but it's definitely capable for checking email and AIM. I'll try the bluetooth capabilities tomorrow at work.
Thanks!

The Godfather · Nov 2, 2006, 01:43 AM

Originally Posted by drnkn_stylz

That's really cool, but 14.4kbps? Damn, that's old school slow

With the extreme bandwidth sharing that cell phone systems use, I'd say it's pretty close to the theoretical kbaud limit per phone.

Paco500 · Nov 2, 2006, 02:51 AM

I had a Verizon EVDO modem for my powerbook, usually got over 1Mbps downloads. Worked great, but expensive- $80 a month.

Had I been a single person, I would have been happy with it as my only internet connection, but had to keep cable/Fios so my wife could connect when I wasn't home.

torsoboy · Nov 2, 2006, 10:04 AM

So it seems the common thing being said is that it costs about $80 a month and doesn't work real well. Dang... the idea is so good though. $80 is way more than I would be willing to pay for it. But I would be willing to pay $30.

Wi-Fi hotspots are fine if you are in town, but when you are on the road or by the lake I haven't really seen many of them. Oh well, I guess I will stay connected at home and just wait for the "next-gen" internet technologies of the future.

Gossamer · Nov 2, 2006, 10:53 AM

hm...I set up my 6256i with my iMac at work via bluetooth.
Name: ##########@vzw3g.com
Password: vzw
Number: #777

It connects and everything, but when it tried to authenticate, it just disconnects. I've tried the Verizon script from the link I've posted, and the Sprint PCS script also. Is there something I'm doing wrong?

jokell82 · Nov 2, 2006, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

hm...I set up my 6256i with my iMac at work via bluetooth.
Name: ##########@vzw3g.com
Password: vzw
Number: #777

It connects and everything, but when it tried to authenticate, it just disconnects. I've tried the Verizon script from the link I've posted, and the Sprint PCS script also. Is there something I'm doing wrong?

Verizon has been known to cripple their phones, so I suspect something like that is going on. First, try turning off EVDO and reconnecting. If that doesn't work, check out the forums at HowardForums - they probably already have all the info up there.

Gossamer · Nov 2, 2006, 01:03 PM

From what I understand, the 6256i kind of slipped through verizon's fingers...I can transfer pictures and other stuff via bluetooth, unlike my roommate and sister who both have other phones with Verizon.
I found Howard back when I got my phone, and I've been looking around there for a while. I'd like to enable mp3 ringtones and picture ID if possible, I think I found out how, and I found a copy of Diego a long time back, but it would never correctly install on my intel machine at home, I'm going to try it here at work.
BTW I can't figure out how to turn off EVDO on my phone, all I could find were instructions for the Razor.

brokecollegestudentF04 · Nov 2, 2006, 02:02 PM

I had a sprint phone that I used connected to the old PCS vision network cost me 15 bucks a month, download speeds were about 14k a second but it was useable, quite reliable too, I invested in the USB cable for my phone.