Travel Technology - T-mobile Data Plans SE GC89

Anyone have any experience with the Tmobile Sony Ericcson GC89 data card?

I've got the tmobile hotspot plan and have been pretty happy with it, but now am at a place where I need the GPRS.

I really don't want to go to Verizon since I already have everything else tmobile (plus I don't want the 2 year contract)

Any feedback?

Or how about anyone using any other type of GPRS card with the tmobile service. Is that possible?

Don't get any GPRS card, get one that does EGDE, like the GC89. Most older cards don't support EDGE and you'll really want the speedboost as regular GPRS is pretty darn slow.

The GC89 is a decent card, you'll need to change the hotspot account into a T-mobile Total Internet plan which is just $29.99 as an addon to any voiceplan and includes unlimited data access AND the hotspot account. If you want that plan standalone it'll be $49.99.

You could also look at getting an unlocked GC82 which may be a cheaper solution for you: http://cgi.ebay.com/UNLOCKED-T-MOBILE-CINGULAR-GC82-EDGE-GPRS-AIRCARD-nc_W0QQitemZ300011781298QQihZ020QQcategoryZ64355QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

All the GC89 offers over the GC82 is triband and builtin wifi, but since most notebooks already have wifi integrated it isn't worth spending extra on that. Plus; unless you are able to take out a new line or upgrade your current one (with 2 years) you'll pay a lot more for the GC89 at a t-mobile store.

This is great info. Thanks!

Somethings to confirm:

1) the GC82 is dual band so it is N. America only, but then again I don't really care as I won't be accessing tmobile from overseas right?

2) Do I get another SIM card from tmobile? or do I have to swap SIM cards from my regular cell phone (that would suck)

3) right now, I have the hotspot which is 19.99 as and add on, so after getting the data plan it is 29.99

4) how is the speed? better than dialup? better than isdn? worse than dsl?

This is great info. Thanks!

Somethings to confirm:

1) the GC82 is dual band so it is N. America only, but then again I don't really care as I won't be accessing tmobile from overseas right?

2) Do I get another SIM card from tmobile? or do I have to swap SIM cards from my regular cell phone (that would suck)

3) right now, I have the hotspot which is 19.99 as and add on, so after getting the data plan it is 29.99

4) how is the speed? better than dialup? better than isdn? worse than dsl?

1) Yes, dualband 1900/850 so NA only.

2) If you add it on, it'll be sim-swapping all the time. Your other option is to get/use a phone that you can use as a modem. Many phones allow you to "tether" them. Which phone do you currently use? Instead of purchasing a new data card you could simply buy a new phone and connect your laptop to it through a cable or Bluetooth. Just make sure to get a phone that has EDGE. I can help you pick one if you wish.

3) Yes, hotspots and data are just $29.99 as an addon to any voiceplan, or $49.99 if you want a dedicated sim card for it.

4) Speed is acceptable, I average 160kbps when I'm in EDGE coverage, or around 50kpbs when in regular GPRS. T-mobile has around 85% EDGE implementation on their network.

sending you PM

2) If you add it on, it'll be sim-swapping all the time. Your other option is to get/use a phone that you can use as a modem. Many phones allow you to "tether" them. Which phone do you currently use? Instead of purchasing a new data card you could simply buy a new phone and connect your laptop to it through a cable or Bluetooth. Just make sure to get a phone that has EDGE. I can help you pick one if you wish.



if you got this to work, you are a better person than I am. The T-Mobile instructions are worse than terrible as far as i'm concerned. I finally got my computer to recognized the MDA, but I can't get it to connect to the t-mobile EDGE network as the instructions buried in the T-mobile website do not address built-in bluetooth (as my Dell has), only if you use add-on cards. The instructions have you entering an additional initialization string which apparently my internal card doesn't accomodate... :(

if you got this to work, you are a better person than I am. The T-Mobile instructions are worse than terrible as far as i'm concerned. I finally got my computer to recognized the MDA, but I can't get it to connect to the t-mobile EDGE network as the instructions buried in the T-mobile website do not address built-in bluetooth (as my Dell has), only if you use add-on cards. The instructions have you entering an additional initialization string which apparently my internal card doesn't accomodate... :(

It was easy... What exactly isn't working and what kind of error messages are you getting?

It was easy... What exactly isn't working and what kind of error messages are you getting?

right now I am getting an error on the phone saying "subscribe to gprs first"

but I thought I already did by signing up for the tmobile internet plan

I can sympathize with USColorado1K; it took me a lot of effort to find the right codes and settings a few years back to get PDA via Bluetooth to Phone to T-Mobile GPRS all functioning.

I would appreciate a fact check based on the research I've been able to do:
1. As far as I can tell, my phone (Nokia 6310i) does not have EDGE capability.
2. When I signed up with T-Mobile for an unlimited data plan ($20/mo at the time and now grandfathered) for GPRS, they set me up under a VPN plan (for reasons I don't know since I was not and am not connecting via VPN for work, etc.). In one of the forum discussions I read today, I learned that there was a distinction between T-Mobile's VPN plan and its GPRS plan, that someone believed that GPRS data flow under the GPRS plan was faster. When I called T-Mobile to ask about this, after several holds, the rep finally came back and said that the plan would not constrain the speed, only the phone would. Thus, for GPRS, there would not be any reason to move from my grandfathered rate of $20/mo. to the current rate of $30/mo., which I agree with if his comments on the speed not varying by plan are accurate.

Thoughts or comments on either or both? Thanks.

It was my understanding that tmobile opens/blocks ports/protocals depending on which plan that you have...

So the regular 29.99 add - on internet plan allows you to surf, but doesn't allow the protocals needed for VPNs.

--

So I have a Palm t|X which has a out of the box t-mobile vpn configuration.
and it WORKED

no kidding.

GPRS is slow, but it works.

So its not a problem with the phone and the service. Its a problem with my configuration on my X41 PeeCee.

I'm such a loser. I gotta get this working already.

It was my understanding that tmobile opens/blocks ports/protocals depending on which plan that you have...

So the regular 29.99 add - on internet plan allows you to surf, but doesn't allow the protocals needed for VPNs.


With the VPN plan I am apparently on, I am able to surf, pull e-mail, SMS, etc., either from the phone itself or using my PDA (a Sony CLIE) via the phone, but as you said, it's not terribly speedy.

It was easy... What exactly isn't working and what kind of error messages are you getting?

Sorry for the long delay in getting back to you.

Finally got it working on my Macbook. NEVER got it working on my Dell, despite repeated calls to T-Mobile "technical support". Kept getting an error code "777" that they had no clue as to the cause!

Does T-Mobile (in the U.S.A.) offer GPRS/EDGE on a pre-paid SIM?

I see they have some rates for "Sidekick"...

Sidekick® rates

Get unlimited e-mail, Web browsing, domestic instant messaging, and domestic text messaging for $1 per day, and spend only $0.15 per minute for nationwide calls.


So are these available for someone who has a GPRS/EDGE phone and a PC?

If so, is the service on-demand or do you have to subscribe to it?

Lastly, any info. on the dial string (sometimes something like *99#)? Username and password? (usually none as verficiation is done by CPID)

Lastly, any info. on the dial string (sometimes something like *99#)? Username and password? (usually none as verficiation is done by CPID)

*99#

At least, that's the dial string I use when I use my RAZR as a wireless modem connected to my laptop.
But the setup is much more complicated that just that:

You may setup your T-Mobile Internet device to use the T-Mobile Internet service by following the instructions below. Note, however, that T-Mobile cannot guarantee the performance of T-Mobile Internet devices that are not currently supported by the T-Mobile Internet Manager.

T-Mobile Internet with your Motorola RAZR V3 and Windows XP


Prerequisite

Motorola RAZR V3 handset purchased from T-Mobile

Motorola USB Cable with accompanied software installed on the PC

User should be logged in as Administrator or have administrator privileges in the profile to modify system files



Setting up the modem

On the PC, connect the Motorola USB Cable from the USB port to the bottom of the handset and ensure the handset is powered on. A Found New Hardware Wizard window will appear. Tick to select Install the software automatically .
Click on Next.
If a Windows Logo testing window appears, click on Continue Anyway.
Click on Finish.
Click on Start, Settings, ControlPanel and double click on Phone and Modem Options.
Click on the Modems tab.
Click once on the Motorola USB Modem, and click on Properties.
Click on the Advanced tab.
In the Extra initialization commands field, type at+cgdcont=1,"IP","internet2.voicestream.com" (*** Note - If the account is provisioned for T-Mobile VPN service, then type at+cgdcont=1,"IP","internet3.voicestream.com" instead.)
Click on OK twice.


Setting up the connection

On the PC, return to the Control Panel, and then double click on Network Connections.
Click on Create a new connection.
Click Next on the New Connection Wizard .
Tick Connect to the Internet and then click on Next.
Tick Set up my connection manually and then click on Next.
Tick Connect using a dial-up modem and then click on Next.
Check the Motorola USB Modem and ensure it is the only modem checked.
Click on Next.
Type T-Mobile GPRS for the ISP Name and then click on Next.
Type *99# for the Phone number and then click on Next.
Ensure the User name, Password, and Confirm password fields are blank.
Click to select from the preference options below and then click on Next.
Click Finish to complete the setup.


Making the connection

On the PC, return to the Network Connections folder and double click on the T-Mobile GPRS icon.
Ensure the User name and Password fields are blank and the number to Dial is *99#.
Click on Dial.
You will now be connected to the T-Mobile GPRS service

*99#

At least, that's the dial string I use when I use my RAZR as a wireless modem connected to my laptop.

Thanks. I use Nokia handsets (6151: GSM 900/1800/1900 via Bluetooth, EDGE-capable, or 6070: GSM 900/1800/1900 via IR, GPRS only) and Nokia PC Suite and use their "One Touch Access" application for GPRS/EDGE connections, so no messy configuration issues normally. They have an entry for "T-Mobile in the U.S.A." which I will try next week.

As a T-Mobile pre-paid customer I still can't figure out if it's pay-as-you-go, $1 per day, or if you have to sign up for the service?

The last time I was back in the U.S. I did accidently connect using GPRS, but cannot recall if I was using my T-Mobile SIM, or my 1-2-Call (Thailand) SIM? The latter of which works in the U.S.A. on T-Mobile or Cingular, and uses the same dial string.

T-Mobile does not offer GPRS to their pre-paid subscribers. Evidently they do not have the billing capabilites in place. When I tried to connect I received a text message that said I needed to subscribe to the service. I verified this with both phone and in-store T-Mobile reps.

I was able to connect using my 1-2-Call (Thailand) pre-paid SIM, but only stayed connected a minute or two as I was unsure about the pricing and WiFi was available. (In Thailand, GPRS/EDGE are available to pre-paid subscribers. As a 1-2-Call pre-paid subscriber I can pay 1 baht per minute on the fly, or a monthly recurring charge of 107 baht for 25 hours. EDGE is widely available throughout the country and the only option in many locales.)

(As an aside, my Nokia 6151, in addition to having GSM900/1800/1900 also has 3G/WCDMA2000. While in transit at NRT I turned on my phone and got a signal from Vodafone JP, and was able to receive calls and SMSes. I assume I could have made calls as I have int'l roaming enabled.)