Using Cell Phone as a Modem?
 

I've had a Verizon broadband card in the past, and I'd like to investigate using a cell phone as a modem (to reduce $, and the number of contracts).

I can choose any carrier. I am currently not under contract for a cell phone, or a broadband card. I'm on the phone approx 2000 minutes a month.

I travel a two days to two weeks each month in the US - in major cities. I like to have emails pushed to me.

My company uses MS Exchange Server, it does not have a Blackberry corporate server.

Speakerphone is not critical.

Are you happy with using a cell phone as a modem?

Are you going to need to take a call while tethered? Any use outside the US?

I won't need to take a call while tethered.

I'm US only.

I am quite happy! Actually using it right now on the traind ride home. AT&T's 3G speed is awesome!

Which phone?

The reason I asked the question about usage outside of the US was because of the CDMA/GSM issue. I have ATT's 3g system and am very happy with it, but I think EVDO coverage is still a little more extensive.

I tether on an HTC Tytn and it is very good. On my wife's TyTN II, the connection speed matches my Sierra 881 aircard (which usually remains in my desk drawer). On HSDPA and HSPA you can take calls and surf simultaneously. On the slower EDGE area, you can only do one or other. I have a friend with Sprint Blackberry with tethering and is thrilled with it.

TMobile's internet is the cheapest, but they are only EDGE. There will be limited 3g on TMobile in a couple of months, but I'm mostly posting this because someone will call me out if I don't. NYC is live; other major metro areas will go live in the fall.

I just got an AT&T Tilt and am very happy with the 3G speeds using internet sharing and a laptop--usually running 600-800k. AT&T appears to be expanding its 3G network pretty rapidly--and look for a big push for even more areas this year with the new version of the iPhone coming out.

Sprint has had this for some time now on both their 2g and 3g networks.

Their "PAM" (phone as modem) plans start at 39.95 over whatever your existing plan costs. Note that their $99 "everything" plan does _not_ cover PAM.

Almost all of their phones that are data capable can be used PAM. You will need a USB cable to tether to your computer. They will tell you that you need some software, but all you need is the USB driver for your phone and to set up dial-up networking to call *777 and you're in.

Some of the older Sprint phones (my old Sanyo 4920 was one of them) could act as a PAM without any additional plan, but it was on a slower network. It was still good enough for checking e-mail for a few minutes when no other Internet service was available.

The downsides: As you noted, your phone is not available while being used as a modem. Most of the USB cables will not charge the phone so you will be limited to the talk-time battery life of your phone. Finally, I noticed a lot of latency (turn around send/receive time) with the PAM. Steady-stream downloads were pretty good though.

Cheapest option, get a sprint SERO plan (search here, if it works, for much detail). 30$ a month for phone and data plan. Now, TECHNICALLY, it doesn't include PAM or tethering, but it works fine, and there are free and 20$ programs that simply do it for you over the phones data connection.

I use a sprint mogul FAR, and BT to connect to my computer, and get about 1.2mbs connections, 400kps upstream. For the past two years, do between 250mb and 3GB a month in data transfers with no problems. I have acutally never heard of anyone with problems doing this type of cheap laptop data.
This phone does GPS, reva data, takes a BT keyboard, does the slingplayer mobile justice, etc.

I use it with the following phones depending on the the one I am using that day/week. Moto Q9H, Samsung Blackjack, and Treo 750.

I'm not saying that I've never run the battery down while tethered, but I've noticed that the retractable cables don't seem to recharge my TyTN, but the regular kind do. Don't ask me why, it seems to be the case.

Sprint Treo 700p, basic plan + unlimited data, $34 third-party app. Have used it all over the US, use a sync'n'charge cable to the laptop so the phone stays charged. Speed is good, not great, but it works like a champ. Usually better and more reliable than the 'free wireless internet' you get at motels.

Thanks for the help! I really appreciate it.

The AT&T Tilt looked really nice, but AT&T treated me quite poorly last summer, after I'd been a wireless customer for 10 years. I've fought a $180 charge with them for almost a year now, and will never engage in a contract with them again.

One Sprint representative was really eager for me to get the Instinct/'iPhone killer' when it is released on 6/20 - www.nowisgood.com, $199 before rebates. I want a keyboard - so I chose the Mogul. (I did ask the rep to check that the pricing on the mogul won't drop on Friday.)

The company pays for my air time. As a credit union member, there is a 10% discount the monthly charges, and waiver of activation fees.


Martinp13 - thanks for the Treo info - I'll keep it in mind if the mogul doesn't work for me.

Retractable USB cables probably don't include the connections and conductors for USB power. Removing a few conductors is likely what makes the cable thin enough to retract.

+1 Sprint Mogul (HTC 6800)
Have to plug/unplug tether from time to time ...
Unlocked GPS works great with Google Maps

I was guessing the same thing, but wasn't sure enough to open my mouth.

Depends on the phone/cables. I have a retractable Treo/USB sync'n'charge cable (although I don't like it and use a short regular cable). :)

But in general, regardless of phone, unless the retractable is advertised as a charging cable, it's probably not.

Quite happy. I have used Nokia 6210 connected with a USB cable, and also Sony Ericsson K610i through Bluetooth. The only problem I have had is battery life while connected on 3G, but I resolved this quite easily by putting them on a USB charger (a retractable one with various different tips that I travel around with). The Nokia has a separate USB data connection and a charging port.

I have not had a call come in while I was online on the Nokia but I was surprised that K610i coped very well with me being online and taking a call at the same time.

By the way I don't know if these phones are available in the US - I'm in Europe/Australia.

If the purpose is just to get push email from Exchange Server, I have found the Sony Ericsson P1 to be an excellent phone and an ideal Blackberry alternative.

I get email on the P1 slightly ahead of getting it in Outlook, if my laptop is also online. The keyboard on the P1 is not as good as the Blackberry, but the whole device is a lot more compact. The web browser is pretty good - I use it for OLCI all the time, phone numbers in emails become hotlinks that let you dial them directly and it syncs your Outlook contacts in real time and your calendar, so all alarms set in Outlook also work on the P1. I have been very pleased with it, I need to connect my laptop a lot less when traveling and I still have only one device in my pocket.

AT&T Tilt + unlimited data plan + unlimited tethering plan
 

I recently got an AT&T Tilt.

Cost is ~$200 with 2 yr plan. I got unlimited (not really - 5 GB max per month) data plan for just the phone and an unlimited tethering plan (not really either, again 5GB max per month). Data plan $30 extra per month. Tethering plan $20 extra per month.

I can talk on the phone while it is tethered via bluetooth to my Mac laptop or via USB to my work Wintel laptop.

The phone comes with MS WM6 and Office/Outlook. Will work with latest Exchange version as just a configuration change according to one Windows Server administrator I was talking to.

MS provides ActiveSync to sync pretty much everything with Outlook.

A few third parties provide Mac sync software. Some free, some not.

When tethering, I can get 750 kbbs down and 350 kbps up.

HOWEVER, if you plan to use this phone for tethering, read the article at this link (10 tips on fixing common AT&T Tilt problems) before purchasing.

This looks like a good thread to dredge up again for my question. I'm probably going to break down fairly soon and get a phone that I can tether to my laptop.

Currently I use my cell phone exclusively for phone calls. It looks like there are new phones and plans which will work well to replace my land line which only exists so I can have DSL (I don't have cable) and my current cell phone.

Basically I am looking for a phone that I can use as my primary internet connection with my laptop. I also want it to have decent internet on its own, because if I am going to pay for this sort of plan I want to have full use of the data features.

I looked around a bit today and liked Sprints $100 unlimited package and the Treo 800. The new Treo Pre looks like it will be pretty cool, but I don't see anything that says it is tetherable yet. I'm not in a hurry so can wait for it to come out.

My current phone contract has long since expired, so I can go to any company and am open to any phone as long as it doesn't require hacking like the iphone would require.

Thanks.

Are you sure that $100 plan you’re looking at includes PAM? The one I see on the Sprint site specifically states it doesn’t. Sorry I can’t post a link; the plan details open up in a popup window.

I have read, I remember, that the Pre will allow for tethering via bluetooth. My guess is that it will not be included in the standard data package though you will probably have to pay a bit more per month for the option.

Second, the "hacking" to get the iPhone to tether is actually quite simple. The largest problem is that it is not sanctioned by ATT so if you get caught they can charge you up the wazoo.

Finally, I don't know your internet habits though I would have to strongly recommend against using your phone as your home modem. It is not what they are designed to do. I think you would be much more happy with the more stable speed and always on connectivity of even the most basic of DSL plans. Not to mention that the caps that the wireless providers put on their unlimited plans are usually significantly lower than those of home ISPs and would not even come close to the quota I consume each month.

If you are using Verizon, make sure you get an EDVO rev A phone. Downloads are about the same, but uploads are much faster. Don't worry about phone calls, they still come through, but while on the phone the data connection is frozen. No big deal.

I also had the phone with internet and a separate broadband card. Dropped the card, saved $45 a month for my company. I am still using an old XV6700, but I am looking to upgrade to the Samsung Saga soon, which will cost me $99 with my New Every Two plan.

Can this be done with the VX10000 (Voyager)? How easy is it to set up?

I don't believe so, but that is somewhat of a speculation. A quick check of the specs on the Verizon website shows that it is not a Windows Mobile phone. While that is not a strict requirement, it also does not list Mobile Broadband Connect as one of its capabilities, therefore I don't believe tethering is possible with this phone.