Question about using a cell phone as a modem

[jw]

Anyone have any knowledge of this? My sister is moving to the sticks and all they have is dialup and i know theres a way. I bought the necessary cable to hook the phone to the pc but just wanna know if theres anything else i need?

[fatediesel]

Do you know if this is allowed on her current plan? I have heard stories of people racking up bills in the thousands of dollars because tethering is not allowed.

[mikejet]

Make sure they have an unlimited data plan. There should be drivers on the phone manufacturers website so the computer will recoginze it at a USB modem. There's a way to do it by Bluetooth too.

What phone is it?

[SHines-IT]

Yea, this is really easy with BlackBerries, but make sure you have unlimited data with tethering.

[jw]

she has a blackberry with the data plan through verizon

It a LG....10000? i think

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by mikejet

Make sure they have an unlimited data plan. There should be drivers on the phone manufacturers website so the computer will recoginze it at a USB modem. There's a way to do it by Bluetooth too.

What phone is it?

Even if it is unlimited look at the ToS, some "unlimited" plans have a fair-use policy which limits data usage to a certain amount before the cut your speed down.

[xtop]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Even if it is unlimited look at the ToS, some "unlimited" plans have a fair-use policy which limits data usage to a certain amount before the cut your speed down.

came here to say this. i don't think any carrier in the us has a true unlimited plan anymore. its 5gb just about everywhere.

and i'd burn thru that in a few days

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Even if it is unlimited look at the ToS, some "unlimited" plans have a fair-use policy which limits data usage to a certain amount before the cut your speed down.

As long as it's nothing too crazy then the difference of using the data on the phone as opposed to a modem is negotiable. I would stay away from streaming content and downloading albums from iTunes or something like that but for general purpose web browsing and email there shouldn't be too big of an issue.

[jw]

well shes a casual internet user, I mean min usage tops(email, some online shopping)

[jw]

Originally Posted by mikejet

As long as it's nothing too crazy then the difference of using the data on the phone as opposed to a modem is negotiable. I would stay away from streaming content and downloading albums from iTunes or something like that but for general purpose web browsing and email there shouldn't be too big of an issue.

yea she does none of that, now he might(her bf, all that late night pron), ill have to tell her

[jw]

Originally Posted by SHines-IT

Yea, this is really easy with BlackBerries, but make sure you have unlimited data with tethering.

so what would I need to do

I found this
http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/usi.../cellmodem.htm

[xtop]

i would just get a usb modem that the carriers offer. don't need to worry about missing phone calls or anything

[jadedeath]

Not sure how prevalent these are in the 'States, but could she not get one of those USB modem thingers?

Logan

[JasonR]

Tethering is different with every phone. You said she has a Blackberry?

http://mobilewirelessnews.com/2006/1...se-as-a-modem/

Or an LG?

As long as she has unlimited data, a USB cable, and knows how to tether the phone she should be fine...