Cell Phones for Laptop Users? 89
ZiZ asks: "I'm looking for a cell phone that will do three things well: make calls, sync with my computer's address book/scheduler, and act as a wireless (3G) modem for my Apple laptop. I'd forgo the USB networking if I could, but my 12" Powerbook doesn't have a PC Card slot. I don't really care about Bluetooth one way or the other, so the question of what Verizon does or does not allow Bluetooth to do, for instance, doesn't really apply to me - I'd rather plug my phone into a USB port, have it charge up, sync, and connect me to the Internet. Unfortunately, most of the information floating around the web is all about Bluetooth's DUN, and almost none of it about USB charging or USB connectivity. What US carrier and compatible phone would you get to fulfill these simple tasks?"
While everyone's at it... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:While everyone's at it... (Score:1)
Re:While everyone's at it... (Score:2)
Verizon e815 (Score:4, Informative)
Howard Forums [howardforums.com] is a *great* resource when it comes to stuff like this.
Re:Verizon e815 (Score:4, Informative)
Whether you do it or not is entirely your decision, but people should not run out and buy an E815, razr, 8100, or 9800 for this express purpose without planning to spend a chunk of change.
They have introduced a plan that will allow you to tether for an additional $59 per month. Story here [pcmag.com].
I use the E815 as well; I love the BT obex under linux.
Re:Verizon e815 (Score:3, Informative)
It's not against their ToS to use it as a modem to connect to a dialup ISP, it's just not very efficient, I haven't tried it myself but I've heard of people only getting 11k connections, with a theoretical max of 14.4k.
It is sort-of against their ToS to use it to connect to their high-speed (144k) service. You run the risk that you *may* incur by-the-byt
Re:Verizon e815 (Score:2)
I believe VZW TOS does forbid using the PDA/Smartphone Express Network plans with a PC.
I am not sure about other hardware, but hacked Bluetooth is the ONLY way to have tethered mode with a Treo 650 and a Mac. The T650 does not support DUN via the USB sync cable. While there is a third-party hack (PDANet) that enables th
Re:Verizon e815 (Score:2)
That said, I love my Razr, and I have used BT to sync it as a 'modem' and called into my work VPN dail up service. Not very high-tech, I know, but I cannot yet afford the monthly for wireless internet.
I don't know ho
Re:Verizon e815 (Score:2)
SprintPCs all the way (Score:5, Informative)
If you get their PC card, they charge you a hefty amount per month for Internet access. But if you get a USB cable (check eBay), which they don't officially admit exists, and sign up for their "unlimited" vision plan ($10/mo), you can use unlimited internet.
This was my only Internet connection for nearly 12 months while I was unemployed. They never complained (altho the slashdot effect might change that now!)
As for phones that let you sync... I have no idea. But I'm sure you can find one of those. That's just a feature I've never cared about.
Re:SprintPCs all the way (Score:4, Informative)
Re:SprintPCs all the way (Score:2)
T-mobile internet (Score:2)
I BELIEVE if you are using your phone as a modem to (for example) call some other ISP then I think you are correct, but of course you use up your "minutes" then.
On the other hand, if you have any kind of phone plan with them, for an extra $19/month you can ALSO get unlimited wireless internet from them. With T-Mobile (at least when I got it) it's only "fast dial-up" speed (true 56k), but they seemed (again, when I first checked) to have a lot more ubiquitous coverage than, say, Sprint or Verizon's faster
Re:T-mobile internet (Score:2)
Re:T-mobile internet (Score:1)
Not sure how you are accessing it on the linux OS (since, omg, I haven't meddled with them much), but using my razr connected with Bluetooth to my powerbook I just click on the phone, and download the mp3s to the phone's sound file. Maybe it's a limitation fo the phone too, I don't know.
Re:T-mobile internet (Score:2)
Re:T-mobile internet (Score:1)
Wish I could figure out why I can't get it to use my custom MP3's as "ringtones" but that's not exactly an important feature for me.
Check out Moto4Lin [sourceforge.net]. I've got a V-188 too, and I've uploaded custom ringtones and backgrounds onto my phone using it.
Re:SprintPCs all the way (Score:2, Informative)
I can also sync using BitPim and a cheapo cable off ebay.
-- C
Re:SprintPCs all the way (Score:1)
That must depend on the model. The USB cable came in the box with my phone (samsung a900) when I signed up with them. Works for transferring pictures from it and as a model cable.
all the info you need (Score:4, Informative)
Re:all the info you need (Score:2)
Then I was traveling and wanted to use it, so I called them up to get the access number. I was told that "customers who abuse this feature are having their accounts disa
Re:all the info you need (Score:2)
Binding arbitration, forgoing your day in court.
You did have "your attorneys" read it before you signed it, right?
Re:Sorry to put it this way, but... (Score:2)
PalmOS hasn't advanced in years, the bluetooth implimentation is crippled, the camera is garbage, there's almost no RAM, and the keyboard only works if you're a dwarf.
Do expound (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Sorry to put it this way, but... (Score:2)
Certainly.
>Wrong, wrong, right, wrong, wrong.
>Taking your points last first, the keyboard works great for me, and I'm far from being a dwarf.
>There is 32MB of RAM, and I have a 2GB SD card. 2GB is not enough memory for you?
>Yes the camera is crap.
THe keyboard is tiny. I've had many devices with thumbboards, and the Treo one is the worst of the lot. Next came the iPaq 4350, and after that is the really old treo model. The best one I've seen is the one o
discrimination (Score:2)
Re:Sorry to put it this way, but... (Score:2)
3 words (Score:1)
EVDO, tethering, syncing, bluetooth, etc.
Re:3 words (Score:2)
SLVR (Score:1)
I like bluetooth, and like not having to carry one more cable, even if I do usually carry that cable for charging purposes, I don't want to
Re:SLVR (Score:2)
Simple! (Score:1)
Look at Sprint PPC-6700 (Score:1, Informative)
Synchronization for a Mac may not be straightforward, because we're dealing with proprietary Windows Mobile here. I need to synch to Linux so I'm in the same boat. Funambol [funambol.com] looks very promising for synching to the open standard SyncML, but I haven't had time to play with it yet.
I have successfully used DUN over USB on my lapto
RAZR sounds like a good option. (Score:1)
SprintPCS for me (Score:2)
From the SprintPCS site for their Power Vision phones:
Phone as Modem Capable
Use the included USB cable or Bluetooth Wireless technology to connect to a PC allowing Internet and email access.
It seems that SprintPCS is more open to everyone using their phones for Internet Access. A friend of mine purchased a Verizon phone an
Sprint (Score:4, Informative)
When using a USB cable, you just plug the phone in and for the modem kind choose "Sprint PCS". The dial-up number is #777 and that's all there is to it. Works fine. The 8200 was very fast (ISDN speeds) where the LG is dial-up speeds (same area, same everything else). Things really do vary by phone.
With Bluetooth on the 325, it is just like above only no cable. You just have to enable DUN on the phone each time, and turn the phone on and off in-between dial-up uses.
It works ok. The 8200 worked quite a bit better. As for syncing phone data (contacts, etc) you are basically up the creek without a paddle. Neither phone does that (they also don't charge when you use the cable). I don't know of any that do (except perhaps the Palm/PocketPC ones) on Sprint. I've heard much better things about the kinds of phones one can get from Cingular on that point.
Where is the iPhone when I need it?
As for other help, the people on the Sprint Users forum [sprintusers.com] are nice and can answer almost anything.
Good luck.
Re:Sprint (Score:2)
It's also universally compatible with 90% of the other Sanyo phones.
Re:Sprint (Score:2)
If you don't have a "data plan" with Cingular, you get charged by the kilobyte (which is nice compared to Verizon who won't let you do anything but 14.4k without adding "data" to your cell plan) Cingular doesn't support computer configurations that don't use their software (which you can't download if you can't get a connection, but you can't get a connection without downloading the software...is what they told m
I Asked Slashdot the same thing about a year ago (Score:4, Informative)
Silas
You need to relax your requirements (Score:3, Informative)
I expect eventually to see a product announcement for an amazing new "cellular phone" that has an incredible set of features, but doesn't actually place or receive phoen calls.
Anyhow, I'm pretty happy with the Treo 650. It makes calls about as poorly (or well, depending on your point of view) as any other cell phone, it syncs with my desktop, and it will act as a modem. Though it doesn't do EDGE or UMTS/HSPDA. I'm hoping that their next GSM Treo that runs PalmOS will do HSPDA.
Re:You need to relax your requirements (Score:1)
Maybe I've just been lucky, but every phone I've had has been great for making calls.
Re:You need to relax your requirements (Score:2)
Fundamentally what this requires is greater density of cell sites, so it's more a problem with infrastructure than with the phones. That's why I said that the Treo works about as poorly (or well) as any other cellphone.
motorola and t-mobile (Score:1)
v360 and t-mobile (Score:2)
GoMadic (Score:2)
Re:GoMadic (Score:1)
T-Mobile with the V360 (Score:3, Informative)
So all in all, works better than I would've expected. As with anything, YMMV.
Re:T-Mobile with the V360 (Score:1)
LG VX6100 (Score:2)
Re:LG VX6100 and Verizon (Score:1)
A hack I've wondered about. (Score:2)
I'm sure it would be slow, but it in theory wouldn't cost you anything.
My Cingular setup (Score:1)
I just use my Bluetooth adapter on my laptop to connect to my Bluetooth cel phone. Formerly a Moto v600, and now an LG CU320 (3G). Once paired with my laptop it appears as a Bluetooth modem, and the
Cingular pricing? (Score:1)
The best I can find on their site or reps is $39.99/month for "Data Connect Unlimited", which has to be purchased with a minimum $39.99/month talk plan.
The other person I spoke with was an HP exec, and I figured it was a HP-negotiated pricing plan; but barring you being corporate, can you tell what this plan is for $20/month, and any details (connectivity,
Re:Cingular pricing? (Score:2)
There is indeed a $19.99 consumer unlimited data plan. I think you need a $30/mo+ voice plan to get it, and it only applies to one phone, not the entire account.
Data rate is whatever your phone is capable of. I used to use it with a GPRS phone over USB, (think 56K modem) now I use it with a EDGE phone over BT (Think slow DSL).
I think there are seperate plans for 3G, only slightly more expensive, but as my W600I doesn't do 3G, I didn't pay attention while
Re:Cingular pricing? (Score:2)
There's MEdia Basics, MEdia Works, MEdia NET... it's just too much. They need to make it simple, or at least attempt to explain things a little better, you know, say something like "Hey, dummy, don't pick a TXT service if you get MEdia Works, it's already included!"
For example, why would I want to buy MEdia Works, and ALSO select a TXT and/or MMS package? It makes no sense, yet their s
How about without a cellphone? (Score:2)
Yes (Score:1)
T-Mobile and Sony Ericsson P910a (Score:1)
- use it as a modem (pc bluetooth to phone gprs to internet)
- use it as a modem (pc bluetooth to phone dial into an ISP's dial-up -very slow-)
- retrieve IMAP e-mail via gprs
- retrieve & send data for a handful of apps via gprs (opera web browser, avantgo, an SSH client, and worldmate pro, to name 4 useful ones)
- sync contacts and calendar data with Lotus Notes 6.5.4 (what I do)
- sync contacts, calendar data, a
Check out the Motorola E815 (Score:1)
HTC's Wizard a possible candidate (Score:1)
One guy's experience getting it to work as a modem is here:
http://www.pdagold.com/articles/detail.asp?a=269 [pdagold.com]
The HTC Wizard seems to have good reviews, although nothing is perfect, and even though its CPU is dual-core, people are concerned about its speed.
www.xda-de
experience with nokia 6230i and Siemens S55 (Score:2)
Razr? (Score:2)
I think it was a Razr.
I went with the RAZR (Score:2)
This is all on top of the fact that with bluetooth, you can do things like send/receive/archive SMS messages from your Powerbook (google BluePhoneElite), which is a handy feature if you send/receive a lot of messages - something I've started to do now that I have a phone with surprising
Treo (Score:2)
You may be able to do the same trick with the Treo 700W and PDANet, and get the 3G speed. However, I don't have 3G coverage here yet so I've never looked into it.
T-Mobile and Nokia 3660 works for me (Score:2)
It syncs with iSync; I can use the phone as a Bluetooth modem that works with my Powerbook and my Palm E2, both over GPRS (33.6K-ish speeds), and as an "analog" phone (at a whopping 9600 baud); and the phone isn't monumentally stupid, though the keypad has tiny, tiny number keys.
As a bonus: I've got an IR ThinkOutside folding keyboard that works with both the phone
I had that exact situation working for me (Score:1)
That phone only did 1xRTT, not EDGE, but it wasn't bad for email or blogging and light s
Sony T637 and Ziplinq retractable usb charge (Score:1)
How ubiquitous is WiFi where you live? (Score:1)
I'm a Verizon Wireless subscriber and G4 iBook user in Washington, DC. If I need Internet access while not at home or work, it's usually pretty easy for me to find a hotspot (free or paid at one of the 10^9 Starbucks within half a block from my house).
I used to have a Treo 600 with the $40/unlimited PDA plan, which I could synch using iSync. Although I used it, I didn't see the value added for my needs. Verizon charges up the a$$ for data services as compared to Sprint (or T-Mobile). Their cellular co
Samsung D600 (Score:2)
http://www.linkable.co.uk/blog/samsung-d600-it-is- slide-it-baby [linkable.co.uk] seems to suggest that partial Mac support is there, but not contact syncing. A link from there suggests iSync support in 10.4.6.
My recipe: T-Mo + Sony Ericsson + Mac OS X (Score:1)
* Sony Ericsson phones gave me acceptable call quality and absurdly simple DUN & contact/cal sync.
* T-Mobile gave me all-you-can-eat GPRS/EDGE for $20/month and they don't restrict which devices you use or how
* iBook/OS X Panther with iSync handles all of the above. I use a Bluetooth dongle instead of a cable, I like it.
A few things I learned along
T-Mobile with a Motorola V300 or V330 (Score:2)
It costs me about 20 bucks a month for unlimited connectivity, thought the BW is sometimes kind of slow. I've used it all over the country, pretty much anywhere there is cell phone se
Re: (Score:1)
Nokia 6682 (Score:2)
My previous phone was a Nokia 6230 (link [nokia.com]) and at the time I purchased it, was at the bleeding edge of cell phone technology. Bluetooth, GPRS Modem, Camera, Video, SD Card, you name it. So the decision to upgrade FROM this phone was a tough one. Which phones on the market today made the $$ I'd have to spend WORTH the upgrade?
After spending a lot of time researching, I finally settled upon the Nokia 6682 (link [nokiausa.com]). It had the same features as