Author Topic: Can I use the cellphone's internet on my computer?? (Read 8238 times)

bzb · « **on:** November 03, 2009, 05:12:28 PM »

I have a WIFI laptop, no bluetooth. My cellphone has 3G data plan. Is there a way to connect my computer to my phone to get internet access? Can I do this instead of paying for separate internet service in the house?

Dan · « **Reply #1 on:** November 03, 2009, 05:20:53 PM »

USB cable.

mancunian · « **Reply #2 on:** November 03, 2009, 05:55:51 PM »

Quote from: Dan on November 03, 2009, 05:20:53 PM

USB cable.

or a bluetooth piece

SuperFlyer · « **Reply #3 on:** November 03, 2009, 08:10:30 PM »

make sure not too pass the limit if applicable.

500mb download allowance a month for a cell is a lot, but for a pc nothing.

Mordy · « **Reply #4 on:** November 03, 2009, 09:24:36 PM »

Quote from: bzb on November 03, 2009, 05:12:28 PM

I have a WIFI laptop, no bluetooth. My cellphone has 3G data plan. Is there a way to connect my computer to my phone to get internet access? Can I do this instead of paying for separate internet service in the house?

I know people who've done this actually when their neighborhood internet lines went dead for the better half of a week. The problem is, its hard to help you without knowing what type of phone and service you have. They're not created equal.
As SuperFlyer pointed out, some carriers claim that "unlimited" is just a marketing term, and in fact they have a limit to how much data you can get away with using per month. T-Mobile and Sprint are more likely to turn a blind eye as long as you pay every month.

Meanwhile, many WiFi enabled Smartphones (such as Nokia Symbian or Windows Mobile) allow you to install applications that will broadcast your cell's data connection over WiFi. Your laptop or any other device in range will see it and connect just like a home router (I do this when I travel... the wife hates it on camping trips! I call it WiFi in the woods).

But despite all that, I much prefer to have a dedicated internet line in my house than to rely on my phone's data connection. Why? Well, first of all a home data connection is actually faster and more reliable (less latency ie. lag in response). Secondly, I want my computer to be accessible online when I'm not home so I can use remote desktop services, and to power my VOIP phone service. Thirdly, most US networks can't handle Voice and Data at the same time, which means when you're using data, you won't receive any phone calls, and vice versa. Imagine if I'm uploading pictures to send to my family across the country, and suddenly I get a phone call... the internet connection goes on hold and eventually the computer will think I've disconnected and give up.

The bottom line here is that yes, it is possible, and comes in extremely handy when travelling or if in a pinch / for emergencies. But I would still strongly recommend having a real dedicated internet line if you can.

Dan · « **Reply #5 on:** November 03, 2009, 10:15:39 PM »

I always use my centro as a modem while traveling.
Never been billed a cent for it.

aygart · « **Reply #6 on:** November 04, 2009, 12:10:40 AM »

Quote from: Dan on November 03, 2009, 10:15:39 PM

I always use my centro as a modem while traveling.
Never been billed a cent for it.

How is this done with a Centro?

Dan · « **Reply #7 on:** November 04, 2009, 12:57:59 AM »

Quote from: aygart on November 04, 2009, 12:10:40 AM

How is this done with a Centro?

See discussion in this thread:
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=176.msg1995#msg1995

bzb · « **Reply #8 on:** November 04, 2009, 01:08:16 AM »

thanks for the info.
i do not have a cellphone yet.
i am looking into the "any mobile anytime" plan from sprint.
i will be living temporarily in a house without internet. for possibily as long as 3 months. i dont want to a reg internet service in this house.
any suggestions on which plan and phone?

Charles The Govenor · « **Reply #9 on:** November 04, 2009, 12:54:12 PM »

Just call and ask them nicely to add on sprint as modem...

ceejay · « **Reply #10 on:** November 04, 2009, 04:01:49 PM »

Everything Plans (which are plans that have Any Mobile on them) aren't compatible with Phone as a Modem (PAM) add-ons. Depending on your phone there are methods to bypass charges.......

Mordy · « **Reply #11 on:** November 09, 2009, 03:24:35 PM »

Good choice with the everything plans on Sprint... hard to beat that right now, and their data network is outstanding (rated by PCWorld as the best 3G experience in US providers).

As for which phones- if your primary reason for getting it is to tether, a windows mobile device with the WMWiFiRouter app will give you the most options and is the fastest/easiest way to get started. Although I love them because of how powerful they are, a lot of people dont like WM because they find it unnecesarily complicated... but for tethering out of the box, its hard to find anything faster and with more options...

My office modem went down once last year, and we actually used my phone and WMWiFiRouter to serve an internet connection to a couple of computers over wifi until the modem was fixed. The phone gets hot when using it like this for too long, but otherwise worked great without a hitch. Strongly recommend.

bzb · « **Reply #12 on:** January 17, 2010, 07:11:14 PM »

Thanks for all the responses.
In the end I signed up with something called tetherberry.com which has a one-time fee, and I have to tether the blackberry to the computer each time. The only downside is that if a call comes in, the internet disconnects, and it is a little slow with streaming.
There probably is a way to do the same thing they do without having to pay them, but I couldn't find it!

Cholentfresser · « **Reply #13 on:** January 17, 2010, 08:31:41 PM »

i tried using Opera mini on my Centro. it said that there's other files that it needs etc. and it didn't work. has anyone else had this problem? does anyone know what you need to do to make it work?

MOSES · « **Reply #14 on:** January 17, 2010, 10:51:28 PM »

Quote from: Dan on November 03, 2009, 10:15:39 PM

I always use my centro as a modem while traveling.
Never been billed a cent for it.

dan!
I thought you were definatly a blackberry guy!!

Dan · « **Reply #15 on:** January 18, 2010, 12:11:18 AM »

Quote from: Moshke on January 17, 2010, 10:51:28 PM

dan!
I thought you were definatly a blackberry guy!!

I've been on Palm OS since 2001. It's so sad to see what has happened to it.

Cheap dude · « **Reply #16 on:** January 18, 2010, 12:22:43 AM »

Its blackberry time!

MOSES · « **Reply #17 on:** January 18, 2010, 10:26:58 AM »

Quote from: Dan on January 18, 2010, 12:11:18 AM

I've been on Palm OS since 2001. It's so sad to see what has happened to it.

you really should go for a bb

Mordy · « **Reply #18 on:** February 09, 2010, 01:45:52 PM »

I agree that Dan needs to upgrade his OS, but since he is someone who considers himself a power user, Blackberry would be a step down in some ways.

(Before the BB nuts start flaming me, save your breath, this has already been hashed out on this very forum over here http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=25.0)

Dan, I know you'd really like that Pre or Pixi, but Sero is only offering you WinMo... and I know how you feel about that one.
Something to consider- the HTC Touch (the older WM6 phone) has a pretty solid port of Android working on it these days. If you were interested in rockin 'Droid on SERO, I'd definitely check it out.

Or, you know... (*cough*) modify the ESN of a pre (*cough*)... sorry, what??

Dan · « **Reply #19 on:** February 09, 2010, 02:11:07 PM »

Quote from: Mordy on February 09, 2010, 01:45:52 PM

Dan, I know you'd really like that Pre or Pixi, but Sero is only offering you WinMo... and I know how you feel about that one.
Something to consider- the HTC Touch (the older WM6 phone) has a pretty solid port of Android working on it these days. If you were interested in rockin 'Droid on SERO, I'd definitely check it out.

Or, you know... (*cough*) modify the ESN of a pre (*cough*)... sorry, what??

I have a Pre that I can't activate...Do you know how to modify the ESN?