Internet via Phone

jackfrost · 01-12-2006, 04:55 PM

Hey,

I've read a bunch of the threads on this very very useful forum and a bunch of site online dealing with allowing internet access via a phone but I'm still not sure of a few issues.
First of all, only a certain few carriers allow access to the internet from their phones. What is the average connection speed and what are the approximate costs. I might have heard wrong but, is it possible to reach dsl speeds with a cell phone as a modem?
Secondly, how new do the phones have to be so that they can be used as modems?
Finnally, what are the top few options and packages people are using now.

thanks alot

DarquePervert · 01-12-2006, 05:59 PM

Verizon's service supposedly offers speeds comparable to a low-end DSL package. I don't have the service, so I don't know for certain.

I have Cingular with GPRS/EDGE service. It's certainly not as blazingly fast as my 8mbps cable internet in my home, but it's pretty fast. Faster than any dialup I've ever used. I'd compare it to an ISDN connection, if you can remember that far back.

skadoo323 · 01-12-2006, 06:33 PM

jackfrost,

do you already have service with a carrier? the speeds are dependent on the provider as well the type of package you get through them. Verizon offers thir broadband wireless access, which I have used for work and it does have near dsl speeds (largely helped by graphics compression software verizon gives). Sprint has their regular vision service, which i think seems faster than 56k and I have used once in a while when I'd travel. Sprint also offers Power Vision which has similar speeds to Verizon's broadband wireless access. With Sprint and Verizon normally the newer CDMA phone models support their high speed data access. I haven't really used any GSM provider for data except for T Mobile with a Motorola v60g and that was very slow (could be due to the area I live in). Anyways hope this helps.

DarquePervert · 01-12-2006, 07:28 PM

Just because I can, I'm posting this on my truck computer (not in the truck yet) while connected through my cellphone.
It's pretty damn good, speed-wise.

[EDIT]
After we ran to get our pizza, I did a speed test at broadbandreports.com.

Results:

2006-01-12 20:02:54 EST: 55 / 52
Your download speed : 55 kbps or 6.8 KB/sec.
Your upload speed : 52 kbps or 6.5 KB/sec.

That's far better than any dialup. About the same as ISDN, as I've said before.

For what I'll need to do in the truck, this will work just fine.

JimmyFitz · 01-12-2006, 09:01 PM

Verizon has a service they call 1X that connects at 115k. I use it with a Bluetooth phone that acts as a modem to the PC. Connection time is used the same as voice call minutes with off peak being free. No extra charge to use the service. They also have a faster service that others are referring to with near DSL speeds, not free and you need special hardware.

For unlimited info about cell phones, carriers, plans etc there are two other forums that you can go to for help:

www.phonescoop.com
www.howardforums.com

skadoo323 · 01-13-2006, 10:39 AM

Jimmyfitz,
I am a frequent reader of the posted websites. Just wanted to inform others that in order to use the 1x service for free, well more like just using your minutes, if I remember correctly there has to be a specific code on your account . People without this code have been charged for data usage. It has happened to some friends I know.

JimmyFitz · 01-13-2006, 11:20 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by skadoo323

Jimmyfitz,
I am a frequent reader of the posted websites. Just wanted to inform others that in order to use the 1x service for free, well more like just using your minutes, if I remember correctly there has to be a specific code on your account . People without this code have been charged for data usage. It has happened to some friends I know.

I got a V710 phone about 18 months ago. I have been using it to access the 1x service since I got it. It seems like I had to call and ask them to enable their Picture messaging feature for my phone when I first got it. I don't use it for that because it cost 25 cents to send a picture by email to each recipient and the phone takes crappy pictures. Once they enable that service, the 1x service is also enabled, I think. It has been so long that I may be forgetting some details or Verizon may have changed their policy for newer customers. I learned about the service from phonescoop and HOFO in the first place and followed instructions found there to use it.

skadoo323 · 01-13-2006, 12:19 PM

yup you are exactly right, the pic service had to be added. now its a lil different i think. i haven't used verizon since my work gave me a verizon data card, so i really haven't had a need to find more info on this. they changed this sometime around when the new broadband wireless service came out.

jackfrost · 01-13-2006, 01:09 PM

thanks for the replies guys!

just to clerify a few things, my last contract with cingular just ended and I was looking for a phone that would allow me to access the internet from my laptop using the phone as a modem.

Right now, I am looking into getting verizon. They have pretty decent phones and they have great discounts. Now, my question is this, say I choose the Audiovox CDM-8940 or the Samsung SCH-a950, and i select the America's Choice 1350, will I be able to use my cellphone as a modem for my laptop to reach the internet at no extra cost? (other than useing up my minutes?). What type of speed could I be expecting with this setup?

I'm reading alot about 3G, VCast, EVDO and 1x, what are the prospective speeds, costs and differences for each technology?
thganks

skadoo323 · 01-13-2006, 03:35 PM

honestly i would go to howardforums.com and post this question there. i am not too sure what codes are attached to verizon plans. i am guess you would have to get some sort of picture messaging package or something similar, but again i am not too sure.

JimmyFitz · 01-13-2006, 04:54 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jackfrost

thanks for the replies guys!

just to clerify a few things, my last contract with cingular just ended and I was looking for a phone that would allow me to access the internet from my laptop using the phone as a modem.

Right now, I am looking into getting verizon. They have pretty decent phones and they have great discounts. Now, my question is this, say I choose the Audiovox CDM-8940 or the Samsung SCH-a950, and i select the America's Choice 1350, will I be able to use my cellphone as a modem for my laptop to reach the internet at no extra cost? (other than useing up my minutes?). What type of speed could I be expecting with this setup?

I'm reading alot about 3G, VCast, EVDO and 1x, what are the prospective speeds, costs and differences for each technology?
thganks

If you want opinions about specific phones go to phonescoop. Same for providers and plans. They have forums for each specific phone. You can find out what hundreds of others like and don't like about the phone you are considering.

For technical info, even how to hack into your phone and reprogram it in ways the carrier doesn't want you to do, look at Howardforums. Most of the techie stuff on phonescoop is just reposted from hofo. This is a car computer forum. Everything you want to know about carputers is here including how to use your cell phone to connect it, but if you are looking for advice on phones, go to a phone forum.

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