Internet on Laptop using Mobile phone

[Betty Swollocks]

I recently got myself a laptop and would like to be able to connect it to the internet, via the mobile phone. My contract is due for renewal with O2, so I asked them if it was possible to use one of their newer Nokias to run the net... If so, was this what their data tarriff was about, using a mobile as a modem, a bolt on for surfing? 3 different departments and I didnt get a straight answer, they didnt appear to know.

I know Vodaphone have a USB dongle which does what I want, but it is in addition to the mobile phone, so two bills and quite expensive.

T mobile have a web and walk (or something like that) which a guy in work uses, but in Antrim, Northern Ireland, he is only getting dial-up speed. Also, I think they now cap the useage. (His unlimited useage would otherwise atract bills of £400 p/m)

I only want something for occassional use, a few hours a day, maybe 2 or three times a week... only surfing, not downloading. Ideally staying with O2, thus keeping my number.

Anybody understand the O2 data deals, can it be used for this purpose. If not, who is the best network for what I am looking. I dont trust the phone shops, as 3 different shops gave very different advice.

(It is for a Mac powerbook, so no data card slot. Just USB, Airport, Ethernet, Firewire or Bluetooth)

 

[judge]

I connect my Nokia E61 to my laptop either via Bluetooth of the the supplied USB cable and via the GPRS Connection obtain decent connection speeds (circa 0.5MBPS) however and this is the killer my contract does not include any bundle of time per month (I'm 17 months into an 18 month contract) it has meant for lumpy bills when my usage has been great.

I would urge you to find a contract where they charge a fixed fee per month for unlimited usage, I'm hoping 02 do that as I'm going to be ditching Vodafone at the end of this contract.

I've a client who took out web & walk, he is based in Central London and it was a piss poor service which he has now junked.

Unfortunately mobile network providers have paid tons of cash for 3G licences which have nose dived in the market, with the squeeze put on mobile tariffs by OFCOM (or whatever the mobile equivalent is) the networks will eek any money they can from punters - hence insurance on my phone is £7 per month!!

 

[Berin]

It can be hard to connect with a phone, I'm reasonably computer literate and I have 2 x3g (Nokia and Sony Ericsson) phones and failed to make it work. The guy I work with who is more computer literate than me manages to get his Nokia connected most of the time, but only via a cable, bluetooth is very tricksy unless you happen to have the right hardware combination on your laptop and your phone.

Also, if you don't have a data tariff you can be charged over £10.meg

In the end I went for the Vodafone USB device with a £25/month data tariff, the gizmo is very easy to use - just plug it in and it works. It's also enabled for the new high-speed data (where there is coverage) which is up to 2meg, as opposed to about .5 meg on a mobile (maybe there's some new ones which do this now).

They now do the high speed data card which I would get if I was buying now, and there are cheaper tariffs but I use mine for work.

btw, you can keep your number whatever service provider you're on if you move to another provider, just ask your provider for the PAC code, or even better, get your new provider to do all the paperwork.

 

[centaur]

Using mobile phones in Europe is a virtual non-starter due to the excessive costs in telephony. Also, most GPS phones only seem to offer dialup modem connectivity, which is pathetic.

You may like to consider using the internal dialup modem in cojunction with a cheapish dialup ISP instead ?

Otherwise consider moving to Hong Kong or SE Asia where these things work properly.

 

[shugie]

My SonyEricsson K800i acts as a modem, and is not too slow either, but o2 charge £3/MB for 3G or normal service, so it gets very expensive very fast.

People who live on narrowboats use an Orange prepay service for connection, but it's not that cheap, and certainly not that quick.

No decent solution around at the moment it appears.

 

[TJ]

Data Card

I recently got myself a laptop and would like to be able to connect it to the internet, via the mobile phone. My contract is due for renewal with O2, so I asked them if it was possible to use one of their newer Nokias to run the net... If so, was this what their data tarriff was about, using a mobile as a modem, a bolt on for surfing? 3 different departments and I didnt get a straight answer, they didnt appear to know.

I know Vodaphone have a USB dongle which does what I want, but it is in addition to the mobile phone, so two bills and quite expensive.

T mobile have a web and walk (or something like that) which a guy in work uses, but in Antrim, Northern Ireland, he is only getting dial-up speed. Also, I think they now cap the useage. (His unlimited useage would otherwise atract bills of £400 p/m)

I only want something for occassional use, a few hours a day, maybe 2 or three times a week... only surfing, not downloading. Ideally staying with O2, thus keeping my number.

Anybody understand the O2 data deals, can it be used for this purpose. If not, who is the best network for what I am looking. I dont trust the phone shops, as 3 different shops gave very different advice.

(It is for a Mac powerbook, so no data card slot. Just USB, Airport, Ethernet, Firewire or Bluetooth)

Hi There BS

We use these at work... http://www.o2.co.uk/mobilestariffs/gadgetsaccessories/datacards and I connect at 1.8mb nice and fast. I know we only pay a small fee per month with limited download. And it's O2 may help you.

T

 

[Gonzo]

Hi

I have a Vodafone 3g card thru' work with a 50mb monthly limit before charges start racking up. Your question made me have a quick look at the Vodafone website and the costs are:

Ideal for Regular Travellers
Mobile Broadband Travel FREE £111.63 per month 200MB per month on any network included, £4.99 per MB after this



Thou shalt be more economical when using the card from now-on. I'm sure my firm doesn't pay this but £4.99 per MB????

Jeez. You've got to have a pretty strong need to want to pay this yerself.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

The data card is out of the frame, apple mac with no slot!
I called with a mate who runs the vodaphone usb dongle at £25 pm. I intended to borrow this and try the connection speed whilst in my office.... unfortunately, he has lost the cd driver.... and we failed to locate it in their downloads section.
It is only for occasional use, so I was hoping to keep it sub £20 pm anyway Anyone any idea how far a mb would stretch in browsing only?
No point in me signing up to 5mb if it way too little or 200mb if its way to much. As stated, its for a couple of hours browsing 2 or three days a week, without downloads.

 

[TJ]

The data card is out of the frame, apple mac with no slot!
I called with a mate who runs the vodaphone usb dongle at £25 pm. I intended to borrow this and try the connection speed whilst in my office.... unfortunately, he has lost the cd driver.... and we failed to locate it in their downloads section.
It is only for occasional use, so I was hoping to keep it sub £20 pm anyway Anyone any idea how far a mb would stretch in browsing only?
No point in me signing up to 5mb if it way too little or 200mb if its way to much. As stated, its for a couple of hours browsing 2 or three days a week, without downloads.

BS

There is shareware on the net that will give you a limited trial period for a Download bandwidth monitor. If you ran this at home it would give you a good idea as to what mb you were downloading and uploading.
Just a thought.
T

 

[Betty Swollocks]

internet

Thanks folks. was on the O2 ireland website and see they do a usb modem, with broadband speed connections, unlimited useage, (10 gig fair use policy), all for 30 euro per month. The first 3 months are even half price. Pity O2 uk wouldnt follow their lead.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

For those of you out there that didnt already know.... the 3 network has just launched it's USB modem, with HSDPA (much faster than 3G) broadband internet. I pre-ordered mine and got the device for free, £15 per month for a 3gig download 18 month contract. Speeds are about 2.8meg, but a friend in work is getting 3.6meg when testing it with the relevant software...

T mobile and vodafone are doing similar devices, expensive to buy the device (about £80 I think) and £30 per month for a basic download package.

3 are offering £10, £15 and £25 per month packages for different download limits. (but you might have to buy the device at up to £50, if not pre-ordered)

Suits me at 50p per day to have broadand on my laptop whilst on my break in work! I have been using it all week and cant fault it!