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Author Topic:   Internet via Cell Phone??
SkiSteve
Newbie Larva

Posts: 2
From: Heber Springs,AR
Registered: Feb 2002

posted February 26, 2002 17:15     Click Here to See the Profile for SkiSteve   Click Here to Email SkiSteve     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I use Laptop Wallstreet G3 when travel in a Motorcoach. I for the life of me can't find anyone to tell me, or what to buy, to connect to internet to get emails using cell phone. Is this possible?

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+Andrew
Super Geek

Posts: 216
From: Boston, MA, USA
Registered: Aug 2001

posted February 26, 2002 17:57     Click Here to See the Profile for +Andrew   Click Here to Email +Andrew     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It depends on what make & model of cell phone you have. At work, my boss had a Motorola Timeport cell phone and a laptop. The cell phone came with a cable with a connector for the phone on one end and a standard 9 pin serial connector on the other end (presumably, similar cables are available for Macs). With this cable, the cell phone looked like any other external modem to the computer and dialing into an ISP didn't require any other special steps.

Furthermore, some cell phones (for example, that same Motorola Timeport) could be used to access webmail via WAP or standard mail with a built-in client, but of course reading mail on a cell phone screen is a lot harder than reading it on a laptop.

-Andrew

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quantumfluff
Highlie

Posts: 698
From: under the desk
Registered: Jun 2000

posted February 26, 2002 20:46     Click Here to See the Profile for quantumfluff   Click Here to Email quantumfluff     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have a Samsung I-300 with Sprint. It's a Palm/Cellphone in one. You could probably read web based mail with it, but the Sprint software for dealing with mail is useless at best. Eventually, I will write some things to make my real mail available over the web, but that's not a realistic option for most people.

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nekomatic
Assimilated

Posts: 379
From: Manchester, UK
Registered: Mar 2000

posted February 27, 2002 01:30     Click Here to See the Profile for nekomatic   Click Here to Email nekomatic     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Mobile Internet access works like a dream through the infrared port on my Motorola Timeport 250 - at least it does since I tracked down a third-party modem script for it, as Moto don't offer Mac support (booo). It's slow, but it does the job! And it also works with my Visor Deluxe although not quite as dreamily

Lots of other phones also have infrared modems built in, and modem scripts for Nokia phones are in the Mac OS 9 installation. Check with your phone company that they support data calls - you may need to ask them to enable data on your phone.

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MBoprey
Geek

Posts: 92
From: In the crevices of my iBook
Registered: Mar 2002

posted March 21, 2002 06:26     Click Here to See the Profile for MBoprey   Click Here to Email MBoprey     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Mobile... nice and slow. It's fun to laugh at people like that. Haha.

I then realize I still have dialup and I'm not getting anywhere in life with it.

Broadband "roxxors!"

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Msb

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ilovemydualg4
Neat Newbie

Posts: 13
From:
Registered: Mar 2002

posted April 08, 2002 18:33     Click Here to See the Profile for ilovemydualg4     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I used to use a Lombard
I have a Motorola StarTac gosh knows which which is on Verizon. I got the "Windows only" connection kit, and wrote a modem script, and off i am at an amazing 9600 bps.

Sprint and Verizon are now, however, offereing wireless services with greater bandwidth than 200kbs.

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MrMachineCode
Super Geek

Posts: 213
From: -, Oklahoma, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted April 09, 2002 13:08     Click Here to See the Profile for MrMachineCode   Click Here to Email MrMachineCode     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I get on the net using Mosaic on a 486/33 laptop with 4Mb RAM connected through my serial port to my integrated palm pilot/cell phone running a modem emulation program to connect to the web wirelessly. I can browse the web directly off the palm pilot too if I want, and check POP3 email accounts with the Palm OS version of Eudora.

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ArloLeach
Newbie

Posts: 6
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Registered: Apr 2002

posted April 09, 2002 21:15     Click Here to See the Profile for ArloLeach     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hi Steve,

Here's what you'll need to do this: 1) a phone service provider that has a data/web option, 2) a data-capable phone, 3) an "internet connection kit" for your phone, 4) a USB/serial adapter, and 5) a modem script.

#1 - The only two that I'm aware of are SprintPCS and Verizon wireless. I've used both and I like Verizon a bit better -- the bills are easier to read, they seem a bit less gimmicky, and the phone connects at 14.4 rather than 9.960... but if you're more attracted to one of Sprint's phones, or have previous experience with that company, it shouldn't matter too much either way. Note that both services will charge you a bit more for the data option, like $5/month, but specify that you only want to use your phone as a modem and they won't charge you as much as they do for all their web browsing and text messaging add-ons.

#2 - Nearly every new phone these days is "web capable," meaning it has a built-in microbrowser, but again, that's not what you want, so watch out. You want the ability to plug your laptop into the phone and use it as a modem; if you describe it that way to a salesperson, they should get it.

#3 - When you buy the phone, also ask for an internet or data connection kit which will cost you about $75 more. It will include a cable with a proprietary connector on the phone end and a PC-style serial connector on the computer end, plus a bunch of manuals and Windows software that you can throw away.

#4 - Several companies make these; their most popular use is to connect a Palm with a PC-style serial connector to a USB Mac. In fact, if you're using OS 9, you can use Palm's own adapter, which is included in the PalmConnect USB kit ($40). That's the smallest, most portable adapter I've seen -- in fact, I'll sell you mine. BECAUSE if you're using OS X, the only adapter currently compatible is the Keyspan USB PDA Adapter. Whichever one you get, you'll have to install the driver that comes with it.

#5 - Now that your phone is actually plugged into your computer, you'll need to select a modem script in the remote access control panel. Sprint and Verizon both offer these for Mac, but make them very difficult to find. Scour their sites and read the documentation, but if you can't find them, let me know; I have both and can email them to you easily enough.

When that's all ready, set up a network location as you would with a modem -- just remember that your phone is your modem. Where you would normally select "Internal Modem" (Modem control panel on 9, Modem tab of Internet Prefs on X) look for the name of your serial/USB adapter. Then try to load a web page, the phone will dial, and the data will come trickling down -- just like the old days!

By the way, I just received my Keyspan adapter today, and plugged it in to try and make this work for the first time since switching to OS X. After installing the Keyspan driver, I thought I'd jump online to give it a try. By chance, I chose to load joyoftech.com first ... and as the page slowly loaded, the first words I read were "SkiSteve gets lots of advice on how to connect to the Internet via Cell Phone..." in the forum tidbits. Well, I figured that was instant karma or something and deserved this detailed post. I hope it helps you!

Cheers,
-Arlo

P.S. If this looks like a lot of work, don't worry. The connectivity really does a serviceable job for most tasks, so as long as you're not expecting broadband speeds, you'll be glad you did it.

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ArloLeach
Newbie

Posts: 6
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Registered: Apr 2002

posted April 09, 2002 21:30     Click Here to See the Profile for ArloLeach     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Oh, one more thing: while you can theoretically access any dialup account through your phone, both Sprint and Verizon have a free access number that you can use instead. Those tend to work better, and of course, you don't need to pay for a separate dialup account. If you can't find those numbers, let me know.

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ArloLeach
Newbie

Posts: 6
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Registered: Apr 2002

posted April 09, 2002 21:32     Click Here to See the Profile for ArloLeach     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I just noticed that you're using a Wallstreet, which has no USB. Oops! Do you by chance have a PC card USB port? If not, you'll need a different kind of serial adapter. Keyspan probably makes one, but I'm not sure about that.

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nekomatic
Assimilated

Posts: 379
From: Manchester, UK
Registered: Mar 2000

posted April 13, 2002 12:38     Click Here to See the Profile for nekomatic   Click Here to Email nekomatic     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Be absolutely sure that a serial connection kit will work with the Mac before spending money. I believe some kits are like Winmodems in that they need a special hardware driver which is Windows-only. It may be possible to use a given phone with the Mac even if the phone manufacturer doesn't support it (and a phone salesperson almost certainly won't have a clue), but check on the net for a definite recommendation first (i.e. find someone who can say 'I am using phone X with my Mac and I set it up like this and it works.') The Wallstreet PB has serial ports, so you don't need a USB-serial adapter but you'll probably need a mini-DIN to DB9 cable adapter.

Alternative possibilities, depending on your phone, include:
- PC Card based connection kit (likely to be expensive)
- USB connection kit (available for various phones) plus a USB PC Card
- infrared (no extra hardware required, just make sure you can find a modem script for your phone)

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ilovemydualg4
Neat Newbie

Posts: 13
From:
Registered: Mar 2002

posted April 19, 2002 20:03     Click Here to See the Profile for ilovemydualg4     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I can tell you that the serial StarTac cable works fine with a usb adapter and custom modem script.
there can also be usb cables that are "modems" it's not just serial

If it is a kyocera phone, they have support online for connecting their phones with macs, that's http://www.kyocera-wireless.com

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