Using a Cell Phone and Laptop to Get Online

Thu May 11, 2006 7:58PM EDT

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Eric writes: I have a cell phone with Internet access and a USB cable that goes from my phone to my PC. Can I hook the phone to by notebook and get on the net using this kind of connection? My service is with Alltel.

Yes, Eric. You seem to have all the pieces of the puzzle to use your laptop to get online via your cell phone. Make sure you have Alltel's MobileLink software (which seems to be part of the Axcess package), though, or your computer won't know how to communicate through the phone line.

If you're not with Alltel (and you probably aren't), most carriers offer solutions like this for using your handset to get online. You'll need a special cable, software, and a data plan. Your provider will be able to tell you more, depending on the carrier and the model of your phone. (Note that this won't work with every handset, as many do not support external connections or data service.)

If you want a more integrated solution, check out the PC Card products, most of which are now designed to take advantage of the 3G networks popping up around the country. These cards just slide right into your notebook and eliminate the hassle of running a cable between your computer and your phone. You also needn't worry about your phone running out of battery charge while you're on the computer. I've had good luck with Novatel's Merlin cards, which are exceptionally sturdy and don't suffer from those flimsy, extendable antennas that many data cards have.

Comments on Using a Cell Phone and Laptop to Get Online

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  • 6 Posted by ploex31 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    i have used this kind of connection for three months. the speed is not very satisfying if you compare with broadband/DSL connection. but you'll glad to know that you can stay online wherever you're out of home.

  • 7 Posted by sonki1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    have comcast but I need a BACKUP INTERNET . I have sprint pcs service (nokia phone) . I looked at verizon.com but they dont offer in my area. would like to hear from anyone who has attached a datacord from phone to USB port. Which cellphone gives unlimited internet?

  • 8 Posted by karenkkerr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    You don't need a cell phone and laptop to access the Internet - check out ifbyphone (www.ifbyphone.com). Using ifbyphone, I retrieve and send Email, do searches, and access any RSS-format website over any phone.

  • 10 Posted by ysed21 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    can i use my cphone to call one's computer, like what i do when i use a computer and log on to msn or ym?

  • 11 Posted by scottretnuh@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    I just started using a tre700 with verizon complete with data plan great download speeds. Getting ready to do some holiday family travel. My daughter has a Dell inspiron 9400 is there a way to connect to the internet using the treo on the road?

  • 12 Posted by asherimaria on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    My service is with Cingular and my phone is a LG 500 I us either the bluetooth or the cable to connect. I think the cable is faster but they both are pretty fast when it comes to downloading compared to dial-up. I have to ssay the speed is on the same level as DSL or Cable

  • 13 Posted by bigborelynchburgcruzer on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    just bought my first computr- a lap-top w/many bells and whistles... I live right next to "po-dunk" and am thinking about air card from t-mob. I like the idea of hitting the net from where-ever. I have to admit I'M SCARED it won't survive my expectations!

  • 14 Posted by pamela_saidi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    Ok. first of all sorry about the speeling errors upfront. next, looks like a lot of people is confused. to make it eazy for everyone. any provider will let you use your phone as a modem to access the internet. almost any phone out there will have the option for external connection to the data network. you do need to check with your provider for pricing. ask your provider about the max spped of the data on your phone. since I am not that familier with Verizon or sprint services and speed I can tell you about Cingular and T-mobile. both will not requier the use of minutes to access the internet. it is one flat fee a month (tmobile is 29.99/ month if you using the phone with a voice plan, cingular is 59.99/ month regardless). people who asked about using AOL to dail!!! you see AOL is not you ISP provider in this case so you do not need to dail your AOL to access the internet, but you can edit your AOL connection and create a profile for AOL software to take the Wireless provider connection: for example Tmobile connection. the speed depend first of all on you phone( Cingular have EDGE on most of thier models and 3G on a few, T-mobile have a few phones with EDGE. and 3G connection is not available in every area)the max speed of EDGE is around 230 KB/seconed witch is a lot better than dail up but not as good as DSL( Video streaming is going t be a problem with EDGE as it will take two to three times the time to fully see the video: tip you can pause the Video until its is fully downlaoded and then hit play). EDGE is very good when it comes to browsing and GOOGLE Booster or other simmler product are recommended :) now 3G speed which is going to be available in a lot of areas is the sweet deal. the intial speed is going to be 700KB/ sec and it will grow to a faster spped up to 14 MB/ sec but that is going to be far in the future. another thing about 3G is the download speed compared to EDGE. 3G will support 400 kb/ sec and that is very good for streaming Videos and downlading. another advantage of 3G is the ability to use Voice and DATA in the same time. only Cingular and T-mobile in the Future are able to do so, Verizon and Sprint have to do some major upgrades to thier net work to be able to do voice and DATA in the same time and if they do I doubt that is going to be as good as 3G of a GSM network(t-mobile and Cingular is GSM network provider). you can use Bluetooth or a cable to creat the connectin between you laptop and phone but I recomend using a cable if you are not that good with computers. bluetooth is a little bit more complicated for people with little computer skills. Make sure about the coverage and speed of the network in you area. even if you phone have the fastest data speed with out a network that supports it will not go as fast as the phone. last thing to say is I recomend using the phone as a modem vs. A LAPTOP CARD FOR one reasons. there is no contract requierd when you use you phone.

  • 15 Posted by doctorsinhora on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    i have a laptop, and a sony ericsson p800 cell phone and i want my laptop to connect to the internet, i have tried this and it has failed i dont know if i dont know how to do it but pliz i need a solution of how i can access internet on my laptop using my cell phone. Moses

  • 16 Posted by pamela_saidi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    I will be glad to help you Dr. Sinhora :) first, I need to know who is your provider? second, I need to know if you want to connect using your phone cable or bluetooth? ( keep in mind that your computer must be bluetooth enabled) third, what is your computer Operating system? finaly, did you check with your privider to see if you have the right feature on your account to be able to use your phone as a modem? ( if you have cingular " the new at&t" then you need to add the laptop connect to the account and it cost $59.99, if you have T-mobile then you need to add the total internet package $29.99) one last thing, your phone supprot a very slow speed called GPRS so the max speed you will get is slower than dail up :( sorry but you might want to consider an upgrade to an EDGE or 3G phone. if you want you can email me fadisaidi@msn.com

  • 17 Posted by taylorconverse on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    @ doctorsinhora, If you are looking into buying a new phone id go with the Nokia 6102i with Cingular service.

  • 18 Posted by kraussm1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    I've been using cingular's data plan for a couple of years, while it's too slow for streaming vid's or music, it works just fine for everything else. this website should answer a lot of your questions. http://business.cingular.com/businesscenter/solutions/wireless-laptop/laptop-connect.jsp

  • 19 Posted by stevenpruett on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    Finally someone who says laptop/PC via bluetooth to cellphone based 3G works. Now how about if that cell-phone plays mp3s, is there a car stereo head unit that can access them via the bluetooth?

  • 20 Posted by wofakya on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    As part of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) concept it has been established almost a decade ago about how the issue of communication from hand held devices to any other system at any part of the world could be possible. however, the high handedness of the so-called regulators, who incidentally are always interested in protecting the welfare of manufacturers, this concept has been very very slow to the extent that the poor and vulnerable are pre-financing the rich, powerful and affluent. I am now using a Nokia 6230 attached to my laptop and relying on a chip with a post paid account sending you this message. What it really means is that if one is to use a pre-paid card, you would be drained and if you are using the post paid, then you either have to be rich or be prepared to sacrifice other needs for the family if you are not rich to be able to stay hi-tech. Stay tuned for more developments. Kofi Yeboah-Agyemang (Product of Leeds university and University of Ghana, Legon)

  • 21 Posted by pamela_saidi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    there are few stero systems out there that will play music from you phone via bluetooth. i asked a guy who worked in besbuy about them and he said that they range $300-$600 for a car stero sysytem that will play music from you phone via bluetooth...keep in mind your phone needs to support stero bluetooth. i know that cingular have a few. not sure about other carriers.... i hope that this helped

  • 22 Posted by t_i_double_m_y on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    I've got alltel as my carrier and I have the greater freedom 1000 plan. Using my Razor v3c I can plug my phone into my computer via USB and initially use motorolla phone tools to create a connection, this allows me to access the internet with approx. a 200-300 kbps speed. According to Alltel all this costs me is minutes, I can however purchase their plan for unlimited use but I mostly use the net after 9 pm so its free minutes anyways. I have not seen any charges on my phone bill for this service. I'm happy with the service espically since there is not always a wifi connection in my area.

  • 23 Posted by gabriel.jackson on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a Sony-Ericsson w810i w/ usb cable and failed to get my laptop to connect to the internet using the phone. What do I need to set up on the laptop and the phone to make it work? Thanks!

  • 24 Posted by jb_cox on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    Traveling for business I reviewed for several weeks which way to go. The company wanted me to go to Cingular so that limited some of the choices. I weighed PDA phone vs cell phone. I finally decided on the Cingular Sync 1) they now offer insurance on this phone they offer no insurance on PDA phone's 2)I have been able to connect using the cable and get fair speeds when traveling, mainly accessing company email (no more $9.95 cost at the hotels and airports), even set up a colleague's laptop so he could check email using my phone 3) Sync syncs with outlook but has a 500 limit on contacts 4) the mp3 player works fine 5)the 2 mp camera does a good job Just my two cents ....

  • 25 Posted by prettyprout on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a Nextel i870 phone. It took me about 2 days to figure out how to connect to the internet. I had to call nextel customer care to get instructions on how to set up a connection. Then after all the trouble, the connection speed is slower than dial-up. The only good is , that i have a data plan so i dont get any additional charges. i cant wait for my contract to be up. nextel phone service is also horrible, dropped calls every day! God help us nextel customers!

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