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General discussion

connect PDA to web using cell phone as modem?

May 24, 2005 2:40AM PDT

I'm still only thinking of getting a PDA, because I'm stuck on one point. If I'm somewhere where I only have a cell phone and a PDA available to me, can I use the cell phone as a modem to connect the PDA to the web for surfing? Let's assume I have the "proper" cell phone and the "proper PDA." I would vastly prefer not to be fooling around with a USB cable at the same time so let's say I have Bluetooth. What, exactly, is the procedure for connecting to the web? Please explain step-by-step so the technologically-impaired, such as I, can understand. If it's impossible to do it with Bluetooth, but can do with USB cable, how is that done?

Thanks for any help you may offer.

Discussion is locked

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suggestion
May 24, 2005 8:56AM PDT

Your best be is to purchase a PDA/Cell Phone (all in one). Blue tooth might work, no guarantee. Using a USB cable really only works w/ interfacing to a computer.

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Thanks
May 25, 2005 1:49AM PDT

Thanks for your reply --I'll check into that!

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bluetooth=awesome
May 28, 2005 12:47PM PDT

Ok rrright, sticking with a PDA/phone combo thing can be a good idea, as well as veryy costly because although getting a PDA and a phone separately can be expensive, a PDA phone could be jus as much as buying the two, maybe even more, and then in order to use the phones internet you need to buy the monthly subscription (i heard cingular charges about $24 a month, verizon charges $5 but i've never experienced it on a big screened PDA) so thats adding so much per month forever! ok, some dial-up services are $24/mo (ummm AOL, but i dunno if you can use a number from AOL) BUT, the easiest way to combat these atrocious expenses is to simply get a bluetooth phone and PDA (personally, i use the Motorola v710 and Dell x50v, i guess i would suggest Pocket PC mobiles..only because i've never used a palm-based one with bluetooth internet). Now, for the steps you wanted to find out. Its really easy, first of all make sure you have the devices and a subscription to dial-up service and make sure u obtain a number from them that an average computer would dial it to get to the internet service. Then, simply turn the bluetooth on from your PDA and cell phone, and then from your PDA you go to bluetooth manager and then click the option for bluetooth modem and then it will as you to choose your phone, or it can search the area (30 feet range) for a cell phone that has an active bluetooth radio and once it is found, both sides will ask you for a PIN (which is always 1234) and then they are connected! from there, your PDA will ask for that dial-up information (so you will need to input your username and password, along with the number used) and then it will try to dial it in and if the username and password work and the number is correct then you're in buisness! and you can enjoy the wonders of having internet through a bluetooth connection with your phone while waiting in the doctors office or whenever without having to worry about paying too much. Now, there is a twist...because you are dialing in, that means you are using minutes...BUT, with verizon, you use minutes to use its mobile web anyway, and im pretty sure its the same with cingular..on top of that extra monthly subscription. Ok, so yea it is still using minutes on top of the dial-up monthly subscription..but hopefully you have chosen a very inexpensive dial-up service, or it makes no sense to get the two in the first place. Alright, well i hope that i have helped you in your quest for finding the right internet-pairing solution to a PDA and cellphone! if i have forgotten anythin, or maybe you want to find out more, or even are confused about anything i have typed, you can e-mail me (i think that it shows my e-mail address or some form of contact from my user information)

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Thanks bad_one
May 29, 2005 12:20AM PDT

Thank you for that input! I see I have more research to do, with calling plans and all that, but you've been very helpful as to what all is involved. If I come up with any more questions on what you have written, etc., I will take you up on your offer of answering my questions by e-mail.

Thanks again!

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PDA + Cell Phone = ?
Jun 8, 2005 8:55PM PDT

Sounds like you know what you're doing. I've been trying to figure out how to do this for a while. I have an IPAQ 4300 and am shoping for a new cell phone.

I was wondering what type of browsing speed you are able to get using the method you mentioned. From what I've read you'd only get about 14.4 kbps. Also, does a Verizon phone "let" you use it as a modem, I've heard there are conectivity issues in that respectI'm most interested in having access to any site I wish, not just he watered down cell-phone web. .

I may pay for a quicker conection (a Verizon VCast/MobileWeb plan). However, you can't get a phone with both VCast and Bluetooth so I'd be stuck using a data kit wire, something I think works but will have to confirm. Any thoughts about that?

Would really appreciate some help. Didn't see your email on the profile. You can write me at mallowmi@hotmail.com

Thanks.