Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

connect to web using cell phone as modem?

May 24, 2005 2:38AM 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

- Collapse -
Re: Connect Pocket PC to cell phone via Bluetooth
May 26, 2005 2:31PM PDT

I noticed you also posted this question in the cell phones foum, but did not receive the answer you were looking for. I found a detailed guide to connecting a Pocket PC to a cell phone. (Note that it is a PDF document) Although the guide specifically mentions an HP Ipaq and Nokia 6310i, this process works for all current bluetooth-enabled Pocket PCs and cell phones.

However, you should know that bluetooth is rather slow compared to WiFi and broadband, and that the exact speed varies based on the cell phone. For instance, the Nokia 7650 will give you about 180kbps, while the Siemens S55 is around 40kbps. (These are older models from 2004, but help in showing the difference in speed.) You may want to consider this when making your final decision.

Hope this helps,
John


P.S. I was unable to find a good guide for a Palm device, but it can be done as long as the Palm is bluetooth-enabled. However, I would recommend a Pocket PC as they are generally cheaper feature-for-feature.

- Collapse -
can't get link to work
May 27, 2005 4:26AM PDT

John, that sounds very much like info I would like to have, but I can't get the link to work! Can you tell me how to find this info?

Thanks!

- Collapse -
Sorry...
May 27, 2005 7:56AM PDT
- Collapse -
Thanks!
May 27, 2005 10:46AM PDT

Got it! Should've recognized there were too many dot coms and tried deleting the CNET one instead of working from the back to the front!

Thanks so much!