Posted by Marian_in_CA on 1/31/09 9:22pm
Msg #276098

Update on the Phone as a Modem idea

This is specifically for those with Sprint... and even more so Sprint with a Blackberry.

If you want to have mobile broadband on your laptop and already have a Blackberry with BIS... you can use the Phone as a Modem (PAM) option, but you have to add it to your plan with Sprint Customer Service. Also, it's costs $15.00 a month. Bummer, especially if you're already paying for BIS... but the upside is that's it's only $15 a month the broadband plans with a modem adapter are $60 a month. This will work with ANY of the Sprint phones that have a modem built in. The data transfer cap is 5GB a month, of course, and that's a LOT of data transfer... but don't go watching hours of Hulu on it because you'll probably eat it up quickly.

Oh, and if you have one of the Simply Everything Plans... this is not included. I'm not sure if this is something you can add on to it or not, you'd have to ask them.

Also, you can't make a phone call and use the phone as a modem at the same time. Yeah... that could pose a problem in some circumstances in our industry. So if you make a call, your connection terminates. You'll have to go back to the Sprint SmartView Software and reconnect. Also annoying... but that can be fixed by purchasing a modem adapter and paying the $60 a month. I guess you have to take what you can get.

You can still receive calls and ignore them without disconnecting, but the moment you actually connect the call, you lose your data connection. And, your connection will stall while the phone is actually ringing or waiting for a response from you. Once you hit ignore, the connection works fine again without disconnecting you. After all, it's a modem... think the old days of dial up, here. Only, this is a fast broadband connection. I'm using it right now as a test, and It's actually a little bit faster than the wi-fi connection in my house!

My husband said a way to get around the phone issue might be to forward your cell to a Skype number and then you could use Skype while using PAM. That would mean needing a headset or a microphone, but they make portable headsets for that. I have one from Plantronics that fits into a nice, small portable case.

Finally... this is a TETHERED connection, meaning you have to use the USB cable to the phone/modem. Bluetooth connections won't work.

Hope that helps somebody.

This originally stemmed from the discussion at Msg #275569.

Reply by John_NorCal on 1/31/09 9:29pm
Msg #276099

Thanks for checking on that Marian,

I knew there was an extra charge but I didn't know the particulars. Good information to have since I do have Sprint, now if they would do something about their picture mail I would most happy!

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 1/31/09 9:59pm
Msg #276107

Re: Thanks for checking on that Marian,

Yeah, I know what you mean!!!

Although, I've read something about some announcement possibly coming in March. Sprint has really delayed the launch of Blackberry software because it lacks MMS capability, among other things that other carriers already have.


BTW. for those wonder just what 5GB of transfer will get you... try this graphic from the Sprint/Nextel folks:

http://nextelonline.nextel.com/assets/images/shop/mobile_broadband_image_en.jpg


It says 5GB (~5000MB) will handle about:

1.7 million emails
10,000 photos
1,200 songs


Although... if you consider downloading enormous edocs... that will change.

Let's say the average edoc email package has 7-10MB of attachments. That may be high, but I'm just going from my experience and rounding up. 5GB of transfer will easily handle over 500 such emails, or about 15 a day. And that's if you're using the PAM exclusively.

Reply by Leon_CO on 1/31/09 9:52pm
Msg #276105

That's basically the same plan that I have with my Palm Treo through Verizon. I get 5GB for $15/month (BroadbandAccess Connect). I have never come close to using that much.

I too have to use my USB sync cable, but it's not a problem. I like the setup, and it's simple. My phone is also my modem -- everything in one package.

Reply by Gary_CA on 1/31/09 11:41pm
Msg #276111

I've got the same deal with Verizon

I'm pretty sure the data is unlimited, I have an unlimited data plan for the blackberry.

I still find it handy but more and more of what I used to tether the blackberry to my laptop to do I'm finding I can do write on the blackberry. Precious few are the websites that can't be adequately accessed from that little screen.

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 2/1/09 7:16am
Msg #276118

According to That Link...

...I referenced in the earlier thread, with AT&T you CAN use a bluetooth connection to teather to your laptop. I don't know why a bluetooth connection would be limited to AT&T if that's really the case (& I'm not saying it's untrue with your equipment & Sprint) as I don't see how that could be carrier specific. Since my laptop doesn't have bluetooth I don't have a way to test it. I didn't think about the data connection & receiving a call until you just mentioned it. Good info for everyone.

Reply by DellaCa on 2/1/09 9:12am
Msg #276125

Re: Thread #?

I don't seem to find that thread Dennis I would like to learn how to do this with AT&T as I do have Bluetooth and AT&T phone service.
Thanks

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 2/1/09 12:52pm
Msg #276144

The Original Thread Started with Message #275569...

...& my message #275613 in that thread provides you with a link to a site detailing how to go about setting up your AT&T BlackBerry in a teathering mode.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 2/1/09 1:58pm
Msg #276150

**UPDATE** Bluetooth does work!

Dennis, you're absolutely correct. At first the link you posted in msg #275613 did not work for me, so I went in another direction. I just tried it again, now that Sprint enabled PAM on my account, and it works 100%! Even better, it handles the incoming, outgoing call situation much more elegantly than the Sprint software does. You still can't use the phone or BIS when the modem is active, though.

So, if you have a bluetooth adapter or capability on your laptop, that would be the way to go. Just pay attention to your battery strength on both your phone and laptop! Bluetooth tends to draw a lot of power.

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 2/1/09 2:25pm
Msg #276151

Good to Know!

May just have to purchase a bluetooth adapter for the laptop. I've never shopped for one before...it appears they run anywhere from $15 to $50.