Sometimes it is just impossible to find a Wi-Fi hotspot or broadband internet connection.  Traveling puts a serious crunch on our internet use – how do you check your email when you are sitting in the passenger seat of the car? We need internet access – now.

Purchasing a connection card can be costly – up to $100 per card, not including the $40-$60 per month additional charge for using this service.  Using your cell phone as a modem can be a great, inexpensive option for light internet surfing or sending and receiving emails.

Costs range per wireless carrier, but all major cell service providers currently impose a 5MB per month limit on modem use.  As long as you don’t download any huge files or email attachments, or attempt to do software updates, you shouldn’t approach the 5MB limit.  Please also keep in mind that your connection speed will not be as fast as using Wi-Fi or a broadband connection.

We investigated the costs charged by the major carriers, and found:

• AT&T charges $15 per month for a current Enterprise account subscription, and $30 per month for a current PDA or Blackberry personal cell phone plan.
• Sprint charges $15 per month, on top of its $49.99 per month “Primary Data Plan”. The Sprint “Pro Pack Plan” costs $30 per month. A “BlackBerry Personal Pack” costs $30 per month. The “Worldwide Data Plan” and the “Worldwide Blackberry Plan” will run you $69.99 per month. All of the Sprint plans only allow you to use 300MB while roaming.
• Verizon Wireless’ modem plan is fairly simple – if you have an unlimited data plan the charge is an additional $15.00 per month.
• If you use an alternate wireless carrier, check their prices for modem use.  Some carriers may not have extra charges (other than long distance when applicable).  Instead, they may just count the time you spend connected against your allotted service plan minutes.

What types of cell phones can be used as modems?  We also checked with the major carriers, and found that typically, the newer 3G-capable smart phones can be used.  Specifically, the major wireless carriers named the following phone models as modem-capable:

• AT&T: The AT&T Tilt; Blackberry Bold, Curve, Pearl, 7130c, 8700 series, and 8800 series; HTC Fuze; LG Incite; Motorola Q9 Global; Pantech Duo; and Samsung BlackJack, BlackJack II, and Epix.
• Sprint: The BlackBerry Curve, 7100c, Pearl 8130, and 8830; HTC Mogul, Touch Pro and Touch Diamond; Motorola i920 and Moto Q9c; Palm Centro, Treo 755p, and Treo800w; and Samsung Ace.
• Verizon Wireless: The BlackBerry Curve, Pearl, Storm, 7250, 7130e, 8703e, and 8830; HTC Touch Pro; Motorola Q, Q9c, and Q9m; Palm Centro, Treo 700p, Treo 700w, Treo 700wx, and Treo 755p; Samsung Saga and Omina; and Verizon Wireless PN-820, SMT5800, XV6700, XV6800, and XV6900.

There are several key requirements necessary of your cell phone and of your wireless carrier.  First, your cell phone must have a data port to connect to your laptop, and you will need to have a data cable (specific to your model of phone) that will connect your cell phone to your laptop.  If you do not have this data cable, you can easily locate one at a nearby electronics store, or, you can do a search on a website like Froogle in order to purchase one.

Second, you may need to contact your wireless carrier’s customer support team.  In some cases, they will need to either unlock or enable services on your cell phone so that you can use it as a modem.

Here is a quick “How-To” that will guide you through the installation process necessary to have your phone working as a modem.

• Plug your cell phone into your computer using your data cable.
• Your computer will recognize that you just plugged in a new device and the “Add New Hardware” screen should pop up. Your phone may have come with a CD that contains the drivers necessary to use your phone as a modem. If your phone did not come with a CD, you may have to do an internet search for the drivers that are specific to your phone model. Install the drivers, and then, using the Add New Hardware wizard, click on the driver that you have installed on your hard drive. Your operating system should then state that it recognizes your cell phone model modem.
• You’ll now need to install the connection software that was provided by your carrier. Your carrier may have provided this CD when you purchased your plan; a CD may have come with your phone; or you can download the connection software from the wireless carrier’s website.
• You may not have the connection software, or you may use an operating system that isn’t compatible. In this case, enter the phone number for your cell phone carrier’s network in the modem’s “dial-up” properties. Check with your provider for details and they should provide you the specific carrier number that is required.

Using your cell phone as a modem can be a quick way to email or surf the internet. With these tips and tricks, you will never be unconnected!

Lana Owens, explains how cell phone subscribers can make the best use of
free cell phones. Like you Lana Owens wants to be a better and more informed mobile user of free nextel motorola phones

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