Hello Kathleen: Of course you're not imposing, I'm here like any other member on this list, to support fellow BrailleNote/MPower users. I have lots of questions myself, and have gotten lots of support here. Let's see if I can answer a few of yours.
1. No, you don't need to have the data services. As long as you have good strong cell signal, you can use just a regular dial-up account. The setup instructions remain the same. The only reason I have the data service from T-Mobile is that I travel a lot and don't like to feel disconnected. It does give a bit of speed advantage and doesn't take away from my plan minutes. But, THE $20 IS A BIG BITE out of a budget. 2. I couldn't use BlueTooth with my classic BrailleNote using 6.11 because the classic BrailleNote family doesn't offer BlueTooth cell phone access. To make a connection with this older combination, you have to use a serial cable between the BrailleNote and the cell phone. I have been reading, with some interest, the problems that fellow listers are having with the cable connected cell phones and the classics, but haven't experienced them myself because I now use BlueTooth. When I used my classic, I used a cable and a much older cell phone (Sanyo SCP4700). The serial cable was kind of tricky to find, but it worked much better than trying to link via infra-red. I bought the Nokia because I could use the talks software, and one of the biggest reasons I got the MPower was that it has BlueTooth connectivity. Remember, when your using regular (Not cell phone data services) you need both a cell phone provider and an ISP. Although I have been very happy with T-Mobile, I have heard really great things about Singular as well. Some of the listers use a combination of Singular and their own ISP's dial-up access. The key is that your ISP (Internet service provider) must offer dial-up access. You can't use such companies as AOL or Net Zero, but you can use such companies as Earthlink or many of the local phone companies dial up (NOT DSL) services. When I was using regular dial-up services, I had a great account with Sprint and Earthlink. 3. The Nokia with Talks does have a volume control, but, being that the speaker is so small, it does have limitations on how loud it will go. Before you buy one, I'd recommend listening to someone else's and see if it will work for you. Unfortunately, even with the cell phone companies helping with the cost, the Talks/Nokia can be a bit expensive. So, as the old saying goes, "Try before you buy". 4. In answer to your second email, BlueTooth and wireless are two separate connection methods. BlueTooth is an option found on the MPower mother boards. The Bluetooth connection is about the same as a dial up connection. It only works over about 30 feet. Wireless works on both the new MPowers and the classics running version 6.11 or later and an external wireless card. Running wireless is more like connecting up to an Ethernet network. It works over about two or three hundred feet and is much faster. So, the long answer to your question, is that BlueTooth and wireless connectivity are totally separate and don't need to both be on to make connections. In fact, you will drain the battery at an incredible rate if you use both at the same time.
