Ralph Shumaker wrote:
I recall seeing something about Bluetooth in RedHat's menus for several
years now. I just now activated that and found a little Bluetooth file
sharing application in the little task bar. With that active, I told my
phone to look for Bluetooth devices (not expecting anything and getting
my expectation).
I just got a cell phone (a BlackBerry) with Bluetooth. What hardware
would I need to add to my PC to have Bluetooth interaction between PC &
phone?
***Taken from http://na.blackberry.com/eng/devices/features/bluetooth.jsp
With built-in Bluetooth® wireless technology on some BlackBerry
smartphones, you have another choice for making convenient hands-free
phone calls.*
Bluetooth is a short-distance technology designed to wirelessly connect
electronic devices while maintaining the high level of security you
expect from the BlackBerry platform. Another key strength of Bluetooth
is the ability to simultaneously handle both data and voice
transmissions, allowing you to do even more with your BlackBerry smartphone.
As I understand it Bluetooth allows you to connect a wireless
headset/microphone like the Jabra BT500 between your Blackberry and the
Jabra BT500.
***Taken from http://www.linux.com/feature/123251
If you use Linux on your desktop, and you also happen to have a BlackBerry
handheld device, you're probably aware that Research in Motion, the company
that develops the BlackBerry platform, offers nothing in the way of support
for its devices on Linux -- but the intrepid geeks in the free software
world do.
If all you want to do is share data between your Linux box and the
BlackBerry, no sweat. The 2GB Micro SD storage I inserted in my 8800 is
available to my Linux system just like any other USB storage device.
When I connect the USB cable to the BlackBerry, I simply say yes when
Ubuntu asks if I want to enter Mass Storage Mode, and I can copy music
and photos to the phone. I have run into a problem getting the audio for
videos that were created with Kino to work correctly, but other than
that, moving data back and forth between the PDA and the desktop "just
works."
The Barry and OpenSync projects aim to provide a little more
functionality than just moving data. According to its home page, the
Barry project "is a GPL C++ library for interfacing with the RIM
BlackBerry Handheld. It comes with a command-line tool for exploring the
device and a GUI for making quick backups. This project's goal is to
create a fully functional syncing mechanism on Linux." Release 0.11,
which I've been playing with the past week, goes a long way toward
meeting those goals. With it, you can explore, backup and restore, and
-- with a little help from OpenSync -- sync databases. There is,
however, some assembly required.
It's not like I really need that. The fone also comes with a USB cable
and I'm sure Linux will probably have little trouble linking up with it
that way. Has anyone ever transfered files between fone and PC that
way? fotos? ringtones? other?
The BlackBerry even has WiFi, but I already know that my PC does not
have that. What inexpensive ways are there to set up a hotspot at home?
***Taken from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Mobile#Internet_hotspots_.28802.11_WiFi.29
In addition to mobile phone service, T-Mobile also operates WiFi
hotspots in the United States and Europe. In the USA alone, it operates
over 8,000 (as of December 22, 2006) T-Mobile HotSpot locations for
Internet access — including such locations as airports, airline clubs,
Starbucks coffeehouses (Starbucks will soon change it's WiFi
relationship from T-Mobile to AT&T), Kinko's, Borders Books and Music,
Hyatt and Red Roof Inn Hotels.
Beginning second quarter of 2008, T-Mobile will no longer be the
provider of Wi-Fi access for Starbucks coffeehouses, ending its deal
since 2001 to AT&T.[7] However, through a roaming agreement with AT&T,
T-Mobile HotSpot subscribers will still be able to use the AT&T
Starbucks wireless networks for a limited time.[8]
***Taken from http://hotspot.t-mobile.com/support_faq.htm#G1
1. What is T-Mobile HotSpot?
T-Mobile HotSpot provides Wi-Fi wireless broadband Internet service in
locations such as Starbucks coffeehouses, Borders Books and Music
Stores, FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Centers, Hyatt Hotels and
Resorts, Red Roof Inns, Sofitel and Novotel Hotels, the airline clubs of
American®, United®, Delta and US Airways®, and select airports. Using
either a laptop or handheld that is Wi-Fi 802.11b wirelessly-enabled,
you can access the Internet or your corporate intranet at speeds up to
50 times faster than dial-up.
2. What do I need to access the service?
You will need three things to begin using T-Mobile HotSpot. First you
will need a laptop or handheld with Wi-Fi 802.11b wireless capability.
Your existing device may already have this capability built-in.
When your device is wireless-enabled, you will need to set your SSID (or
network identifier) to 'tmobile'. Refer to your wireless network card
documentation for specific instructions on how to make this change.
Second, you will need a standard Internet-ready browser on any operating
system. No additional software is required.
Third, you will need a T-Mobile rate plan. T-Mobile HotSpot has a full
line of service plans to meet the needs of any mobile user - from the
Pay As You Go and DayPass plans for the occasional user to the Annual
and Month to Month Subscription plans for the more frequent user.
(Note: With other carriers offering WiFi 802.11b e.g. AT&T this is no
longer required)
***Taken from a review at
http://review.zdnet.com/cell-phone-and-smart/t-mobile-hotspot-home/4505-6448_16-32486222.html
(Note: There IS a difference between T-Mobile's Hotspots {WiFi} and
their T-Mobile [EMAIL PROTECTED] Service {VoIP})
Many of us use our cell phones as our primary means of contact, but
sometimes poor cell phone reception prevents us from doing away with a
landline altogether. T-Mobile's brand-new service called HotSpot @Home
might be the solution to that. As long as you have a compatible cell
phone, the service lets you make, answer, and receive calls via a
wireless network. Calls made via Wi-Fi will not be deducted from your
cellular plan, meaning you get unlimited calls as long as you're within
range of the hot spot. Not only that, but the service will let you
switch between GSM cellular airwaves and preconfigured wireless access
points automatically. The HotSpot @Home plan is an additional $9.99 per
month on top of an existing T-Mobile plan. If you opt for the family
plan, it's $19.99 a month for up to five cell phones. The service is
also compatible with all existing T-Mobile HotSpots, which are available
in most Starbucks cafes and a few major international airports.
The HotSpot @Home service is currently only compatible with two phones:
The Samsung T409 and the Nokia 6086. So no, your current Wi-Fi-enabled
T-Mobile Dash or T-Mobile Wing will not work with the @Home service.
This is because the Hotspot @Home service will only work with UMA
(Unlicensed Mobile Access) phones that can transition smoothly between
GSM and wireless networks. Hopefully T-Mobile will introduce more UMA
devices in the future.
When you first sign up, you'll receive a complimentary wireless router
that's optimized to be used with the Hotspot @Home service. Our review
model was a Linksys, which is exactly the same as the Linksys WRT54G,
except for a few software tweaks designed by T-Mobile. The T-Mobile
version of the router also offers one-touch pairing with the phone of
your choice, plus it is supposedly not as much of a strain on the
phone's battery. We only used it for a limited amount of time and could
not see much difference in the battery life of the phone, with or
without the router. Of course, you can use your existing wireless router
as well, as long as it supports the 802.11b wireless standard.
Apparently, I can make and receive calls for free (except for a small
monthly fee for said service IIRC) in a hotspot (at home, Starbucks,
McDs, Kinko's, or ???) (altho home is about the only one of those places
I'm ever at). With the proliferation of hotspots ever increasing, it's
a service that I am considering.
Well, yes and no. T-Mobiles [EMAIL PROTECTED] service sets you up with a
Linksys WAP router on your broadband connection at home. If you have a
BlackBerry Curve, and their monthly service, then you can make VoIP
calls over the Internet for 'free'.
***Check here for a review of the Blackberry Curve using T-Mobile
[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://blogs.zdnet.com/mobile-gadgeteer/?p=599
***Check out http://www.theonlyphoneyouneed.com/
This explains T-Mobile's [EMAIL PROTECTED] service including how you can make
VoIP calls at Hotspots away from home as well as from your WAP at home.
I do not know of any other carrier which is offering this except
T-Mobile and it is limited to one or two cell phones and the BlackBerry
Curve.
Hope this helps shed some light on your questions. I just spent an
entire day yesterday researching all of this stuff because I need to
replace my cell phone. After going through all the crap to choose a new
phone, a service plan, etc. through T-Mobile and placing the order for
[EMAIL PROTECTED] T-Mobile told me that because I have a block on my credit
account they cannot process the order until they can call my designated
telephone number to verify I am who I say I am.
No problem. Except, the designated telephone number is for my
non-functioning cell phone which I am trying to replace!
I wound up canceling the order and upgrading to a Bluetooth capable cell
phone from Verizon Wireless. Since they were already my carrier they had
my credit card on file and didn't need to verify who I am. T-Mobile's
loss / Verizon's gain.
Rick
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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