I'd like to be able to get my mobile laptop online in the Bay Area, using a cell phone, for a few minutes, a few times a day, to check my email through a dial up ISP, from a web email site.
(Not using one of the pcmcia cell service cards, ala Sprint. Also, not connecting through the cell phone service providers data connection. I want to use an actual cell phone. And call into any modem number.) I'm considering getting a MetroPCS phone. They have two Nokias, which I think I've seen there are cables (usb for the 2270) & sw for on linux. [*1] What recommendations do you have? What worked for you? How well? Reliability, speed up & down, cables, sw, wireless company, service limitations on such use, phone brands, etc. The MetroPCS Terms of Service say: "In addition, the Service may be used only for voice communications and may not be used for monitoring activities, to transmit data, or for any other one-way transmission application other than data Services expressly offered to you by MetroPCS." http://metropcs.com/terms.shtml I'm thinking they really only want to prevent long term such useage, which would tie up their channel for a long time. I'm suspecting that they wouldn't cancel someone's service for the short time useage I'm asking you about. Perhaps they don't even have a system in place to detect such short term occasional use. -- What do you think? Since the TOS says no data, do you know if their Nokia phones have the modem data functionality disabled. MetroPCS only lets you use phones purchased specifically for the MetroPCS system. You can't buy a compatible phone from someplace else and have them set it up for their service. I'm focusing on the Nokia phones since they are a very major brand, and therefore are likely to have linux specific sw, if necessary. (I don't really care about phone book list management, etc.) Do you know if the other phones MetroPCS offers are also linux modem capable? [Audiovox, Kyocera, LG] Any other thoughts? ----- [*1] Links: Connecting Cell Phone to Laptop http://lists.debian.org/debian-laptop/2002/debian-laptop-200205/msg00197.html Linux Untethered http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2004/02/05/linux_cellular.html Phone/Cell Phone to PC communication http://www.experts-exchange.com/Programming/Wireless_Programming/Q_20739412.html Using Your Cell Phone as a Modem Under Linux http://216.239.53.104/search?q=cache:xrzTtARuaNMJ:cmb.physics.wisc.edu/~friess/laptop-cell-howto.html+cell+phone+modem+linux&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 Linux Apps for NOKIA Cell Phones http://tuxmobil.org/phones_linux_nokia_other.html MetroPCS phones, all: http://metropcs.com/services/brand-all.shtml Nokia 3586i Phone http://www.nokiausa.com/phones/3586i MetroPCS says: Third generation ready. CDMA2000 1X Technology 1900 MHz http://metropcs.com/services/currentphones/detail-n3586i.shtml Nokia 2270 http://www.nokiausa.com/phones/2270 MetroPCS says: Third generation ready. CDMA2000 http://metropcs.com/services/currentphones/detail-n2270.shtml -- http://www.fastmail.fm - The professional email service -- general wireless list, a bawug thing <http://www.bawug.org/> [un]subscribe: http://lists.bawug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
