bluetooth/surfing web with cellular..is it worth it?

[goshendoc]

Hello,

I am considering purchasing the sony/erricson t61c cellualr phone with the bluetooth adapter to basically check email and do some light surfing utilizing the bt with the cell phone. I have verizon account and this is the only phone they offer w/ BT.

What I would like to do is connect to my ISP (earthlink dial-up service) via the cellphone and use that connection. Is this possible or am I way off base here?

Thanks for the help

Chris

[dc-k]

I use a BT link to a GPRS cellphone and with supressed graphics I have found it like a slightly slow dial-up 56k service with graphics.

Took a whilt to get it to work but its quite adequate when out and about...

[Osiris Thunder]

I am under the impression that you would like to dial-up your own ISP using the phone? First you must figure out if the phone will work as a data modem. Also, does Verizon Wireless not have wireless web service already?

Those lucky enough to have GPRS already know how easy it can be to use the GPRS service of the provider and not have to dial anything extra. Having said that, yes you could do as your are asking as long as the phone itself can be a data modem for you.

I have setup the BT connection from my NZ to my phone a few times now just to get the hang of it and I can tell you this right away. Take some time and get the proper BT driver for your phone and install that on your PDA before you begin. It will make all the difference.

[PvV]

Is it worth it? It really depends on your needs, doesn't it? Check what you would need personally or professionally and then see if it's worth the price for a data plan.

The nice thing is that the technology works. And while it is not broadband, it does provide for good communications, especially checking e-mail and doing quick yet small web-searches.

Oh, and don't forget just how cool you'd look out there surfing on your PDA. :)

[Unregistered]

is it worth it - well, only you can decide. my .02

[pstoppani]

I don't think it is worth much; it is slow and expensive.

I just use my NZ and BT phone to do email.

[goshendoc]

Thanks for the input.

As stated in my post the "is it worth it" was geared towards those who have suffered the 'blood, sweat and tears' to get it set up "to basically check email and do some light surfing."

Your responses were very helpful. I've decided to hold off for now as Verizon does not offer a true data plan and the phone I mentioned is not clear as to whether it can be a data modem phone.

Thanks again.

Chris

[jwittman]

Verizon does offer a wireless plan called Express Network. It's pretty expensive though.

[rollin1]

with the sonyericcson t68i, I am able to go theu ATT and use their service or I could use it as a modem and call my home ISP. In either case it is worth it. At least for me.

[jlbunting]

I have Verizon and I have a NZ90.
The phone I have is a Motorola Timeport 270c
Right now I am debating buying the Bluetooth adapter for my phone ( About $100) or waiting for Verizon to support a phone that uses Bluetooth.

In the past I have used my 270c and my Clie N760 to surf the internet with. I had to buy a cable to connect the two and set up a connect correctly.

Verizon does offer internet access for FREE but you have to know how to set it up. Its not the fastest service but you can surf and get email. I use the internet with my old Clie. The connection is 14.4 and it did not cost anything additional. The only thing it did cost is my cell phone minutes but if you have free night and weekends, its great.
I used it alot on the weekends.

Right now... I have a friend who is getting a job with Verizon and I am waiting for him to get me the inside info on what phone verizon is coming out with that use bluetooth and what plans they have for internet access.

[jwittman]

The slower "free" version that Verizon offers is called Mobile Web and is now $6.95 a month. If we're talking about the same thing.

I'd be interested in hearing some insider information about Verizon offering bluetooth phones.

[jlbunting]

Its not mobile web>

this is the Link to a pdf that tells you how to set it up:

http://www.supplynetwireless.com/drivers/Verizon%2019.2%20Setup.pdf

Also, I heard a rumor about a week ago that in the next couple of months verizon was going to start selling phones with bluetooth built in.
I will be sure to post it> if the rumor turns into fact.

until then, its all about an adapter. But right now I can't justify the 100 price.

[yOyOYoo]

any links you could provide for the adapter as well as the phone?

Also I heard of a motorola phone, candy bar style, in which you could replace the battery with a bluetooth enabled battery, and this way, the motorola phone would be bluetooth enabled. i think it was the 270c, but I'm not sure, anyone with more info?

[yOyOYoo]

http://commerce.motorola.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=242499&prmenbr=126&accessories_cgrfnbr=22&zipcode=&phoneID=&search_string=238596,29&type=239602

this is what i'm talkin about! Looks pretty cool I wonder how it works..

I wonder how fast conecting to the net via bluetooth is versus connecting through the data cable from thesupplynet at 14.4 is.

I would seriously consider selling off my Motorola T720 to get this old outdated model, just cuz it is bluetooth capable!

[jlbunting]

I have the Motorola Timeport 270c < I have been very happy with my phone>

Here are some links, and yes the Bluetooth adapter does work with the 270c.

Phone:

http://commerce.motorola.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=239603&prmenbr=126&phone_cgrfnbr=1&zipcode=

Adapter:

http://commerce.motorola.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=242499&prmenbr=126&accessories_cgrfnbr=22&zipcode=&phoneID=&search_string=238596&type=213471

[yOyOYoo]

jlbunting, do you have the adapter?

I was wondering if I did get the phone and adapter, could I use verizon's "free internet" to connect and surf with my TG50? or is there a different plan (the express network) that i have to use.

Just curious about pricing plans and such for verizon, seeing as how it has no bluetooth enabled cell phones, and from what i read about in www.howardforums.com, it doesn't look like verizon is going to be putting out any for the next 6months at least.

[jlbunting]

No I don't have the adapter but I am thinking about buying it> When I get some extra $$ Cash.

As for working with the TG50 I think it would work fine. I have a NZ90 and I am looking into getting the adapter so I can go online.

I hope Verizon does not wait 6 months to offer a bluetooth phone. I just emailed another friend of mine who works at verizon and asked him. I will be sure to post his response.

[jlbunting]

here is an intersting Link for bluetooth Palm drivers:

http://www.palm.com/uk/mobile/drivers.html

my Guess is the Mororola 280 drivers would work with my 270c, But I am not sure. This is just by guess.

[Unregistered]

BT connectivity was worth the "blood, sweat and tears" for me.

I'm using an NZ90 with a T68ie. I normally use a GPRS account for email and web access. The speed is good. On the weekends when I have free voice time on my cell plan, I use the T68ie to dial up my regular ISP for email at about 19kbs. I have also used the dial up when the GPRS was down.

The reason why BT is worth it for me is the convenience. I carry the T68ie on my belt. When I need to get info online, I simply pull out the NZ from its case, push a couple of buttons, and I'm in. I can do this at almost any time and anywhere. I also have a WLAN card but I find BT connectivity to be more valuable for me.

[soulbarn]

I have the T61C, Verizon, the Bluetooth adapter, and an NZ90. (I previously used the BT MemStick/NR70v.) In either case, setup was very easy. You can either connect through Verizon's standard data dialup or the Express Network. Speeds on standard are about 9.6k - very slow, but acceptable for text email or downloading headers. The advantage is that it's included free with your airtime.

Express Network isn't as fast as Verizon wishes it was. "Burst" speeds measure 80-140K, but (using online speed tests) I've never been able to get an average speed of more than 30-40K over a ten minute connection. Still, this is fine for email and limited web browsing. Depending on your plan, you may or may not be able to simply use your voice minutes toward ExNet minutes; you may pay a data-based charge, or you may not.

You can certainly dial in to your ISP - but it still counts as a call and still goes against your minutes. On the other hand, if you travel a lot and use an ISP's 800 number to dial in from a laptop/land line, you might save on those associated fees by using the bluetooth phone to dial in to a non-800 number, since most cell plans don't charge extra for long distance.

The Bluetooth connection isn't that hard to make; I had mine set up in just a few minutes. The previously mentioned references on Supplynet give detailed info on connecting Verizon to your Sony via a cable; you can use the exact same settings - dial-up numbers, logons, prompts, etc. - once you've established the Bluetooth pairing between the phone and the Clie (it helps to consider Bluetooth basically a substitute cable technology.)

I actually found making the Clie-based BT connection a lot easier than the Windows XP laptop-BT connection.

Just check and double check the data rates. They change a lot, and you may not get accurate info from the Verizon rep. It is best to actually make a call, then look at your bill, and see how much it cost.

The folks who have GPRS/GSM accounts are lucky - that's a very nice mobile technology, more supported by manufacturers, but unfortunately very poorly represented in most US regions. That may change, but for now, Verizon works best for me - the coverage is pretty much everywhere, and most of it is data-capable.

Finally, you should consider getting a T-Mobile Mobile Hotspot Account. They recently changed their plans to just $30 nationwide/unlimited, and they have hotspots in most major cities (NY, LA, SF, in Starbucks.) That could be a lot cheaper than using cellular airtime, and it will DEFINITELY be faster. It will pay for the Sony 802.11b adapter very quickly.

By the way, you don't even have to go in to a Starbucks to use this. You can stand outside. Most local Starbucks in LA stays logged on all night, so if I need to check a quick email, I just drive in front, log on, and then I'm done. Geeky, I know. But it works.

- Dan

[soulbarn]

Here's how to connect the above setup:

CONNECTING NZ90 to an Ericcson (Verizon) T61c phone with the DBA-10 Bluetooth adapter.

PHONE: Make sure you've "Discovered" your Clie and your Clie has discovered the phone (follow instructions for both. it's easy). If it asks for a password and you don't know it, try "1234," which is often the default Bluetooth password.

Your phone should now list "YOUR CLIE'S NAME" as a trusted device; your Clie should show the Bluetooth phone (in this example, the phone's bluetooth adapter, the "DBA-10.")

Your phone may or may not show a "Bluetooth Ready" signal. I don't know why it sometimes doesn't.

The phone and the CLie need to be set to the same speed - 115,200k.

BLUETOOTH PREFS:

Bluetooth: Enabled
Device Name: Your CLIE Device Name - automatically filled
Allow Discovery: YES
Allow Wake UP: Yes
Device Address: Auto

TRUSTED DEVICES: Your Phone or bluetooth adapter for the phone should be there (DBA-10, in this case)

CONNECTION:
Choose "NEW"
Give it a name (T61c, in this case)
Connect to: PC (NOT MODEM!!!!)
Via: Bluetooth
Device: Autofilled - must be same as trusted device (DBA-10)
DETAILS: Speed - 115,200
Flow: Automatic

Networking: Verizon
User name: XXXYYYYYYY@vzw3g.com
(area code and phone number - ten digits)@
Password: vzw (ALWAYS)
Connection: T61c (or whatever you called your bluetooth connection)

DETAILS:
Connection type: PPP
Idle timeout: 1 minute
Query DNS - YES
IP Address - YES (automatic)

SCRIPT:
SEND AT$QCMDR=3
SEND CR
SEND ATDT#777
SEND CR
DELAY: 0 (try longer if you get error)
END

FOR A NON-EXPRESS NET CONNECTION, same deal except:
USER NAME IS qnc
PASSWORD IS qnc
Remove the first two lines from the script.

(Corrections to the above are WELCOME!)

[yOyOYoo]

where is a good place to get bluetooth adapters plus the ericsson

or the motorola plus adapter for verizon?

[donaldekelly]

After some looking at the howard forums sight it seems like they mentioned four bluetooth phones.

sony ericsson T68 - since discontinued and replaced by
Sony ericsson T68i - not bad but has poor signal strength
Seimens 550 (or something like that) better than the T68i
Sony Ericsson t610 better than all the above

http://www.sonyericsson.com/us/spg.jsp?page=start&Redir=template%3DPS1%26B%3Die%26PID%3D10055%26LM%3DPSM_V

and the Sony Ericsson T608 - another version of the t610?

http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/21414.html

Also, Nokia has one bluetooth phone?

Are there others? Any recommendations?

[FreefallX]

i've used my tmobile account for email on both my Toshiba and now my NZ90. Ive found that sites that are geared up for mobile devices are a pleasure to view. This isnt the case for other websites though. they take just too long to load sometimes. and email is kinda a pain as well. But i can send sms messages on mine and dial out if i want to. I;m also trying out a program called verichat for instant messaging through AIM, ICQ, etc, which is pretty cool. Its only 20 bucks extra for 10mb of space at TMOBiLE, anything less just isnt enough. My bluetooth phone is a Sony ercisson T68i which is perfect cause its tiny, so i can fit them both in my pockets. but internet isnt that bad, and if you have the pda and the phone, why not
:)