Internet via mobiles

[BrendanS]

Re: In fact Brendan you have ...

I'm no PC guru, just someone that likes experimenting and has picked up some knowledge along the way.

A lot of support and installation guys have very little detailed knowledge. They work off scripts, and if a pc has problems will often reinstall from a company standard image as a quick fix. They don't have the time to actually fix the real problem. Standard practice in most medium to large companies, or those that use outside contractors.

Anyway, what do you expect them to say? - Actually we couldn't be bothered doing the job properly, and told you some porkies in order to get the easy option from you

If Rushers wants to connect his laptop to his mobile, I'm more than happy to talk him through it

 

[Abigail]

Re: In fact Brendan you have ...

Hi -not a guru at all, and some of the above is over my head - but I have run two businesses, including one which is very much about exchanging large docs etc - via a laptop and various mobile solutions for the last three years. I use an apple for that work but use similar solutions with a pc too, including for weather.

We use whatever is the cheapest and most convenient at a given time. So when we tied up for ages we got BT to install a landline and used broadband on board (we live on board). That's not possible now we've gone foreign so we rely on mobiles and wifi.

I use a sony ericsson mobile and subscribe to Orange data and voice services, because only orange supports apple connectivity. We also use a vodafone mobile with the pcs. For PCs there is usually a script on the disc that comes with the phone; for an apple you may need to download it. You load this on the computer and line up the script to the right point in the chain of internet preferences (I'm afraid I can't remember the PC terms right now). You must also pair the laptop and phone as bluetooth devices.

This sets the phone up as a modem and away you go.

Three points:
(i) 3G is *way* faster than GPRS. Coverage is not as good however, but all the suppliers, I think, set it up so if no 3G you drop back to GPRS. Both are often faster than dial up.
(ii) You pay by the mb for data and the bills add up fast. It is worth setting your browser to block pop ups etc and, on a PC, setting up onspeed. But you can get some very good bundles, particularly if you are a business user.
(iii) there is a 2mb limit on emails through the orange system. If I get a big doc I go on to webmail and download the attachment seperately which is a bit of a pain. I don't know if the others do anything similar.

I use phone and mobile a lot, and find it generally very reliable and quick enough for my needs. Where I can find free wifi I use it, but in this country this is still uncommon, and paid for wifi is much dearer than the phone. Also it means that I *only* carry the mobile and phone - no datacards or additional wires etc, and I can do a lot of stuff on the train if necessary. So far, cruising in Europe, we have found free wifi fairly often and otherwise have used a memory stick and cafes.

It takes a bit of fiddling and some costs but with a bit of time (half a day?) it can be made to work and do what you need efficiently. This posting is done via 3G on my orange mobile from an apply power book

HTH

 

[Richard10002]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you have a link for this ?

All I could see was this - no mention of £1 a day - mind you if thats £30 a month (as opposed to just £1 on the days you use it) - then Vodafone do £50 a month unlimited with 3G - so maybe not so different

http://www2.orange.co.uk/servlet/Satelli...d=1137070320264

[/ QUOTE ]

The short answer is no... I found a link when I first started using it, but cant find it now... but that' orange for you.

All I can say is that I dial 450, then option 3, option 1, option 1 until it tells me I have orange World Unlimited until midnight... I then get a confirmation text.

If I find the link, I'll let you know

BTW it's a PAYG sim.

Having said that, if I were permanently UK based and looking for a contract, I would get T-Mobiles Web n Walk (Plus or Max I think, so you can use it on a laptop, and even for VOIP). I think the cost is about £50 per month for "unlimited".

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/Dispatcher?menuid=im_webnwalk_laptop

 

[rhumlady]

I am suprised that Orange can connect to anything let alone an apple. Over the past 12 months they have go right down the drain. I can't even get them to believe they don't owe me £550!!! I have been with them for 11years but will be moving when the time comes next year.

 

[andy_wilson]

Bloody typical...

Great replies to your question, Orange are now crap (being bled dry by the French), and loads of BlueTooth devices suggested (many of which are no longer available), as being better than all the rest.

So...

Some 'Bluetooth phones are designed to act as a modem and do it very well, some are designed for it but are not so good, and most are designed to copy ringtones, pictures and videos between each other and will never give you a data link as long as they have a hole in their earpiece.

Firstly, what phone are you using?

What subscription do you have, contract or Pay As You Go?

What weather details do you want, pictures (weather maps) or data files?

Where are you going to use it?

Answer those and you might actually get a better answer than the Orange shop (or I might venture - this forum) has supplied!

At least there are a few gems on here, like making sure you are in full control of any update services. Windows XP could easily cost you £50 updating itself in the background, or £300 if you are abroad! Anti-virus updates would cost a few quid every day and spyware could bankrupt you!

 

[peteandthira]

Re: Charging...

Check your computer settings. If you're not careful, lots of software can connect to the internet and download updates, eg Windows itself. You will be paying for that by the MB with GPRS.

Pops

 

[rushers]

Re: Bloody typical...

Andy,
Thank you.
I have a 6310i on a monthly contract, would like to be able to download weather charts, mainly UK and near continental, Holland to Brittany.
Regards.

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Bloody typical...

what computer (make and exact model). what operating system, and current level of it. Does it have bluetooth connectivity built in, or are you planning on buying a bluetooth dongle

Which package on (Orange?) are you on? do you have gprs data enabled, or not, or is it G3 package. The exact package name you are on will probably help a lot.


We can talk you through the whole process of getting online but we do need a lot more info