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Rott25 · Jul 19, 2009, 09:11 PM

What's easiest way to connect cell phone to a laptop and use it as a modem (so laptop has internet connection)?

I have HTC P4000 with a REAL unlimited data plan (not a regular plan offered but I got it, and yes it also covers using phone as a modem).

Laptop is a Toshiba satellite with XP installed on it (it's only a year old laptop, came with vista but I went down to XP).

Curlyben · Jul 19, 2009, 09:16 PM

This should all be covered in the phones documentation.
Basically you do a type of internet connection sharing, so it's not acting as an actual modem at all.

KISS · Jul 19, 2009, 09:24 PM

I don't agree with you Curly. The USB connection uses an AT style command set. I know, I modified a modem script for Mac OS9 that didn't work properly.

Your cell phone provider should have the software necessary to run the phone as a modem through USB.

To use it as a FAX modem or dial-up modem may require a different plan.

Rott25 · Jul 19, 2009, 09:26 PM

I have phone manual and it doesn't explain how to do this, cell phone provider (Telus) won't help me with this because they don't really want me to use cell phone to connect laptop to the internet as that will increase data usage and I'll still be paying $25/month (took me a while to get that deal).

Curlyben · Jul 19, 2009, 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by KeepItSimpleStupid

I don't agree with you Curly. The USB connection uses an AT style command set. I know, I modified a modem script for Mac OS9 that didn't work properly.

Your cell phone provider should have the software necessary to run the phone as a modem through USB.

To use it as a FAX modem or dial-up modem may require a different plan.

Granted, but as this device uses Windows Mobile 5 you are basically connecting to another computer.

Assuming you have a connection between the HTC and the laptop, connection sharing options are in the connections sub menu.

I can't be more specific as my only experience with Win Mod id 6.1 pro.

nikosmom · Jul 19, 2009, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by Rott25

What's easiest way to connect cell phone to a laptop and use it as a modem (so laptop has internet connection)?

I have HTC P4000 with a REAL unlimited data plan (not a regular plan offered but I got it, and yes it also covers using phone as a modem).

Laptop is a Toshiba satellite with XP installed on it (it's only a year old laptop, came with vista but I went down to XP).

I use mine this way; my phone came with a USB cable (so that I can upload photos directly from the phone). I use the same USB cable to connect to my laptop to access the internet. I have a Blackberry that came with a CD to download the necessary software into the phone. I lost the CD (because I never thought I'd use my phone for this). I was able to go to my service provider's website to download the software. They also sent me a replacement CD free because I'd need the CD for other things in the future.

The only thing that I can think of (because this should be a relatively easy thing to set up) is that you have to specifically ask for a phone plan that allows you to have mobile broadband service. Even though I have internet access on my phone and had all the components, I still had to call my service provider and specifically request the feature that allows my phone to be used for internet service on my laptop.

KISS · Jul 19, 2009, 11:26 PM

The magic information I could not find for telus in this table: Ross Barkman's GPRS/UMTS Info Page

You need the APN, username and sometimes the password and then just about any communication software should work.

Your APN is internet.com, with no username and password.

WebMessenger Inc. APN settings

I'm not promising anything, but Synccell might work for you. SyncCell Software Syncs Outlook Contacts & Calendar to RAZR with One Click. You'll just have to change a few cnfig parameters which will be very obvious.

Rott25 · Jul 20, 2009, 05:41 AM

Wow thanks for the help, I'll try it out.

chuckhole · Jul 20, 2009, 06:17 AM

There are two different ways to do this. If you use your cell phone as a modem, then you would be providing the dial-up account and phone number the same as any other modem type and it is slow like any other modem type. It is not using the broadband data plan with your cell phone.

The other way to connect to the Internet with your cell phone is via your cellular data plan. I use the Bluetooth connection from my cell phone to the laptop and one of the services that is is exposed via the bluetooth connection manager is the ability to connect to the Internet via the cell phone.

KISS · Jul 20, 2009, 07:22 AM

USB is an odd beast. For one it can be used to access the phone as a USB mass storage device. It can be a regular dial-up modem althoug some providers cripple this. If you dial a fax machine and the phone disconnects immediately, you need to have another service activated, then just as there is PPP, cellular data has a faster speed version of PPP.

My cellular provider charges charges the on peak rates as though you have 0 minutes left regardless as to when you use that mode of connection. They actually want to charge for unlimited internet on the phone and unlimited tethering as different plans.

Bluetooth offers the same ability.

The biggest differece between tethering via USB and Bluetooth is the ability for the USB connection to charge the phone.