Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

Hi all,

I have a very basic question about using BT, since I've never used a
cellphone as a modem before...

If one gets a cellphone that's BT enabled... and a Palm that's BT
enabled... can you connect to the net over your palm/phone, while
just making a regular phone call, as opposed to needing a "data plan"
with your cell provider?

I'm guessing that you can, since this seems very similar to using a
landline modem/phone combo, but I just want to be sure.

Seems like those data plans would make this thing way over the top
expensive, particularly if you don't use the wireless feature very
often.

Thanks in advance!

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

Harris wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I have a very basic question about using BT, since I've never used a
> cellphone as a modem before...
>
> If one gets a cellphone that's BT enabled... and a Palm that's BT
> enabled... can you connect to the net over your palm/phone, while
> just making a regular phone call, as opposed to needing a "data plan"
> with your cell provider?
>
> I'm guessing that you can, since this seems very similar to using a
> landline modem/phone combo, but I just want to be sure.
>
> Seems like those data plans would make this thing way over the top
> expensive, particularly if you don't use the wireless feature very
> often.
>
> Thanks in advance!

Depends on the carrier. I use Verizon and it lets you use voice minutes
for data modem calls.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

That's great. I use Verizon also, but I didn't even know they had BT
phones! Thanks for the info.

On Sun, 10 Oct 2004 15:52:59 -0700, George Fragos
<gfragos@comcast.net> wrote:

>Harris wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I have a very basic question about using BT, since I've never used a
>> cellphone as a modem before...
>>
>> If one gets a cellphone that's BT enabled... and a Palm that's BT
>> enabled... can you connect to the net over your palm/phone, while
>> just making a regular phone call, as opposed to needing a "data plan"
>> with your cell provider?
>>
>> I'm guessing that you can, since this seems very similar to using a
>> landline modem/phone combo, but I just want to be sure.
>>
>> Seems like those data plans would make this thing way over the top
>> expensive, particularly if you don't use the wireless feature very
>> often.
>>
>> Thanks in advance!
>
>Depends on the carrier. I use Verizon and it lets you use voice minutes
>for data modem calls.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

In article news:<1h6im05ssu6t5ul482folbgriga1a128pq@4ax.com>, Harris
wrote:
> If one gets a cellphone that's BT enabled... and a Palm that's BT
> enabled... can you connect to the net over your palm/phone, while
> just making a regular phone call, as opposed to needing a "data plan"
> with your cell provider?

Just to clarify: You're not hoping to make a voice call at the same
time as a data call? The word "while" makes it look rather as though
that's what you're asking.

You don't say where you are - if you're in the US you may be on a CDMA
network and I know next-to nothing about those.

If you are on a GSM network you have two possible ways to connect to
the net. GSM Data and GPRS. GSM Data uses the phone just like a modem,
data are sent digitally from your handset to the network, where they
are converted to acoustic modem tones and sent to the remote modem in
the normal way. GSM Data has to be enabled by your service provider
(assuming they support it at all it may or may not be enabled
automatically, and they may or may not make a charge for it) but
thereafter it works just like any other phone call (though it may or
may not be charged at the same rate as voice calls and you may or may
not be able to use any "free minutes" included in your tariff for
data).

GPRS works differently, and is billed differently. Whereas a GSM data
connection is billed by the minute (or second) GPRS connections are
billed by the byte (sent and received). GPRS connections can remain
open for a long time without transmitting anything, and this costs you
nothing. To use GPRS you need to have a tariff that includes GPRS
usage, and this may or may not be more expensive than one that doesn't.

IME the special data tariffs that one can get either include a certain
number of minutes of GSM data connection (which can't be used for
voice) or include a certain number of MB of GRPS connection. They may
also offer further minutes/MB at a different rate from that available
on non-data tariffs. They are usually sold with data cards for laptop
PCs, rather than with ordinary phone handsets.

Some networks or tariffs may only allow GPRS to be used for WAP, others
allow GPRS internet use. Most allow either, but you do need to get GPRS
enabled on your account and you do need to specify that you want it for
internet access (there may or may not be a charge for this).

Generally, anyone can do anything as long as it's supported and enabled
by the network, but they can charge you anything they like for it. The
only way to be sure is to ask your network.

Cheers,
Daniel.