Use a mobile phone as a 3G modem?

[cookie_monster]

I'm away camping and would like to be able to browse the internet a bit. I've hooked up my mobile phone as a 3G modem but i'm not sure how much this might cost. I have 'unlimited' internet on my Vodafore contract which of course isn't really unlimited I think it gets me about 3Gb per month. Anyone else use their phone like this of am I better off buying a 3G dongle? Am I risking running up a massive bill (hidden charges for this kind of use) by using my phone like this?

 

Cheers.

[kearton]

I would check with your provider. I know T-Mobile differentiate between using Internet on your mobile and using your mobile as an Internet connection for something else (like a laptop). You have to pay extra for that functionality.

 

e.g https://www.t-mobile.co.uk/services/mobile-internet/on-your-laptop/phone-as-modem/

 

EDIT: Found Vodafone's info squirrelled away. Looks like it'll cost you £20 !! ouch

http://online.vodafone.co.uk/dispatch/Portal/appmanager/vodafone/wrp?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=template10&pageID=MB_0022

Edited August 22, 2009 by kearton
Added URLs

[crc-ict]

Yeah, beware here. I did this on an O2 phone a while back, and despite having a sufficient amount of data included, sending two e-mails cost me around £3! Because it was done via a laptop and not the phone itself.

[EduTech]

Again i would check with your service provider that you do have DATA on your tarrif, and that this can be used on your laptop.

 

If you can purchase the dongle which is normally around £100 you can then use it as a Pay and Go 3G Connection. failing that the Contracts are not too expensive now £10 - £15 per month and sometimes you get the first 3 months for free.

 

Even though i have Data on my phone contract i still have a Seperate contract for my 3G Dongle as i use the phone Data to push my emails to my phone etc as well as facebook and then i use my 3G dongle for any browsing, work etc i need to do while away.

 

James.

[rh91uk]

I totally agree -check with your service provider. What I always try and tell people is unlimited never means unlimited - my dad was just about to sign up to a contract with Three with "unlimited internet" - only to turn out they gave him 1gb a month!

[CyberNerd]

You can do this with android phones (although it looks like it's against the T+C for T-mobile)

Tetherbot

 

Tetherbot is an experimental SOCKS proxy and Port Bouncer that should allow you to connect your laptop to the internet using the internet connection (EDGE, 3G or WiFi) of your Android-powered phone.

[cookie_monster]

Turns out I get 500 Mb per month with my current contract then it's £2 per Mb i'm impressed with the speed though.

 

I noticed a deal on a dongle today that gave you 'Unilmited' internet for £20 per month then in the small print it tell you that if you go over 5Gb they might have something to say not quite sure what part of 'Unlimited' Vodafone don't understand maybe i'll ring and ask if they need my help clarifying it.

[IanT]

I use my o2 XDA as a modem, hock it up via the USB cable and use the internet

[pooley]

You could buy 1 of Welcome to 3 Dongle 4 Free and "unlock" it, add a PayGo 02 Iphone sim (fleebay etc) and get free internet for a year (just need the initial £10 topup)

the free web and wifi bolt on is a monthly deal you will recieve a txt each month saying your bolt on has been activated untill your 12 montths runs out (or until they work out your not using an Iphone lol)

 

S

[localzuk]

I have just been investigating using mine for the 2 days away I'm having. It isn't worth buying a 3g dongle for what will effectively be a few mdsn documents whilst i'm out and about.

[Jamman960]

Cookie: what phone do you have?

 

As you've got 500mb included I'd guess your on Orange? in that case I've used my omnia while tethered to my laptop on orange, I can't remember how much I was charged when I used it but it certainly didn't break the bank - I've only ever used it for short periods of time though.

 

Either way it worked out much cheaper than a the usual hotel wifi

[cookie_monster]

It's a Sony C702 on Vodafone I didn't realise that I had the 500Mb as Voda have a very odd way of showing addons when you look online, oh well i've got it and it works pretty well