A customer of mine has a 3G data card but has an ultra-portable laptop that does not have a PCMCIA slot to plug it into. I am going to advise them to put the sim card into a 3G phone instead and use it as a 3G modem over Bluetooth. The phone is a SE V630i. What is the viability of this solution - would it work as fast as a data card? If not, what other solutions could anyone suggest?
Using a 3G phone as a 3G modem for computer
- Thread starter 5tephen
- Start date
should work fine, and will be pretty much as fast as a data card. (The limits of bluetooth or USB speedwise don't make much difference to a modem connection as the bandwidth isn't saturated)
You need to have the driver software (should have come with the phone) and a means to connect the phone and laptop (normally bluetooth, usb cable or IR), plus the correct internet connection setup on the phone.
What network are you trying to use for the connection?
You need to have the driver software (should have come with the phone) and a means to connect the phone and laptop (normally bluetooth, usb cable or IR), plus the correct internet connection setup on the phone.
What network are you trying to use for the connection?
As far as I can remember it is with Orange.
I thought Bluetooth was limited to around 20kb/s, or is this only with particular devices? (Seen this when transferring files between two phones).
Would there be a significant difference between 3G over a data cable vs. bluetooth? Ideally the less wires to trail around, the better.
I thought Bluetooth was limited to around 20kb/s, or is this only with particular devices? (Seen this when transferring files between two phones).
Would there be a significant difference between 3G over a data cable vs. bluetooth? Ideally the less wires to trail around, the better.
If it's with Orange it's really easy to set up, as there's a dedicated support team to help you through the process 
(call 156 and choose the option for using your phone as a modem if you're contract, or 450 on PAYG)
Bluetooth maxes out at 1mbps, usb maxes out at about 12mbps, but as the modem will manage an absolute max of 384kbps it shouldn't be a problem either way.
(call 156 and choose the option for using your phone as a modem if you're contract, or 450 on PAYG)Bluetooth maxes out at 1mbps, usb maxes out at about 12mbps, but as the modem will manage an absolute max of 384kbps it shouldn't be a problem either way.