A couple of weeks ago I spent a few hours at DEN, and in a moment of weakness, ended up paying $7.99 for a T-Mobile daily hotspot fee. Aaarrgghhh! Yes, I carry a BlackBerry and it’s great for quickly checking emails, but it’s awfully limited when it comes to truly working on, and exploring, the internet. I had tried to figure out a way to tether the BlackBerry to my laptop, but it wasn’t possible as we were transitioning to a new provider & new phones.
With my new BlackBerry Tour and a simple program from Verizon, I’m now able to surf the net on my laptop or netbook virtually anywhere, nationwide. Here’s what the setup looks like – a USB cable connects my Tour to a netbook, and Verizon’s VZAccess Manager makes the connection in a few seconds. The BlackBerry serves as a modem; launch your browser of choice on your netbook or laptop, and you can surf the net:
If you travel with a BlackBerry or other smartphone and a laptop or netbook, you could very well have the tools necessary to do this; check with your provider. Note that extra fees will likely apply; with Verizon, you pay a $15 per month fee (click on this link for details).
If you travel frequently, this is a great way to have access wherever you are – in a car (while someone else drives!), at the hotel, or at the beach. Another scenario: you don’t have high speed web access at your home, but wish to utilize the web occasionally. Utilize your 3G BlackBerry for access; it’ll only cost you $15/month (up to 5GB of data usage per mo). Here are few details from Verizon:
Perhaps there are other scenarios. I prefer to travel without extra hardware like a PC card, so this is perfect for me. The cable is the only extra I need to carry with me, and it weighs 1.2 oz or 34 grams.
Some of you might react by saying “Boingo is only $9.95 per month;” that’s true, but you have to be at a hotspot for Boingo to work. The beauty part here is that it will work anywhere your cell provider has coverage.
What I don’t know yet is whether this setup would allow access in Europe, but it appears that it will.
Here’s a reasonably comprehensive post on this topic at the BlackBerry Forum: How to use BlackBerry as Modem for Laptop
How about you? Are you utilizing your BlackBerry or other smartphone as a modem?
The Fine Print: I have no connection to any of the companies mentioned in this post.
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February 8th, 2010 at 6:41 am
Greetings,
Yes, this configuration will work in Europe. There are two things to be aware of when traveling in Europe.
First, while there are many cell provider’s, there are fewer data providers. If your phone auto-connects to the first available cell service, you may not have access to data. I am on Sprint, and each new country I enter, Sprint somehow always manages to send me a text message telling me the preferred (probably most favorable to Sprint) data connection. However, regardless of where my phone originally connects, I can always go into my GSM mode and point to a new provider which also has data.
Second, $$$. You are now in data roaming mode, and every byte will cost you money. Check your plan and be aware as you travel. We have seen folks in our office come back with thousands of dollars of charges while data roaming as their phone auto-downloads weather, stock updates, etc. Connect your phone to the computer, and this number is easily multiplied. You may wish to check out a pre-paid GSM card in Italy to help reduce this cost.
Bon voyage!
[Reply]
February 8th, 2010 at 8:17 am
One incredible aspect about the current iPad specs has nothing to do with the iPad itself and everything to do with AT&T’s data plan – unlimited data for $30 per month. The savings on heavy data usage could be viewed as paying for the iPad….
[Reply]
February 8th, 2010 at 10:57 am
I prefer to carry a data card. But that’s because I use it a lot and I use a fair amount of data. Plus I often need to be online and on my phone at the same time.
But if somebody doesn’t have those same requirements, then I think phone tethering is pretty cool. Cheaper too.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
I believe with Verizon here in the States you also need a tethering plan update (only $15 a month). There is also no limit, where the USB sticks will hit you after 5GB.
Be careful and watch the plan fees… I read an article where the recent decline in unlimited call plan prices will likely be offset by some “sneaky” data plan requirements, even on just plain “multi-media” phones.
Bill
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