vB Easy Archive - Best wireless PDA option for unlimited internet to laptop?

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Best wireless PDA option for unlimited internet to laptop?
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Posted by: burningrave101

I live out in a very rural area and have only had the option of dial-up or satellite since I've lived here. I have Cingular as my wireless carrier and I'm now looking to get a wireless connection that way. I had checked into the laptop PCMCIA cards before but that route is still fairly expensive and I'd like to pay less than $50/month for an unlimited data plan. Someone suggested to me that I get a Blackberry from Cingular with the unlimited data plan for $49.99/month (-$5/month for my existing voice plan) and connect it to my laptop via USB. Can anyone suggest which specific PDA/Cell phone you would get for this? Thanks

Posted by: onepoint

what you're referring to, in which you connect a pc to the internet via your phone's data connection, is called "tethering."

i believe cingular *wants* you to use a 'data connect' plan for this:

http://www.cingular.com/midtolarge/data_connect

according to the page above, it looks like you would be best off with the $59/month plan for unlimited access. a touch above your limit of $50, but i believe you would be doing things by the book.

Posted by: burningrave101

I know about the $59.99/month plan for tethering for a laptop but I was told you could also connect via USB or Bluetooth to a PDA and use it's unlimited data plan. I can buy a PCMCIA card for my laptop from Cingular and get the $59.99/month plan but I don't want that because I will be moving next summer and that promotional price requires a 2 year contract. I'd also like to stay around $45/month as well and that's how much it would be for a Blackberry with unlimited data.

Posted by: onepoint

it's definitely possible to tether using cingular's other data plans (i've done so with a mediamax plan), but it's strongly discouraged. further, you run the risk of having your plan yanked, or incurring overage charges.

others may tell you differently.

Posted by: importluva

Quote:

Originally Posted by burningrave101

I know about the $59.99/month plan for tethering for a laptop but I was told you could also connect via USB or Bluetooth to a PDA and use it's unlimited data plan. I can buy a PCMCIA card for my laptop from Cingular and get the $59.99/month plan but I don't want that because I will be moving next summer and that promotional price requires a 2 year contract. I'd also like to stay around $45/month as well and that's how much it would be for a Blackberry with unlimited data.

tethering = large amounts of data. I doubt the Blackberry Plan would work. If you're going to use it with your laptop, then pay the price $59 for it. That is the RIGHT thing to do for Cingular and for its other customers in the area.

Posted by: burningrave101

I would probably pay the $59.99 price for the laptop package if it were not for the fact that that plan requires a 2 year commitment. The PCMCIA card also requires a 2 yr commitment for the rebate on it. I'm only looking for an alternative till next summer. After that I will probably be moving where there will be DSL/Cable offerings for less money and much higher speeds. I don't want to be stuck with paying the $60/month for 2 years.

Posted by: Omega2008

Yes definently get the laptop connect plan....if you teather once in a while like I do (like I am now because my cable modem broke) then you can use other plans....it won't really matter to Cingular but when you use it as a primary connection for your laptop....Cingular can hit you with usage charges if your not using the right plan so play it safe.