3g phone for mobile broadband?

benjus

OK, so I just bought a netbook, which I'm really happy with. To get internet access when I'm away from Wifi connections I connected my (fairly cheap 'n' cheerful) mobile phone and got a GPRS connection going. I like this approach because it doesn't cost me anything extra (I'm with Virgin Mobile so unlimited data access costs 30p per day, and on most days I would check my email etc once or twice from my phone anyway).

Unfortunately GPRS is horribly slow by today's standards, so I'm wondering if I can get a faster connection by buying a 3G phone and connecting it in the same way (I can give my current phone to my wife as she's just drowned hers and needs a new one).

Is this approach likely to work? Can anyone recommend a fairly cheap 3G phone that will do the job? What's Virgin Mobile like for 3G access?

If not I guess my options are to either continue with GPRS or buy a 3G modem dongle.

CountryGoose

I have a Nokia E51, which may be a little high end and I use a little utility called Joiku Spot to share my phone's 3G connection over the phone's wifi. To the computer, it appears as a hotspot.

Neat and it works - though check your data rates!

benjus

CountryGoose wrote: »

I have a Nokia E51, which may be a little high end and I use a little utility called Joiku Spot to share my phone's 3G connection over the phone's wifi. To the computer, it appears as a hotspot.

Neat and it works - though check your data rates!

Thanks!

Sounds like a good option - my netbook doesn't have bluetooth and using a USB cable all the time is a bit of a pain - so wifi would be ideal.

As far as data rates go with Virgin Mobile GPRS they are capped at 30p/day - I assume the same goes for 3G although I've never tried Virgin's 3G service. I believe that some networks state that unlimited data tariffs don't apply to using a phone as a modem, but I don't know whether any networks actually enforce this.

Which network do you use?

Astec

I use a HTC touch Diamond. Has HSDPA and is great for internet sharing (used iplayer/youtube). Diamond isn't cheap, but do get a phone that can handle high speed data, not just 3G.

I'm on o2 btw with the internet bolton, not been an issue using it for internet sharing, but I'm not sure it's allowed.

CountryGoose

benjus wrote: »

Thanks!


Which network do you use?

I use Vodafone, but...... it is a corporate phone and we have a corporate data package

russs15

I use an old ex contract Nokia N70 that is locked to T Mobile that my mate had sat in a drawer!! Thankfully this allows a Virgin Mobile Sim card to work in it perfectly using the 30p for 25Mb per day tariff.

T Mobile is not the best coverage network so I have also now got a Vodafone dongle for £39 with 1Gb included with no time limits - as long as you use it every few months. This is so good that everyone should have one