HELP: Wireless Data Plans?

[EKKC]

I'm interested in cheap and reliable and hopefully fast wireless data plans. I would like a blackberry or a treo to go with the plan for wireless email and web access, but im wondering if you can use a cable to hook up the device to your notebook and use that as a modem, instead of using another wireless PCMCIA card to get the web from your laptop.

Pardon me if this sounds stupid and such a phone doesn't exist, but I really know nothing about this, so if you do have such a data plan, would you please share your:

a) wireless carrier
b) data only? voice and data?
c) monthly fee?
d) bandwidth limitations?
e) location - suburbs, metro area?
f) phone model?

thanks

 

[Goosemaster]

a) wireless carrier -Verizon
b) data only? voice and data? -data and voice
c) monthly fee? $80 total for unlimited data and 450 minutes
d) bandwidth limitations? about 5-10GB. I use at most 1.5-2GB, usually a lot less.*
e) location - suburbs, metro area? Suburbs but I go into the city and other burbs with it.
f) phone model? Motorola Q



* I used to be hooked on streaming stuff to it, and got over that.I WUV it for email, surfing, and when I need quick...well quick anything

 

[jhayx7]

For the love of god do NOT get a Treo. I have one, along with everyone else in my group and we send at least 1 back every two weeks. Look here at this article on Businessweek and look at all of the replies.

 

[Goosemaster]

bluetooth setups are nice once you get used to it. set it up for one of my friends and he loves it.

 

[Krazy4Real]

a) wireless carrier - Sprint
b) data only? voice and data? - Voice and data
c) monthly fee? - $36 for voice & $15 for unlimited data + taxes and fees
d) bandwidth limitations? - None
e) location - suburbs, metro area? - Northwest suburbs of Chicago
f) phone model? - PPC-6700

EVDO for pretty decent speeds. I only use it periodically though with my laptop. I have cable at home with a wireless router. When I do use it though, it works great. All the software came on the cd with the phone so it was a snap to setup. It connects to a computer with a usb cable and basically becomes a usb modem. You can't make or receive calls while it is being used as a modem.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

I've used some Cingular and AT&T data cards for laptops and have really liked the ones that Cingular provides.

 

[EKKC]

thank you all

 

[SoulAssassin]

a) wireless carrier VZW
b) data only? voice and data? both - 1350 minutes
c) monthly fee? 109
d) bandwidth limitations? after 5GB they get pissy, I use it very frequently and never hit more than 2GB
e) location - suburbs, metro area? I travel for work...anywhere and everywhere.
f) phone model? Treo 700w

I use PDANet - http://www.junefabrics.com/palmnet/ to be able to use the phone as a modem on my laptop.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
bluetooth setups are nice once you get used to it. set it up for one of my friends and he loves it.

Downside to that is that BT drains the battery pretty quickly. I use a USB cable so it charges at the same time and even then it's barely a net gain in battery charge while actively using the network connection.