Yet Another Phone Thread: Looking for mainly a data plan here

[nsafreak]

Well folks I'm getting a new PDA that has an up to date Pocket PC OS on it as opposed to my old Casio E-100 which really couldn't be used for much in the way of wireless. Already have a wireless network card for it around the house but I would like to get one of those Sprint cards that you can use for voice & data (please note this PDA has a PCMCIA slot) and I'm looking for a good plan as well as a price on the card. Or do you folks know of a better piece of hardware than the Sprint modem along with a better plan?

 

[MacGaven]

T-Mobile
(Sprint is faster but much more expensive including very expensive hardware, T-Mobile is slower, easier and very inexpensive)

Any GPRS Device, Including: GPRS Phone, T-mobile Pocket PC 2002, Merlin G100 PCMCIA

Use Pocket PC 2002 as your PDA or use GPRS to connect to PDA/Laptop via supported Bluetooth, IrDA, Data Cable

Merlin G100 connects to PCMCIA device i.e. Laptop or adapter

$29.99 Data Only UNLIMITED INTERNET

 

[MacGaven]

I own a Merlin G100 PCMCIA card and I switch out my SIM card from my phone to the Merlin to use wireless GPRS of 115K on my Laptop.(Uses T-Mobile/Voicestream Accelerator program from 80k average)

It's sweet and I pay + $19.99 U.S. Dollars on top of my phone bill for this service.

Please let me know if you have any questions and I can post some helpful links and answers.

 

[nsafreak]

The Merlin sounds like a good card, but do I need to pop my SIM in each time? I don't really need a phone, although if I have to get one I guess that can be done. What I'm most interested in is the cost of the Merlin and do you know of any deals to get it for free/cheap?

 

[MacGaven]

I purchased my Merlin G100 card for $65.00 the day T-Mobile announced their new unlimited internet plans.

That's about as cheap as I have seen these cards because they typically sell for at least $90 + shipping on ebay because there is an increased demand for them with the new plans.

If you only want data then just get a data plan for one year for $29.99 a month and have the Merlin card or T-Mobile Pocket PC and keep your SIM in that GPRS device at all times. (Yes, the SIM slides into and out of the device in order to operate GPRS service but you don't need to remove it unless you're putting it in a phone or switching devices)

 

[MacGaven]

nsafreak,

Two Questions:

Have you already bought your PDA device?

Do you need the device/ Wireless internet right now (like for work)?

 

[nsafreak]

Yes, I have already purchased my PDA.

No, I don't need it right now.