Gogarty wrote:

How, exactly, does one connect a cell phone to a computer?


Actually, now you can do it with Bluetooth. For those wondering what
Bluetooth is, its a short distance radio protocol that acts like a
serial line. Computers, keyboards/mice, headsets, GPS's, PDA's etc,
are now being made with this capability. Adapters can be used to add
it - I use it, with adapters, whenever I hotsync my Palm PDA. It is
particularly handy in a cell: If your cell goes close to a unit with
which it is registered, it automatically connects. For instance,
getting into your car will connect the cell in your pocket to the
speaker phone built into many new car's hifi. Magic!

You should consider Bluetooth whenever you get a new gadget.


As to connecting to the 'net, the latest technology allows cell
connection at around 100kB using EGPRS (Verizon calls it EDGE).
Bluetooth (or a USB cable) allows this to become a standard connection
on a computer. The real issue is the billing. The service is
intended for simple surfing on the new GMS phones. Some service
people will say it isn't allowed for computer connection ("tethered"
is what they call it), but there is nothing in my contract that
precludes it. Some carriers do specifically preclude tethered use. I
have a friend who has been using the Sprint version for several years
for $10 a month surcharge, but this is grandfathered; its no longer
available. My $20 "unlimited" service (for cell phone surfing) seems
to work, though I haven't used it extensively. The unlimited tethered
data version is about $80, cheap for a serious business, but rather
pricey for recreational use. Do not use a "pay by the byte" billing.
This can get very expensive, very quick!