Full internet access on moblie network?

[SilvaFish]

Has anyone had experience of accessing full internet (not WAP) on a mobile network? Good and bad points appreciated - I have looked on O2 online and seen XDA's, which look pretty good - has anybody had any experience using these and do they function as well as or better than a HP PDA in the computing sense?

Cheers,
Lou

[Jim Shaw]

Oh god, although I'd love to get full access on my Mobby, I fear that if I did, I'd be on here so much, I'd actually get no work done at all, ever

but as my mobile contract is due for renewal within the next month, I'll be watching this thread with interest,

I can just see me down then unemployment office now, " and what was the reason that you are now Unemployed Mr Shaw? ",

well Mr social security cheque writer sir, it's like this, I can now get YD on my mobile..........

I can just hear him shouting "Next"

[Bantam]

If you have a laptop with Bluetooth you can connect your lappy to your mobile (assuming you also have bluetooth mobile), then using a simple set of dial strings (and talking nicely to your network to enable the GPRS APN's) you can surf the full internet anywhere you can get GPRS coverage.

If you have a 3G phone it gets better as it's mobile broadband (well, usually about 200k or so if you're not on a busy Cell site near London/Manchester/Birmingham!)

The new Sony Ericsson P990 goes one step further. It has Wireless LAN built into it, so it acts as a 3G-->WLAN access point. So 3G data speeds using the wireless LAN card in your PC, plus in the reverse can make VoIP calls.

A bit like a portable starbucks but without the top coffee.

[Harlequin]

Silva

I use a HP 6340 PPC (PDA to none techies) and it connects using a GPRS connection (mobile phone to none techies) and it works fine, if a little slow.

I've also used a Moto V3x which is quicker but then it uses 3G.

The PDA is better because of the screen size and functionality though, could have shown you today if I'd known.

[SilvaFish]

All because they don't give me internet access at work (ha ha!); am with O2 online at the moment and have got a feeling if I asked nicely (ie be a hard b***h) could get a discount on an upgrade. What I would want to run are Excel spreadsheets (so got to have some sort of Windows compatability) and basic surfing, as I do wait until I get home to do most of my surfing! (disclipine got something to do with it?), so need a nice screen to look at. I have a bluetooth mobile (Samsung D600), but no laptop, so don't really want to get one; also bulky for carrying is a put off? I used to use a HP PDA using an infra red connection to my old moby, but it's a penny a minute to Tiscali, dead slow and trouble lining the IR ports up; but have read that now can get packages that charge per KB download rather than on time online and can get broadband speeds in some cities. Will talk to O2 tomorrow as they have screwed up my billing this month and maybe try and use that as a bargaining chip for an upgrade? So if anyone has any experience surfing through a XDA type device, and simple things whether whole screens are displayed or need to scroll to see whole pages, then let me know? (My eyes are not brilliant, but good enough to spot that sturgeon yesterday at Capers!!!)

Thanks and safe diving and happy surfing!!!

Lou

[wreckweasel]

The last thing you want to do is surf using a GPRS connection. Web pages are data intensive (aka fat) and will wallop your monthly bill.

[SilvaFish]

Originally Posted by wreckweasel

The last thing you want to do is surf using a GPRS connection. Web pages are data intensive (aka fat) and will wallop your monthly bill.

Cheers for the tip, I will check for that!

ok, just checked O2 and it's £3.00 per Mb. YD page takes 50 Kb (cheers Nick S for info), so 20 YD's for £3.00.... a little steep maybe, but will search for more inclusive tarriffs....

[Nick S]

Lou
PM sent
also re the screen on the xda ...fair bit of scrolling required , also the text size on the phone is variable but on full size is still smaller than previous nokia's Ive had, might be worth having a look at one first
HTH
Nick

[Bantam]

Originally Posted by wreckweasel

The last thing you want to do is surf using a GPRS connection. Web pages are data intensive (aka fat) and will wallop your monthly bill.

How much you pay for GPRS is all dependent on your tariff. Some tarriffs have all you can eat GPRS included in your monthly bill with no download charges.

It all depends what you want to do. Nothing's for free with them, so if you have that set usually your texts will be expensive, for example, or your calls, or you'll get less free call allowance.

We did used to have an O2 tarriff which was everything (including mobile.o2.co.uk (which is the one you want for Bluetooth/IrDA web surfing on a PDA)) for a flat monthly fee (i.e. no call charges, no data charges) but I don't know if they still do it.

Mark.

[salty_seadog]

I cn get full internet access on my mobile phone using GPRS. Im using an Orange SPV C550 (smartphone). This has a cut down version of the WindowsCE which is loaded onto most PDA's. Access to the entire internet is available however it is slow and I imagine costs a lot of cash in download fees.

It is also possible to connect a PDA to the internet using a mobile, though I've not tried this yet with my PDA. As for using a laptop its probably cheaper when compared to download fees to find a Wi-Fi hotspot and connect there.