I am looking to connect my netbook to a mobile phone and use the phones connection to the internet.

Sort of using the phone as the modem.

I have a dongle with sim, but want to be able to use the phone too if the need arises.

Can anyone recommend a particular handset that can do this?

I have an i-mobile 858i which I thought would work but sadly it wont do it.

Any thoughts guys ?

Is it too much hassle just to take the sim out the dongle and put it in the phone and visa versa?

Is it too much hassle just to take the sim out the dongle and put it in the phone and visa versa?

Its not too much hassle but if I lost the dongle I would have problems, the reason is just to have a back up is all. so if the dongle was lost/broken I have an alternative. Its also more convenient just carrying the phone at times instead of two devices.

Most higher end phones have the option built in to turn on an internet connection with a usb to phone cable @ 1 baht per minute with same sim as phone has. or bank time with the same sim with prepay @ .25 baht per minute. Thats what I did with AIS years ago. One sim for both in the same phone. Only problem is the minutes due expire so you would have to use them or most of them each month. May have many type plans still.

buy a Nokia that supports OVI; or one where you can use PC Suite; connect the phone to the netbook using Bluetooth

I do this all the time when my ADSL is down or

I am away from office or home.

You need

1/ Computer with Bluetooth

2/ Or Computer with USB port and a Bluetooth dongle

they are 200baht and about an inch long and

plug in to the USB port

3/ A phone with Bluetooth capability AND

Either GPRS / EDGE capability

Most phones at 3-4000baht have these features

4/ Some GPRS minutes credit. Just call your Mobile

provider and they will charge your Voice account

and you'll be set in a few minutes

5/ Call the Mobile provider help line and they will

walk you thru the steps to connect to the Internet

It sounds harder than it really is.

Good Luck

I do this all the time when my ADSL is down or

I am away from office or home.

You need

1/ Computer with Bluetooth

2/ Or Computer with USB port and a Bluetooth dongle

they are 200baht and about an inch long and

plug in to the USB port

3/ A phone with Bluetooth capability AND

Either GPRS / EDGE capability

Most phones at 3-4000baht have these features

4/ Some GPRS minutes credit. Just call your Mobile

provider and they will charge your Voice account

and you'll be set in a few minutes

5/ Call the Mobile provider help line and they will

walk you thru the steps to connect to the Internet

It sounds harder than it really is.

Good Luck

Thanks to all for taking the time to reply...........I have ALL of the above but it wont connect through my phone....it can connect for file transfer / audio etc but NOT internet........very frustrating.

The new Android phones include a mobile hotspot option - you turn it on and your phone becomes a WIFI access point. Connect your netbook via standard WIFI.

For a Nokia, you need to i) ensure the phone has data access enabled (call the service center and ask them to turn on EDGE), ii) pair the phone and the computer, iii) configure the phone's wireless modem and iv) set up the phone's bluetooth modem as a dial-up connection on the netbook, using the the number *99#.

This is all fairly easy, the most fiddly bit is configuring the dial up, which requires you to enter a string like +cgdcont=1,”IP”,”www.dtac.co.th" depending on the company. There are quite a few tutorials online if you look around a bit. You could try asking the phone center for advice if you're stuck, these days I would hope they can tell you how to do it (a few years back they didn't know what EDGE was

Here is some information to browse through. Also, what carrier are you using - AIS, True, DTAC? At least on my DTAC I had to call them to activate GPRS/EDGE but that was quite awhile ago so don't know if that is different. Also, did the phone come with a cd/dvd for installing any drivers. I have an HTC Desire and had to install the Sync software for the network to work through USB tethering.

Use a blue tooth enabled phone

PDANet tethering

Another blue tooth enabled how to.

DTAC Happy Internet SIM 69 Baht gives Internet access at 0.26 Baht per minute, voice calls 1.07 per.

300 minutes free Internet valid 30 days.

From 7-11.

Nokia with Edge, Bluetooth and PC Suite, a software from Nokia you download that will take care of the setup if your lappie is also Bluetooth capable, else USB cable.

Is it too much hassle just to take the sim out the dongle and put it in the phone and visa versa?

This is hardly convenient when the phone is required to answer calls whilst surfing net is it?

Though there aren't many of us around it is also incredibly simple using a Windows smart phone. I just press one button on phone to turn on bluetooth and the phone automatically tethers to the bluetooth PC. Then I select Internet sharing on the phone and my PC is on the internet, I can continue to take calls as well.

Though there aren't many of us around it is also incredibly simple using a Windows smart phone. I just press one button on phone to turn on bluetooth and the phone automatically tethers to the bluetooth PC. Then I select Internet sharing on the phone and my PC is on the internet, I can continue to take calls as well.

Now that sounds like just what i need, simple to use and effective.

So, where and around how much to get one of these" Windows smart phones" ?

If you are using your phone as a modem then you need to instruct it to dial a number. Typically this is *99#, with no username or password (CPID is used to verify you).

Possible numbers:

AIS/One-2-Call * 99 *** # 1 (FWIW I use *99# successfully.)

DTAC/Happy * 99 *** 2

TRUE is * 99 *** 2 # Username: true

Here's a full walk-through for DTAC--> http://vas.dtac.co.th/gprs_setting/bluetooth_set1.php (tab through the screens)

But it might help if you detailed your set-up: phone (make/model), connection to pc (cable, bluetooth), OS, service provider, PC communications application(s).

If you are using your phone as a modem then you need to instruct it to dial a number. Typically this is *99#, with no username or password (CPID is used to verify you).

Possible numbers:

AIS/One-2-Call * 99 *** # 1 (FWIW I use *99# successfully.)

DTAC/Happy * 99 *** 2

TRUE is * 99 *** 2 # Username: true

Here's a full walk-through for DTAC--> http://vas.dtac.co.t...etooth_set1.php (tab through the screens)

But it might help if you detailed your set-up: phone (make/model), connection to pc (cable, bluetooth), OS, service provider, PC communications application(s).

The phone was mentioned in the original posting but here are the details:

i858 I-Mobile, running True sim (has internet package with it)

Connection via Bluetooth

OS: Android

Service provider: True

PC communications via Windows 7 on the netbook.

Yes, it certainly helps when you reveal the full details.

Which version of Android OS are you running?

Android 2.2 has 'native' tethering.

If 2.1 then maybe you'll have to get down and dirty with your phone, i.e "rooting". Then http://www.brothersoft.com/mobile/wifi-tether-65051.html

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=740785

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=751382

Actually, with a rooted 2.1 device (Superuser Permission) you can download Android Wifi Tether from the Market (search "tether", then "Wireless Tether for Root Users", v. 2.0.6, Muller, Lemons, Buxton. You should be able to use WiFi or bluetooth.

Actually, with a rooted 2.1 device (Superuser Permission) you can download Android Wifi Tether from the Market (search "tether", then "Wireless Tether for Root Users", v. 2.0.6, Muller, Lemons, Buxton. You should be able to use WiFi or bluetooth.

Thanks again for the help.

I already trawled through the market place and most of tethering requires the phone to be "rooted" which it isnt, the other apps for non -rooted you have to buy which is worth considering as opposed to "messing about in the guts of the phone" which I wouldnt be happy or comfortable with.

Thanks again for the help.

I already trawled through the market place and most of tethering requires the phone to be "rooted" which it isnt, the other apps for non -rooted you have to buy which is worth considering as opposed to "messing about in the guts of the phone" which I wouldnt be happy or comfortable with.

Do you have Android 2.1?

I did read some forums/posts which seemed to indicate your phone was already rooted, out of the box? Do you have an Application entry called "Superuser Permission", (with a Ninja character)? If so, your phone is rooted.

Rooting the phone is really quite simple, easy and straightforward. On my phone, Samsung Captivate (Galaxy S), I used a "one-click root" utility which was incredibly simple. (I needed to root my phone to push Thai fonts onto it, and among other things; Titanium Backup, Terminal Emulator, ADB, ROM Manager, One Click LAg Fix, BusyBox.) You'll need to do it to make system-level changes to your phone, if you ever want to do that, like adding that tethering capability.

You are probably already aware of this but your phone has only 2100 MHz 3G radio so it will not work with True 3G (850 MHz). I guess you are happy with True's 2G (GPRS/EDGE) service? Your phone would work with TOT 3G, or one of their re-sellers like i-Kool, so you might want to try that out?

Thanks again for the help.

I already trawled through the market place and most of tethering requires the phone to be "rooted" which it isnt, the other apps for non -rooted you have to buy which is worth considering as opposed to "messing about in the guts of the phone" which I wouldnt be happy or comfortable with.

Do you have Android 2.1?

I did read some forums/posts which seemed to indicate your phone was already rooted, out of the box? Do you have an Application entry called "Superuser Permission", (with a Ninja character)? If so, your phone is rooted.

Rooting the phone is really quite simple, easy and straightforward. On my phone, Samsung Captivate (Galaxy S), I used a "one-click root" utility which was incredibly simple. (I needed to root my phone to push Thai fonts onto it, and among other things; Titanium Backup, Terminal Emulator, ADB, ROM Manager, One Click LAg Fix, BusyBox.) You'll need to do it to make system-level changes to your phone, if you ever want to do that, like adding that tethering capability.

You are probably already aware of this but your phone has only 2100 MHz 3G radio so it will not work with True 3G (850 MHz). I guess you are happy with True's 2G (GPRS/EDGE) service? Your phone would work with TOT 3G, or one of their re-sellers like i-Kool, so you might want to try that out?

According to the handset it states "Eclair" for the firmware version ?

When I connect to the net it states 3G in the bar and I have the option to switch it off and just use 2G to conserve battery power if I need.

Had a look around and dont see a little ninja anywhere, although I have just discoverd another little icon which I didnt see before called "hotspot" I am guessing this is going to turn the phone into a wireless hotspot for connection, if thats the case then it could be problem solved but will play with it now and see what happens and report back.

Thanks again for yout time lomatopo

Update: YES !!!.........that little icon which I never noticed before entitled "hotspot" turns the phone into a wireless hotspot and the netbook connected to it/the net in seconds, no problem so all sorted now.

Thanks again to everyone for the help and suggestions and particularly to lomatopo for your perserverence :jap:

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED !

I have a Nok 5233 and it connects great. Most Noks do but I am not a big fan of the phone now...should have got an HTC. I don't like the interface and OVI store is for freaking children. But the phone connects great. May get SPB mobile shell to spiff it up.

PS: get a data cable it will be faster and safer than bluetooth.