TT+ Cell Phone to connect to my own ISP?

[TTHead]

Right now I'm shopping for a phone to use with my TT, and I'm thinking about the Nokia 6310i. I already have two different dial-up ISPs (one free through work), and I'm wondering if it's possible for me to dial into one of those services and use my TT for e-mail and web access (via bluetooth - or any other means) instead of paying for yet another kind of internet access. I talked briefly to a sales person from the wireless store, but all he wanted to do was sell me his company's own data plan. He said I couldn't use my own ISP. Is that true? If so, I'm wondering why using a cell phone isn't just like using a modem through a land line. Any comments appreciated.

[waduino]

Of course you can. Just use the IR port (is there one on the phone?) or bluetooth (if the phone is bluetooth enabled). You use the phone as a modem and it uses up "voice" minutes. No data service necessary.
Good Luck.

[TTHead]

Thanks, waduino - that's reassuring... I think... But I went to another outlet (both stores were Rogers AT&T) and asked someone else the same question, and got the same response - No, you can't dial into a third-party ISP because the modem in the phone only works with our GPRS service. So you have to subscribe to our GPRS and pay a separate data charge. So what gives? Are these guys just making things up?

[minzawaung]

Originally posted by TTHead
Thanks, waduino - that's reassuring... I think... But I went to another outlet (both stores were Rogers AT&T) and asked someone else the same question, and got the same response - No, you can't dial into a third-party ISP because the modem in the phone only works with our GPRS service. So you have to subscribe to our GPRS and pay a separate data charge. So what gives? Are these guys just making things up?

I use TT and T68i to dial up free ISP for my e mails and web surfing
I use it daily for 7 months now
I do not have GPRS
Your data enabled-blueooth will serve as a modem as you would normally do /dial your ISP on computer
You do need to use the exact password/username for your ISP dial-up.

[mmmkay]

TTHead: I had a Nokia 8390 on Rogers too and I tried using the GPRS connection but it wouldn't let me. I think you need to dial up like you would a modem, but I'm not certain whether you need to subscribe to anything? I wonder if you do, for data calls anyway. I *think* it works by them having a modem for you on the other end over the air and the digital/analog conversion happens over there.

I never tried to see if you could place a data call to your isp over a normal call though. I wouldn't expect it to be very fast though, since GSM has a compression codec for the voice data. :\

The 8390 uses IR though, so it needs to be in a line-of-sight. I would love to get a T68i but they're so expensive at Rogers. Kind of sucks, I broke my 8390 *already*. And they won't fix it or give me another phone at subsidized cost like Fido would :| Bah!

[TTHead]

mza - Good to know. I'm thinking I may go with the Nokia. I'm wondering about the speed - is it painfully slow?

[minzawaung]

Originally posted by TTHead
mza - Good to know. I'm thinking I may go with the Nokia. I'm wondering about the speed - is it painfully slow?

GSM-Bluetooth -T68i- -TT 9600 bauds
(eg.from connetion -hand shake-established-to web on line4-6 seconds maximum,cnn.com page with graphics 4-8 secs maximum)
I use it daily for 7 months now,charged as data (fax)calls 3 p/min
I surfed maximum 3 minutes,downloaded web sites as much as possible duing the 3 minutes,(e.g cnn news,bbc news,others...)then disconnect

view OFFLINE at your leisure(cheapest and most efficient way of utilising the most out of 3 minutes)

i use web pro launched from SD

( make sure that you have 4-5 resident ram free at all times on TT for safe and crash-free surfing and e mailing)
set web pro cache 3024 and beyond
unchecked clear cache on exit for OFFLINE viewing
Enjoy