Notebook Access

A recent thread implied that I could connect a computer to a Edge
enabled handset and get unlimited Internet using Media Works for $20.
When I called ATT (now cingular, of course) I was told (after a 10
minute research delay) that there would be a $0.01 per kb charge for
tethered usage. Is this really true? The salesman in the ATT store
claimed there was no additional charge, but you can't trust them!

Here's my situation: I'm on ATT, with a discount as an IBM retiree.
I've been told I can get the same discount on Cingular and I was
thinking of the new Motorola 551. I wanted to be able to surf with a
laptop, mainly during summer vacations, and don't want to come home to a
$500 bill.

Another question: I assume that a Bluetooth connection is effectively
"tethered." Since Media Works is oriented to WML sites, does anything
have to be done to actually do normal HTML surfing? I assume I have to
do something in the "Internet connections" panel.

---

› See More: Notebook Access

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Fri, 19 Nov 2004 12:52:21 -0500,
Jeff Morris <[email protected]> wrote:

>A recent thread implied that I could connect a computer to a Edge
>enabled handset and get unlimited Internet using Media Works for $20.

That's with a Cingular rate plan, not an ATTWS rate plan

>When I called ATT (now cingular, of course)

ATTWS rate plans are still different from Cingular rate plans! The cheapest
"unlimited" data option with ATTWS is $25/month.

>I was told (after a 10
>minute research delay) that there would be a $0.01 per kb charge for
>tethered usage. Is this really true?

It's true in theory on ATTWS, but in practice it seems to only get charged for
such things as VPN, not for such things as web browsing and email (but of
course there's still a risk that it will get charged).

On Cingular MEdia Works there is no "tethered" surcharge.

>The salesman in the ATT store
>claimed there was no additional charge, but you can't trust them!

Indeed!

>Here's my situation: I'm on ATT, with a discount as an IBM retiree.
>I've been told I can get the same discount on Cingular and I was
>thinking of the new Motorola 551.

Very good (albeit not perfect) phone with decent (albeit not stellar) EDGE.
Use Google to see my postings on EDGE and the V551; e.g.,
http://groups.google.com/groups?as_q...&num=100&hl=en
or http://tinyurl.com/54jtd

>I wanted to be able to surf with a
>laptop, mainly during summer vacations, and don't want to come home to a
>$500 bill.

You should be able to do that.

>Another question: I assume that a Bluetooth connection is effectively
>"tethered."

Correct.

>Since Media Works is oriented to WML sites, does anything
>have to be done to actually do normal HTML surfing?

MEdia Works has no "orientation" -- it's a "pipe" to the Internet that works
fine for most (albeit not all) things; e.g., HTML, email, Usenet news.

>I assume I have to
>do something in the "Internet connections" panel.

You just need to create a DUN (Dial Up Networking) option for Cingular MEdia
Works. See "Configuring Windows to use the Handset GPRS Modem" in my webpage
<http://navasgrp.home.att.net/tech/ci...ia.htm#Handset>

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

Such fast service! Many thanks, and a few comments interspersed ...

John Navas wrote:
> [POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>
> In <[email protected]> on Fri, 19 Nov 2004 12:52:21 -0500,
> Jeff Morris <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>A recent thread implied that I could connect a computer to a Edge
>>enabled handset and get unlimited Internet using Media Works for $20.
>
>
> That's with a Cingular rate plan, not an ATTWS rate plan

Yes I know - but you can sign up for either at the ATT store or over the
phone. I've been advised that Cingular has better coverage, and their
phone selection (this week) seems better.

One real annoyance I've had with my ATT phone (Motorola T720) is that it
trips over to Cingular fairly often. For voice this is OK, but mMode
wouldn't work in this mode. Sitting on my boat in Vineyard Haven
Harbor, a few hundred yards from the center of town, I had trouble
getting the radar reports - my prime reason for having a GSM phone!
Cycling power gave me a 50/50 chance of connecting, causing some tense
moments as two hurricanes passed nearby during the same day!


>
>
>>When I called ATT (now cingular, of course)
>
>
> ATTWS rate plans are still different from Cingular rate plans! The cheapest
> "unlimited" data option with ATTWS is $25/month.

The person I spoke to had an ATT background. She quickly said there's a
$.01/kb surcharge for mMode when tethered (and I've found that on the
web) but it took her 10 minutes to find someone who said Cingular had
the same for Media Works. Apparently he first said there was no extra
charge, but then she pushed and he said yes there was. Maybe its a fee
on paper, but they have no way to actually track it, so it never get billed?


>
>
>>I was told (after a 10
>>minute research delay) that there would be a $0.01 per kb charge for
>>tethered usage. Is this really true?
>
>
> It's true in theory on ATTWS, but in practice it seems to only get charged for
> such things as VPN, not for such things as web browsing and email (but of
> course there's still a risk that it will get charged).
>
> On Cingular MEdia Works there is no "tethered" surcharge.
>
>
>>The salesman in the ATT store
>>claimed there was no additional charge, but you can't trust them!
>
>
> Indeed!
>
>
>>Here's my situation: I'm on ATT, with a discount as an IBM retiree.
>>I've been told I can get the same discount on Cingular and I was
>>thinking of the new Motorola 551.
>
>
> Very good (albeit not perfect) phone with decent (albeit not stellar) EDGE.
> Use Google to see my postings on EDGE and the V551; e.g.,
> http://groups.google.com/groups?as_q...&num=100&hl=en
> or http://tinyurl.com/54jtd

Yes, I saw them - very helpful.

Jeff Morris www.sv-loki.com

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.attws - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Fri, 19 Nov 2004 13:53:34 -0500,
Jeff Morris <[email protected]> wrote:

>John Navas wrote:

>> That's with a Cingular rate plan, not an ATTWS rate plan
>
>Yes I know - but you can sign up for either at the ATT store or over the
>phone. I've been advised that Cingular has better coverage, and their
>phone selection (this week) seems better.

Coverage is the same -- Cingular has free roaming on ATTWS, and vice versa.

>One real annoyance I've had with my ATT phone (Motorola T720) is that it
>trips over to Cingular fairly often. For voice this is OK, but mMode
>wouldn't work in this mode. ...

Cingular GPRS and EDGE will work when roaming on ATTWS.

>> ATTWS rate plans are still different from Cingular rate plans! The cheapest
>> "unlimited" data option with ATTWS is $25/month.
>
>The person I spoke to had an ATT background. She quickly said there's a
>$.01/kb surcharge for mMode when tethered (and I've found that on the
>web) but it took her 10 minutes to find someone who said Cingular had
>the same for Media Works. Apparently he first said there was no extra
>charge, but then she pushed and he said yes there was. Maybe its a fee
>on paper, but they have no way to actually track it, so it never get billed?

As I wrote, MEdia Works is $20/month (as compared to ATTWS $25/month), and has
no "tethered" surcharge (unlike ATTWS).

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>