GoPhone: "Real" internet access possible?

I will most likely be in NYC from the 19th of December through the 5th
of January and would like to take my WinMobile Smartphone to use
Exchange email and maybe do some websurfing/use some other
internet-connected applications on it, so I need "real" internet
access.
Last year I used a Cingular GoPhone card, strictly as a PHONE card, no
data connection used or needed. When I checked Cingularīs website, I
noticed that they now have a data option included (MediaNet). To me,
this looks more like a portal/WAP thing. so I am wondering if it can be
used to access the internet without restrictions and if so, what the
costs would be (it says $0.01/KB for Medianet but would it be the sme
for "real internet?).

Thank you in advance,

Jens

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"Jens Roeben" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
I will most likely be in NYC from the 19th of December through the 5th
of January and would like to take my WinMobile Smartphone to use
Exchange email and maybe do some websurfing/use some other
internet-connected applications on it, so I need "real" internet
access.
Last year I used a Cingular GoPhone card, strictly as a PHONE card, no
data connection used or needed. When I checked Cingularīs website, I
noticed that they now have a data option included (MediaNet). To me,
this looks more like a portal/WAP thing. so I am wondering if it can be
used to access the internet without restrictions and if so, what the
costs would be (it says $0.01/KB for Medianet but would it be the sme
for "real internet?).

Thank you in advance,

Jens
I have a Cingular 8125 (HTC) Win Mobile 5, but under contract, not GoPhone.
Yes, it has internet via gprs (edge). Is it fast, no. I wouldn't run
around going through webpages other then those optimized for pda's. I do
(well my daughter does) IM via AIM. I do use IRC chat on it and it is fast
enough.

I am not really techy on setting up a phone for another service, so that has
to be done. And I'm sure there are those here and on phonescoop.com can
help you do just that. It all comes down to what its worth to you. If it's
a business trip, yeah. For vacation nah. If I was travling overseas for an
extended period of time to like europe, I'd just take my unlocked Nokia 6270
and buy a local pay as you go sim card.

In NYC, well most of it, Cingular does have G3 service.

Jens Roeben <[email protected]> wrote:
> Last year I used a Cingular GoPhone card, strictly as a PHONE card, no
> data connection used or needed. When I checked Cingular's website, I
> noticed that they now have a data option included (MediaNet). To me,
> this looks more like a portal/WAP thing. so I am wondering if it can be
> used to access the internet without restrictions and if so, what the
> costs would be (it says $0.01/KB for Medianet but would it be the sme
> for "real internet?).

If you do almost anything other than fetch pop3 email, $.01/KB is a very
expensive connection.

Just staying in the phone, a Google Maps lookup of a business and getting
directions is a 300KB operation.

If you tether a laptop, you can use megabytes in a single day, $10/MB.
I have no idea if you even can tether a GoPhone.

I think a tethered laptop offers reasonable speed. In New York, you could
get Edge speeds, about 100Kbps, or double a good dialup.

--
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Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5

On Tue, 7 Nov 2006 17:22:22 +0000 (UTC), [email protected]
wrote in <[email protected]>:

>Jens Roeben <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Last year I used a Cingular GoPhone card, strictly as a PHONE card, no
>> data connection used or needed. When I checked Cingular's website, I
>> noticed that they now have a data option included (MediaNet). To me,
>> this looks more like a portal/WAP thing. so I am wondering if it can be
>> used to access the internet without restrictions and if so, what the
>> costs would be (it says $0.01/KB for Medianet but would it be the sme
>> for "real internet?).
>
>If you do almost anything other than fetch pop3 email, $.01/KB is a very
>expensive connection.
>
>Just staying in the phone, a Google Maps lookup of a business and getting
>directions is a 300KB operation.
>
>If you tether a laptop, you can use megabytes in a single day, $10/MB.
>I have no idea if you even can tether a GoPhone.
>
>I think a tethered laptop offers reasonable speed. In New York, you could
>get Edge speeds, about 100Kbps, or double a good dialup.

EGPRS(EDGE) speed depends on both the signal quality and on the EGPRS
Class of the mobile device. 100 Kbps is about right for Class 4 devices
with good signal. Class 10 and 12 devices are capable of much higher
speeds: 160+ Kbps. Class 2 devices are much slower.

--
Best regards, FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS:
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

Thanks for your replies,

I am aware of the costs, but as I would primarily use it for Exchange
pushe mail, which is an idle connection for 99% of the time, this would
be o.k. or at least overseeable.
Howver, my main question still is if all this (pop email etc.) is
possible with a GoPhone PAYG card.

Jens


On Nov 7, 6:22 pm, [email protected] wrote:
> Jens Roeben <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Last year I used a Cingular GoPhone card, strictly as a PHONE card, no
> > data connection used or needed. When I checked Cingular's website, I
> > noticed that they now have a data option included (MediaNet). To me,
> > this looks more like a portal/WAP thing. so I am wondering if it can be
> > used to access the internet without restrictions and if so, what the
> > costs would be (it says $0.01/KB for Medianet but would it be the sme
> > for "real internet?).If you do almost anything other than fetch pop3 email, $.01/KB is a very
> expensive connection.
>
> Just staying in the phone, a Google Maps lookup of a business and getting
> directions is a 300KB operation.
>
> If you tether a laptop, you can use megabytes in a single day, $10/MB.
> I have no idea if you even can tether a GoPhone.
>
> I think a tethered laptop offers reasonable speed. In New York, you could
> get Edge speeds, about 100Kbps, or double a good dialup.
>
> --
> ---
> Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5