Use of integrated wifi

Hi everyone -- I have a general use question. I havent had a cellphone to date and am contemplating my first purchase for my wife. I am looking to get her the cingular 8525. It has integrated 802.11 b/g wifi.

However, as far as the plan goes, I was only planning on getting her the voice plan nd NOT the data plan.

Given that, and my inexperience with cellphones in general, would she have access to the internet via our home wireless 802.11 g network for free? ... I mean, could she use the phone as a wireless pda with wifi, if she wanted to (not that she will, but I just want to make sure that we can have free interent access).

The service contract reads as follows:

"WI-FI CONNECT: Wi-Fi Connect available only with activation of an eligible Data Connect plan. Compatible Wi-Fi device with installation of Cingular Communication Manager software required to access Cingular Wi-Fi service. Wi-Fi Connect plans allow unlimited access (except as noted below) to Cingular Wi-Fi hotspots. Customers must pay applicable Wi-Fi access service fees directly to the Wi-Fi service provider for non-Cingular Wi-Fi hotspot usage. This agreement also can be viewed at Cingular Wireless. Wireless 802.11b/g network interface card or a laptop/PDA enabled with 802.11 technology is required to access the Wi-Fi Service. Wi-Fi Service is not inherently secure. Cingular Wi-Fi Service is not part of the Cingular GSMTM /GPRS, EDGE or 3G networks and, therefore, does not have the encryption, authentication or other security features that may be available on those networks. Wireless communications can be intercepted by equipment and software designed for that purpose. Cingular strongly encourages and supports certain customer-provided security solutions, such as virtual private networks (VPNs), but does not provide these to its Wi-Fi users and is not responsible for their effectiveness. Wi-Fi Service is available only when it is within the operating range of the Cingular system or of an operator with which we have a roaming agreement. Wi-Fi Service access location lists and/or maps may be updated from time to time; actual service coverage, locations and quality may vary. To ensure that the Wi-Fi Service is not being used fraudulently, Cingular limits your usage of the Wi-Fi Service to 150 uses per month. If you do not use the Cingular Communication Manager software to connect to a Cingular network for 90 consecutive days, or if your license to use the software is otherwise terminated, you will not be able to access the Wi-Fi Service. Wi-Fi services requiring the use of credit card or other payment directly to the network provider are not part of Cingular’s preferred network, if any, and additional charges will apply from the owner of such network."


I also have questions about unlocked or unbranded cell phones and what are the advantages/disadvanteges of getting them unlocked?

Thanks in advance for your input ...

-Bill

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what they are talking about there is their own WiFi service that they provide in certain hotspots. However, should u choose not to use their hotspots and use your own WiFi spots, they cannot charge you because the data is not being routed through their servers, therefore they do not know the amount of data u are using. the main advantage of having an unlocked phone is being able to take it from one gsm carrier to another should you choose to switch carriers. it also allows you to use prepaid sim cards in otehr countries if u travel often.

Thanks Xfactor

Do all the major providers allow a customer to bring their own unlocked cellphone for programming for their service? ... this doesnt Lock it after you select a carrier, does it?

-Bill

yes all major providers do, but be aware that if u are going to buy an unlocked phone, make sure it is for the right service, ie. GSM for cingular and t-mobile or CDMA for verizon and sprint. also make sure the phone is quadband for cingular.

Hi again:

ok here is the deal. I am stuck between the Verizon Wireless XV6700 and the Cingular 8525 I like the Cingular better, but my wife wants to be on the Verizon Wireless network. That said, I sort of need to do the verizon thing. ...

Now, the verizon website and a salesperson I spoke to indicated that when buying a PDA/smartphone ... you MUST get the data access plan ... I dont want the data access plan ($80/mo) I want only the talk plan ($40/mo) and want the wifi ONLY to access the intenet over my home wireless network (Free). Cingular will sell me only the voice plan. Further, the verizon girl scared me by saying that if they do sell me the voice only and I unintentionally access their data --- I could be subject to $.15/kb or some craziness like that.

1) Can I get the verizon voice plan without the data plan?

2) If I can get the voice plan with some crazy pay as you go thing for the data, can I disable access to their data services and only use MY HOME wifi for data?

3) Any strong arguments for the Cingular 8525 over the Verizon 6700 (aside from the obvious 802.11g vs b?

there's always an option to not use the data plan, it's not required. You can disable the data plan if u wish.


im with a treo 700w right now i opted to not use the data plan, as for your dilemma between the two phones, id choose the 8525 over the 6700, a little bit more compact without that antenna poking your thigh inside your pocket, i dunno about exact specs though, i was happy with the wizard when i had it.

THanks,

Excuse my ignorance on the topic ... just havent had alot of access to cellphones

You said: "You can disable the data plan if u wish."

... I assume that there is a place in the Windows Mobile Settings where I can disable any access to the verizon/cingular DATA network so that access to the internet is only via my home wifi? ... does anyone have a link that I can look at explaining how this may be done?

Hi all again ...

We got the VZ6700, but she isnt real into it. we are considering returning it and getting an unlocked HP iPAQ hw6945 Mobile Messenger instead. We did sign up for the Verizon Wireless 2 year contract and intend on staying with them. The question is: Is this phone compatible with the Verizon Network and would they be willing to program it even though it is unlocked ... thanks again, in advance.


-Bill

the phone is not compatible with verizon.