Ok, so a just got a N810 off ebay and have been playing with it for a few days.

My ISP, which is also a phone company, provided me with a UMTS USB stick that works with a Sim card. It does provide fast and reliable internet access when plugged on my PC and the Data plan is not bad.

After a not so brief search, my understanding is that it is not possible to plug the USB stick directly to the tablet due to lack of sufficiant output power from the table. Is this still the actual state?

Now, I understand that my other option is to take the SIM card to another device (phone) which could act as a bluetooth modem for the tablet.

Is there such a thing as a reasonably prices stand alone bluetooth 3G modem?

If not, my second question is what is the best and cheapest option for a bluetooth 3G phone that will work with the tablet. Price is definatly a consideration.

Also, what are the general considerations of such a thedering procedure, anything complicated or that can possibly fail?

Are there any other options?

BTW, I am in Germany at the moment and my provider is Vodafone.

Thanks!

Tethering isn't too complicated, the N810 has built-in settings for various carriers. You'll need a bluetooth 3G phone, in other words, a smartphone, and that, and the associated "unlimited" (really limited to 5GB per month in the US) dataplan don't come cheap. Though I do have a Palm Centro smartphone that was under $100 after rebate, but since you said you are UTMS that's not an option for 3G for you because PalmOS phones can only do "3g" (actually, EVDO) over CDMA. You'll also need to pay an additional fee for tethering from your carrier, or you can risk their wrath and use something like USBModem or PDANet. (PalmOS, Android, and WinMo smartphones have tethering apps available.)

I don't know if there is a compatible version for your carrier and it is pricey, the Mifi turns 3g connections into wifi. While not standalone the PC Connectivity project can share a laptop's connection over bluetooth to the N810. You should be able to get enough power using a battery-powered usb hub or perhaps and I haven't gotten around to testing it -- usb otg cable + usb power y cable + AA/lithium usb power pack. Of course that's highly bulky.

I'd check locally and see what phones people are using with your carrier. You might be able to get ahold of an older Nokia N series or E series for a reasonable price.

Reading through this thread: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=12492&page=4
the Nokia 6131 is reported to work great with Vodafone in Italy. Also bottom of http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=12492&page=7 Nokia N80 and 6820 on page 8. Nokia would be a good bet to be compatible with Nokia's integrated bluetooth phone wizard.

What I do is 3G on Nokia E71 and use BlueTooth to tether. On top of that I use SSL protocols, VPN, or its not important data. This is common practice. The Nokia E71 can also be used seperatedly. It has, for example, a PuTTy port for S60.

What is nice, is that Nokia E71 shares the same battery as Nokia N810 so you can swap them around (there are more Nokia devices, including those providing 3G, which also use these batteries).

You could also put your 3G device's WiFi in master/AP mode, and then use unencrypted or WEP from your WiFi device (e.g. N810). In general anything from Windows Mobile to iPhone, Android, and S60 works (tethering and AP mode) but before you buy be sure to verify it. Sometimes it requires additional (commercial) software, or some kind of hack or configuration.

Maybe you want to wait for the next Maemo-based device from Nokia. It is rumored to contain 3G on-board. This way you have 2-in-1.

You should also check your contract to see if tethering (and/or SIP/VoIP) is allowed.

Having been in Germany last weekend using Vodafone 3G I can verify both methods above work.

This is on my shopping list... Wifi Router uses 3G USB stick for access to cell network

http://www.cradlepoint.com/products/...l-wifi-hotspot

I have not personally used one, but looks like a good idea.

I was really stoked about the Mifi, and possibly the cradlepoint until I found out how much of a ripoff 3g internet was. And until it comes down, I'm not gonna bother with it.