I've paired up the 770 via bluetooth with 2 different Cingular plan phones (one Razr V3 and a Sony S710a) and got it configured to use Cingular's GPRS settings. Speeds aren't super fast, but for more simple web pages (ie. text based ones like Craig's List or Yahoo Mail, GMail-simple HTML), it's very usable and will work well in a pinch. See my thread on setting up Cingular GPRS settings for details on getting it configured. I'm waiting to see what my statement shows in terms of data usage before I decide to go to their $19.99 "Unlimited" Media Net plan. Hopefully they don't noticed that it is data being pulled down to a teathered device (ie. not purely WAP page data via the phone's internal browser).
It's not surprising that Cingular is punting and not providing official support for Bluetooth pairing of their cell phones to laptops/PDA's. Just too many products out there to support, easier if they just say "we don't support it" and even more profitable to push you to buying one of their GPRS PCMCIA cards and make you buy a $80/mo data plan for that card.
Actually, technically, the 770 isn't really a Laptop... : ) so doesn't need their teathered laptop plan right?
"CINGULAR DATA CONNECT UNLIMITED PLANS—ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The Data Connect $79.99 and PDA Connect plans may only be used with approved, certified devices for the following purposes: (i) Internet browsing, (ii) email, and (iii) intranet access (including access to corporate intranets, email and individual productivity applications like customer relationship management, sales force and field service automation). The plans may not be used with server devices or with host computer applications. Such prohibited uses include, but are not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, continuous JPEG file transfers, automatic data feeds, telemetry applications, automated functions or any other machine-to-machine applications. The plans may not be used to provide full-time connections, including without limitation, private lines or frame relay. Cingular PDA Connect plan: may only be used with compatible palmOne Tungsten W, palmOne Treo, Siemens SX56/66, Motorola MPx200/220, Audiovox 4100 or similar Cingular-certified devices provided that the device is not being used as a modem with other equipment (e.g., computers or ruggedized handhelds) through use of connection kits, other phone/PDA-to-computer accessories, Bluetooth or other wireless technology."
I've paired up the 770 via bluetooth with 2 different Cingular plan phones (one Razr V3 and a Sony S710a) and got it configured to use Cingular's GPRS settings. Speeds aren't super fast, ...
Dave
Is your Razr the one that Cingular sent you whe nyou started your plan or is it an unlocked unbranded model you put your SIM into??
I am wondering as I have heard that Cingular is good at crippling phones by disbling things in the firmware and the ony way to get full functionality is by buying an unbranded unlocked phone and not allowing cingular anywher near it except for you putting the sim card in.
I ask as I am about to start a new plan with them and get my black V3 for $90.00 and hope it will not be BT crippled.
but T-Mobile still doesn't have a great network, and they're the last of the big providers that charges domestic roaming.
T-Mobile has never charged for domestic roaming. Ever. I'm not sure if they ever charged for it when they were called Voicestream, but three or four years ago, when I started with them, they did not.
In terms of network coverage, I'm satisfied in the Pittsburgh area. Different providers are good in different areas. Try talking to people in your local area and see what they say about coverage.
Verizon's prepaid EasyPay plan charges a dollar a minute roaming...
Is your Razr the one that Cingular sent you whe nyou started your plan or is it an unlocked unbranded model you put your SIM into??
I am wondering as I have heard that Cingular is good at crippling phones by disbling things in the firmware and the ony way to get full functionality is by buying an unbranded unlocked phone and not allowing cingular anywher near it except for you putting the sim card in.
I ask as I am about to start a new plan with them and get my black V3 for $90.00 and hope it will not be BT crippled.
It was a phone I got from Cingular that I unlocked a few months ago (used it in the far East on a recent trip) but otherwise was using a plain old Cingular SIM card. I don't think Cingular locks out the bluetooth communications feature as I was able to bluetooth link/sync my Razr with my Mac even before I unlocked it. Though I didn't try to do any comm via GPRS with the Mac so can't say for sure if the act of unlocking it did the trick.
On the other hand, the Sony Cellphone that I linked to was a friend's which was definitely not unlocked, also on Cingular, was able to act as an Internet Modem via bluetooth to the 770 just fine as well.
Just use the GPRS settings I posted in another thread (do a search for Cingular GPRS settings) and it should work fine, has for others.
BTW, I used the 770 on the per KB data plan the first month, none of the data was flagged as being any different than MediaNet access on my bill. Changed to the "Unlimited" plan last month and once again, though I'd used like 5+ MB of data, none was flagged as anything other than MediaNet access on the bill. I think if you use it in moderation, they're not really checking if the traffic is from the phone's internal e-mail client(s), WAP browser, downloaded Java WEB Browser, IM client or from a bluetooth'ed PDA. Just don't abuse it and maybe we'll all stay under the radar?
I have been able to pair my T616 and my Nokia 770. By default the devices paired, but could not connect to the web. However, if one sets up the connection manually, and dial up the Cingular GPRS, it works out fine. (granted its a bit slow)
If you want to try it out with your Cingular Ericsson T series phone try, after you have paired the device:
