On Feb 25, 10:43 am, s...@italiancar.co.uk (SteveH) wrote:
> Seuss <s...@nospam.com> wrote:
> > I'd like to use my macbook pro (with express card slot, not pc card)
> > with 3g data. From what I've read so far I'd be better off doing this
> > using a 3g phone as a bluetooth modem rather than getting an expresscard
> > modem (which wouldn't allow normal phone use anyway)
>
> > The webnwalk max package on tmobile looks like it would suit me. Most
> > of the 3g nokia phones listed for that package on their site are also
> > quite attractive.
>
> > So my main question is will they work well as a 3g bluetooth modem with
> > a mac? Has anyone actually done this?
>
> Yes - did it last Tuesday with an ancient ex-3 contract phone (Nokia
> 7600) and my T-Mobile WebnWalk SIM.
>
> Signal strength wasn't great, but I was getting 380kb downstream speeds,
> which is more than acceptable for the kind of work you'd do on mobile
> data.

If you get something like T Mobile's MDA 2 it has the higher-speed
capabliity HSPDA (or similar letters to that) so you'll get about 1.2
MB/s speeds where you have a good 3G signal. I use this and it is very
impressive indeed. Faster than my rural fixed-line "broadband"
connection embarrassingly enough! Having said all that I have just
signed up for BT Openzone becuase I am often in an area with a poor 3g
signal but wireless is available - such as cafes and coffee shops. The
other reason why you might want to consider the latter rather than web
and walk is that the phone will kick you off the modem connectiion
when someone calls. I'll be hanging onto both contracts because I need
the flexibility to have decent speeds when not near a wireless
hotspot. But I do bill the comms charges back to my clients.

Cheers

D