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revisions: My Requirements Required:
My Phone Unlocked Motorola v620
Standards Support My Service Provisioning Experience I tried to order service using T-Mobile's website but ran into a few issues. I couldn't get the T-Mobile Internet package to show up in my cart unless I added a PC Card modem type of device to my order. Since I planned to use my unlocked v620, I didn't want or need another device. Then I called T-Mobile to try to place an order but the person taking the order was confused and didn't even know that T-Mobile Internet is $19.99/mo if you order it with a National plan (it's $29.99 by itself). This person also refused to let me place the order with all the options I wanted. I called a second time after deciding that I would just add the Internet package after I received my SIM Card from T-Mobile. So I told them I wanted the Basic plan (for regular phone calls) and the Worldclass service. The said they don't sell service without a phone, so I was "forced" to get a (free) phone too. T-Mobile sent the phone and SIM Card which I popped into the v620. I created a login for My T-Mobile and chose the phone model that's most similar to the v620, which is the v600. However, I wasn't able to active the Internet plan. I guess that's because T-Mobile doesn't want to support it on this phone, which is nonsense. So I chose the Sony Ericsson GC79 card and then all was well. (That card choice was just to trick the website into letting me order the plan I wanted; I didn't actual take possession of that item.) I added the Internet plan and waited until the next day. Service was active in less than 24 hours. My T-Mobile Plans / Options
Connecting to the Internet Options Matrix:
Any combination of the above will work, provided you have the correct service. Combination #1: USB Cable / GPRS (T-Mobile)
This is one of the first things I tried to do with this phone. Even though I didn't have Bluetooth yet, I referenced John Chang's GSM Phone as a Mac OS X Modem page to help me out. Thanks, John! It's very simple — too simple! I tried to make it more complicated and of course failed. All you have to do is open Internet Connect and enter I was behind a NAT gateway where my internal IP address was in the 10.x.x.x range, and the external IP was 66.94.16.25 Combination #2: USB Cable / GSM (T-Mobile) to Speakeasy Dialup I actually used the Motorola iR TimePort (7089) script that's supplied by default with OS X. It works fine. The other settings are just regular dialup settings that I got from Speakeasy. Connecting using this method works just like using the built-in modem... but the speed is an abysmal 9600 bits/s. You better have a lot of minutes to burn. Combination #3: Bluetooth / GPRS (T-Mobile) This works fine and the speed is the same as #1 above. Combination #4: Bluetooth / GSM (T-Mobile) to Speakeasy Dialup Haven't tried this yet, but I expect it to be very similar to #2. Observed Data Speed
Downstream Non-U.S. Net Access
Here's an unknown for me: non-U.S. Internet access. I hope to test this soon, which as an added benefit means a nice trip! According to T-Mobile's International Internet Services page, I can pay 1.5 cents per KB ($15.36 per megabyte!) You have to manually select the correct service provider on your phone to avoid using the wrong network. Otherwise you have to pay per minute as well. Non-U.S. Voice Calls
Went to Barbados and inbound/outbound calls worked fine for both local calls within the island, and calls to the U.S. I was alternately roaming on either Digicel or Cable & Wireless Barbados. iSync
Under 10.4, the v620 can sync with iSync using Bluetooth. You just go to the Bluetooth preference pane, set up your phone, then open iSync (which finds the device automatically). Fax Yeah, all this tech and let's send a fax. I haven't made this work yet, but I'm looking at some options: sending, receiving 1, receiving 2. Also, I need to try again with Bluetooth. Possibly I need to call T-Mobile and pay $10/mo for the "CSD (circuit switched data) option" (ref). More wild but potentially helpful rambling.
Sending
Receiving
Overall Pros / Cons of My Setup
Other links
maccellphone Yahoo group Mobile Tech Pitfalls AT&T Wireless has an unlimited data plan, but then charges you $1.02 per megabyte to get the data from your phone to your computer. They are being folded into Cingular and this info may be out of date. Joi Ito ran up a $3,500 tab in one month using GPRS roaming. Great illustration of how we are "not there yet." I'm not sure what that means, but when we're "there," I'll know. Todo See about recording conversations using the headset jack. Need to be able to listen, talk and record at the same time. Must output to line or mic-level 1/8" phono plug. Headset is 2.5mm plug. This Wireless Phone Recording Controller from Radio Shack ought to do it. |