air card verses tethering

Hi Lynda,

I don't know the Verizon plans all that well, but I think you'll find it more economical to add unlimited data to a phone that will tether, rather than have a cell phone plan and an air card. Plus, once you can send and receive email on your phone you'll wonder how you lived without it.

You said you are going to upgrade your phone. I would suggest you find a phone for which a separate vendor has created tethering software. There is at least one vendor (http://www.junefabrics.com) who you pay a one time license fee for around $30, and that's it. I think Verizon charges around $15 or so a month.

Good luck!

Hi Chris

Thanks for replying to my delema. I have been checking out pdanet. When traveling I really need computer for sales contracts etc. Then I usually hit the free hot spots along the way-it's a hassle. and out MLS is not available on the smart phones.We have an RV and I have a muti task copier so I can fax and scan (also myfax). Verizon is $50.00 for tethering and $50.00 for cell e-mail. Sp if I tether I will need a smart phone with unlimited data-is that correct?

If you get a phone capapable of internet access you will probably need to purchase a data plan to get the phone at a good price. There lots of reasons to have web access and email on your phone, but if you don't want or need it you might get a more basic phone. In that case an air card for your laptop is the only choice.

I only need occasional web access away from home or office, where a wireless hot spot is not easy to find. Teathering my TREO has worked well, but an air card should provide a faster connection. The teather using Junefabrics pdanet software is fine for getting and sending email and general web browsing. If you need to download large files or send ans receive emails with large attachments the air card might be better.

PDAnet by www.junefabrics.com has been a great little program for my TREOs in the past and the Centro I use now. With Sprint, if you are already paying for a data package, there is no extra charge. With Verizon, I found I needed tech support to do something to make it work.

Does anyone know if it will work with the Pre???

Hugs and Smiles,

Joeann Fossland

www.joeann.com

Joeann

Thanks for your help. I finallly took the jump and got a BBstorm with unlimited data plan thru Verizon. I am looking at pdanet and blackberrythether-some one else just mentioned outlook connect-

This group is great -Thanks again

Lynda

sounds like you already made the plunge but I have to say I am on AT&T and have a htc smart phone with windows browsing and found the more busy you get the more you will come across times were you need the laptop air card. I do pay alot $59 a month but I make that 5 or 6 times over being able to do BPOs on the road. I fold my pass seat down and Ive got my laptop velcrowed in with the air card going and a converter giving me power. My hook up with tethering didnt allow me to print something online very quickly, also pdfs didnt come through to well, but Im sure your new hookup will be more updated than mine was. good luck and dont loose the cord!!!!!

Thanks for taking the time to respond. Crackberry just e-mailed me and said that the Bold works best with their program-So I asked them where that leaves me.!!!!!!!!!

I am receiving e-mail but want to sync it with Outlook so I guess that I need to purchance Outlook connect. Boy, it is really a BIG learning curve on the Storm-but I am determined to get it.

Thanks again

Lynda Martin

I have a BB and it works great with the tandem modem. Plus, you always have internet on the phone itself. Air cards have gotten cheaper but I think the BlackBerry means you have one less device to work on. I use it at my mom's out of state in a VERY rural area and love it.

I have the Blackberry 8330 Curve and love it. I used to tether my old LG to my laptop and it worked fine, slow but fine. I wanted to tether my BB to my laptop and found that it was an additional charge and didn't want to do that. But I do everything on the BB and synch it to Outlook weekly. I even have the Wireless MLS on there and it works great!!!