Verizon Blesses Phone-As-Modem Plans

DigitalDame2 writes "PC Magazine reports that Verizon Wireless has decided to let its subscribers use their cell phones as high-speed modems for their laptops. For $59.99 per month, users of the LG VX9800, Motorola RAZR V3c, Motorola E815, and LG VX8100 phones will connect to Verizon's BroadbandAccess EV-DO network." From the article: "For a while now, Verizon subscribers have illicitly used their phones as modems; various Web sites have information on how to do so. But up until now, doing so has violated service contracts, leaving users open to Verizon cutting off their service or charging high per-kilobyte fees."

Comments

tmobile

[MikeFM]

I have an N-Gage QD with T-Mobile and use the phone as a modem for my laptop for $20/month. I had to get a little bluetooth adapter for about $20 from Fry's and it works really well. It's about two to three times faster than a normal modem it seems but not as fast as DSL. Still it works almost anywhere my phone works, is an unlimited plan, and I can even use my phone as a phone even while using it as a modem. Overall, I like it a lot.

Re:tmobile

[MikeFM]

They told me they raised the price to $30/month and added in HotSpots access. Fine I guess if you spend a lot of time at airports and Starbucks but for me the $20 plan is better. Even for $30/month though it's still a good deal I think.

Re:*sigh*

[generic-man]

SPONSORED POST

I tried using my cable modem when I was traveling, but truck drivers complained about the 400-mile length of cable running behind my car. The speeds were awful too.

Then I tried 802.11g, but the cops made me pick up all the Pringles can repeaters I planted on the side of the road.

So $60 a month for wireless access is pretty good.

Verizon Wireless -- Can you read what I'm typing now? Good!

SPONSORED POST

Re:*sigh*

[LordMyren]

I only got hassled by the cops once. And I blame it solely on the fact that my cantenna fell apart. I was sitting in an empty drive way across the street, but the neighbors thought itw as overly suspicious.

It'd been like a week since I'd bothered connecting up; it usually is when you've got only a moderately good wifi card with no real antenna. I was probably there way way too long.

With a good cantenna (Whooo Pepperidge Farm canisters!!) I could've been where I normally am; sitting in my car or at a park, far far away.

OTOH, Cingular does offer an unlimited data rate plan for a grand $20/mo. Sure there's no teathering allowed by policy, but there is a nearly dejure unenforcement. As it should be! Its like the Europeans; the laws are only there to pester those who offend, not to crack over the skulls of basically benign citizens. I know quite a few people who are on Cingular for this reason alone. Thats why I got Cingular, and I know quite a few techies and non-techies alike in the same boat.

Bad Verizon, Bad!

[feijai]

Verizon has done whatever it can to prevent users from taking advantage of their own phones. Why? Because with the best coverage, they figure they can mess with their customers and they won't leave.

To whit:

1. Instead of Java, Verizon has insisted that its phone manufacturers install Qualcomm's noxious "BREW" standard, with its awful GUI and lack of portability. You cannot make a free BREW app. If you want to distribute an app for your company to run on its cell phones, for example, you have to pay Qualcomm and Verizon some serious money.
2. Various phones Verizon sells can run Java fine before Verizon tinkers with them. But in order to enforce its BREW money-maker, Verizon disables the Java and requires the manufacturer to run BREW instead.
3. Verizon is also careful to make certain that users cannot add their own ringtones. All ringtones must go through "Get It Now!", Verizon's BREW-based profit center.
4. Likewise for wallpapers on many (but not all) of the phones.
5. Verizon has intentionally disabled Bluetooth on a number of phones (like the Motorola v710 and E815). The one phone Verizon has which has full Bluetooth capability (the Nokia 6256i) Verizon refuses to sell in their stores or to repair. Verizon also deleted the Nokia's media player feature and arranged it that the 6256i can upload MP3 files but cannot play them as ringtones. The company has an open policy of refusing to allow perfectly good CDMA phones on its network if they are not broken in these regards.
6. The article is incorrect. Verizon has always allowed EVDO and RX1TT phones to use its data network. But to do so requires paying Verizon 1.5 cents per KILOBYTE. For those paying attention, that's $15 for a 1MB file. They offer various "plans", stuff like 10MB for $50, and now unlimited for $60. On top of your phone plan: verizon's minimum plan is $40 so you're talking $100 a month for the "faster" cellular data rates. Verizon still offers a 14.4Kbps modem option (actually about 10K) that just uses up your minutes. But it may be phased out.
7. And the Verizon UI. What can I say? Verizon is trying to force all its phone manufacturers to offer the same BREW-based UI, one which appears to have been invented by chimpanzees.

The reason for all of this is that Verizon wants the phones to be an extension of its cellular service. You must use their phone to use their plan, and thus must pay extra $$$ (big-time) for features that ordinarily you would have free for your phone. Many on /. are too young to remember the last company that did this. It was called AT&T. A long time ago if you wanted to make a phone call you had to rent one of their phones. They were the definition of "monopolistic predatory practice".