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Cell Phones for Laptop Users?
ZiZ asks: "I'm looking for a cell phone that will do three things well: make calls, sync with my computer's address book/scheduler, and act as a wireless (3G) modem for my Apple laptop. I'd forgo the USB networking if I could, but my 12" Powerbook doesn't have a PC Card slot. I don't really care about Bluetooth one way or the other, so the question of what Verizon does or does not allow Bluetooth to do, for instance, doesn't really apply to me - I'd rather plug my phone into a USB port, have it charge up, sync, and connect me to the Internet. Unfortunately, most of the information floating around the web is all about Bluetooth's DUN, and almost none of it about USB charging or USB connectivity. What US carrier and compatible phone would you get to fulfill these simple tasks?"
If you could look up a Verizon -> USB/Ethernet/PCMIA card for a 15 1/2" laptop I'd be much obliged. :D
I'm using a Verizon e815 that has been "hacked" to allow more bluetooth functions. It works great as a bluetooth modem when I'm on the road.
Howard Forums is a *great* resource when it comes to stuff like this.
I dunno who it is
but it prolly is fhqwhgads.
If you get their PC card, they charge you a hefty amount per month for Internet access. But if you get a USB cable (check eBay), which they don't officially admit exists, and sign up for their "unlimited" vision plan ($10/mo), you can use unlimited internet.
This was my only Internet connection for nearly 12 months while I was unemployed. They never complained (altho the slashdot effect might change that now!)
As for phones that let you sync... I have no idea. But I'm sure you can find one of those. That's just a feature I've never cared about.
can be found here http://tuxmobil.org/phones_linux.html
perpetually dwelling in the -1 pits
What part of Treo 650 + Sprint unlimited data plan don't you understand?
Or, in other words, what else is there out there that could possibly convince you a Treo 650 is not what you want?
I guess Treo 700, 7xx, etc. would be one answer. But for now the 650 has suited my needs well.
Verizon Blackberry 7250
EVDO, tethering, syncing, bluetooth, etc.
I bought an unbranded SLVR and it does everything you want, except it's not 3G. It is however a very nice phone. It's eminetnly capable, Motorola phones have a large userbase and are rather hackable. I was able to use VirtualPC to put iTunes on the phone and perform other various hacks. It works great as a modem to use with my t-mobile plan (20/month for unlimited data).
I like bluetooth, and like not having to carry one more cable, even if I do usually carry that cable for charging purposes, I don't want to be fucked if I forget the cable at home. Hence, bluetooth is basically a must for me. As well, I use my HS850 with my phone, so having bluetooth is equally important for that.
GPRS can be a bit slow, but for what I use it for (IM, SSH, very light web) it works fine, the latency over SSH is more of an issue, but EDGE and EVDO do not solve either. (just becuase it's faster doesn't mean it has less latency).
Overall, I am particularly happy with my setup.
Find a phone you like with bluetooth. Done.
I looked at Sprint vs. Verizon for 3G and chose Sprint becauses Verizon places limits on how you use the bandwidth (e.g., no video). Sprint doesn't, so for me that was a no-brainer.
Synchronization for a Mac may not be straightforward, because we're dealing with proprietary Windows Mobile here. I need to synch to Linux so I'm in the same boat. Funambol looks very promising for synching to the open standard SyncML, but I haven't had time to play with it yet.
I have successfully used DUN over USB on my laptop (running Windows). I haven't yet tried it with Linux, but that's on my list of things to try. Sprint employs lossy compression on the EVDO connection using Bytemobile's software. It's most noticable on images, and is annoying. It's possible to disable it on a Windows laptop by installing Bytemobile's client. There may not be an equivalent Mac (or Linux) solution, but it also may not bother you that much.
Sounds like a good trade to me!
Check out my foes list to see who is so retarded that they can't use the signature line!!!
I've used my RAZR to sync and connect to the internet. The new version is basically the same, except with 3G and some better photo capabilities. Now if you can find a provider that's unlimited 3G, you've got a solution.
I've always used SprintPCS for data. Pricing seems to be the most fair of any provider and they are always on the leading edge of high speed wireless.
From the SprintPCS site for their Power Vision phones:
Phone as Modem Capable
Use the included USB cable or Bluetooth Wireless technology to connect to a PC allowing Internet and email access.
It seems that SprintPCS is more open to everyone using their phones for Internet Access. A friend of mine purchased a Verizon phone and couldn't use the dialup feature without upping the per month pricing significantly (at least $59.99 versus Sprint's $39.99 unlimited plan). Even on my older SprintPCS phone I never had problems using at as a modem.
The Bitpim project works to provide syncronization with all BREW based phones via Bluetooth or USB cable. Bitpim supports more sync features on some phone models than others. For Windows, there is commercial full sync software for pretty much any BREW phone.
Initially Verizon had better and higher speed coverage than SprintPCS, but it appears that SprintPCS has overtaking them. According to the April 24, 2006 Infoworld, it states that Sprint's coverage is 219 major metro markets and 470 airports. It lists Verizon's coverage at 180 major metro areas.
When using a USB cable, you just plug the phone in and for the modem kind choose "Sprint PCS". The dial-up number is #777 and that's all there is to it. Works fine. The 8200 was very fast (ISDN speeds) where the LG is dial-up speeds (same area, same everything else). Things really do vary by phone.
With Bluetooth on the 325, it is just like above only no cable. You just have to enable DUN on the phone each time, and turn the phone on and off in-between dial-up uses.
It works ok. The 8200 worked quite a bit better. As for syncing phone data (contacts, etc) you are basically up the creek without a paddle. Neither phone does that (they also don't charge when you use the cable). I don't know of any that do (except perhaps the Palm/PocketPC ones) on Sprint. I've heard much better things about the kinds of phones one can get from Cingular on that point.
Where is the iPhone when I need it?
As for other help, the people on the Sprint Users forum are nice and can answer almost anything.
Good luck.
Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
Silas
I expect eventually to see a product announcement for an amazing new "cellular phone" that has an incredible set of features, but doesn't actually place or receive phoen calls.
Anyhow, I'm pretty happy with the Treo 650. It makes calls about as poorly (or well, depending on your point of view) as any other cell phone, it syncs with my desktop, and it will act as a modem. Though it doesn't do EDGE or UMTS/HSPDA. I'm hoping that their next GSM Treo that runs PalmOS will do HSPDA.
Mine works fine for the OP's requirements. Bluetooth DUN on Verizon, good sync software available (Missing Sync for PalmOS). The camera is chintzy, but I don't know of a good camera built into a phone. Maybe it exists, but I carry my Sony T1 with me when I need quaity. Mine has 16MB of RAM which I believe is more than most phones, and it can take a 4GB SD card. The keyboard is small, but that's a tradeoff for pocket size. I'm going to pick up one of those projection bluetooth keyboards so I don't need to carry my laptop as often. Oh, and PalmOS is going Linux, so it'll be better this time next year. The interface isn't anything Apple could sell, but it's better than most phones I've tried.
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
I have a Motorola bluetooth phone (V330, which they stopped making last year) and it syncs awesomely with my Powerbook via Bluetooth. It works quite well for voice as well, amazingly enough. The one thing I have not tried is using it as a modem. There is a USB cable available for $20, and the T-Mobile internet service is cheap ($6/month) and unlimited...but I have no idea if it works as a modem. Anybody know?
GoMadic has stuff for this.
Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
I've got a blackberry 7290 with t-mobile and i use dun over usb with great phone service and unlimited internet access for a great price. Though the 7290 only gives me gprs ...
If you want more speed/power, the 8700g is a great choice. Price is a little high (as with all RIM devices), but just ask anyone else addicted to a crackberry -- email on the phone with unlimited internet freaking rules.
I just recently had my cell phone die on me, so I switched to T-Mobile and got a Motorola V360. This phone has bluetooth as well as the ability to act as a USB modem with a data connection (dial *999 or something, check online for the recipe to get connectivity). It supports EDGE as well as GPRS, and works with the cdc-acm linux driver. While it is not fully supported by moto4lin, I can use kdemobiletools to download my address book, make calls and send SMS messages. The phone needs to be switched to modem mode to be used this way, as the default is to provide USB mass storage access to the microSD card in the phone.
So all in all, works better than I would've expected. As with anything, YMMV.
People who are mean, suck. The opposite is not true.
I have a Sony Ericsson w800i and I can sync, charge and use it as a modem via usb. I can sync and modem via bluetooth as well. I haven't tried it but using it for internet access shouldn't be hard. even with a Mac. I don't have any sort of data plan so I can't test it. I use t-mobile.
I've got a verizon LG VX6100 that let's me sync and usbmodem, in linux no less!. I would start with the compatability list for BITPIM and narrow your search down from there.
I BELIEVE if you are using your phone as a modem to (for example) call some other ISP then I think you are correct, but of course you use up your "minutes" then.
On the other hand, if you have any kind of phone plan with them, for an extra $19/month you can ALSO get unlimited wireless internet from them. With T-Mobile (at least when I got it) it's only "fast dial-up" speed (true 56k), but they seemed (again, when I first checked) to have a lot more ubiquitous coverage than, say, Sprint or Verizon's faster offerings. In my case, I opted for better coverage rather than faster speeds in a more limited area. I just have a nice bare-bones Motorola V-188, the USB cable is a "normal" size mini-USB (as used by most MP3 players). (Wish I could figure out why I can't get it to use my custom MP3's as "ringtones" but that's not exactly an important feature for me.
Been pretty happy with it so far, and it's working fine on my two Linux laptops, so I imagine it can be made to work the same way for Mac OSX.
Hacker Public Radio is our Friend
How hard would it be to get two cellphones with a free mobile to mobile calling and have one at home wired into your broadband connection and then use the other as a modem on your laptop to call your home cellphone.
I'm sure it would be slow, but it in theory wouldn't cost you anything.
He who knows not and knows he knows not is a wise man. He who knows not and knows not he knows not is a fool.
I've had an unlimited internet plan on my cel phone for a couple years now through Cingular ($20 a month). It has only been at GPRS & EDGE speeds in my area during that time, but 3G is now available in several area's around me. Hopefully it will be in my area soon, but for now the EDGE speeds are fast enough.
I just use my Bluetooth adapter on my laptop to connect to my Bluetooth cel phone. Formerly a Moto v600, and now an LG CU320 (3G). Once paired with my laptop it appears as a Bluetooth modem, and the laptop thinks it is just a regular dial-up connection. It works pretty well. I have used it all over the place, even (as a passenger) riding down the freeway at 80mph.
Cingular even has some connection manager software to help you setup the connection, but you don't need it if you know what your doing (Not sure if they have Mac software though).
Like an internal modem (card device), but like an internal wireless device in notebooks/laptops. Do they exist in U.S.?
Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
I use the SE P910 with my windows laptop. Here's what I do (and what I *can* do) with it:
- use it as a modem (pc bluetooth to phone gprs to internet)
- use it as a modem (pc bluetooth to phone dial into an ISP's dial-up -very slow-)
- retrieve IMAP e-mail via gprs
- retrieve & send data for a handful of apps via gprs (opera web browser, avantgo, an SSH client, and worldmate pro, to name 4 useful ones)
- sync contacts and calendar data with Lotus Notes 6.5.4 (what I do)
- sync contacts, calendar data, and notepad with Outlook (what I don't do)
Note that all the data traffic between my phone and laptop are done over bluetooth, but since you're not interested in BT, I *believe* there is a cable you can procure for this purpose should you want it that way. Also, some of the above features can be done over IR, but I have not ever tried that.
Regarding the T-Mobile plan: someone mentioned this earlier... there is a $20 add-on to your normal account, which allows you unlimited gprs data traffic. This includes both data generated from the phone itself, and data when using the phone as a modem for your computer. This *doesn't* include CSR (using your phone as a "real" modem to dial up to an ISP's dial-in).
GPRS is pretty slow compared to what broadband users are used to (it'll be the equivalent of approx 56 kbps), but it does the trick for SSH or scheduled mail downloads.
And yes, you can get this to sync with your OS X calendar and address book... I previously used this with my iMac G4 before having to live semi-permanently on the road (hence the laptop).
SE is coming out with the P910's successor sometime mid-year, so you might want to wait.
Do your homework like everybody else! There will be ten times more suggestions in this forum then you will bother to investigate anyway. How is this news? How is this different than the myriad combinations/permutations of criterion that each of us look for when we're shopping for a new cell phone? Bluetooth vs Usb... 2 megapixel CCD vs decent reception... It's precisely this kind of pickiness, coupled with rampant convergence, that makes it so difficult to shop for a cell phone.
I've been happily using this phone with my Mac since August, and I think it does everything you want. I wrote up a review on my blog: http://www.vidog.com/blog/product-review-motorola- e815/
Have you been able to use the microSD as a mass storage device? It is detected and configures /dev/sda on my laptop with FC4, but trying to access the partition table w/ fdisk or actually mount /dev/sda1 causes loads of I/O errors to fill /var/log/messages and I eventually unplug it in disgust. The card seems OK, i.e. I can record video clips to it from the phone.
It works great as a GPRS modem though, as I am doing right now to send this.
For awhile now. Some are even built-in (don't take the card slot). Some caveats--my cingular EDGE PC Card had horrid latencies (1s or more).
As soon as my current contract expires, I'm planning to purchase a T-mobile MDA, which is a rebranded HTC Wizard. It seems to have the features you want, USB connectivity (make sure you have a cable intended for USB 2.0), Bluetooth, wireless, etc.
One guy's experience getting it to work as a modem is here:
http://www.pdagold.com/articles/detail.asp?a=269
The HTC Wizard seems to have good reviews, although nothing is perfect, and even though its CPU is dual-core, people are concerned about its speed.
www.xda-developers.com has more information on this and similar phones that HTC puts out. I highly recommend checking this site out if you do decide on this phone.
I'm in the process of changing from ATT to Cingular finally, and you're the second person to tell me about a $20 unlimited internet access from Cingular.
The best I can find on their site or reps is $39.99/month for "Data Connect Unlimited", which has to be purchased with a minimum $39.99/month talk plan.
The other person I spoke with was an HP exec, and I figured it was a HP-negotiated pricing plan; but barring you being corporate, can you tell what this plan is for $20/month, and any details (connectivity, speeds, etc.)?
"Eustace? Eustace? Are you there? Are you there?" = John Leeming
I just got a Nokia 6230i to replace my old Siemens S55. Now I get a camera, MP3 player, Edge connectivity on bluetooth (150 kbps on average) but the address book and organizer do not synchronise with my powerbook 12" (maybe 50% of Nokia phones are recognized by Apple). It used to work with the S55 (the modem was only GPRS) but its battery was dead anyway.
Google passes Turing test : see my journal
I just did computer service for a guy who has a Razr. It will sync (I think) and do Internet connection (115kbps) over a usb cable, and as long as the phone's battery isn't uber-low, it will charge on the usb connection as well.
I think it was a Razr.
you insensitive clod, what do you got against Gnomes?
--- I am known for the ones who want to find me on the net. Is that a privacy risk or a privilege? One might wonder..
I use the Motorola v360, a USB cable and t-Mobile. The plan I use is a bit more expensive, $29.99/mo but includes both unlimited cellphone data use and unlimited t-Mobile Hotspot Wifi. The service has been fine, although it was a royal pain to find a t-Mobile service rep that knew how to provision the account with the service plan that was in the brochure.
Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
I have the same powerbook, but my choice of phone was the RAZR. Why? It syncs/file transfers over bluetooth, it charges over USB, it acts as a modem, it syncs with iSync. It's an all-around great phone, and I'm glad I got it.
This is all on top of the fact that with bluetooth, you can do things like send/receive/archive SMS messages from your Powerbook (google BluePhoneElite), which is a handy feature if you send/receive a lot of messages - something I've started to do now that I have a phone with surprisingly good predictive text input.
The thing I like about bluetooth can be summarised by describing the setup that a guy I know had. All of his kit was bluetooth - phone, PDA, and laptop - and he had purchased a bluetooth headset. His phone stayed in his bag. When it rang, it rang in his ear; he would pull out his PDA to see who it was, and choose whether or not to accept the call (I you could also have your PDA ring, if you wanted to). When he wanted to make a call, he would pull out his PDA, choose someone out of the address book, and click 'Dial', and it would dial his cellphone. Very handy, and you don't have to have all your electronics within easy reach.
If you don't like the RAZR, the SLVR is also a nice phone, and has the benefit of iTunes capabilities (if this tickles your fancy), which is only available on some models of RAZR.
Except for the 3G component, the Treo 650 will do all you ask, you just need to add PDANet software to get the USB cable network connection.
You may be able to do the same trick with the Treo 700W and PDANet, and get the 3G speed. However, I don't have 3G coverage here yet so I've never looked into it.
It syncs with iSync; I can use the phone as a Bluetooth modem that works with my Powerbook and my Palm E2, both over GPRS (33.6K-ish speeds), and as an "analog" phone (at a whopping 9600 baud); and the phone isn't monumentally stupid, though the keypad has tiny, tiny number keys.
As a bonus: I've got an IR ThinkOutside folding keyboard that works with both the phone and the Palm. I can, if I really needed to, SSH from the phone. Opera for mobiles works decently well as a browser. (Due to limited memory, sometimes you have to turn the phone off and then on in order to free up contiguous memory for Opera to work. Avoid installing much on the built-in memory, and you'll do better.) The email client on the Nokia is also not painfully awful.
My suggestion: start with the list of iSync-supported phones and go from there. That's what I did. If you can get a phone with support for the higher-speed wireless data (EDGE), go for it, but the GPRS speeds are adequate for occasional emergency use. (Turn off images.)
Potato chips are a by-yourself food.
I used to commute an hour on the train and I hated trying to work there with no net access. Turned out it was pretty easy to get connected. I have a 15" PowerBook and a Kyocera 7135 Palm smartphone on Verizon. I found a USB data cable for that phone on eBay for $20 and I found modem drivers for the phone in various places, including the Kyocera website. A few trial-and-error cycles later I had cell modem internet access.
That phone only did 1xRTT, not EDGE, but it wasn't bad for email or blogging and light surfing. Not special plan was required from Verizon, as they generally allow you to use your minutes for data or voice. You can get an unlimited data plan, but that's over $50/month and I never used that much.
I'm sure the same thing would have worked with other phones, just make sure Google can find Mac modem drivers, the rest is easy and there are tutorials available.
BTW, I've upgraded my phone, so the 7135 is for sale cheap, data cable/drivers included: john (at) theymightbe.com
The software you are looking for is Bitpim. It syncs your phone up with your computer using USB. Check the website for a list of supported phones and providers.
Next, you need a modem driver for your phone. I've gotten internet access by using my cell phone as a "modem" on Sprint with the $10 Vision plan. You need to find the appropriate driver for your model of phone- I've gotten it to work with both my old Samsung A600 and my newer Sanyo VI-2300.
I second using BitPim (I have the VX6100 as well.) Some details on their Express Network here: http://www.poremsky.com/p/verizonwireless.htm
I use a sony t637 with a 15" powerbook. Syncs over bluetooth with isync. Connects me to tmobile via bluetooth and i charge it up with this ziplinq usb charger: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTool s/item-details.asp?EdpNo=585476
I'm a Verizon Wireless subscriber and G4 iBook user in Washington, DC. If I need Internet access while not at home or work, it's usually pretty easy for me to find a hotspot (free or paid at one of the 10^9 Starbucks within half a block from my house).
I used to have a Treo 600 with the $40/unlimited PDA plan, which I could synch using iSync. Although I used it, I didn't see the value added for my needs. Verizon charges up the a$$ for data services as compared to Sprint (or T-Mobile). Their cellular coverage is probably the best in the area, though. Now I have a RAZR, which is a really sweet phone (can also sync with the iBook but I haven't gotten the USB cable yet). No longer have any data coverage except for the $5/month WAP which I use in case of an emergency.
My point in all of this is that you should ask yourself whether you really need Internet access through your wireless provider if there are accessible and cheaper methods such as WiFi. If yes, I would consider those instead and not worry about having to go through your provider.
http://www.linkable.co.uk/blog/samsung-d600-it-is- slide-it-baby seems to suggest that partial Mac support is there, but not contact syncing. A link from there suggests iSync support in 10.4.6.
* Sony Ericsson phones gave me acceptable call quality and absurdly simple DUN & contact/cal sync.
* T-Mobile gave me all-you-can-eat GPRS/EDGE for $20/month and they don't restrict which devices you use or how
* iBook/OS X Panther with iSync handles all of the above. I use a Bluetooth dongle instead of a cable, I like it.
A few things I learned along the way:
GPRS is pokey but usable, similar to a 33.6K modem once it's transferring. Latency is crappy (1.5-2.5 sec !) and that's what made the connection feel slow. Great on a Palm, not so great on the iBook, but usable for email, chat, anything but fancy web pages. EDGE made big difference. Cingular & T-mo have it everywhere. With latency, EDGE feels like a normal 56K modem and browsing is just fine.
Verizon and Sprint's EV-DO data networks are waaaaaaaaaaaay faster than anything the GSM carriers have (I know about Cing's UMTS, but it's only in a few places and they've been "about a month away from national UMTS rollout" now for almost two years). Those EV-DO speeds are impressive, but the way ($$$) Verizon & Sprint sell the service and the phones that are available are too restrictive/incompatible for my needs. Basically, too expensive with too many TOS rules and the limited range of phones sucked with a Mac.
Using GSM phones means that you've got two carrier choices: Cingular or T-Mo. But it means that you've got a ton of phones to pick from, and you can switch at will- just stick the SIM card in whatever you want to use. Look around for unlocked GSM phones on eBay and spec 'em out at phonescoop.com. :-) I was surprised. Wide selection I control is good.
If you go GSM, Cingular and T-Mo (quietly) have reciprocal roaming agreements ! This means that cing & t-mo customer's phones automatically use either network's towers if they need to. In short, the REAL national coverage map is all of Cing + T-mo put together. Basically, everywhere.
Sony Ericsson does a remarkable job of building phones that play nice with other devices and sync easily. I like them, others may not, but regardless you'll be hard pressed to find a phone from a different maker that handles DUN and sync over whatever bridge you like (BT, IR, Cable) as easily. ESPECIALLY on a Mac. OS X and iSync both like Sony Ericsson.
If you don't have a Palm, iSync will git-r-done. If you DO have a Palm, you're pretty much going to need to buy The Missing Sync http://www.markspace.com/
The version of iSync that comes with 10.3 Panther is old enough now that it doesn't recognize some newer phones. 10.4 Tiger knows about more phones. I've used both, I have Tiger now because it cooperates better with my new SE phone.
Bottom line: After lots of experimenting and taking stuff back to stores, my recipe calls for an SE S710a EDGE phone on T-Mo over Bluetooth to my iBook G4. I get pretty solid 56K modem-like DUN performance every place I've tried (even on road trips in the boonies on the way to the Grand Canyon). Internet works fine over BT to both my iBook and my Palm through the phone. Contacts, Calendars and To-Do's sync perfectly in all directions between Mac-Palm-Phone. Call quality is typically fine (craps out sometimes, but hey- it's a radio after all). The phone was used/unlocked for $220 on eBay including the 3-yr replacement warranty I bought, the T-mo service is now $30/month for all-you-can-eat nationwide EDGE and T-Mo Wifi hotspots (on top of a voice plan), the BT dongle was $25, and Missing Sync was $40 to make my Palm sync properly.
This has been very useful, reliable and flexible for me. Good luck with your recipe !
- Marching Band: It's not just for breakfast anymore
I've been using this combo for over 2 years now. You have to get the USB cable from Motorola (many of the ones out there at Radio Shack will NOT let you use the modem feature). You also have to get one that allows you to plug the charger in (the phone will not charge from the laptop) in you want to be on for any length of time.
It costs me about 20 bucks a month for unlimited connectivity, thought the BW is sometimes kind of slow. I've used it all over the country, pretty much anywhere there is cell phone service.
> but my 12" Powerbook doesn't have a PC Card slot.
Get a PC.
Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
I recently had raised the same questions when getting a new cell phone.
My previous phone was a Nokia 6230 (link) and at the time I purchased it, was at the bleeding edge of cell phone technology. Bluetooth, GPRS Modem, Camera, Video, SD Card, you name it. So the decision to upgrade FROM this phone was a tough one. Which phones on the market today made the $$ I'd have to spend WORTH the upgrade?
After spending a lot of time researching, I finally settled upon the Nokia 6682 (link). It had the same features as my previous phone, but also a few key others:
- The 6682 is the only 3G Phone offered by Cingular (my carrier), thus future proofing me for a while
- It supports GPRS/EDGE over USB (cable included with phone) or Bluetooth
- Supports syncing with PC (My Powerbook uses iSync, which installed automatically on my phone and worked flawlessly)
- !ACTUAL! Web Browser Support. Phone comes installed with Opera 7.2.x. I updated it to the latest version of Opera by downloading it from Operas website.
- Next-Gen Data features such as MobiTV (Mobile TV, 35 channels including Weather Channel, CNBC, MSNBC, Cartoons, Music Videos) and MobiRadio
- PLENTY of Open Source applications (ie: Putty) are available for this phone because it runs Symbian Series 60 (S60)
I think this phone is right up your ally, especially because all of it's Bluetooth functionality is also available through the USB data cable, which is included with the phone.
Hope this helped! Cheers!
Nokia 8801 or 3650 (way cheaper but lame) will connect EDGE via bluetooth easily and isync
I think the OP said he had a mac, in which case he probably has Bluetooth. Some versions of the Treo 650 support the Dialup Networking profile under bluetooth. I personally use an 'unlocked gsm' Treo650 - purchased directly from Palm -- on Tmobile's network. Tmobile doesn't sell/"support" the 650, but it works just fine, and PDANet got me conected via bluetooth. It's not super-fast -- definitely not 3G -- but it's usable for low-bandwidth workloads (read: ssh/screen sessions, occasional web surfing. Don't try remote X apps :)
once you get up to the $70 plans.
Access anywhere at about 2x dialup, and in limited areas with EVDO it's 3 Mb/s. Allegedly, they're making a major rollout/upgrade to EVDO in the entire upper midwest this summer, but the sales rep could be full of it.