How to Use a Phone as a Modem on a PDA

Using the "Phone as a Modem" feature on your PDA gives you the ability to use your cell phone service as your Internet provider and cuts the need to purchase a wireless aircard. The "Phones as a Modem" feature allows you to connect your desktop or laptop to the Web, giving you upload/download speeds comparable to DSL. Follow the steps listed here to take advantage of your PDA's modem function.

Things You'll Need

• Mini USB cable
• Driver CD (optional)

Instructions

1. Consult your device's manual for specific directions on how to locate the program on your PDA. For Windows mobile phone, hit the "Start" button and open the "Programs" menu. Locate program labeled "Wireless Modem" and run it. For Palm devices, access the "Connections" menu to locate the modem tool.

2. Visit the official website of your phone's manufacturer to get the latest drives and installation software for you PDA. Download the files to your computer and note its location. If you have your PDA's installation software on a CD, copy your modem drivers or installation files to a folder on your computer.

3. Navigate from your phone's manufacturer's page and visit the official website of your cell service provider or contact them by phone to locate you service's access number for connecting to the Internet.

4. Connect the mini USB cable to your PDA on one end and to your computer on the other end. The computer should recognize the device almost immediately and open the New Hardware installation menu.

5. Follow the prompts on the screen. You will choose the option to locate the driver manually. Use the explorer menu provided by the New Hardware menu to locate the folder containing the drivers for your phone. Select the driver and continue. Skip the New Hardware menu if you were provided with an executable ".exe" file, do not run the New Hardware menu. Instead, run the executable file and follow the prompts to install you modem.

6. Click on the "Start Menu" and then open the "Control Panel." Locate the "Network" icon and click on it. Click on the option labeled "Setup a Connection or Network."

7. Choose the option labeled "Set up a Dial-up Connection." Enter your cell service's access number (ex. #777) in the box field labeled "Dial-up Phone Number." There will be no need to enter a user name. Simply name the connection and follow the prompts to the end of the set up wizard.

8. Access your connection at anytime by returning to the "Network" menu. Right-click on the connection and it will dial your cell company's access number to connect to the Internet.

Tips & Warnings

• Use bluetooth to connect without a USB cable.

• For heavy data usage, a data plan through your wireless provider is recommended.

• Check your wireless provider's rules and restrictions concerning data usage. Addition fees and restriction for airtime usage will likely apply.