How to use a Samsung Instinct(SPH-M800) as a modem

Sprint told us it couldn't be done. They deny that it is even possible to use the Instinct as a modem. Impossible? Not quite. Not only is it possible, it's faster than most DSL connections. Sprint would much rather you spend an extra $60 a month on an aircard than use your existing phone as a mobile internet modem. So if your looking for internet on the go without adding an extra $60 to your existing "everything" plan. Just keep reading, because it's easier than you think.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Samsung Instinct (SPH-M800)
• Samsung Instinct USB cable. (This comes with the phone.)
• Your Phones Unlock Code (I'll explain how to get this in under 10 minutes.)
• Sprints CDMA Modem Software. (Downloaded from Sprint.com. This will be covered in more detail later.)
• A Windows based PC. (This article will use Windows Vista as an example.)

1. Aquire your Unlock Code. Every phone has a unique unlock code. Fortunately for us these codes are not safeguarded and there are plenty of perfectly legitamate reasons to have yours. All you have to do is call sprint customer service from a phone that is not your Instinct. The number is 888-211-4727. Follow the message prompts to get to a customer service representative. Explain to the Sprint rep that your phone is acting up and freezing and you need your unlock code to perform a master reset. The rep will give you a six digit code. WRITE IT DOWN.

2. Pick up your Instinct and go to the dialer. Push ##DEBUGMENU# (##332846368#) this will prompt you for your unlock code. Enter your unlock code. This will bring you to a menu, towards the bottom of the menu it will say Toggle NAI. Go ahead and touch that. Switch it to OFF. Your Instinct is now ready to be used as a modem.

3. Prepare your PC. Connect your Instinct via USB cable, this will automatically begin installing the CDMA modem drivers. If it does not you can get them from http://www.soft32.com/download_173416.html.

4. Once your drivers are installed go to your start menu and click Connect To. On the window that pops up, at the bottom, will be an option to "set up connection or network" click that. Scroll down to "Set Up A Dial Up Connection." It then may ask you which modem you would like to use, if this is the case choose "Samsung Mobile Modem."

5. Here it will prompt you for some login information. The only thing we are concerned with is the Dial-up phone number. Enter #777 and leave the user name and password blank.

6. Click connect and begin surfing the web.

Tips & Warnings

• Your Unlock Code also called a MSL is not something you should be worried about asking for. It is your code, for your phone. It's not something that you shouldn't have so don't worry that your doing something wrong by asking the rep for it.
• The Instinct is required to be on a "Simply Everything" plan. Which means unlimited text and web. Unfortunately this is not completely true. There is a 5 Gb per month limit on your internet usage just like an aircard and if you go over that you may be looking at overage charges. If this happens you get one get out of jail free card with the "I didn't know" excuse and sprint will tipically waive the overage from your bill. This only works once. And be warned if they find out your using your phone as a modem they will not remove the overage charges.

Resources

• Sprints Website (for instinct downloads and CDMA modem software)