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The truth on EVDO on Laptop via Cell Phone as Modem. ???

eric815

Jan 15, 2006, 8:50 PM
Ok,
There has been a lot of different explanations froma variety of different people on what the facts are for using a cell phone to let your laptop access the internet over EVDO.

There are 3 different camps of people with 3 answers.

1) The first camp is the end user like me that is currently using a Moto E815 cell phone as a modem (via bluetooth connection) to access the internet from my laptop and PDA (Dell Axim Pocket PC). I was even able to do this with my old V710. Never had an issue and I was never officially told by verizon to stop doing this. I have never been billed for data access and never directly threatened to be. I basically use my minutes that I pay for (or free minutes nights and weekends). So since I pay for my minute...
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vzwgal21

Jan 15, 2006, 10:00 PM
yes it can be done, but no, verizon frowns upon it. The mobile office kit was made for the v710, but not for the e815. the reason for this is that since it is EVDO, you would be getting broadband access through your phone at the regular voice plan prices. It is obviously in the company's interest to not allow these phones to do that by default. i've heard that the block or whatever on the e815 is very easily overridden. The only problem is that although you do pay for your minutes, you don't pay for them to be used how you are(this is how vzw sees it, i'm sure it's somewhere in the contract). so, all three are kinda right and kinda wrong. obviously, you are able to do it (so that answers that question). 🙂 hope that helps
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eric815

Jan 15, 2006, 11:37 PM
Why would an official VZW Tech at the store encourage it and say yes, and then the salesguy say no. I am thinking of going in with a small video camera to secretly record my conversation with the tech supporting it then keep it as my back-up support if VZW ever tries to pull a stunt on me.

And the contract may say something to the how the minutes are used, but these contractts are so vague and basically say you cant use your phone for anything. I recently looked at the contract for the VDO Broadband plans. And of course Verizon doesnt want you to use it to host a server, but they go on in the wording to say you cant upload anything, download anything, stream anything, FTP to anything and almost even browse anything. Well what the heck do ...
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DKVZW

Jan 15, 2006, 11:44 PM
Any front office sales anything in any store tend to confuse the customer (been to Radio Shack lately?) - don't know why.

But people sometimes speak with athority about things they heard from other people that also spoke about it with athority

The bill-out for unlimited data on PDA's is about $50.00 USD (wether EV or 1x) thats what I payed on my xv6000.
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eric815

Jan 16, 2006, 12:15 AM
If I decide to get the XV6700 and the Unlimited Data plan ($45-$50), then am I really unlimited with the data? Or is there a million restrictions. If I am going to pay for unlimited, I should be able to get UN-limited. For instance, Verizon charges per text message when I use their AOL IM client in the XV6700. But since the XV6700 is a Pocket PC phone, I can load my own downloaded AOL IM client to run over the internet on an UN-limited data plan. Right? But wait, since it incorporates the Windows Mobile OS, I am able to install any of my Pocket PC applications like eWallet, Tetris, Zagat-To-Go, Pocket Informant, Pocket DVD, Log-Me-In, SlingBox client, etc. (Keep ion mind that Logmein remotes to my home PC and Sling box streams my home cable...
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DKVZW

Jan 16, 2006, 1:19 AM
xv6600 I had was ok with this, it was just highly broken in the phone department. It's possible that the xv6700 is now less broken but more locked/restricted.

Phone.exe on mine ab-ended all the time. I loaded a debugger to find out what was wrong with it. It would not ring, I would not get message alerts about calls. I reflashed Audiovox software into it about 20 times, different loads different versions. Finally I just gave up on that phone. Hence my suggestion to the gent who wanted everything is get a normal phone + superior PDA, the combos don's seem to work correctly (per my experience with xv6600) 😡
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Vatothe0

Jan 17, 2006, 10:29 AM
It comes with a link to handango.com built into the phone so you are actually allowed to install any WM5 program. Certain kinds of data traffic are still blocked on the EVDO network though (VoIP) as it's against the ToS for evdo.

You seem to be misinterpreting unlimited here too. The "unlimited" is in reference to time and data transfer, not how it is to be used. I pay for registration on my car and I get unlimited use of the road but I can't do whatever I feel like on the road.
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macfreak

Jan 18, 2006, 10:45 PM
That makes me want to know what kinds of data traffic are blocked before I sign up for an EVDO plan.

I want to use it like a mini-laptop, and do anything I'd normally do with a laptop.

What kinds of data traffic are blocked?
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Vatothe0

Jan 18, 2006, 10:48 PM
I'm pretty sure just P2P networks and VoIP. Never tried them though. Even if they aren't blocked, they are against the ToS.

Track down the ToS or Acceptable Use Policy for Broadband Access and it will tell you specifically what can/cannot be done.
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macfreak

Jan 18, 2006, 10:49 PM
Those aren't big issues for me. As long as it's just that.

But I should be able to FTP/download or surf anywhere I want.
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Vatothe0

Jan 18, 2006, 10:58 PM
Should be fine for that stuff. There is no content filter imposed by Verizon Wireless
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n4aof

Jan 24, 2006, 3:28 PM
eric815 said:
Why would an official VZW Tech at the store encourage it and say yes, and then the salesguy say no.


Most likely the tech guy gave you an honest TECH answer - Yes it CAN be done -- while the sales guy gave you an honest company policy answer -- No you are NOT ALLOWED to do it.
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DKVZW

Jan 15, 2006, 11:40 PM
I think this is called tethering, read more about it.

VZW Policy is to term you "for good cause" if they see any numbers go up that they consider "tethering".

However I don't think they want to do this to you being that you're in the v710 settlement group, thence making you a sensitive issue.
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vzwinagent

Jan 16, 2006, 12:36 AM
Basically this is how I think it works. For the non EVDO phones Verizon does sell the Mobile Office kits. You can use the kit and use National Access and get net access. It will work without a data plan but supposedly if you use it for this purpose you need to subscribe to a data plan. I really doubt very few people do this... and I doubt anything will happen if you do it.

Now for EVDO phones I don't believe they YET support this. I did see a message a while back that kits for the EVDO phones were being developed and would eventually be available. It will probably work the same way. You'll be able to do it without a data plan but they would like you to subscribe to one. The end result will be the sales people telling you that you ...
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eric815

Jan 16, 2006, 1:03 AM
I am all for paying for an unlimited Data Plan for an EVDO tehthered phone or a PDA phone provided the price was reasonable. $25 is the balanced point at which it should not cost more.

Aside from that I understand Verizon would not discuss or promote the EVDO kit or Broadband tethered access until its available. I heard about this kit at the CES show and thought it was a good idea. Nevertheless Price is important. It has to be affordable for the masses. Its not just for business people anymore.

Furthermore, if I am already accessing the internet from my PDA (and I dont use it tremendously) via bluetooth to my E815 and using some of my minutes or free time, then why would I give that up?

I would only give it up if the price were ri...
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Vatothe0

Jan 17, 2006, 10:31 AM
Unlimited Data is only $20 with the Max Choice bundle. When you buy 4000 voice minutes, it's worth Verizon selling you data at that price.
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VzwRsR

Jan 16, 2006, 3:23 PM
Eric..
You should change the title to. "My truth on EVDO phones and laptops". I find it laughable that you are willing to take you and tech's opinions on VZW policy as fact.

HERE are the current facts.
-VZW technical services in store are not direct VZW employee as they work for Selectron as indicated by their badges. They offer technical/replacement services as a matter of convience so you do not have to send your phone out for service everytime someone locks out their phone. They are contracted and are familar with our rules and regs but are not required to look out for VZW/Consumers best intersts.

-Allthough mobile office was made available to our customers as a alternative to wireless web on our 1xRTT network it is NOT curr...
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vzwinagent

Jan 16, 2006, 10:58 PM
And as far as not having a data plan... I accidentall did a little research on that today. It ISN'T possible to not have a data plan on a PDA and have it function. They will either have the umlimited, 10MEG, per kilobite, or have data blocked totally. VZW isn't going to allow you to NOT have a data plan and still have data functionality.
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eric815

Jan 17, 2006, 1:16 AM
You may be right on that. But thats the only limitation I see possible. After speaking with someone at VZW, she said all phones axcept for the PDA phones can be used as modems and connect to the internet on a per monute basis. She explained that the PDA phone cannot. But if you have a seperate PDA and a seperate phone you can. In addition, she said it is possible to connect your PDA phone (treo etc) to a laptop via a USB cable and use the PDA phone as a modem that way and only use minutes.

This weekend I am buying an XV6700 outright (no contract) and will let you know how my testing goes.
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eric815

Jan 17, 2006, 1:05 AM
First off, let me clarify a few FACTS.

1) If a Verizon hired representative tells me I can connect to the internet with my phone via cable or Bluetooth, then it is Verizon who must be accountable for their actions of what they tell "me" their customer(s). Today I went into a different Verizon store along Route 22 in NJ. The lovely lady who I have seen working there for at least a year, has assured me 100% that I can take a Treo with a USB cable to my laptop, or any other phone with a cable (or bluetooth if possible) to access the internet from my laptop using MINUTES. And to verify if they were 1xRT or EVDO, I looked on the back of an LG7000 Mobile Office Kit (basically a USB cable and drivers) and it said CAN connect at 1X or BROADBAND s...
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vzwinagent

Jan 17, 2006, 10:40 PM
I don't think you'll be able to do an ESN change to a PDA without a data package on it, it won't work.
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yeahright

Jan 17, 2006, 9:34 AM
Your not supposed to use evdo headsets for broadband, the reason, Verizon dumped billions into this data network and they don't want you taking up bandwidth and not paying a nickel for it. Vcast capable phone do not bill out your minutes, so for 15 dollar vcast pack you can get unlimited broadband by tethering your phone to computer, good deal, great deal, to good to be true. I wish you could do that but use some common sense, do you get free internet at home? If you have dial up do you get it free since you already pay for home telephone? The official stand on tethering your evdo headset is no. Now their isn't exactly anyone out there really checking or staring at your account to see if you are breaking the rules, so I doubt anyone will eve...
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graphikzking

Jan 17, 2006, 11:39 AM
EASY TO UNDERSTAND:

Regular 1x phones use mobile web (1.1 or 2.0):
They get BILLED BY THE MINUTE WHEN THEY ARE ONLINE! So if you check weather, sports, email etc.. you are USING YOUR MINUTES HOW YOU WANT THAT IS FINE!!!

EVDO Phones: If you add the 15$ a month VCAST then you get UNLIMITED MOBILE WEB (PACKET DATA) AND VCAST.. otherwise you would be using a minute everytime you looked at a clip or a movie review etc...

BUT FOR "THEIVES" they hook it up to a laptop and since you get unlimited "Packet Data" you can go online unlimited for the 15$ a month..

NOW if you have a PDA PHONE.. you can and ARE ALLOWED to use the $45/month unlimited data plan and Tether it to a laptop... THEY WILL NOT DO TECHNICAL SUPPORT BUT THEY DO KNOW AB...
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VzwRsR

Jan 17, 2006, 2:51 PM
I just wanted to comment that everyhting I posted earlier referances Verizons internal methods and procedures. Also known as policy I find it funny you attack my fact's when its obvious you don't work for VZW I've worked for them for four years as well as sprint but that's another story. While you may be technically savy enough to turn off wireless sych Most users are not. Since it sychs every 15 minutes that 96 minutes a day you do the math.

Did you get it in writeing?
didn't think so

Takeing a camera a filming people as evidence without their cinsent on private property is not only NOT admissable in court but also illegal in some states.

Tethering a pda for broadband access is allowed. Tethering a Evdo phone for broadband is no...
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rcm-wayne

Jan 17, 2006, 5:12 PM
Okay heres my questions....

Can you use the mobile office kit, to teether a verzion cell phone- if it's under the "inpulse plan" prepaid plan?

can you use the mobile office kit to teether a verzion cell phone- if it under the "Easy Pay" prepaid plan?

Do you have to use the "mobile office kit" or verzion supplied "data cable" to get on the internet via teethering to the laptop? Can you use other third party software or does it have to be verzions? Can you use the data cable thats you can get off the internet?

Is using the mobile office kit faster than dial up?

Or would it be better to use the kit to call out to another isp?
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eric815

Jan 17, 2006, 9:20 PM
There is no third party software needed (other than the driver to connect the cable from the phone to laptop). The Verizon sold Mobile Office Kit is basically a USB connection on one end adn a phone connector on the other designed for a particular moidel(s) of phone. And it comes with the windows driver to allow it to talk to your laptop. So once you connect this cable, instlal the driver, just configure a regular dialup networking session using the phone as the modem.

Now heres a few tips:
1) Buy the USB cable on eBay for $5 to $10 and search the net or contact the phone manufacturer to download the driver. Not all phones are able, but must current are.

2) If you have a bluetooth phone and are able to uncripple the dial-up-networki...
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VZW_insider

Jan 17, 2006, 5:43 PM
Finally... somebody on here that actually works for Verizon Wireless and understands policy. I rarely bost on here anymore because there is soo much mis-information it feuds arguments for every little thing. A prime example is this thread, the original poster was confused on how tethering solutions with EVDO phones worked, and because he recieved different answers from different people felt Verizon was just trying to bully sales and money out of their customers. The true answer like stated is that non-EVDO phones had a mobile office kit and dial up used your minutes, at dial up speeds. EVDO phones are not yet supported for tethering, but it doesn't mean people with the E815 or Samsung I730 haven't been able to do it. If you are one of those ...
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eric815

Jan 17, 2006, 9:57 PM
Can everyone now get together in one happy straight line. Bend over for Verizon and repeat after me: "Yes dear. Yes dear. Yes dear. Yes dear...."

Are we all becoming brainwashed by the empire???
I think so. But if your not a zombie by now, then stand up for your rights and understand what Verizon DOES offer. They sell Mobile Office Kits on the shelves of every store. On the back of the box is clearly printer "for 1xRT and Broadband connections"
Broadband! Duh. Hey does that mean Verizon supports Broadband with this cable? YES.

Enough with this site and all the VZW drones telling you otherwise. Go to the store and see for yourselves.

The proof is in the pudding.

I'm tired of beating this dead horse. I just wanted to inform ...
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yeahright

Jan 24, 2006, 4:14 PM
if you work for verizon you should be able to get access to info manager and their is a tethering option right around the bend coming for the 8100,razor, and another phone i forget which one when i read it last week. 60 bucks unlimited broadband tethering, go look for it, it is in there
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eric815

Jan 17, 2006, 9:45 PM
Quick question to you

You state: "Tethering a pda for broadband access is allowed. Tethering a Evdo phone for broadband is not allowed or supported for consumers." Well that makes no sense. First you say I can tether my PDA to my EVDO phone for Broadband and that it IS allowed. And you as an employee are stating that this function is ok for us consumers to do. But then you go on to say: "Tethering a Evdo phone for broadband is not allowed or supported for consumers." Tethering to what? and why now is it not allowed when a sentence before you say it is? Is it a laptop you are trying to say? Then what differentiates my desire to use my own PDA or Laptop at my own choice to browse the web. In both cases, your phone acts as the modem to the ...
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vzwinagent

Jan 17, 2006, 10:51 PM
You are misunderstanding. That rep said it is okay to tether your PDA to your laptop for net access. They also said it is NOT okay to tether your EVDO phone to your laptop for net access. They said nothing about tethering your PDA to your EVDO phone... that wouldn't even make sense. Basically are aren't supposed to use your EVDO phone for any kind of tethering for net access.
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eric815

Jan 17, 2006, 9:29 PM
The $15 a month for VCAST is a rip initself. Use your minutes for your phones built in browser. If you spend just $20 more a month for a higher minute plan instead of $15 for VCAST, you can get 450 minutes extra. Now do you really think you will be using VCAST more than 450 daytime minutes a month? If so get the VCAST plan. But most users will probably use the Mobile Web on thier phone less than 75 daytime minutes per month. Remember, nights and weekends are free. And ususally after the first month of Mobile Web the novelty wears off since the browsing is horrible. You may use it hear and there to get the weather. Use you Minutes and spend your $$$ wisely.

BTW, SBC Yahoo does offer DSL for $15 a month.
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vzwinagent

Jan 17, 2006, 10:52 PM
You get way more then just the mobile web browsing. Some people might actually want to watch the Vcast clips, download music with the Vcast music service, and have unlimited browsing time on Get it now as well.
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eric815

Jan 17, 2006, 5:22 PM
Once again. If we are NOT supposed to use our handsets for EVDO access on our laptops, and not supposed to use our minutes (free on weekends), then tell Verizon to stop selling those Mobile Office kits that state BROADBAND access. And Tell Verizon to train their sales and tech staff to stop telling customers they CAN!!!

Until that day, verizon can NOT legally lay a hand on us for doing just this. Yes, its a great deal to use minutes (that I pay for) and I only do it because I can. And why would i want to pay more? verizon already offeres it to us for less. The keyword is "OFFERS". yes VERIZON offers this service to us. Its just not widely promoted. Just as housing developers offer low income housing to those that qualify, others will pa...
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vzwinagent

Jan 18, 2006, 11:24 PM
Well I just saw an official post that as of January 17th Broadband Access Connect was available for the 8100, 9800, and the Razr at direct stores. Will be available at Indirect starting January 30th.
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yeahright

Jan 19, 2006, 9:13 AM
yup an it is 60 bucks 😢
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wnrussell

Feb 20, 2006, 3:56 PM
yeahright said:
Yup and it is 60 bucks 😢

This was actually rolled out on 2/6/2006 - BroadbandAccess Connect.

Those subscribers who received their 2/15 bill are still being charged for minutes toward their peak time.

There is nothing on the website yet, but how can the BBC be unlimited then? Isn't it like an air card?
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temp_name

Feb 20, 2006, 7:49 PM
EVDO (Laptop): The price seems fair ($60). My comcast cable at home costs this much and it isn't mobile. The stipulations that you read in the terms and conditions are to protect Verizon from someone overloading their network by trying to, for example, running a webserver or a P2P host. For the average guy, sending and receiving files, heck, even watching some Yahoo! Music videos isn't looked upon evily. If you use 500 MB of data transfer, no big deal. If it was 500 GB of data transfer, bet on it you're service will get disrupted.

EVDO (PDA): Similar to the Laptop stipulations, Verizon is charging you $45 (or $50 w/out voice plans) because they feel that with a PDA you would not be able to use as much data transfer as a PC/Laptop. You can...
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wnrussell

Feb 20, 2006, 9:08 PM
The question I had was if you are on the $60 "BroadbandAccess Connect" phone modem plan, is it really unlimited, or do you get charged for minutes used?
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temp_name

Feb 21, 2006, 4:05 AM
it's unlimited, no minutes wasted.
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