How to use your mobile phone as a modem

Over the past few years, cellular phone networks have been enhanced and upgraded to handle lots of data along with voice signals. These are sometimes referred to as 3G networks, in reference to the current third generation of mobile communications standards. The next, even faster type of network is called 4G, but those new networks aren't expected until at least 2012. If you have a smartphone that sends email and surfs the Web in a flash, like an iPhone, Blackberry, or Windows Mobile model, you're probably using a 3G network.

And with this smartphone, you might be able to get your netbook online, too. You do this by tethering (connecting) your phone to your netbook and using the phone as an external data modem for the computer.

The exact tethering procedure depends on your phone, your netbook, and your wireless carrier. A quick search for tethering at www.smartdevicecentral.com brings up instructions for all the common wireless carriers.





As far as linking the phone to the netbook, your options include:

• USB cable. Many phones come with a USB cable for connecting it to a computer to transfer files. If your phone didn't come with a cable, you can find one online by searching for "USB phone data cable"; prices range between $20 to $60.
• Bluetooth. If you have Bluetooth chips in both the netbook and the phone, you can pair them (Section 4.1.3.1) to make a wireless connection between the two. Make sure the computer and phone both have their Bluetooth radios turned on so they can discover each other. Section 4.1.3.1 has sample instructions for pairing Bluetooth devices, but refer to your phone's manual for specific steps.
• WiFi. If your phone has built-in WiFi, you might even be able to turn it into a pocket wireless hotspot. To do so, you need a program on your phone like WMWiFiRouter ($30 at www.wmwifirouter.com) or WalkingHotSpot ($25 a year; www.walkinghotspot.com).

The first step is connecting the phone to the netbook. Next, you have to get the phone onto the data network so it can share the goods with the netbook. If you plan to send email and other data over the connection, you need to get a data plan from your wireless carrier. This plan is separate from the one for the phone itself, and it's specifically designed to let you tether the phone to the laptop. Prices range from $40 to $60 a month. This may sound pricey, but it can get your netbook on the Internet if you don't have any other options.

Note: Be sure to read the fine print on your carrier's plan to make sure it includes tethering. With so many monthly service options available these days, it's easy to get the wrong one.