> > Has anyone attached their cell phone to their Gentoo system to > > act as a modem? > > Yes. My Verizon LG VX4400 works fine as a modem. When plugged > into a USB port, it shows up as /dev/ttyUSBn. You can dial up > any landline modem you like using "AT" commands, or you can > dial up Verizon's internal ISP number. The connection looks > exactly like any other PPP connection via a serial modem. > Verizon provides low-speed (14.4Kbps) internet access for > "free" (doesn't cost you anything but normall calling minutes). > The free low-speed access isn't officially supported: you won't > find it listed in your contract. But, it's always worked for me > when I've needed it (I haven't tried it for a few months, so > YMMV). Higher speed access requires a data plan.
Nice, I'm very glad to hear it works so well. I guess something like that would work even over an analog connection. > AFAIK, most of the Verizon phones can work as modems. At least > that was true back when I was reading up on the subject (about > 4-5 years ago). AFAICT, all the other US carriers required you > to pay for a data plan if you want to use your phone for > tethered internet access. Unless you just dial another ISP right? > > This would be great for traveling. I'm with Sprint (no > > contract) but I think I'll switch to T-Mobile because from > > what I understand they are the only cell phone provider in the > > US which uses the GSM band. > > GSM is a TDMA protocol, not a band. GSM can be (and is) used > on the same RF bands as the CDMA protocols used by Verizon and > Sprint. AT&T is also GSM, BTW. > > > That way I should be able to use the phone/modem > > internationally. > > That depends. The bands used by GSM phones in the US are > different than the bands used in other countries. Many of the > GSM phones available in the US are 1 or 2 band phones that > won't work internationally. If you want to use the phone > internationally, make sure it's a 3 or 4 band phone. Definitely. - Grant -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list
