Signing up for Data Service

The first thing you need to do is check with your cell phone service provider to see if your current phone is capable of being used as a data modem. Just because it can download ringtones and Web pages does not mean your phone has the horsepower to provide full Internet access to your laptop.

Once you have a data-capable phone, you need to add a data plan to your voice service. Prices for data plans range from $10 per month for minimal access to $80 for unlimited, all-you-can-eat data transfer. After signing up for a data plan, your mobile phone service provider also becomes your wireless ISP and will probably assign you a username, password, and Access Point Name (APN). I show you what to do with this information later in this chapter.

You might need to upgrade your cell phone's firmware to properly handle data. Double-check with your service provider while you're signing up for data access; it can save you troubleshooting headaches down the line.