WANTED: EDGE/3-G Capable Cell Phone

[Brett Adair]

Not looking to pay a fortune, but will pay a descent price for one. Since I will be using this for mainly data I don't want to pay 3-600 for one. If you have one and are interested in selling, please let me know. OR, if you have a Cingular business account and can get one for cheaper ( I know they can), shoot me a PM and we will discuss something if you could help me out. Thanks.

[Scott Weberpal]

If you're planning on tethering the phone for data, good luck. Cingular blocked data capability from my phone after a chase ealier this year. They are REALLY cracking down on excessive data usage.

[APritchard]

Scott, did you have a plan for data?

I just got the LG CU500 from Cingular and they told me it would work fine for tethering via a USB cable with the MediaMax data plan that I have. I just set it up this week and it's working just great. In fact, one of the points they stressed in trying to sell the phone was that you could connect it to your laptop with the usb cable that they sell in their stores, and online.

[Brett Adair]

I have MediaNet unlimited. Unless they can prove that I am doing something against the agreed contract, it is a breech and they could face problems. I have had the same things told to me just as Andrew has.

[Andrew Herron]

I also have MediaNet unlimited that I use with a Nokia 6682 and have never had additional charges or problems with tethering, via bluetooth, my phone to my laptop.

[J Kinkaid]

If you're planning on tethering the phone for data, good luck. Cingular blocked data capability from my phone after a chase ealier this year. They are REALLY cracking down on excessive data usage.

Please tell me what features are on your account for data. I would guess that they removed a feature by mistake that you need . Also make sure PPU is not on your account.

[James Siler]

One of the things they are cracking down on is if you have a PDA phone and are using a media net package. The data department are running sweeps about roughly twice a month and blocking anyone who dosen't have the right plan for the right device. SO if you have a regular cell phone and change to a PDA type device don't change the IMEI on the account. The downfall to that is if you have 3G in your area and change to a 3G PDA device then you won't be allowed on UMTS because it has to automatically add some codes to your account when you update the IMEI. Catch 22. Hope I was informative.:)

[Bill Doms]

I use a Samsung D807 with Cingular tethered via Bluetooth and have had no issues. However I use the unlimited laptop connect package (like $50 month) but they also let me turn it on and off as needed throughout the season. Done this for 3 years now. No complaints.

[Van DeWald]

I just got the LG CU500 from Cingular and they told me it would work fine for tethering via a USB cable with the MediaMax data plan that I have.Andrew, that's really interesting, because Cingular's TOS (http://www.cingular.com/cell-phone-service/legal/plan-terms.jsp) specifically prohibits tethering to a laptop, unless you have a Data Connect or Blackberry/PDA plan, of which those MediaMax plans are not. Unlimited legal tethering plans run about $60 instead of $20. Those Media Max plans are for unlimited use while viewing data on the phone.

FWIW, I wouldn't trust anything a store representative would tell you. They're out to sell phones and accessories, that's how they make their money. Did you get it in writing that you can tether your phone to a laptop without fear of retribution when using that Media Max plan? If Cingular wanted to push it, they certainly could, saying that you agreed to the written TOS, which specifically prohibits tethering. But, that doesn't stop people from doing it. And, in fact, I actually think Cingular doesn't mind that much, as long as you don't abuse it.

Regards,
Van

[Scott Weberpal]

I have the MediaMax unlimited data plan. I've done my research, looked at all the technical forums on Howards Forum (which is by far the best cell phone and data website), and it's been determined I've been blocked by Cingular. I can get data using my phone itself, but when I try to tether I'm not accepted onto the cingular "server."

They can tell when you are tethering and when you are not. It is specifically in their terms of service that you are NOT allowed to tether using ANY media plan except the laptop connect which runs at $60 I believe.

[Van DeWald]

Scott, when tethering via a laptop, are you using the wap.cingulargprs.com portal? You can't use the isp.cingulargprs.com portal with the Media Max plans. Check here for more details (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ#Data_Service) on how to configure the dial-up connection. As far as I knew, as long as you use a WAP profile, Cingular couldn't verify for sure if you were using a browser on the phone, or tethering to a laptop. They could however fish out a tethered connection by the sites you visit, and the amount of bandwidth you use. In other words, if you're downloading 10s to 100s of megabytes via a tethered connection, that would probably trigger a red flag (cell phones don't typically download that much data). Also, the standard browser in a lot of phones can only browse WAP sites, thus if you're hitting normal .html/php/asp pages via a tethered connection, that's going to trigger a flag also. In theory, you "should" be able to tether using the above guidelines with a Media Max plan, but in reality, you "shouldn't" do it as it's specifically prohibited by the Cingular TOS.

[J Kinkaid]

I have the MediaMax unlimited data plan. I've done my research, looked at all the technical forums on Howards Forum (which is by far the best cell phone and data website), and it's been determined I've been blocked by Cingular. I can get data using my phone itself, but when I try to tether I'm not accepted onto the cingular "server."

They can tell when you are tethering and when you are not. It is specifically in their terms of service that you are NOT allowed to tether using ANY media plan except the laptop connect which runs at $60 I believe.


What features do you have listed on your account for data? I doubt that they blocked you.

[APritchard]

Scott, are you sure it isn't a problem with the way it's set up? I don't doubt you set it up right, since you've used it before but maybe they changed it slightly? How do you have it set up, a dial up connection, or using cingular's communication manager?

The MediaMax plans that allow you to connect using their MediaNet service are supposed to allow you to tether. This is the first I have heard of anyone having any issues with being shut down.

[APritchard]

Nvmd, seems there is the potential to be shut down...

What is the difference between MEdia and Data Connect?

MEdia (http://www.cingular.com/media/media_net) Intended for use only on a cell phone. "Tethering (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tethering_%28cellular_wireless%29)" works, but is discouraged, and Cingular reserves the right to deny service based on usage. (See MEdia Legal Notices (http://www.cingular.com/media/media_legal)) Uses a WAP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_Application_Protocol) profile, but access to the entire Internet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet) is available. VPN (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_network) may not work. No Data Acceleration.Data Connect (http://www.cingular.com/sbusiness/data_connect) Intended for use with PDA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_digital_assistant) or computer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/computer), depending on specific package. Uses an Internet profile. VPN (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_network) is supported. Data Acceleration is optional.So I guess if you are using MediaNet, as I am, and they catch on and shut you down you'll have to switch over to a data connect plan, which actually isn't that much different in pricing. Though, I suppose then you wouldn't be able to use the MediaNet feature on your phone anymore.

So while I guess they can deny you service, this is still the first I've heard of it happening.

[Scott Weberpal]

I've changed no settings, I use the phone as dial-up (not cingulars connection manager), I've tried to setup connections on other computers using the same software and same drivers as I did when I set this up. It worked like a charm until that one chase day.

I've tried both wap.cingular, and isp.cingular...neither work.

From what I'm reading in cellular forums, they are really cracking down on the tethering now. They can monitor it, and they can block it, it's as simple as that. All I'm saying is be careful.

[J Kinkaid]

I've changed no settings, I use the phone as dial-up (not cingulars connection manager), I've tried to setup connections on other computers using the same software and same drivers as I did when I set this up. It worked like a charm until that one chase day.

I've tried both wap.cingular, and isp.cingular...neither work.

From what I'm reading in cellular forums, they are really cracking down on the tethering now. They can monitor it, and they can block it, it's as simple as that. All I'm saying is be careful.
Can you tell me what features you have on your online account for data?

[Scott Weberpal]

Spent about an hour with a CS rep last night and got everything straightened out. Apparantly Cingular software and any software your phone may come with to connect comes with pre-determined modem strings for connecting to the Cingular server. After my excessive usage on a chase, they simply block that modem string on your account from accessing the Cingular server. So yes, they can block data tethering without blocking data access on your phone.

I simply apologized for going against the TOS, signed up for the legal tether option (Laptop Connect, $59.95/month), and I'm on my way again with data. Being a pre-existing Cingular customer, I can drop the Laptop Connect plan at any time.

Tether how you wish, however, if you're caught you'll likely be forced to upgrade to the Laptop Connect plan to be un-blocked.

[J Kinkaid]

Scott I still don't think that Cingular blocked you and that it was just a setting that got messed up . They are just not blocking people at this time

[Scott Weberpal]

They are blocking people, and in fact there are numerous threads about pepole being blocked in cellular forums. If a tech CS agent from Cingular tells me I was...I'd tend to believe they are correct. There is no other way to explain it, there were no settings to my phone or dial settings which were changed, and now it works perfectly fine. If you want a better answer, talk to a Cingular Tech.

[J Kinkaid]

I have looked all over the howard forums and see no post about where they are blocking people from teathering . It would have helped if you had logged into your online account and posted the features under your account like I asked. I wouldn't trust a Cingular agent they are poorly trained and if you call back chances are you would here a different answer.


At this time cingular is not blocking teathering and you can take that to the bank ! The people that are getting huge bills have PPU=pay per use on there accounts.

[Scott Weberpal]

I had MediaMax 200, and the tried the PDA connect plan...one on my account, then the other. I'm not sure how you explain my data working perfectly fine, then suddnely stopping without changing any settings in the phone or dial-up, and not changing anything on my plan. I tried both isp.cingular and wap.cingular. I changed no settings a few evenings ago, and after speaking with a tech I was suddenly able to connect again. My settings, my data plans, etc. have nothing to do with this...NOTHING WAS CHANGED.

If you want to be UN-ETHICAL and tether on a plan you're not supposed to, go for it.

I'll let you think what you want, I'll think what I want.

[J Kinkaid]

Calm down there Beavis! I was only trying to help you and you wouldn't even take the time to look at your account online and tell me what features you had listed on your account for data . I might have been able to help you get your connection working again without having to pay $59.

Sorry for trying to help you save a few bucks and hours on the phone with clueless cingular reps. Have a nice day

[Scott Weberpal]

It wasn't a rep, it was a tech...

It's not the few bucks I'm worried about saving, I just wanted my data to work. I appreciate any help you were willing to give, but at this point I'm happy with the Laptop Connect plan. I have a little voice inside telling me that regardless of whether or not I can get away with a lesser plan, it's the RIGHT thing to do getting the correct plan. Given I can drop and add at anytime, I'm not worried.

Now that I'm on isp.cingular, I should be able to get somewhat faster speeds, correct?

[J Kinkaid]

There is no difference in speeds between ISP and the wap profile. The only difference is wap uses a proxy and can give you false mobile speed test on your phone. The main difference is that ISP gives you VPN acess while wap doesn't .

[APritchard]

I'm concerned because the first time I got the connection to work, I used the ISP profile, for the laptop connect plans. It wasn't til later that I changed to WAP. I havent called to check the status on my bill... but I'm hoping the data I used that one time while connected via ISP.cingular won't be charged by the kb since I have the Mediamax plan, not the laptop connect plan.

[J Kinkaid]

I'm concerned because the first time I got the connection to work, I used the ISP profile, for the laptop connect plans. It wasn't til later that I changed to WAP. I havent called to check the status on my bill... but I'm hoping the data I used that one time while connected via ISP.cingular won't be charged by the kb since I have the Mediamax plan, not the laptop connect plan.



Do you have PPU listed on your account ? How about Data connect ISP ?