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Thread ID: 103815	2009-10-07 06:11:00	Mobile broadband/Cell options	smifff (15299)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
817750	2009-10-07 06:11:00	Hi, I need to replace my phone, and was considering getting a Nokia N85. I'm rural-ish and vodafone coverage here is not great. I thought the N85 would be good as I am specifically looking for GPS functions. I understood that I would be able to "tether" this phone to my laptop and use it as a modem for XT broadband. I called Telecom to ask about this and to explore plan options to make sure I could get enough data on a plan. The person at telecom told me that I woud need to get a USB "data stick" to be able to use the laptop, as well as the phone, and that the phone would not be able to be used as a modem. She also told me that I would then need to get two separate plans - 1 for the laptop and 1 for the phone if I wanted to use data on that. As I have said, I'm rural and don't want to go to a telecom store where they may or may not be able to help, but I don't think that what she told me is correct. She certainly did not inspire me with confidence that she was knowedgeable on the subject. Does anybody have experience of using a similar phone as a mobile modem? If this kind of function does not work with telecom, then I would be inclined to buy a cheap entry level phone. Thanks for your comments.	smifff (15299)
817751	2009-10-07 06:29:00	Looks like it's capable of tethering (www.ubergizmo.com) to me... Although unfortunately I can't comment specifically on Telecom's ability to provide this facility - don't know whether there is some specific settings tht have to be in place for it to work. With my Treo 650 I had to use a third party piece of software on the phone and their "jamamobile" user credentials to connect. But I now have a T-Stick - damn expensive for bugger-all data (1GB), but no real alternatives... I would go to their website and send an email enquiry via their contact form (telecom.custhelp.com), explaining just what you want it for. Once they've confirmed in writing you will know exactly where you are. In my experience they are pretty quick at responding to enquiries off their site...	johcar (6283)
817752	2009-10-07 07:13:00	Pretty much everything Nokia 3650 and up can tether. What you have to look out for is if it supports Telecom's frequencies a lot of the phones imported do not, but that's rapidly changing nowadays.	Cato (6936)
817753	2009-10-08 07:38:00	Thanks for the replies, Johcar: I had seen that review and it was one of the things convincing me that the N85 would be the way to go. I'm fairly confident that if there is an issue with tethering it will be the compatibility/imitation issues imposed by telecom rather than the phone. I took your advice after reading the post and cut and paste my enquiry into the telecom contact form. Have not heard back from them yet. If this would work, it would be an ideal solution for me. Thanks	smifff (15299)
817754	2009-10-11 06:18:00	Update: Got a response from telecom, apologising for the delay - the request was bumped up to the "complex" question team. The N85 is good for tethering and will work as I envisaged, and they advise that whilst acting as a modem it cannot make/receive calls, which is also as I expected. This is all just as well, since I had given up on waiting on them but have ordered the phone anyway. PriceSpy lists them at roughly half the price Telecom are asking. I'm going to go for reasonable txt & data plans and pre-paid voice. Hopefully this info will help someone else as well. Thanks again.	smifff (15299)
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