T-Mobile cellular service - Low-cost or prepaid GPRS for US usage?

Author

Low-cost or prepaid GPRS for US usage?

Scott Ehrlich

2006-10-28, 7:33 am

I have an iPAQ PDA that runs Windows Mobile 2003 and it sports a Compact
Flash (aka CF) slot and an SDIO (Secure Digital) slot, either of which can
support a GPRS/GSM module to sport a SIM for GPRS use.

I usually have Internet access where and when needed, but I happen to be
on the road away from the Internet, be it in the car or wherever, I'd like
to perform ad-hoc Internet connectivity.

What companies offer low-cost GPRS SIMs (or phones from which I can swap
the SIM)? I do live in a major city in the US, so coverage is not a
problem. But if I did travel, roaming would be nice. I know T-Mobile,
at least, as good GPRS roaming agreements for almost seemless data
coverage, but I can't justify spending more than $30/month for GPRS.

I don't mind paying per kb, but I would mind having to pay to re-up a
prepaid card after 30 days, unless the re-up amount is small, like a
couple of dollars at best. Otherwise I'd be better off with postpaid.

T-Mobile is obviously an option, but what are my other choices?
Relatively cheap GPRS that is available most anywhere that won't be used
much (mostly weekends at best and at times when I'm simply in the car)?
I'm likely going to get the Enforma GPS/GPRS CF module that is quad-band,
but would need to elusive SIM.

Thanks for any leads.

Scott

Patrick Casher

2006-10-28, 10:33 am

I use T-Mobile ToGo with a Sidekick 2 I picked up over a year ago on Ebay
for around $200. It costs $1/day so I've been buying $10 refill cards and
only use it when we take trips being sure to use it at least every 90 days
to keep it's number. I can recieve my e-mail and check stuff on the web. I
see the Sidekick 3 is out now but I don't know what else they support. I
realy don't need the number and am not sure if there is a reconnect fee if I
let it expire as I use a different phone for my cell which is prepaid also.
We don't use many minutes on our cells so have ToGo also on them and pay
$100 for 1000 min., on each, which lasts us all year.

matt weber

2006-10-28, 10:33 pm

On 28 Oct 2006 12:08:12 GMT, scott@mit.edu (Scott Ehrlich) wrote:

>
>I have an iPAQ PDA that runs Windows Mobile 2003 and it sports a Compact
>Flash (aka CF) slot and an SDIO (Secure Digital) slot, either of which can
>support a GPRS/GSM module to sport a SIM for GPRS use.
>
>I usually have Internet access where and when needed, but I happen to be
>on the road away from the Internet, be it in the car or wherever, I'd like
>to perform ad-hoc Internet connectivity.
>
>What companies offer low-cost GPRS SIMs (or phones from which I can swap
>the SIM)? I do live in a major city in the US, so coverage is not a
>problem. But if I did travel, roaming would be nice. I know T-Mobile,
>at least, as good GPRS roaming agreements for almost seemless data
>coverage, but I can't justify spending more than $30/month for GPRS.
>
>I don't mind paying per kb, but I would mind having to pay to re-up a
>prepaid card after 30 days, unless the re-up amount is small, like a
>couple of dollars at best. Otherwise I'd be better off with postpaid.
>
>T-Mobile is obviously an option, but what are my other choices?
>Relatively cheap GPRS that is available most anywhere that won't be used
>much (mostly weekends at best and at times when I'm simply in the car)?
>I'm likely going to get the Enforma GPS/GPRS CF module that is quad-band,
>but would need to elusive SIM.
>
>Thanks for any leads.
>
>Scott
Prepaid Cingular can do GPRS, however the traffic charges will
definitely get your attention. $25 gets you 90 days on Cingular, $100
gets you a year.

Todd Allcock

2006-10-29, 4:33 am

At 28 Oct 2006 12:08:12 +0000 Scott Ehrlich wrote:
>
> I have an iPAQ PDA that runs Windows Mobile 2003 and it sports a
Compact
> Flash (aka CF) slot and an SDIO (Secure Digital) slot, either of which
can
> support a GPRS/GSM module to sport a SIM for GPRS use.

Unless the prices have crashed recently, I find those cards far to
expensive compared to just buying a GPRS-enabled phone and connecting via
bluetooth. My old Dell Axim X5 had no BT or GPRS connectivity, and a BT
CF card cost a fraction of what a GPRS card cost.
>
> I usually have Internet access where and when needed, but I happen to
be
> on the road away from the Internet, be it in the car or wherever, I'd
like
> to perform ad-hoc Internet connectivity.

Who is your current cell provider, how much is internet access from them,
and do they offer a phone that can connect to your iPaq? You may be
trying to reinvent the wheel here.
>
> What companies offer low-cost GPRS SIMs (or phones from which I can
swap
> the SIM)?

Nationally, two- T-Mobile and Cingular.

> I do live in a major city in the US, so coverage is not a
> problem. But if I did travel, roaming would be nice. I know T-Mobile,

> at least, as good GPRS roaming agreements for almost seemless data
> coverage, but I can't justify spending more than $30/month for GPRS.

Data is cheaper when it's added to a voice plan, so melding your cellular
voice plan with a data add-on would be preferable to starting a new data-
only plan as far as cost is concerned. Both T-Mo and Cingular's data
only plans are about $50/month.
>
> I don't mind paying per kb, but I would mind having to pay to re-up a
> prepaid card after 30 days, unless the re-up amount is small, like a
> couple of dollars at best.

A minute ago you were willing to spend $30/month! ;-)

Cingular's $25 cards are good for 90 days. Data is $10/MB IIRC. T-Mo
doesn't offer data on prepaid, other than a select few WAP sites.

> Otherwise I'd be better off with postpaid.
>
> T-Mobile is obviously an option, but what are my other choices?
> Relatively cheap GPRS that is available most anywhere that won't be
used
> much (mostly weekends at best and at times when I'm simply in the car)?

I use T-Mobile (on a PDA phone) for voice and data. T-Mo has a port-
limited unlimited data plan for $6/month on top of a voice plan. (It has
access to POP and IMAP e-mail, and web browsing via a proxy server you
set up on your PDA. File downloads, and individual webpages are limited
to 1MB in size.)

> I'm likely going to get the Enforma GPS/GPRS CF module that is quad-band,

> but would need to elusive SIM.

I assume the Enforma is the same module everyone else sells under there
own brand (Audiovox, Pretec, etc.) which lakes 850MHz support, limiting
coverage in the US, and doesn't support EDGE (150kbps "real world" speed
vs. the 30-50kpbs GPRS offers)

FWIW, I'd rather have a BT phone that supports 850MHz than a CF card that
doesn't.

> Thanks for any leads.
>
> Scott

Good luck!

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Todd Allcock

2006-10-29, 4:33 am

At 28 Oct 2006 13:25:05 +0000 Patrick Casher wrote:
> I use T-Mobile ToGo with a Sidekick 2 I picked up over a year ago on
Ebay
> for around $200. It costs $1/day so I've been buying $10 refill cards
and
> only use it when we take trips being sure to use it at least every 90
days
> to keep it's number. I can recieve my e-mail and check stuff on the web.

That would be a alternative to Scott's iPaq, but he should understand
that that prepaid data plan is exclusive to the Sidekick, as the Sidekick
uses a special proprietary proxy server for web/e-mail access, and can't
be used as a GPRS modem for connecting the iPaq to, nor could he put the
Sidekick SIM in his (proposed) GPRS CF-card and get any data connectivity-
the Sidekick's proprietary "Danger" server will only communicate with
the e-mail client and browser software on a Sidekick.

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Donald Newcomb

2006-10-29, 7:33 am

"matt weber" <mattheww50@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:q9n7k25t93br6av
fturon9gi13jlnm2j4e@
4ax.com...
> Prepaid Cingular can do GPRS, however the traffic charges will
> definitely get your attention. $25 gets you 90 days on Cingular, $100
> gets you a year.

Is that $100/year for access to the GPRS feature or for unlimited GPRS?

One thing to be aware of this that the Italian carrier Wind has a set of
interesting prepaid GPRS bolt-on options that work both inside Italy and
while roaming. It may not be the best thing for heavy GRPS usage just in the
US but it can really be handy for international roamers. It's a bit complex
to explain here but you can learn about how it works on www.prepaidgsm.net

--
Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net

Scott Ehrlich

2006-10-29, 12:33 pm

In article < 4544267b$0$12064$882
60bb3@free.teranews.com>,
Todd Allcock < elecconnec@AmericaOn
Line.com> wrote:
>At 28 Oct 2006 13:25:05 +0000 Patrick Casher wrote:
>Ebay
>and
>days
>
>
>That would be a alternative to Scott's iPaq, but he should understand
>that that prepaid data plan is exclusive to the Sidekick, as the Sidekick
>uses a special proprietary proxy server for web/e-mail access, and can't
>be used as a GPRS modem for connecting the iPaq to, nor could he put the
>Sidekick SIM in his (proposed) GPRS CF-card and get any data connectivity-
> the Sidekick's proprietary "Danger" server will only communicate with
>the e-mail client and browser software on a Sidekick.
>
>
>--
>Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
>

The sidekick fyi is good to know.

Thanks.

Scott

Scott Ehrlich

2006-10-29, 12:33 pm

In article < 4544267a$0$12064$882
60bb3@free.teranews.com>,
Todd Allcock < elecconnec@AmericaOn
Line.com> wrote:
>At 28 Oct 2006 12:08:12 +0000 Scott Ehrlich wrote:
>Compact
>can
>
>Unless the prices have crashed recently, I find those cards far to
>expensive compared to just buying a GPRS-enabled phone and connecting via
>bluetooth. My old Dell Axim X5 had no BT or GPRS connectivity, and a BT
>CF card cost a fraction of what a GPRS card cost.
>be
>like
>
>Who is your current cell provider, how much is internet access from them,
>and do they offer a phone that can connect to your iPaq? You may be
>trying to reinvent the wheel here.

Verizon Wireless. I have a BT-capable LG VX8300 and have tried everything
to establish a connection. I _think_ the problem from my Sony Clie (Palm
5.0) and iPAQ 2210 (WM2003), both of which have built-in bluetooth, is
lack of PAP authentication via PPP. I briefly obtained an IP address
from an external ISP when testing a Palm-based VPN client that had the
option to disable encryption, but that would also require my setting up a
clear-text VPN solution at home, something I could do, but would defeat
the purpose of encryption in the first place.

>swap
>
>Nationally, two- T-Mobile and Cingular.
>
>
>
>Data is cheaper when it's added to a voice plan, so melding your cellular
>voice plan with a data add-on would be preferable to starting a new data-
>only plan as far as cost is concerned. Both T-Mo and Cingular's data
>only plans are about $50/month.

Yep, but for now, the VX8300 was the best phone available I could find for
my needs between a T-Mobile store and Verizon Wireless store.

>
>A minute ago you were willing to spend $30/month! ;-)
>
>Cingular's $25 cards are good for 90 days. Data is $10/MB IIRC. T-Mo
>doesn't offer data on prepaid, other than a select few WAP sites.

I'll take a closer look at Cingular, along with MVNOs.

>
>used
>
>
>I use T-Mobile (on a PDA phone) for voice and data. T-Mo has a port-
>limited unlimited data plan for $6/month on top of a voice plan. (It has
>access to POP and IMAP e-mail, and web browsing via a proxy server you
>set up on your PDA. File downloads, and individual webpages are limited
>to 1MB in size.)

Again, TMo would have been my choice when my Verizon Wireless contract was
coming to an end, but I couldn't find a comparable phone with TMo to
Verizon's choices. To me, a phone is a phone first. If it can do
Internet too, great. But, they cripple BT, thus the GPRS route...

>
>
>
>I assume the Enforma is the same module everyone else sells under there
>own brand (Audiovox, Pretec, etc.) which lakes 850MHz support, limiting
>coverage in the US, and doesn't support EDGE (150kbps "real world" speed
>vs. the 30-50kpbs GPRS offers)
>
>FWIW, I'd rather have a BT phone that supports 850MHz than a CF card that
>doesn't.
>

I already answered the above ;-)

>
>Good luck!
>

Thanks!

Scott

>--
>Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
>

Todd Allcock

2006-10-29, 10:33 pm

At 29 Oct 2006 07:03:25 -0600 Donald Newcomb wrote:
> "matt weber" <mattheww50@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:q9n7k25t93br6av
fturon9gi13jlnm2j4e@
4ax.com...
>
> Is that $100/year for access to the GPRS feature or for unlimited GPRS?

Neither- that's the expiry date of a $100 prepaid airtime card. At $10/mb,
that's 10MB or 365-days, whichever comes first...

Cingular's pay as you go services is 25-cents/min for phone calls, 1-
cent/kb data.

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

purple543210@yahoo.ca

2006-11-03, 10:33 pm

take a look at a canadian company FIDO
www.fido.ca
I believe they have US coverage at a flat rate (after the currency
conversion comes to $20US)

you can leave a credit card with them to bill no problem.

Scott Ehrlich wrote:
> I have an iPAQ PDA that runs Windows Mobile 2003 and it sports a Compact
> Flash (aka CF) slot and an SDIO (Secure Digital) slot, either of which can
> support a GPRS/GSM module to sport a SIM for GPRS use.
>
> I usually have Internet access where and when needed, but I happen to be
> on the road away from the Internet, be it in the car or wherever, I'd like
> to perform ad-hoc Internet connectivity.
>
> What companies offer low-cost GPRS SIMs (or phones from which I can swap
> the SIM)? I do live in a major city in the US, so coverage is not a
> problem. But if I did travel, roaming would be nice. I know T-Mobile,
> at least, as good GPRS roaming agreements for almost seemless data
> coverage, but I can't justify spending more than $30/month for GPRS.
>
> I don't mind paying per kb, but I would mind having to pay to re-up a
> prepaid card after 30 days, unless the re-up amount is small, like a
> couple of dollars at best. Otherwise I'd be better off with postpaid.
>
> T-Mobile is obviously an option, but what are my other choices?
> Relatively cheap GPRS that is available most anywhere that won't be used
> much (mostly weekends at best and at times when I'm simply in the car)?
> I'm likely going to get the Enforma GPS/GPRS CF module that is quad-band,
> but would need to elusive SIM.
>
> Thanks for any leads.
>
> Scott

Todd Allcock

2006-11-04, 4:33 am

<purple543210@yahoo.ca> wrote in message
news:1162613684.142246.69320@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> take a look at a canadian company FIDO
> www.fido.ca
> I believe they have US coverage at a flat rate (after the currency
> conversion comes to $20US)
>
> you can leave a credit card with them to bill no problem.
>

You had me excited there for awhile, but it seems there's no mention of an
unlimted data plan on the fido website other than a no longer available one
for Hiptop (aka T-Mobile Sidekick) users, and roaming in the US (voice or
data) is not allowed on fido prepaid (again, according to the site)- a
monthly plan is required. (Although fido seems to have momth-to-month no
contract plans available.)

The prices for fido internet, used within the US or Canada, when added to a
voice plan are (in Canadian dollars:)

500KB for $5 (+0.03/KB overage)
5MB for $25 (+0.01/KB over)
25MB for $50 (+0.03/KB)
50MB for $75 (+0.03/KB)
100MB for $100 (+0.03/KB)

All but the 500KB plan are available without a voice plan for an additional
$6.95 (CDN) monthly fee. Whether or not they'll even sell a non-prepaid
service to foreigners is another issue...

--
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