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Must SIM Cards be Data Enabled? |
MedMan
Joined: Dec 30, 2003
Posts: 1
From: England
PM |
I travel through Europe quite a lot and I use a GSM phone connected to my laptop to access my email. I use AOL as an ISP as they have numbers in all countries and so far I have always used a UK-based Mobile Phone. However, friends say I should buy local SIM cards to keep the costs down but I am very confused about the question of SIM Cards being 'Data Enabled'. Some friends say I must be very careful to ensure that the SIM card is 'data enabled' - others say there is no problem.
Does a SIM card have to be 'data enabled' to connect to the Internet via a dial-up modem? I can't see how the system would know that it was data being sent. Isn't that the whole point of a modem - it sends data in audio tones across a network designed for speech?
Some years ago when I asked for my Cellnet phone to be 'data enabled' I was given two additional numbers - one for fax and one for data - both for incoming calls. I can see that one would have to request that, but for connecting up via a modem to check email?
[ This Message was edited by: MedMan on 2003-12-30 10:24 ] |
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senninha
Joined: Jan 05, 2003
Posts: > 500
PM |
if you are using your mobile as a modem for your laptop and then calling an AOL number, then it is just a phone call, albeit a data call, and shouldn't be a problem. with this method though, connection speed is probably only about 9600 bps or 14400 bps at most.
what your friends are probably refering to is gprs roaming. with gprs, you could access the internet directly, as opposed to having to call a number for access, and at about 3x the speed or better if you are lucky. the only hassle would be installing each network's gprs settings on your phone for every country you visit.
if you did purchase prepaid cards and planned to access the net via gprs, then i suppose you would just have to ensure that gprs access is supported by the card that you purchase. |
italo_americano
Joined: Apr 22, 2004
Posts: 1
PM |
Hi,
I have an unlocked sony t68i and an ipaq 3970 and would like to dial onto the internet using my t68i modem via bluetoth on my ipaq in Italy.
Do I need to buy a special GPRS Italian sim card for my t68i.
Thanx for any usefull information!
Giovanni |
senninha
Joined: Jan 05, 2003
Posts: > 500
PM |
i presume you are from the US. if so, your home carrier MAY have a gprs roaming agreement with the italian carriers, and if so, you should be able to do it once you plug in the settings.
however, it is really much better to buy a local prepaid sim for your internet access when you get there as roaming charges usually more than double the costs of using your phone. that's the advantage of having an unlocked phone.  |
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Posted: 2003-12-30 11:03
