Bluetooth cellphones and net browsing.

[Soapy Sam]

Though a sworn hater of cellphones, I finally may need to get one.

I'm now working on a remote site in Kazakhstan. It has cellphone access through a local network. WE have no internet access though.

I have a (Vista) laptop with bluetooth.
What do I need cellphone-wise to check & send email and browse the net ?

I understand I can get a local SIM card for a bluetooth phone and that I can use the cellphone to supply the laptop with an internet connection. I realise it would be slow, but better than nothing. I should also be able to use it frm a UK location which has no telephone landline.

1. Do I need any hardware apart from the phone?
2. I want the phone to be basic. So long as it has bluetooth and can accept a sim card in Kazakhstan (yes, really), it need have no other advanced function. No camera for example.
Any reccomendations?

3. Any other info / comment?

 

[stormer]

I use a cellphone for internet access when I am on the move, so let me throw in some advice. Slow speed - yes if you are using GPRS, ok if using EDGE, better if using 3G, best if HSDPA. Remember, the service provider must support the service also.

1. No, you do not need any other hardware.
2. The phone you choose must support data services. So must the provider of which you buy the SIM card from.
3. Have a look at this site. Look under the specs of "data" for the phone.

Maybe you can get further ideas and will then have other questions.

I'll just make one final comment on bluetooth. BT is not the determination if you can have data services. BT is a technology that replaces wires. That's it.

If the phone does not have BT, but can be connected to the computer by wire, it could also be used as the "modem". The important thing is that the phone has the modem hardware. You could even use the InfraRed port on the phone to make the connection to the computer.

 

[Nero]

You don’t need to use a phone at all just a GPRS/3G data card will work, and no having to mess around with bluetooth.

As an example see this link:

http://www.vodafone-data-card.co.uk

If your computer doesn’t have a PCI slot you can get versions that plug into a USB port. I’ve used these very successfully all over the world (but not tried Kazakhstan).

 

[Soapy Sam]

Thanks, guys. I have some research to do...