# Broadband enabled cellphone--can plug into a computer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 25, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadband-enabled-cellphone-can-plug-into-a-computer/454184 "2008-06-25T14:51:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadband-enabled-cellphone-can-plug-into-a-computer/454184/1 "2008-06-25T14:51:22Z")
[Note, I wanted to ask this here, before checking with the obviously biased vendor] I’m thinking about buying a Blackberry or something similar that can be used as a cellphone, but also has full featured calendaring, email, and so on. I understand that devices of this type usually have some kind of Internet capability, and in fact my current cellphone is much like this. I also have plug-in broadband card which I use just for mobile Internet access, and is technically speaking another cellphone. It has its own number and is charged on my account about like another cellphone, but can only be used for mobile Internet. It plugs into my system and gets its power supply through a USB port. So now that I’m thinking about getting a new main cellular device, is there such a thing as one that you can plug into a computer for broadband internet access, and can also be used for regular cellphone conversations? If you have broadband at home through your land line, you can take and receive phone calls even while accessing the internet. Do any broadband capable cellphones allow you to do that as well? I’m thinking I might actually end up saving a little money if I can drop my broadband only cellphone,. ---
**Author:** ![JimOfAllTrades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@JimOfAllTrades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimOfAllTrades)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadband-enabled-cellphone-can-plug-into-a-computer/454184/2 "2008-06-25T15:33:05Z")
I’ve only personally had experience with three cell phones used as an internet connection for a laptop. Two were on Sprint and used a cable to connect the phone to the laptop, and one was on AT&T, and used Bluetooth for the connection to the laptop. In all three cases, when in use for the internet connection the phone was not available to send or receive regular calls. In one case, receiving a call while in use as an internet connection would drop the internet connection and let the call ring through. This was probably some configuration option that we never found how to change. As recently as a year ago, one of my customers was looking for this exact feature, and the Sprint rep told him they had no phones that had this capability. So based on my limited experience, I’d say you cannot use one phone as both a phone and an internet connection for your laptop at the same time. But I have no experience with Blackberries, and these things change fast. Maybe there is something available now. ---
**Author:** ![Whiteknight](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whiteknight/32/4962_2.png) [@Whiteknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiteknight)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadband-enabled-cellphone-can-plug-into-a-computer/454184/3 "2008-06-25T16:08:24Z")
The process of hooking a phone up to a computer to share the phone’s internet access is known as tethering. I don’t know whether you can take a call while maintaining your broadband connection, but I do know that it is technically feasible and it likely depends on the device. For instance, the existing iPhone disables data access (Edge) whenever a call is active. The new iPhone 3G (coming out in about two weeks) however, leaves the 3G data connection available when you are on a call. You’ll probably have to check out the specific device to see if it can accomplish what you want. I’d recommend posting at [howardforums.com](http://howardforums.com). There are tons of people there that could help you. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadband-enabled-cellphone-can-plug-into-a-computer/454184/4 "2008-06-25T16:36:09Z")
I’ve heard rumours that the new iPhone 3G will, out of the box, NOT allow itself to be used as a modem. The data access can only be used by its own applications. I sincerely hope that this is not true. ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadband-enabled-cellphone-can-plug-into-a-computer/454184/5 "2008-06-25T17:19:30Z")
I can tether my Samsung Blackjack via USB and use Internet Sharing to use the 3G or Edge connection for internet access. Apparently it can also be tethered via Bluetooth but it’s a pain to set up. As noted earlier, when on 3G you can have a data connection and voice connection at the same time, with Edge (GSM) it’s not possible. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadband-enabled-cellphone-can-plug-into-a-computer/454184/6 "2008-06-25T20:51:27Z")
Most vendors will require you to purchase a Phone as a Modem plan extension for it to work now. I used to be able to set up a connection on my old sprint phone via a USB cable, create a dial up network connection in Windows and dial #777 and it would give me internet. They fixed that a bit ago. ---
**Author:** ![Anachronism](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Anachronism](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anachronism)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadband-enabled-cellphone-can-plug-into-a-computer/454184/7 "2008-06-27T20:23:02Z")
If you do decide to tether your phone to a computer make sure you plan allows it. [http://www.lockergnome.com/cellphones/2007/12/18/data-plan-vs-tethering-plan/](http://www.lockergnome.com/cellphones/2007/12/18/data-plan-vs-tethering-plan/)