One of the reasons I got the EeePC was so that I could have easy access to the internet when away from home.
I already knew that although getting a mobile phone to work with a Linux system is not always easy, I had read that several people had had luck using both usb cables and BlueTooth connections.
I’m on Three mobile network and have a ‘Skype Phone‘ or WP-S1 and a Sony W910i that Three used as an incentive for me to re-commit to them, saying that the Broadband Speed through the phone would be better than the WP-S1. What they forgot to tell me was that in my area, the signal is not that great all of the time anyway.
The avarage download speed I get at home is pretty good, somewhere between fast ISDN and the original 512k broadband. Uploads however are usually about 50-60k. Good enought for browsing, email and the od bit of remote access, but not quite ready for VOIP or Skype via the computer – I guess the Skype function in the WP-S1 is using the band width differently.
The EeePC‘s Skype however gives good results when connected via a wifi link or network cable.
The Sony W910i would not (for me) connect via the blue tooth connection, but the usb cable works with a little tinkering. Again, the details found on http://forum.eeeuser.com (try searching for usb and three.co.uk) produced several examples of how to get connected.
Currently, I use the W910i by poping up a terminal window and running “pon gsm” as root.
Sometimes this fails with an error message on the phone, but I just click the ok button on the phone and try the command again. Once connected its fine.
If I was going to start from scratch and wanted to limit my monthly outgoings, I would get a 3G modem or a Skype Phone on pay as you go. Topping up and converting the cash to broadband access gives up to 30 days to get throught the download allowance (1G, 3G or more currently £10 gets you 1G) – If you don’t use it for a while, don’t top it up – Pretty good internet access without regular bills – not bad.
As an extra, if its a Skype Phone / WP-S1 your using, (currently) topping up will give you access to the Skype function for 30 days – It only works for calls to other Skype computer users, not Skype In or Skype Out calls.