Cingular Specific Questions

[Guest Rex Orbis2]

I just started a plan with Cingular, and got a smt5600. I want internet access on it, but in terms of plans I have no idea what I need.

If I pay for unlimited PDA connect, will that cover all of my internet and email usage?

Will that same plan allow me to use my phone unlimitedly as a modem for my laptop?

And I'm not completely sure what MEdia net is. I know its mostly ringtones and so forth, but there are also parts of it which are actual web pages designed for a phone, so would I be able to access those with my unlimited plan?

I know this is a little out of place, but I can't get answers anywhere else and you guys have been great for them in the past.

Thanks,

Jeff

[Guest dr1241]

Hey!

I just recently came across this website, it seems really cool.

I work for Cingular. If you pay for unlimited PDA connect for $80 a month, yes, all your internet, email and tethering to a pc would be covered.

Media Net is just Cingular's own term for the wireless internet on your phone. You can go that route much cheaper for unlimited, but you will not be able to tether your smartphone to a pc. Many webpages that phones use are written specific for mobile phones, when you log onto the internet with Cingular service it will take you to Cingular's homepage which has links to purchase things from them (of course) and links to affiliate websites that are written for mobile devices. Smartphones can access standard webpages too, but some are hard for the phones to load.

Anyway, let me know if you need anything.

I really like the 5600.

Late...

Dano

I just started a plan with Cingular, and got a smt5600.  I want internet access on it, but in terms of plans I have no idea what I need. 

If I pay for unlimited PDA connect, will that cover all of my internet and email usage?

Will that same plan allow me to use my phone unlimitedly as a modem for my laptop?

And I'm not completely sure what MEdia net is.  I know its mostly ringtones and so forth, but there are also parts of it which are actual web pages designed for a phone, so would I be able to access those with my unlimited plan?

I know this is a little out of place, but I can't get answers anywhere else and you guys have been great for them in the past. 

Thanks,

Jeff

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[Guest Rex Orbis2]

80 dollars? I pay 40 now, which I thought was unlimited.

[Guest MelSellsOC]

My question is similar to this one and I'm not sure if I completely understand yet. I have the smt 5600 with Cingular too and I am not sure what I am being charged for and what I am not. (cingular had no answers whatsoever) I know that with the Media Basic package I can go on websites or otherwise pay .01 cent for each KB, but am I being charged when I connect my cell phone to my laptop and use activesync or when I use the homescreen designer or RegEdit? What about when I just transfer files and pictures from my computer to my cell with activesync? Does this count as KB's? If anyone knows this answer PLEASE let me know so that I can avoid a $400 cell phone bill. I have been using these features a lot lately....

Hey!

I just recently came across this website, it seems really cool.

I work for Cingular.  If you pay for unlimited PDA connect for $80 a month, yes, all your internet, email and tethering to a pc would be covered.

Media Net is just Cingular's own term for the wireless internet on your phone.  You can go that route much cheaper for unlimited, but you will not be able to tether your smartphone to a pc.  Many webpages that phones use are written specific for mobile phones, when you log onto the internet with Cingular service it will take you to Cingular's homepage which has links to purchase things from them (of course) and links to affiliate websites that are written for mobile devices.  Smartphones can access standard webpages too, but some are hard for the phones to load.

Anyway, let me know if you need anything. 

I really like the 5600.

Late...

Dano

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[Guest nickcornaglia]

MediaNet has an unlimited plan for $19.99 but you can only access data thru the phone.

The unlimited GPRS package stated above allows you to use the phone as a modem with a laptop.

Mel, you are only charged for data over GPRS. That is accessing email, internet, MMS messages. You are not charged when you access the internet using ActiveSync Passthru when connected to your PC. If you have unlimited data MediaNet or the Other plan (I dont know what it's called) it's all you can eat. There are also cheaper plans that will allow you to transfer up to 3MB, 8MB etc, per month. But you cant go wrong with Unlimited MediaNet for $20 in my opionion, unless you need to use the phone as a modem, which I do not.

[Guest MelSellsOC]

Thank you that is what I needed to know! I don't really care about the internet and emails and stuff through my phone (that's what my computer is for). In my opinion it's a hassle to use the internet on a cell phone anyway! I do like all the other features the smartphone has though...thanks again! =)

MediaNet has an unlimited plan for $19.99 but you can only access data thru the phone.

The unlimited GPRS package stated above allows you to use the phone as a modem with a laptop.

Mel, you are only charged for data over GPRS. That is accessing email, internet, MMS messages. You are not charged when you access the internet using ActiveSync Passthru when connected to your PC. If you have unlimited data MediaNet or the Other plan (I dont know what it's called) it's all you can eat. There are also cheaper plans that will allow you to transfer up to 3MB, 8MB etc, per month. But you cant go wrong with Unlimited MediaNet for $20 in my opionion, unless you need to use the phone as a modem, which I do not.

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[Guest maelthra]

I've actually found that the 5600 does extremely well loading webpages. I go to many standard websites and am constantly amazed at how well the photos etc. are resized. The unlimited MEdiaNet service I have through Cingular ( for 20 bucks a month ) is about as fast as dial-up, which is plenty fast enough when away from your pc. I'm beginning to use my phone more and more to browse the internet and do things such as blog, check e-mail, use search engines/dictionary and thesaurus websites, check the weather and check up on current news. In short, using the internet on the 5600 is not much of a hassle at all and you may want to look into experimenting with it some if you happen to be away from your pc regularly.

Thank you that is what I needed to know!  I don't really care about the internet and emails and stuff through my phone (that's what my computer is for).  In my opinion it's a hassle to use the internet on a cell phone anyway!  I do like all the other features the smartphone has though...thanks again!  =)

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[Guest Rex Orbis2]

So wait, I pay 40 a month for unlimited data connect. This covers all of my phone-as-a-modem costs as well as all my phone internet access costs as well, right?

[Guest nickcornaglia]

No....$20/month for Unlimited MediaNet

Something like $80/month Unlimited Data Connect or whatever it's called. Look on the site for specific plans.

[Guest Rex Orbis2]

I did.

Data Connect Unlimited $44.99

Laptop Connect Unlimited $79.99

However, they specify PC cards for the laptop connect, and data connect for PDA devices, which mine qualifies as. What's the difference?

[Guest nickcornaglia]

Somehow they know what you're tethered to. I would imagine you're using the phone as a modem in both scenarios...but I dont know how it knows the difference.

[Guest JesseRPI]

Wow... so much mis-information here that it's scary. Anyway, to clarify things, here's the real deal from Cingular:

Unlimited MediaNet ($19.99): Allows you to connect to the Internet using GPRS with either your phone directly, or by tethering via USB/bluetooth. You will not be charged extra for KB usage or minutes. However, be sure to check that you plan does not have INTRN XPRSS PAY PER USE on it. If it does, call Cingular and ask them to kindly remove it, which they will gladly do.

The Laptop Connect plan is only for use with PCMCIA cards. Sure, you can get it for the SMT 5600, but why pay $80 for exactly what's being offered for just $20.

I confirmed with Cingular that the above is correct, and was even pointed to a step by step instruction guide for tethering your phone for Internet use, below.

Tethering for Internet Access

[Guest nickcornaglia]

Misinformation? I am only repeating what multiple cingular reps have told me as well as various resources on the net. Also, you link specifies that a DataConnect plan is required to use the Cingular Connection Manager and doesnt specify MediaNet at all.

Are you a Cingular employee by chance?

Have you physically gotten your phone to act as a modem using GRPS and MediaNet? If so how well does it work? Because I havnt found anyone who has found it possible/allowable by Cingular.

Plus there are tons of posts at HowardForms that say very similar things like:

Cingular only has 1 way to do this (using the phone as the connection point for a notebook) and this costs 79.99/month, it's just the notebook unlimited data connect plan...same as if you had a GSM/EDGE PC card in your notebook.

The other options are either super expensive or they are 'not officially allowed' by cingular, which would be tethering under the unlimited 'medianet' data plan...the 19.99 phone data plan...and don't confuse that w/ the 19.99 mediaworks bundle, this is limited data + text messaging...the 19.99 medianet data plan is DATA ONLY...but again, tethering to a notebook is officially listed as 'not allowed' in the cingular legal jargon for medianet/mediaworks...

Someone here recently posted a thread about using your minutes and connecting like a dialup modem...but that has speed limitations (14.4), but if you want to do that, there was a thread here recently about what to ask for from Cingular, it was a feature that was either free or $5/month I think...and there was a term for it, I just can't find the thread...

Only other option is to go PPU (pay per use, per kb) and tether, but that's gonna be expensive...a tethered notebook will suck data like crazy and you'll end up w/ a bill for hundreds or thousands of dollars...read thru some of the threads here, it happens...

Chris

So if you get it to work for you without accumulating a huge bill from Cingular. Please let us know and post the settings and process here.

Thanks!

Edited July 24, 2005 by nickcornaglia

[Guest JesseRPI]

I am not a Cingular employee or representative. However, I was advised of this plan option by a Cingular representative when I call 611 to question items on my plan. I mentioned what I would like to do: access the Internet on both my phone and on my laptop using tethering; and the representative suggested this plan. I have this setup on my plan, and am able to browse the Internet three ways: directly on the phone using Pocket IE, Opera, & Reqwireless browsers, on my laptop using bluetooth tethering, and on my laptop using USB tethering. Interestingly, I noticed that my transfer speeds are almost identical when using either bluetooth or USB - approximately 45 kbps. I hope that an EDGE capable SmartPhone is released in the near future, or even better, that Cingular rolls out HSDPA :).

Hope this information helped.

Also, to answer your other question, I have only been charged $19.99 for the unlimited MediaNet option. There were NO additional charges for KB usage, even with ~100 MB transferred via tethering per month.

[Guest nickcornaglia]

Good to hear it works. Like I said, I can't confirm, but I've been told by countless others including instore and 611 reps that it cant or they wont allow it. Also thread upon thread in this and other forums. I never had a use for it, because I can't think of a time when I needed my laptop to be connected to such a slow connection.

BTW...I gotta say it.

"Wow... so much mis-information here that it's scary. "

Be a bit more gentle next time. It's nice that you got your phone working, but to call everyone else "stupid" in so many words is a bit insulting.

[Guest SomeGuyWithDSL]

Hi, new here, got a Cingular question so I figured I'd tack it on to this thread.

I have a new Audiovox SMT 5600 and I signed up for a calling plan and the $19.99 Unlimited MediaNet. I have been reading the fine print on both the MediaNet plan and the phone trying to figure out what is and is not covered (Text and MMS messages are not, for example. Those are "phone-type" uses).

Specifically, I'm curious about the included MSN Messenger client. Is that like other PC/Windows Mobile variants in that it just uses the internet connection (which is included), or is it a phone-type app that counts as "text messages" (which are not included)? My previous non-smartphone had an AIM client that counted as text messages, which is why I ask.

Also, after using any GPRS app on the phone my signal strength indicator switches to show a "G" rather than an antenna. After closing the app, the "G" is still there. Does that mean data is still being transferred, or does it just stay that way until I receive a call?

Thanks for any answers, looks like a good forum!

[Guest Rex Orbis2]

MSN uses data only, not texts. I've had reps tell me otherwise, but I assure you it costs only data. I have now given up calling them and asking questions, because they just have no idea what they are talking about.

Hi, new here, got a Cingular question so I figured I'd tack it on to this thread.

I have a new Audiovox SMT 5600 and I signed up for a calling plan and the $19.99 Unlimited MediaNet. I have been reading the fine print on both the MediaNet plan and the phone trying to figure out what is and is not covered (Text and MMS messages are not, for example. Those are "phone-type" uses).

Specifically, I'm curious about the included MSN Messenger client. Is that like other PC/Windows Mobile variants in that it just uses the internet connection (which is included), or is it a phone-type app that counts as "text messages" (which are not included)? My previous non-smartphone had an AIM client that counted as text messages, which is why I ask.

Also, after using any GPRS app on the phone my signal strength indicator switches to show a "G" rather than an antenna. After closing the app, the "G" is still there. Does that mean data is still being transferred, or does it just stay that way until I receive a call?

Thanks for any answers, looks like a good forum!

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[Guest zero_divide_1]

Also, after using any GPRS app on the phone my signal strength indicator switches to show a "G" rather than an antenna. After closing the app, the "G" is still there. Does that mean data is still being transferred, or does it just stay that way until I receive a call?

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The GRPS indicator (the "G" in the signal strength bar) is only shown when the application accessing GPRS services is open and active. There is another icon on the bar, a solid square with a G in the middle which denotes GPRS service is available but not connected. You shouldn't worry about the G by the antenna unless its G with a white square around it, which means that its connected. For me, I usually just quit the application and if its still has the G in the signal strength indicator, I just repeatedly press the END button until it disappears and the standard antenna symbol shows up again.

[Guest nickcornaglia]

I had a billing problem which led me to call Cingular 611. I had a $250+ Data charge on my bill. Turns out it was because I had MediaWorks and not MediaNet.

The clarification from the rep is this:

$19.99 MediaNet = Unlimited Data. This is intended for PDA type phones that have a voice plan.

$19.99 MediaWorks = Unlimited PicsMessages, Unlimited Text, ONLY 5MB Data.

This is intended for non-smartphone camera-phones that have a voice plan.

$44.99 DataConnect = Unlimited data for PDAs WITHOUT a voice plan.

$79.99 LaptopConnect = Unlimited data for Laptops WITHOUT a voice plan.

So I switched to MediaNet, added 200 Text Messages for something like $2.99 and will pay for PicsMessages as they come for $.25 each. (I dont send or receive many of these.)

But in the end I was credited for my mismatched plan and now understand what the different plans are and why they are what they are.

Edited July 30, 2005 by nickcornaglia

[Guest nickcornaglia]

And the reason some reps think that MSN uses text messages is because that's how non-smartphone phones use MSN. Not picking up for the ignorance. They should know more about smartphones and PDAs since they sell alot of them