Mobile phone dial up!

[BenzComander]

My sister in law has just moved into a flat for a few months, and the flat has no landline.

Can she use her mobile phone to dial out from her desktop PC to check her emails, and if so how?

Thanks everybody!

 

[A-AvantGarde]

It's technically possible, but the ease of doing it depends partly on the type of phone and how you intend to connect the phone and computer. I assume she doesn't have a lead to connect the desktop PC to the phone?

It's easy on many laptops as you can use Infrared to create a connection between the two.

Word of warning in either case, it's not going to be a quick connection, will be slower than traditional dial-up

 

[dchaddah]

It is possible, what phone does she use?
Also
Which Network is she on?

If T-Mobile Why not add Web & Walk for £7.50(I think)
It will solve her problems the easiest way.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Easy if it's a Nokia. Install PC-Suite and it should do the rest for you. I would imagine other brands allow you do it too.

Connect either by Infrared, bluetooth of a cable - whichever she has or most cost effective.

It's been a few years since I did it, but IIRC the mobile phone operator just charges at the data rate. Beware, it can be pricey!!

 

[A-AvantGarde]

You may need to ask your service provider (o2, Vodadone, T-Mobile, Orange etc) for data to be enabled on your account.

Many mobile accounts now have this included but in the early days I specifically had to ask for it.

As Bobby_Dazzler has said with Nokia it's very easy, similarly any Laptop running Windows XP and a mobile phone with an Infrared connection is pretty easy as there are standard drivers for this.

 

[mobeyone]

One thing to bear in mind is that you are now charged for this, and its not cheap!!!

Ask if they do data bolton to subsidise the cost.

 

[High-Lo]

A bit cheeky but how about trying a wireless PCMCIA/USB device in the laptop and searching for wireless access points in the vicinity? If any are found they need to have encryption disabled though.

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Works surprisiingly well when I'm out & about and can't get 3G coverage!