 Mobile Internet access is becoming more and more prevalent. For the frequent traveler, this means that you can use your smartphone to access your email, catch up on the latest news, and more, regardless of location. However, there are limits to what you can do on a handheld device, and staring at your phone’s small screen may strain your eyes. Alleviate these nuisances by using your smartphone as a high-speed modem for your laptop.
In order to use a Windows Mobile smartphone as a modem for your laptop, you’ll need to connect the two devices. Wired and wireless connections are available, depending on the capabilities of your phone and laptop. For this article, we’ll focus on establishing a connection via Bluetooth.  Pair Your Devices To begin, enable Bluetooth on your phone: Click Start and then Settings, choose the Connections tab, and then click Bluetooth. On the Bluetooth settings menu that appears, click the checkbox next to Turn On Bluetooth. You’ll also need to enable Bluetooth on your laptop. Open the Bluetooth device manager: Click Start, select Control Panel, and then double-click Bluetooth Devices. When the Bluetooth Devices window appears, navigate to the Options tab and click the box next to Turn Discovery On. Click Apply and then click OK. | 
You’ll need to turn on discovery mode on your laptop. |
Now that Bluetooth is activated on both devices, navigate to the Devices tab on your phone (you should still be in the Bluetooth Settings window) and then click Add New Device. The phone will search for devices. When it finishes, click the name of your laptop and then click Next. Enter a passcode of your choosing. This passcode will help establish a secure connection between the phone and your computer. After you enter a passcode on the phone, click Next. On your laptop, watch for a balloon near the clock that says A Bluetooth Device Is Requesting To Connect To Your Computer. To Allow This Connection, Click This Message. When you see this balloon, click it. A new window will appear. In the Add Bluetooth Device Wizard window, enter the same passkey that you entered on the Windows Mobile smartphone and then click Next. The Add Bluetooth Device Wizard window will let you know when the connection is successful. For extra security, check the box next to Turn Discovery Off and then click Finish.
After you’ve finished establishing the connection on your laptop, you’ll see a Partnership Settings window on your smartphone. Click Finish and then click OK to close out of the Bluetooth Settings window. Finally, close out of the Settings window. Your smartphone and your laptop should now be connected to one another.
Share The Internet | 
Click Connect on your laptop to establish a connection. |
Once you have successfully paired the phone and the laptop, it’s time to share the Internet connection. On the phone, navigate to Start, Programs, and then scroll to Internet Sharing. If you can’t find it in the Programs folder, look for it in the Windows Folder using the File Explorer.
From the Internet Sharing screen, select Bluetooth PAN. Also, select the Network Connection you want to share and then click Connect. You may see a pop-up window on the phone that asks about making the device visible. If you see this window, click Yes. A balloon will appear to show the phone is establishing an Internet connection. The Internet Sharing window will let you know when this is complete.
From your laptop, click Start and Control Panel, double-click Network Connections, and then double-click Bluetooth Network Connection. When the Bluetooth Personal Area Network Devices window appears, select the name of your smartphone under Available Access Points and click Connect. You’ll then see a window that shows the status of the connection.
Open Internet Explorer on your laptop to surf the Internet using your phone’s high-speed connection. When you are finished surfing, click the Disconnect button from the Internet Sharing window on your phone.  by Jennifer Johnson
Common Roadblocks
Because every phone and every carrier will vary, you may hit a few snags along the way. Here are a few suggestions to help.
Double-check your connection. If your laptop cannot connect to the Internet, go back to the steps where we talk about connecting your phone to your laptop. If you're having difficulties attempting to connect via Bluetooth, consider switching to a wired connection.
Look in other places. Some carriers and devices may place Internet Sharing in a different location. Two of the most common places are within the Programs listing and within the Windows folder on the device. If you cannot find Internet Sharing, it’s possible that your phone does not support this functionality, that you need carrier-specific software, or that this option is located elsewhere. Contact your carrier for additional assistance.
Dropped connections. If you’ve successfully established a connection but it keeps cutting out after a little while, first make sure that the Internet Sharing program is still open on your phone. (By clicking the X button to close or minimize Internet Sharing, you can lose your connection.) Next, look for Internet time-out settings on the phone. If the phone automatically disconnects from the Internet after a certain amount of inactivity, the connection between devices will also drop. |
What You Need
In order to use your phone as a modem for your laptop, you’ll need to connect your laptop and your phone. A convenient choice is Bluetooth because it doesn’t require any cables. If your phone and your laptop support Bluetooth, you should be in good shape. If not, check with your phone’s manufacturer or your cell phone carrier for corded options. Some carriers also require special software to assist with the connection.
Of course, you will also need high-speed Internet access on your phone. Although some carriers will let you use nearly any data plan, others will require you to have a special data plan or an add-on plan. For example, Verizon Wireless requires you to have a qualifying plan and also requires that you subscribe to a Broadband-Access Connect feature. Check with your carrier for information and prices to suit your needs.
Last, but certainly not least, you need a compatible phone. Here’s a quick rundown of popular Windows Mobile smartphones from each of the top four wireless carriers:
AT&T
• AT&T 8525
• Cingular 3125
• Palm Treo 750
• Samsung Blackjack
Sprint Nextel
• HTC Mogul
• Motorola MOTO Q
• Palm Treo 700wx
• Samsung IP-830W
T-Mobile
• T-Mobile Dash
• T-Mobile SDA
• T-Mobile Wing
Verizon Wireless
• Motorola Q Black
• Palm Treo 700wx
• Samsung i730 |
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