Mobile Broadband SIM work in 3G Phone (as modem)?

[The_Fellowship]

Hi,

I tried searching but could not find the answer to this question:

I have the 3 UK Mobile Broadband USB dongle (E220) and was wondering if I could take the SIM card out and use it in a 3g phone and use the phone as a modem? The reason for this is to be able to use the modem wirelessly over Bluetooth, as apposed to using the wired USB lead.

Not sure if this would break 3's T&C since I would be using a dedicated mobile broadband SIM card as a modem, and not a normal voice SIM card.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Thanks

[wenklaw]

I cannot see why it would be a problem, at the end of the day mobile broadband if used via the USB dongle or a mobile phone is delivering the same content.
I cannot find anything in the T&Cs that says you MUST use the USB dongle so IMO your fine.

http://www.three.co.uk/personal/help...=1187800248881

What is unclear to me is why dont three offer the same reduced rate for the mobile broadband add on for your existing mobile? Or do they? eg, add 3gb internet use via my HSDPA mobile phone instead having to have a usb dongle with another sim card?

x series T&C's clearly state the service is not for use via a laptop or PC.

[The_Fellowship]

Thanks for your reply.

That was my understanding too, that using the 3 mobile broadband SIM via the USB dongle or 3g phone should be fine.

Not sure about the addon situation, to be honest they have so many different "internet" addons that it gets quite confusing what is allowed and what's not! lol

I took the safe option of ordering a USB dongle (half price deal for existing 3 customers) and putting the SIM in my old 3g mobile (HSDPA compatible). I have unlocked the USB dongle modem too, so may just sell it now :-)

Cheers

[tusks]

Hi,
Just a note,
The dongle for broadband uses the access point name of 3internet not three.co.uk as found on your phone, I suppose that to get it working properly you will need to change this (or add another access point for 3internet) for the sim to work correctly.

Tony

[genaveve]

Wonder what the difference is in the APNs? What would happen if using a mobile broadband addon on a mobile and used that APN?

[alan_semple]

Originally Posted by genaveve

Wonder what the difference is in the APNs? What would happen if using a mobile broadband addon on a mobile and used that APN?

It works either way.
ie 3internet and three..co.uk both work on the USB modem and phone.

The 3internet APN has a shorter number of hops.
Traceroute to "www.bbc.co.uk".

APN 3internet
1 192.168.1.1
2 ****
3 195.50.119.9
4 4.69.133.102
5 4.68.116.81
6 195.50.90.162
7 212.58.238.149
8 212.58.239.62
9 212.58.251.195

APN three.co.uk
1 192.168.1.1
2 172.30.152.36
3 172.31.152.211
4 217.171.129.125
5 217.171.128.36
6 172.31.252.118
7 195.50.90.169
8 195.50.90.190
9 212.58.238.153
10 212.58.239.234
11 212.58.253.67


As you already know, a sim card with the £10 "Mobile broadband Add-on" will work, and you can access the internet via the bluetooth modem, so I believe that complies with the T's and C's.

FWIW
The reverse is not the case.
A sim card with the £5 "Handset Internet Add-on" does not register in a USB modem.


Hope it helps

Alan

[clouddmc]

i have an alternative question:

if i have got a usb modem from three, can i use my sim card from my iphone 3G and the ulimited data plan (infact it is only 2GB data allowrance)

if yes, do i need to unlock the usb dongle first, where and how can i unclock it?

thanks a lot =)