In regards to Bluetooth phones, please be aware that some phone models from some providers have had their Bluetooth capabilities severely cut down and eliminated. A quick google search found this article, although I know some newer models have been similarly restricted: "Bluetooth Crippled in Verizon’s New Motorola V710" http://www.russellbeattie.com/notebook/1007961.html Not all providers cripple or lock their phones to the degree seen in this model by Verizon. Some of the crippled features, such as getting direct access to photos taken by the phone, were things that might have competed with Verizon's 'premium' services. My suggestion is to search Google for comments about any bluetooth phone you're interested in to see what, if any, features have been crippled by the provider. At 12:55 PM 12/30/2005 -0600, Michael J. Bird wrote: >One final suggestion: All the major players now offer phones with >Bluetooth >capability. Many laptops have Bluetooth built-in, or you can get a >BT USB >fob. I have net access on my phone, and using BT I can access my e-mail >with either my PDA or my laptop via the BT connection to my cell phone. > >Mike Bird > > >On Dec 30, 2005, at 12:43 PM, Haudy Kazemi wrote: > >> At 02:07 PM 12/29/2005 -0800, you wrote: >>>>>> >> Query, is there any service or program (e.g.T-Mobile or Verizon) >> available >> that would allow wireless Internet access from my office in Golden >> Valley >> or do I need to locate a Hot Spot? My goal is to at least access E- >> mail via >> a wireless connection for my laptop. Not interested in devices such >> as the >> Blakberry product.Move to Chaska or Richfield and soon Minneapolis? >> Thanks >> for any suggestions or ideas you might have. Frank Commers >> <<<< >> >> Hello, >> >> I'm sharing my response with the tcwug mailing list so that others >> with >> similar questions can benefit from it. >> >> For general wide area wireless Internet access you can look into >> the EDGE >> and EVDO technologies being offered by T-Mobile, Sprint, and >> Verizon. They >> cover portions of the Twin Cities area, but I don't really know the >> current >> extent. Search google for more info on these systems. These are >> proprietary technologies requiring special PCMCIA or USB client >> cards, and >> monthly subscriptions. >> >> Alternatively, if you only need to access the Internet wirelessly >> at your >> office, why not add a wireless router to your office's broadband >> connection? I suggest the Linksys WRT54GL, WRT54G (but not version >> 5 which >> has serial numbers starting with CDFB, good versions are still >> available at >> MicroCenter in St Louis Park), or the WRT54GS (but not version >> version 4 >> which has serial numbers starting with CGN60) wireless routers. This >> method would use the 802.11b/g standards, and are built into most >> recent >> laptops. The Chaska system is 802.11b/g, the same technology as in >> standard wireless routers, only used in a wider geographic scale. >> >> Finally, there are also wireless ISPs in town that offer broadband >> internet >> access to homes and businesses using a fixed-wireless connection >> from the >> ISP's transmitter to a client's address. These may be good >> alternatives to >> Comcast cable or Qwest DSL, and the only low-latency (low-lag) >> broadband >> alternative in areas not already served by cable or DSL. Satellite >> internet service comes in behind these other options as it is high- >> latency, >> often download-only (requires a modem for the uplink), and >> bandwidth limits >> tend to be more heavily enforced. >> >> -Haudy Kazemi >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Twin Cities Wireless Users Group Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. >> Paul, Minnesota >> tcwug-list at tcwug.org >> http://mailman.tcwug.org/mailman/listinfo/tcwug-list > > >