Mobile phones
7 October 2005

Summary
  • US SIM card from T-mobile, 10¢ a minute for 120 minutes valid a year for $150
  • Got an Italian SIM card (TIM) valid for a year after each refill
    • last refill 17 September 2005
    • got an extra €10 valid until Aug 2007 (use before September 2005 and you have another year)
    • aside from the initial cost (€30), it's very cheap to maintain multiple SIM cards
    • just let people know what your current number is -- maintain a mailing list of contacts and SMS them when you switch
  • To use as a modem, you need bluetooth or USB and a GPRS service plan
    • In Europe, you need a local SIM with GPRS service
    • You need bluetooth in your laptop or a USB cable
  • To copy files to the phone, see Bluetooth
Sending SMS via Linux
  • smssend wraps up many common web gateways in a single command line tool (in Debian)
  • SMS client is a UNIX command line based utility which allows you to send SMS messages to mobile phones and pagers (in Debian)
    • smsclient allows direct sending via phone or modem -- it uses a regular modem connection to connect to the service centers of mobile network operators, therefore no need to hook up your mobile phone to the computer all the time
    • This may mean you can SMS without having a cell phone; more likely it means you can use your regular mobile account for sending messages, using a regular modem. You can also make this available over the web using a perl script that runs on your own web server. It uses a modem to communicate with the message centers.  In brief, this is a reason to keep a modem going on one of your machines -- and you might even allow dial-in, if you can make that secure.
Installation history
  • root@clitunno:~# cd /usr/share/smssend/
  • wget http://zekiller.skytech.org/fichiers/smssend/t-mobile.us.sms
  • ln -sf t-mobile.us.sms t-mobile.sms
The script goes to t-mobile's messaging site and fails; I modified a few things, but it still fails, even though I tested I can send messages to myself from the site.

The brief story is that this should work and works for many, but the providers don't particularly want you to be able to use scripts.  International messages are hard to send, as the country sites require an account in that country. You could likely text in Italy, using your Italian number! But then the response would go nowhere.

Nokia 3650

FExplorer

Shortcuts
<KeyPad 1> : copy
<KeyPad 2> : show path (scroll with joystick left/right)
<KeyPad 3> : PageUp
<KeyPad 4> : cut
<KeyPad 5> : *not yet used*
<KeyPad 6> : top of the list
<KeyPad 7> : paste
<KeyPad 8> : *not yet used*
<KeyPad 9> : PageDown
<KeyPad 0> : Mark / Unmark a file
<KeyPad *> : go to root
<KeyPad #> : file properties
<KeyPad C> : delete a file
Make a screenshot on a Nokia 3650 (source)
  • Press the pencil key + '0'
  • The screenshot is saved in C:\NOKIA\IMAGES\FE_img\
Using the phone to send and receive e-mail

Instructions from

  1. press the menu button (above the 5 and 6)
  2. select messaging
  3. press the options button (left softkey)
  4. select Settings
  5. select E-mail
  6. select Mailboxes
  7. press the options button
  8. select New mailbox
  9. fill in the various fields:
    • - Mailbox name: a useful name
    • - Access point in use: select "AWS MMS" (mMode is for AT&T only)
      • You may need GPRS for this to work
    • - My mail address in full
    • - Outgoing mail server: smtp.sscnet.ucla.edu
    • - Send message: immediately or during next connection (I chose the latter)
    • - Send copy to self and Include signature are both preference items
    • - User name and Password for that account
    • - Incoming mail server: mail.sscnet.ucla.edu
    • - Mailbox type: IMAP4
    • - Security: On
    • - Retrieve attachments and headers are again according to preference.
  10. Press the back button (right softkey)

You should now be set up. Your "Mailbox name" should now be visible on the first screen of the Messaging application, after Inbox and My folders. When you select it, you will get a "Connect to Mailbox?" prompt. For IMAP, it then syncs the headers for my inbox. (By the way, I always get a "This site has sent an untrusted certificate. Continue anyway?" prompt when I connect. It seems to work fine after I click "Ok".) I can then select a message header to get the body downloaded.

In contrast, I get "UCLA mailbox disconnected. Mailbox idle for specified time" for both mMode and AWS MMS. I may need GPRS or a modem.

Note that this email is different from the SMS (Text message) and MMS (Multimedia message) services. SMS messages can only be directly sent to other phones. That is, the "to" field has to be an SMS phone number. There are gateways that can bridge to other systems, but they must also have an SMS phone number. MMS can be sent to the number of an MMS equipped phone, or to an email address. If you want to send a message to an email address, MMS has the advantage of being faster, at least compared to my .mac mail address. However, I send email from my .mac account when I may want to continue the conversation from my computer. The replies can be read from either my phone or computer.

See also ideas for T-mobile's MMS (GPRS) settings.

Internet through GPRS

It may still be a good solution to get a GPRS modem and a dedicated SIM card for GPRS on it -- whether this is worth it depends on the pricing. You're easily spending €50 a month on Internet services -- that's about an hour a day in Italy. However, the rest of the year you don't need it, so the solution for you would be a pre-paid unlimited usage system if you can find it.

If you go with the GPRS PC Card, you have detailed instructions on how to get it going.  The technology works either way -- what will be the deciding factor is the price of the services. There may be a point to having a GPRS PC Card, as you can have a separate SIM card in it, one optimized for GPRS pricing.

For the summer of 2005, Internet cafes with wireless (or plug-in ethernet) seems the way to go. That worked well in Turkey, in Cambridge, and in Rome. Wireless in a hotel is even better -- next time you can inquire before booking. In brief, connectivity is less of a problem than anticipated; not having a mobile phone is more of a handicap!

Software and guides

Connectivity -- standards, hardware, and cost
  • General
  • Telestial
  • The 411 on World Phones
    • You need GSM
      • an international roaming plan from your US carrier
      • and/or a SIM card from a telco in that country
  • GSM -- Global System for Mobile communications
    • Triple Band GSM 900/1800/1900
      • 1900 MHz in the United States, Canada, parts of Africa, Central & South America
      • 900 and 1800 MHz in Europe, Asia, Austraila, parts of Africa and South America
      • 850 MHz in some parts of Latin America
  • Carriers
    • GSM  -- Global System for Mobile communications (European standard, dominant)
      • AT&T/Cingular
      • T-Mobile
    • IDEN -- Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (only a few countries, none in Europe)
      • Nextel
    • CDMA (only a few countries, none in Europe)
      • Sprint
      • Verizon
  • SIM -- Subscriber Identity Module card
    • available at convenience stores and phone shops in most countries
    • major carriers lock the handsets -- won't recognize cards from other carriers
    • "in most cases they will unlock your phone on request -- but find out beforehand"
      • "I went to customer support on the T-Mobile website -- the response was that I needed to be a customer for 90 days, and then they would provide the info"
      • "Subscribers who buy a locked tri-band handset, but wish to take it abroad and use another SIM, can usually call their carrier and get the phone unlocked for a small fee, or even for free."
      • "You likely won't get the unlocking codes from them unless they feel really nice."
  • GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), aka GSM-IP -- for data transmission
    • introduced in mid-2001
    • allows a handset to be permanently connected for data usage without being charged for the time of the connection -- charges are only incurred when actual data is sent or received
    • part of your service agreement
      • Cingular charges $20 to $80 a month
    • Cingular Laptop Connect
    • Cingular Connection Manager software -- compatible devices
    • if you get another SIM, can you get it with GPRS?
  • Prices
    • Local US prices
      • T-mobile -- 10¢ a minute if you buy $100, valid for a year
      • you can likely get a SIM card from their retail outlets, or from this student assoc
    • Roaming fees
      • Cingular $1.29 roaming fees Western Europe, $1.99 Eastern Europe
      • Prepaid SIM cards (through Telestial) are much cheaper
      • Likely best to get a card locally -- and ask for GPRS
    • SMS 10 cents to 35 cents per message
      • Cingular 20 cents international, cheaper domestic
    • GPRS -- data transfers
      • "Most carriers offer unlimited usage for a flat fee"
        • Cingular charges $25
      • Comparative price list (Canada)
      • Many charge by amount transferred
      • See GPRS-only SIM card (great deal)
      • "I am on orange's cheapest plan, which is GBP4 (about 6 Euros) a month for 0.5MB. orange says (7.1.2003) that traffic over the plan limit is charged by the kB, pro rata the main plan rate. We'll see how much traffic I use: my main usage is ssh, which isn't all that big; 0.5MB would vanish in a heartbeat with web browsing, though."
    • tax and other surcharges
  • Subscription rules
    • to get international roaming with AT&T Wireless or Cingular Wireless, you must be a subscriber for at least 30 days
    • It's a good idea to call the carrier or check its Web site for details on international service months in advance
  • Skype on cell phones
    • i-mate PDA2 and PDA2K Pocket PC phones
    • With the Skype software, users can make calls over a broadband Internet connection through a Wi-Fi network, bypassing the provider of GSM/GPRS services
  • Net Access with Bluetooth and GPRS
  • Power adapter/converter kits (strongly recommended)
  • Models
    • New Nokia clamshells coming in the second quarter of 2005
    • Motorola Razr V3
      • Fashion statement
      • "For those who need functions in the phone I recommend to wait for update version of triplets (v300, v500, v600)" -- review
      • GSM quad-band phone (850/900/1800/1900)
      • Clamshell -- great-looking screen
      • supports the SyncML PC synchronization standard
      • GPRS: 2U4D
      • WAP 2.0 browser
      • 5MB RAM, not expandable
      • camera, no video
      • 176x220 pixels
      • good reception, speakerphone, bluetooth
      • "The USB is nice but I cannot charge from any old USB port - the software must be loaded on the PC first"
      • "All my previous phones have been Nokias (8290, 6590i, 6100), and it's shocking how much worse the Motorola UI is. Nokia gets all the little details right, Motorola gets them all wrong."
      • Bad interface, bad software
    • Nokia 6230 (unlocked)
      • Amazon
      • If you get a Nokia 6230, for instance, you can get unlimited data added to your voice plan for just $19.99 per month from Cingular
      • PC Mag review
        • Best phone to use as an EDGE modem
          • uses Class 10 GPRS/EDGE, which provides faster data rates
          • Connected to a laptop via USB or Bluetooth, we got an average of 160 Kbps download speed and 56 Kbps upload speed
          • File transmission speed 40-41 KB/s (remote -- it's like a modem)
        • Small screen -- 128x128
        • Good Bluetooth implementation
        • Also works with USB
        • Memory card slot (supports up to 1 GB cards)
        • MP3 capabilities
        • excellent support for java apps and games
        • Radio tuner
        • Internal memory 8MB
        • Supports MMS messaging but not the superior EMS
        • E-mail support poor
        • Voice commands (6230 only?)
        • Dictaphone
        • Irda (6230i only?)
      • Battery lasts 3 days if you talk 15 min a day, 1 day if you use the radio more
    • Nokia 6230i
      • Announced May 2005
      • Features as in the 6230 except:
        • Larger screen -- 208x208
        • Internal memory 32MB vs 8MB
        • 1.3 vs 0.3 megapixel camera
        • 64-tone polyphony midi vs 24
        • Dictaphone up to 1hr (vs unknown)
        • Seen as a flash card under USB -- requires no drivers (big advantage)
      • Mobile review
        • Electronic wallet insecure
      • Not available from Cingular until August 2005
    • SonyEricsson P68i
      • review and review with LCD shots
      • supported by multisync (see below)
      • Triple Band GSM 900/1800/1900
        • As a tri-band phone, the T68 supports three digital GSM frequencies that enable it to work around the world. It doesn't, however, support analog networks; if you're in an area where digital frequencies are nonexistent, you're left with no phone service.
      • 256 color LCD (34 x 28mm, 101 x 80 pixels)
      • integrated Bluetooth
        • The phone also comes with Bluetooth connectivity, which enables you to attach a cordless 30-foot-range headset for hands-free calling. Sony Ericsson sells a Bluetooth headset for a steep $200.
      • infrared
      • GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)
    • Sony Ericsson P800 (around $450) and P900 (around $750, with GSM)
  • PC Card modems
Details on packages

openobex-apps

Description: Applications for OpenOBEX
The Object Exchange protocol can best be described as binary HTTP. OBEX is optimised for ad-hoc wireless links and can be used to exchange all kind of objects like files, pictures, calendar entries (vCal)  and business cards (vCard).

OBEX is built-in in devices like PDA's like the Palm Pilot, and mobile phones like the Ericsson R320, Siemens S25, Siemens S45, Siemens ME45, Nokia NM207 and Nokia 9110 Communicator.

This package contains some small utilities to control such devices.

libgsmme1c102

Description: GSM mobile phone access library
 Library to access GSM mobile phones through GSM modems or IrDA devices.
 Features include:
  •  modification of phone books stored in the mobile phone or on the SIM card
  •  reading and writing of SMS messages stored in the mobile phone
  •  sending and reception of SMS messages
gsmlib uses standard ETSI GSM 07.07, ETSI GSM 07.05, and others.

Website: http://www.pxh.de/fs/gsmlib/




  

 

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