Bluetooth Modem doesn't work!

[maikii]

I have two ways of connecting to the Internet with my IPAQ 2210.

1) I have an SDIO Wi-Fi card. That works, and is fast, but of course only possible in the presence of a Wi-Fi signal that I can connect to.

2) Use my bluetooth phone (Audiovox SMT5600) as a modem to connect. This can be done via GPRS through my mobile carrier (T-Mobile USA) (dialing *99#), or via CSD (dialing a dial-up ISP access number). Both of these connections used to work.

Now I cannot connect via #2 (bluetooth phone as modem) at all, neither GPRS or CSD. I don't know what changed, to cause the problem. The phone is paired correctly with the IPAQ. In fact, I unpaired and re-paired several times to see if that would fix the problem. It didn't. The connections seem to be set up correctly. I have checked them many times. When I try to connect via the bluetooth dial-up networking, it tries to connect, but eventually an error message, which looks like the number was not even dialed up.

Anyone know what could be going on? What else should I check for?

[axe]

HI. I tried the same thing here in Ontario and Rogers using GSM. a long while back I used to use Bell to do the slow communications (19.2ish) because it only counted as voice minutes rather than x2 digital/by the KB charges. When I switched to rogers (GSM) and tried this again lately and found the same issues you did. I went through 1/2 a dozen support people before they realized I kind of knew what I was talking about and I got through to someone on their end who did as well.
anyway, they said that their GSM/GPRS service doesn't support phone-as-a-modem configurations and that GPRS was all I could use. consequently I don't use their data service very much ($$$), even though I was perfectly willing to use my voice-minutes up for slow data in a pinch.

If you find a way around it, PLEASE let me know, but I too use the *99# to connect, but only to the money-hungry, albeit FAST GPRS service.

ttyl

[maikii]

HI. I tried the same thing here in Ontario and Rogers using GSM. a long while back I used to use Bell to do the slow communications (19.2ish) because it only counted as voice minutes rather than x2 digital/by the KB charges. When I switched to rogers (GSM) and tried this again lately and found the same issues you did. I went through 1/2 a dozen support people before they realized I kind of knew what I was talking about and I got through to someone on their end who did as well.
anyway, they said that their GSM/GPRS service doesn't support phone-as-a-modem configurations and that GPRS was all I could use. consequently I don't use their data service very much ($$$), even though I was perfectly willing to use my voice-minutes up for slow data in a pinch.

If you find a way around it, PLEASE let me know, but I too use the *99# to connect, but only to the money-hungry, albeit FAST GPRS service.

ttyl

Perhaps there is a misunderstanding here. I am talking about GPRS. You don't consider GPRS as "using phone as a modem", I do, when tethering (connecting to the Internet with a computer or PDA, using the phone as a modem). I also mentioned CSD, which I think is what you are referring to, but I mostly use GPRS.

The phone itself connects fine. I can tether (connect GPRS with laptop using phone as modem) with my laptop, and it works. I used to be able to do so with my IPAQ, but it doesn't work now, therefore this post asking for help.

BTW, I beg to differ about calling GPRS "fast". Yes, it's faster than CSD, but still VERY slow, slower than dial-up.

In any case, I would still appreciate help in solving the problem with tethering with my IPAQ. (It is the 2210, a plain pocket PC, not a PPC phone, therefore doesn't have its own Internet connectivity.)