411

The 411: Tethering

Welcome to the 411, my column answering all your questions about cell phones and cell phone accessories. I receive plenty of questions about these subjects via e-mail, so I figured many of you might have the same questions, too. At times, I might solicit answers from readers if I'm stumped. Send your questions and comments to me at nicole.lee@cnet.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, let me know in the e-mail.

Question: I've heard about AT&T possibly allowing tethering for the iPhone in the future, and I was wondering if you could tell me what tethering actually is, and what's so great about it, especially since you can use Wi-Fi.--Bill, via e-mail.

Answer: Wi-Fi hot spots are more ubiquitous than ever before, but you still can't always get Wi-Fi everywhere, especially if you don't happen to live in a major metropolitan city. Even if you do, not all of them are open and free to use. An easy alternative is to use tethering, which is a way for you to use your cell phone to provide Internet access to another device, essentially using it as a modem. This is done either via Bluetooth or a USB cable.

Tethering in and of itself is a pretty old technology. I remember around nine or so years ago, I was able to use my Sony Ericsson T68i as a rather slow Bluetooth modem with my PowerBook G4, and that was without purchasing a special mobile broadband plan. These days, most carriers do require you to purchase an additional mobile broadband or tethering data plan, which may cost around $60 a month.

USB tethering is as simple as plugging in a USB cable from your cell phone to your laptop. However, not all computers have the appropriate software or drivers for that kind of connection. With Bluetooth, it's a little easier. … Read more

The 411: Unlocked phones and iPhone speculation

Welcome to the 411, my Q&A column answering all your questions about cell phones and cell phone accessories. At times, I might solicit answers from readers if I'm stumped. Send your questions and comments to me at nicole.lee@cnet.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, let me know in the e-mail.

Nicole, love your articles and was hoping you might be able to answer a question for me about buying an unlocked phone. I'm an AT&T customer and I'm looking at the LG KM900 Arena phone. The thing that scares me … Read more

The 411: Free text messages

I'm trying to reduce my monthly cell phone bill, and I've heard that there's a way to send text messages for free. Have you heard about this, and could you tell me how to do so? Brad, via e-mail.

Yes, there … Read more

The 411: Return to the answer seat

Welcome to The 411, my column dealing with all your questions about cell phones and cell phone accessories. At times, I might solicit answers from readers if I'm stumped. Send your questions and comments to me at nicole.lee@cnet.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, let me know.

It's been a long time since I've answered your questions, so let's get down to it!

Currently I'm a Verizon customer and stuck in a contract. I want a phone with applications for organizing, tracking expenses and budgeting. Seems like a smartphone is the ticket, … Read more

The 411: Feature phones vs. smartphones

Hi, 411 fans! I'm taking a break from answering questions this week and will instead go over a particularly interesting topic in the mobile phone industry. I'll go back to answering your queries next time around. Please send your questions to nicole.lee@cnet.com. Thanks!

As much press as smartphones like the Apple iPhone and the Nexus One get, Americans by and large still prefer to use less powerful "feature phones." For example, the LG enV Touch (just a feature phone, not a smartphone) was one of the most popular phones on Verizon for a long time- our CNET review of the enV Touch consistently made our monthly Top Five list for the most pageviews from July to October in 2009. It was even No. 1 for two of those months (August and September). There was also an NPD report last year that claimed around 72 percent of new handset sales in Q2 of 2009 were feature phones, not smartphones.

On the face of it, this is understandable. Smartphones are seen as complex and might have features that many consumers don't need or want. Feature phones are typically easier to use, and are cheaper to boot. But this field is rapidly changing--feature phones aren't so simple anymore, while smartphones are focusing much more on the consumer market. More importantly, the pricing differences aren't as clear cut as you might think. The lines between the two categories are blurrier than ever, and I'm thinking a shift in the balance might be forthcoming. … Read more

The 411: Mobile World Congress edition

Welcome to the 411, my column dealing with all your questions about cell phones and cell phone accessories. At times, I might solicit answers from readers if I'm stumped. Send your questions and comments to me at nicole.lee@cnet.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, let me know.

Because of the Mobile World Congress 2010 coverage this week, I thought I would dedicate this edition of The 411 column to the big phone show in Barcelona. I received a few questions and comments about the week's announcements through e-mail and my Twitter account, so I thought I would address them here. I've also decided to expand the column beyond the simple Q&A advice structure to allow for more opinion-based answers.

Do u think it'll be a race for 3rd place between Win 7 phone & WebOS devices? - TypeZero3, via Twitter

This was in reference to an earlier post I had written saying that I was glad that Microsoft had finally released Windows Phone 7. To me, it looks like what Windows Mobile should have done all along. It's clear this is Microsoft's response to both the Apple iPhone and Google's recent efforts with the Android operating system. Finally, it seems, Microsoft has managed to make Windows Mobile--oops, I mean Windows Phone--seem cool. The design bears more than a passing resemblance to the Zune HD, with a menu interface and navigation that really nails the look (and possibly feel) of the Zune's finer elements. I'm also intrigued by the "live tiles" feature that gives you a quick view of various applications and functions.

Further, Windows Phone 7 will integrate services from both Zune and Xbox Live. This means you will be able to access your Zune Marketplace and subscription music, and Xbox Live gamers will be able to see their gamer tag, achievements, and more on the phone. Both Zune and Xbox platforms have been a huge boon for Microsoft, and it's heartening to see Microsoft finally incorporating all of its many eggs into one basket.

But your question does remind me that we were once this excited about a mobile operating system before: webOS by Palm. I was definitely a sucker for the deck-of-cards feature when we first saw it at CES 2009, and I was excited about Palm's brave new effort to revitalize a tired brand. But it seems our excitement was premature; Android grew in dominance last year and phones like the Motorola Droid and the Nexus One have effectively pushed it aside. Palm still has its fans, of course, but Android's prominence is undeniable.

So will the same happen to Windows Phone 7? Perhaps, but I think Microsoft's previous successes with the Zune and the Xbox will push them over the edge.… Read more

The 411: Sorry, no Chocolate for you

Welcome to the 411, my Q&A column answering all your questions about cell phones and cell phone accessories. I receive plenty of questions about these subjects via e-mail, so I figured many of you might have the same questions, too. At times, I might solicit answers from readers if I'm stumped. Send your questions and comments to me at nicole.lee@cnet.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, let me know in the e-mail.

Do you think there's any chance of Verizon carrying the LG BL40 chocolate? I don't get why a phone would be released in Europe and Asia but not in the States. Thanks.--Ana, via e-mail

Sorry Ana, but I don't think we will ever see the LG BL40 Chocolate offered here in the States. Verizon does offer a scaled-down version of the Chocolate in the form of the LG Chocolate Touch, but it's really not the same phone at all. If you really have to have it, you could probably get an unlocked version and try it with an AT&T or T-Mobile SIM card, but I can't guarantee you will get the phone's full functionality. Some cell phone manufacturers are better about bringing their global phones to the States, like Nokia and sometimes Sony Ericsson, but others prefer to make and sell a phone specific to a particular region, usually with help from the carriers. I'm sure that's not a satisfactory answer, but that's currently how the cell phone market works.… Read more

The 411: Nexus One lets you go international

I'm moving to Europe some time in the next month, and would like to get an Android phone in the interim. I'm interested in both the Nexus One and the Droid. Do you know which one I should get? -- Hank, via e-mail

Since you're moving to Europe, a Nexus One would probably be best because it's an unlocked GSM phone that you can use with any SIM chip in the world. I would definitely opt for the no-contract version here of course, since you don't want to be tied down to T-Mobile. The Motorola Droid, on the other hand, is a Verizon/CDMA product that you would not be able to transfer over easily. But if you have your heart set on the Droid, you can try to get the Motorola Milestone, which is its GSM cousin. As far as I can tell, it's virtually identical in almost every other way.

I saw your CNET article concerning cell phone radiation. Do you have any information on cell network extenders like the Verizon Wireless Network Extender that supposedly improves your cell coverage within the home. I assume the unit would emit radiation, but would it be anymore than say from a wireless router? Also since the cell phone receives a stronger signal would it decrease the level of radiation? -- Albert, via e-mail

That's a good question. I would assume that extenders do emit some radiation, but I don't think it is a significant amount. Plus, you're not keeping the extender next to your head the whole day.… Read more

The 411: Gift of cell phones

Hello, My question is I received an LG Chocolate as a gift. Do I have to have a Verizon deal/contract to … Read more

The 411: Data talk and music transfer

Hi Nicole, I read CNET reviews from time to time and your team there is really helpful with great unbiased reviews. I am writing because I can't seem to find concrete information about using an unlocked smartphone. Like some people, I would like a smartphone, but do not want to carry a data plan and occasionally use e-mail and Web over Wi-Fi. I have read that buying an unlocked (smart)phone that is carrier-free can be used this way. But I have also read that companies (AT&T to be specific) can recognize even an unlocked smartphone not purchased from them, and automatically assign a data plan to the voice plan. I specifically want to buy a used unlocked Nokia E71, and get a SIM card with no contract or data plan. Can I do this, or do the new practices by carriers make that not possible? Any help is appreciated, thanks for your time.--Scott, via e-mail… Read more