I am about to spring for the Motorola Droid with Verizon. I know Verizon supports their own tethering for $15 a month with 5 GB limit which is in addition to their $30 a month unlimited data plan that you must buy with the phone.
Wouldn't I be better off (financially) not buying the $15 tethering plan, but using PDAnet ($24.95 one time for secure version), thereby getting unlimited internet under the $30 plan I'll already be paying. Then use the Connectivity thingy to make my Windows 7 laptop a hotspot for Fred's Vista laptop? (until Android 2.2 enables the phone as a hotspot?)
bjoyce said
09:16 AM May 31, 2010
So far Verizon has not messed with those using PDAnet, so I would go for it. I hear PDAnet is running a special for $18.95 right now.
janieD said
06:35 PM May 31, 2010
I agree. We are tethering my storm2 right now but think we will get a droid and use PDA net soon. My husband's co-workers say it works great.
-- Edited by janieD on Monday 31st of May 2010 06:36:11 PM
HapyKamper said
06:49 AM Jun 2, 2010
Verizon has a new Droid called the Incredible. Do you know if this will tether like the original Motorola Droid? It does upload applications & browse faster. Plus, it has a very cool camera feature.
thanks,
Carol
bjoyce said
08:58 AM Jun 2, 2010
All the Droid phones tether with PDAnet.
Sherry said
10:26 AM Jun 2, 2010
Just wanted to let you know I'm evesdropping on all these internet/droid/verizon/air cards etc conversations. I really appreciate all the discussion and up to date info.
I don't even own a cell phone but going on the road in the fall HOPEFULLY so I really have to start understanding this stuff and making some decisions.
Thank you all for knowing so much more than I do.
Sherry
HapyKamper said
02:16 PM Jun 3, 2010
Thanks Bill for the information. That's great news.
I ordered my Droid Incredible today. It's on a three week back order.
If other folks are interested, you might note that AT&T will soon put a rather low limit on the GB's for their smart phones effective 6/7/10. "AT&T unveiled a new pricing strategy for its wireless-data plans in an effort to decrease network congestion. Beginning June 7, its $30 unlimited data usage plan will no longer be offered to new subscribers. Customers will need to pay $25 for 2 gigabytes and $10 for each additional gigabyte, or opt for the $15 per month data package for 200 megabytes with an additional 200 megabytes costing another $15. AT&T estimates that 3% of its data subscribers account for 40% of all smart phone data consumption."
Hopefully Verizon will not match, but being under contract with Verizon now will lock you into an unlimited plan for two years.
Carol
Gandalf said
07:43 AM Jun 6, 2010
I tether using EasyTether but PDA net also works fine. Unlimited usage may end at some time once everyone jumps in (as it seems is happening) but enjoy it while you can! My Droid is wonderful (except that as in all Nav systems, its Google Maps Nav feature sometimes leads you slightly astray, like wanting us to turn left into a freeway barrier in Sann Antonio rather than right onto the off ramp!)
Paul Eskin said
07:22 AM Jun 16, 2010
Both my wife and I have the Motorola Droid phones and the PDA net software works great. Setting up and Tethering is simple and unlimited.
Thanks Verizon!
TXRVr said
02:54 PM Jul 8, 2010
This may be a bit too late, but I noticed the Verizon is going to market with the new Motorola Droid X in a couple of weeks.
Among other tricks that are newer than on the Incredible is that it will serve as a Mi-Fi device.
When all the first adopters buy in to pay for their R & D maybe it will be a bargain over having several proprietary devices that we need when on the road.
Luvglass said
03:31 PM Jul 8, 2010
Jo was told that when the new 2.2 operating system is released it will down load automatically and be a hot spot. No need for after market programs.
dreamjosie said
03:33 PM Jul 8, 2010
That new Motorola Droid X will only function as a MiFi if they ship it with the new version of the Android O/S 2.2. The chatter I read on the Droid forum says it wll ship with the same 2.1 on the current Motorola Droid and be upgraded later to the 2.2 when it's ready.
Initially the gossip was that the Droid X would ship with the 2.2, but that later backed down to shipping with 2.1 to be upgraded later. That's just the chatter currently n the Droid forum.
The original Motorola Droid will also get the 2.2 upgrade at some point, sooner rather than later I think, and will also then be a MiFi. Eventually all the Android O/S phones out there including the HTC Incredible will get the upgrade too.
two travelers said
05:47 PM Jul 8, 2010
ok I am not up on all of this ... computer stuff.. but am looking into buying the New Droid..what is MIFI..and what will it do for me as far as getting services and being able to use my phone as a hot spot. Thanks
bjoyce said
11:14 AM Jul 10, 2010
two travelers wrote:
ok I am not up on all of this ... computer stuff.. but am looking into buying the New Droid..what is MIFI..and what will it do for me as far as getting services and being able to use my phone as a hot spot. Thanks
MIFI is a device that combines an aircard and wireless router for Verizon and Sprint networks. People are using "MIFI" as a shorthand way of saying "wifi hotspot for cellular network". Right now you can get the Palm Plus phones on Verizon with a free wifi hotspot, but it will cost extra for the Motorola Droid X and reportedly will only allow 2GB per month instead of the 5GB per month limit of an aircard or the Palm hotspot. Clear as mud?
As to "New Droid", which one are you talking about? Verizon has four "Droid" phones, the HTC Droid Eris, the Motorola Droid (the only one with a physical keyboard), the HTC Droid Incredible and the new Motorola Droid X coming out on July 15th (which might replace the Incredible). Plus they also have the LG Ally, which also runs the Android OS but they do not label it a "Droid". Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile have Android phones but only Verizon paid Lucas Films (Starwars) to use the name "Droid".
Wouldn't I be better off (financially) not buying the $15 tethering plan, but using PDAnet ($24.95 one time for secure version), thereby getting unlimited internet under the $30 plan I'll already be paying. Then use the Connectivity thingy to make my Windows 7 laptop a hotspot for Fred's Vista laptop? (until Android 2.2 enables the phone as a hotspot?)
-- Edited by janieD on Monday 31st of May 2010 06:36:11 PM
thanks,
Carol
I don't even own a cell phone but going on the road in the fall HOPEFULLY so I really have to start understanding this stuff and making some decisions.
Thank you all for knowing so much more than I do.
Sherry
Thanks Bill for the information. That's great news.
I ordered my Droid Incredible today. It's on a three week back order.
If other folks are interested, you might note that AT&T will soon put a rather low limit on the GB's for their smart phones effective 6/7/10.
"AT&T unveiled a new pricing strategy for its wireless-data plans in an effort to decrease network congestion. Beginning June 7, its $30 unlimited data usage plan will no longer be offered to new subscribers. Customers will need to pay $25 for 2 gigabytes and $10 for each additional gigabyte, or opt for the $15 per month data package for 200 megabytes with an additional 200 megabytes costing another $15. AT&T estimates that 3% of its data subscribers account for 40% of all smart phone data consumption."
Hopefully Verizon will not match, but being under contract with Verizon now will lock you into an unlimited plan for two years.
Carol
Among other tricks that are newer than on the Incredible is that it will serve as a Mi-Fi device.
When all the first adopters buy in to pay for their R & D maybe it will be a bargain over having several proprietary devices that we need when on the road.
Initially the gossip was that the Droid X would ship with the 2.2, but that later backed down to shipping with 2.1 to be upgraded later. That's just the chatter currently n the Droid forum.
The original Motorola Droid will also get the 2.2 upgrade at some point, sooner rather than later I think, and will also then be a MiFi. Eventually all the Android O/S phones out there including the HTC Incredible will get the upgrade too.
As to "New Droid", which one are you talking about? Verizon has four "Droid" phones, the HTC Droid Eris, the Motorola Droid (the only one with a physical keyboard), the HTC Droid Incredible and the new Motorola Droid X coming out on July 15th (which might replace the Incredible). Plus they also have the LG Ally, which also runs the Android OS but they do not label it a "Droid". Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile have Android phones but only Verizon paid Lucas Films (Starwars) to use the name "Droid".