Hello Everyone,

As some of you may know, not only am I an AT&T Wireless customer, but, because of my mobile needs, I am also a Verizon Wireless subscriber.  When traveling, I use Verizon’s EVDO Air Card to stay securely connected to the Internet. 

Upon purchasing my Aspire One Netbook and subsequently installing Windows 7, I discovered that, as of this date, Verizon’s proprietary software necessary to access the EVDO broadband network, VZ Access, is not yet supported in Windows 7. 

Not content to sit and wait for Verizon to update their proprietary interface, I decided to investigate the option of using my favorite wireless device, the Samsung Epix SGH-i907 as a broadband 3G MODEM. 

Well, to make a short story longer, I am happy to report that not only can the Epix, along with several other wireless devices, be tweaked to easily tether a computer to the Internet via broadband, but, at least on the Samsung Epix, one can surf the Web, download data, make, or receive telephone calls all at the same time.   

Man!  But do I love the time in which I live or what????  (Big Smile)

OK, lets get down to business, shall we?

NOTE 1:
I strongly recommend that you have an unlimited data plan in place with your wireless provider before using your wireless device as a MODEM.

NOTE 2:
I have tested the following procedure using a Samsung Epix SGH-i907 Smartphone on the AT&T Wireless network, only.  Therefore, some of the steps may vary when configuring other devices on other wireless networks.

NOTE 3:
I have verified that the following procedure will work for both Windows XP Pro and Windows 7 Desktop, Notebook, and Netbook PCs.  At this point in time, I see no reason why it should not work for either Windows Vista or Macintosh computers.

NOTE 4:
No additional software need be installed on your computer.  Windows will automatically install any necessary MODEM drivers for your device.

NOTE 5:
The following is a Windows Mobile Registry hack that is really quite simple.  Nevertheless, on some devices, such as the Epix, an application unlocker must be installed on the phone in order to access the Windows Mobile Registry.  To accomplish this, you will also need a Windows Mobile Registry Editor.  The registry editor I suggest is merely an executable file and as such, does not need to be installed on your computer but will be launched from your computer.
Click Here to continue to an article that provides links to both an application unlocker and a Windows Mobile Registry Editor.

NOTE 6:
While no synchronization partnerships, via ActiveSync or anything else, is required in order to use your phone as a 3G broadband MODEM for your computer, you must establish at least a standard partnership, via ActiveSync or the appropriate application for your version of Windows, in order to access the phone’s Windows Mobile Registry.

NOTE 7:
Unless your computer has a Bluetooth radio, you must connect your phone to the computer via a USB cable.  One advantage to using a USB cable, at least with the Epix, is that while the phone is connected to the computer, its battery will be charging.

NOTE 8:
CAUTION!!!  This is a Windows Registry tweak so proceed at your own risk.  Mistyping or accidentally deleting even one character/Key value could render your mobile device useless.

1.
Connect the Epix to your computer via USB and establish a standard partnership.

2.
Open your preferred registry editor and browse to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Comm/InternetSharing/Settings.

3.
Delete the Key labeled “ForceCellConnection”.

4.
Close the Registry editor.  This will save your changes.

5.
Disconnect the phone from the computer.

6.
Reboot the Epix.

7.
Reboot the computer.

8.
Once the computer has been successfully rebooted, turn off any wireless radios on your PC and remove any hardware network cables in order to verify that your phone is sharing it’s 3G access correctly, at the conclusion of this procedure.

9.
Once the Epix has been successfully rebooted, reconnect it to the computer via the USB cable.  It does not matter if you allow or deny a synchronization session to begin at this point for subsequent steps will temporarily disable any synchronization activity.

10.
From the phone’s Start Menu, select Setting.

11.
Select the Connections Tab.

12.
Select Internet Sharing.  A Dialog box will open.

13.
Select how you will connect the phone to the PC.  USB is recommended. 

14.
For the Network Connection, select MediaNet.

15.
Tap the phone’s Left-Soft key labeled “Connect”.  After a few moments, the phone should display the status message that it is connected to the computer.

16.
Open your computer’s web browser, email client, etc, and enjoy.

Mark