Phone as Modem suddenly outlawed????

[diggerdpilot]

Ok,
I have been with Sprint for years, and new to BBs this Christmas. One of the big reasons we went with them was the ability to use them as modems. We live in an area with no highspeed internet other than 12K dialup, and the BBs work great.
Recently, my USB port got too loose for my laptop to recognize it. It will still charge, but I couldnt use as a modem any longer, which I have done for months. I went with Bluetooth, and needed to verify Sprints ISP name.
I signed on with Chat, which has been great, and they told me my plan is not compatible with Phone as a Modem.

I split my BB, (had a bit of training, and nothing to lose), and fixed the USB port well enough it will now charge, but will not be recognized by my laptop, which is funny, the Chat tech on the other tab says it is strange my device would connect at all.

Any thoughts? I smell some BS at Sprint!!
Is using a USB cable considered different than a Phone as Modem?

Thanks, Digger

[wolf1989]

If you don't specifically have PAM on your account they will tell you that you don't have. There are ways to get around it. I'm by no means an expert on it but had you not actually been paying the $30 a month sprint owes you nothing as far as PAM goes.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[randabis]

Sounds like a hardware issue with the port. If you were able to tether before with no data charges, you should still be able to tether, but it is likely your port is damaged too badly for the USB to correctly connect with your PC.

[dusteater]

I have an 8830WE and SEP. I do not pay for PAM, though it works just fine for me. I have never had an issue connecting my laptop to the internet via USB cable.

[wolf1989]

What I was saying is they won't give him the ISP if he doesn't pay for it. You can tether through the USB without paying.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[Slingbox]

I do through Simply Everything for free

[diggerdpilot]

Update---

I got BB jealously this Christmas after buying the wife a Curve. Since I had used my Sprint upgrade, they wanted almost 500 for one for me. I went to eBay and picked up a WE 8830, great price, and I can live without the camera.

I changed our plan to a Share everything, 1500 cell mins, and unlimited data. The rep I was dealing with sold me this under the guise we could use the phones as modems, as our internet service out here in God's country is a whopping 8K dial up. Yes, there are still spots like this. With the BB, we can get much better speeds.

Recently, my USB port loosened up to the point that I couldnt charge with it, and since I have an Otterbox, I really use it. I had enough electronic training that I felt comfortable splitting it, and resoldered the pins in it. Now, it will charge, but the laptop will not recognize it. No sweat, I thought, I will use Bluetooth. I can get the phone and laptop to find each other, but couldnt get connected.

I then log into chat tonight, and find out the Phone as Modem plan doesnt apply to us, even though we have been doing it for months. I needed the ISP name from Sprint, and this is how it started. My wife's curve is loose now too, but she has insurance, but even then, bluetooth would be easier for us, we could lay the phone in the windowsill, and have better signal.

BUT, I am logging onto Sprint now again, and will see what is up. NOT happy...

[diggerdpilot]

PS, if someone is in the same boat with using as modems, I would love to hear it.

[bigdrew4u]

Just got off the phone with Sprint. After months using my curve as a modem, I am being told that I can NOT use this any longer and there is not a plan available for me because I am on the simply everything plan. I was encouraged by a sales agent last year to give up my air card (unlimited) and get the curve because of the ability to use it as a modem for free with the simply everything plan. I am pissed.

[diggerdpilot]

Originally Posted by bigdrew4u

Just got off the phone with Sprint. After months using my curve as a modem, I am being told that I can NOT use this any longer and there is not a plan available for me because I am on the simply everything plan. I was encouraged by a sales agent last year to give up my air card (unlimited) and get the curve because of the ability to use it as a modem for free with the simply everything plan. I am pissed.

Big Drew, we are in the same exact boat, and I am getting more and more honked, especially after getting dumped on live chat. They told me I could go with a Worldwide Blackberry plan, an Employee discount plan, or a Powerpack something Blackberry plan for 30.00 a month.

So, to fill us both in, as long as you connect via USB, you are cool. If you try to use it with Bluetooth, it is considered a modem?

Drew, will keep you updated, what did Sprint say the solution is?

[diggerdpilot]

I finally talked with someone who didnt have mush brain. Long story short, our plans went to set cell mins, which I really dont care anyway. But, to add the phone as a modem, and a BB data pack to the plan, it costs another 45 a month. Bottom line? Our monthly bill went up 20.00 per month. If it wasnt for the good service we have had, and the fact our house really likes Sprint signal, and the fact we use the BBs as our internet source, I would think about leaving. Personally, I think they are just seeing people doing this, and getting their 20.00 a month. Sucks, but I am not smart enough to get around it.

[randabis]

It is not unreasonable for them to charge you extra to tether your blackberry for internet service to your computer.

[diggerdpilot]

No, it is not. What is unreasonable is for them to tell people to cancel a broadband card (of course, at a cost), and to use the phone as a modem, then suddenly say that was not supposed to happen. It is not my issue if sales people dont know this was not supposed to happen, and I am not the only one this has happened to. As a matter of fact, I was told this three times, once by a counter sales, and twice by Sprint agents on chat that this was the best way to go.
Anyhow, I did get it worked out, and am happily surfing again via bluetooth. Thanks to all for the info!

[numus]

Originally Posted by diggerdpilot

I finally talked with someone who didnt have mush brain. Long story short, our plans went to set cell mins, which I really dont care anyway. But, to add the phone as a modem, and a BB data pack to the plan, it costs another 45 a month. Bottom line? Our monthly bill went up 20.00 per month. If it wasnt for the good service we have had, and the fact our house really likes Sprint signal, and the fact we use the BBs as our internet source, I would think about leaving. Personally, I think they are just seeing people doing this, and getting their 20.00 a month. Sucks, but I am not smart enough to get around it.

You do realize leaving sprint and going with another service is going to cost you a lot more then the 45 dollars a month right?

[githalantas]

Yeah the simply everything plans (Or anything that includes data in the plan) doesnt have the tether option period, it cant be added or included. Yes there are some people that are using PAM /w the everything plan and Sprint is slowly cutting access and transistioning to new logins for PAM. So if your PAM just up and stops working and your on an Everything plan expect to pay extra or not use it.