Fax and data

The GSM specification allows for fax and data calls as well as voice calls. The speed available is ususally limited to 9600 bps, which is very slow in comparison to the sort of speeds available from a fixed phone line. Orange offer 14,000 bps and 28,800 bps High-Speed Data on dialup and new technologies (GPRS and 3G) substantially increase the speeds available.

What's new?

Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is the third generation (3G) telephone system that all the UK networks have paid thousands of millions of pounds to buy licenses for. It provides very high speed data connections, but required new network infrastructure and new handsets. It also means the networks are having to raise charges all round to get their money back. They spent rather more than could have been considered prudent!

The first network to have started a UMTS phone service (but no data connections) was "3", which is owned by the company that originally started Orange.

Vodafone and Orange have launched a data-only 3G services. In good signal, you can get a bit over 350kbit/second - a little slower than broadband on a fixed line. Both networks are testing voice service over 3G.

What's less new?

General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) (also known as 2.5G) which uses existing network infrastructure, but provides an "always on" connection at the existing or higher-speed data rates.

GPRS is "always on" and is priced by the kilobyte transferred. For large data transfers, the charges can be high, and to fetch a big file, it may be best to switch to a dial-up connection, charged by the minute. Expect GPRS to be a little slower to download than a modem on a fixed line.

Beware that some GPRS services do not give you full internet access, but only let you reach certain WAP sites. Most of the services providing internet access use a "transparent proxy" which is supposed to speed things up, and which reduces the quality (and therefore file size) of images on web pages you look at.

You can make and receive fax and data calls using a phone on a contract tariff on any of the UK networks, and make data calls on most of the PAYG networks (Virgin allows outgoing but not incoming fax and data calls.)

How do you use it?

In general, you need to attach your mobile phone to a computer, using a lead or an infra-red link. The processing needed is more complex than just a connection, and special hardware and software is required.

Some models of mobile phone have this built in, and others need additional hardware and software on the computer. Although you can get adapters to make some PCMCIA modems work with particular models of GSM mobile phone, these usually cost more than a standalone data adapter, so offer poor value.

Data adaptors

Some mobile phones have a built-in "modem" which connects without extra driver software on the computer, connecting with infra-red, bluetooth or a data cable.

You can also get mobile phones with built-in web browsers and email software, such as the Nokia 9210 Handspring Treo 600, Nokia SPV and Sony Ericsson P900.

New, faster dialup

Some models of mobile phone have HSCSD giving much faster data speeds on Orange (the only mobile network offering high speed dial-up data in the UK). Customers pay a higher call charge for high speed data connections. Orange seem to be less interested in this recently, but it does still work

A mobile phone in a card

The Nokia cardphone fits into a PCMCIA slot on a portable computer, and has all the mobile phone functions built into the card, and again giving 28.8k connections. For voice calls, you use a hands-free earpiece.

There are similar devices for GPRS and some for 3G/GPRS, though these don't support voice calls as well.

Getting it working

Once you have the hardware and software to link your mobile and your computer, you should ask your mobile phone Service Provider to enable Fax and Data on your account. This is normally free, takes just a few hours to set up, and gives you two more phone numbers: one for incoming fax calls and another for incoming data calls. (Note that voice call wrong numbers to these numbers will be presented as fax or data calls).

Who to connect to?

Although there are ISPs that offer internet connections on an 0800 or 0808 freephone number, most require you to be calling from a BT line, and 0800 data calls are not free on any UK mobile networks, so this isn't really much use to a mobile user.

Most ISPs offer 0845 access numbers, which provides them with an income from the call charge you pay. Calls to these numbers are normally not "free" from your inclusive airtime, and are normally charged at higher than local call rates. Use a real local or geographic access number instead. Many ISPs do have these available if you ask, or see http://www.net4nowt.com for a list.

How to enter GPRS connection settings

If you are connecting a notebook computer to the internet through a mobile phone, you will need to enter the correct "dial up networking" settings. See the APN Settings page for more details.

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