Tap into your converged Pocket PC’s GPRS / EDGE connection

In a previous article, I discussed how to attach a Bluetooth enabled Pocket PC with a Bluetooth enabled cellphone and use the phone’s GPRS / EDGE connection to get the Pocket PC online.  This article will describe how to do the same thing with a converged pocket pc, that is a handheld that is both a pocket pc and a cellular phone.

It is much simpler to access your cellular provider's GPRS / EDGE network from a converged device because there is no need for Bluetooth pairing and no number to dial.  To gain access to the network you need to know your cellular service’s access point, login name and password.  There is little need for additional configuration or setup and, in fact, you don't have many other options.

To set up the GPRS / EDGE connection, tap Start > Settings > Connections > Connections

Select “Add a new modem connection,” then enter a descriptive name in the first box.  Tap the down arrow in the next box and select “Cellular line (GPRS).” Tap Next.

 

 

Enter the name of your cellular provider’s access point.  For Cingular, the access point name is WAP.CINGULAR.  Tap Next.

Enter the User name and Password that is specific to your cellular provider.  For Cingular, the user name is WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM the password is CINGULAR1.

 


I discovered my hw6925 attempts to activate its GPRS connection to retrieve or send email messages even when I am already connected to the internet via a WIFI connection.  The way to avoid this is to change a setting in the Advanced Settings.  If this is an issue for you, tap the Advanced button.  Place a checkmark in the box next to “Use IP header compression.”

 

GPRS Issues
When you use GPRS / EDGE services, you are not using a conventional dial-up connection.  These services are charged in regards to bytes transferred, so the use of a GPRS / EDGE connection does not consume your cell phone minutes.  You will most likely incur additional charges whenever you use these services, and if you do not subscribe to a data plan, you will pay a premium for these services (and will probably be shocked when you receive your next cellular bill). 

Since I have ready access to a WIFI connection most of the time, I subscribe to a limited data plan.  Unfortunately the Pocket PC assumes the primary internet connection is through GPRS or EDGE and there is no way to change this priority.  Therefore, you will probably notice that the Pocket PC attempts to activate its GPRS connection for some functions even when it is already connected to the internet via a WIFI connection.  Since I don’t plan to use the GPRS connection very much, and since I want to actively control when my Pocket PC uses GPRS, I have disabled the Pocket PC’s GPRS connection as follows.

Go back to the main Connections screen (tap Start > Settings > Connections > Connections).  Select the Advanced tab.

Tap the Select Networks button.

 

 

Tap the down arrow next to My ISP and select My Work Network.  Tap the Edit button.

Under the Proxy Settings tab, place a checkmark in the box next to “This network connects to the Internet.”  Tap OK > OK > Tasks tab to return to the main Connections screen.



Now only the My Work Network connection option is available. This does not remove any of the GPRS connection settings, it simply disables the connection. 

Whenever I want to use the GPRS connection, I enable the connection by tapping Start > Settings > Connections > Connections > Advanced tab.  Tap the down arrow next to the first My Work Network option and select My ISP.  Then tap OK > OK to exit the screen.


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Posted by ProfJulie at February 18, 2007
Categories: hw6900,GPRS
 
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  • February 19, 2007 Amr A. Amin wrote:
    Hey, this is great! I've been meaning to start something like this myself but I'd rather contribute to an already established forum where users are most likely to post their questions and answers. Anyway, I've got a question for that's completely unrelated. Are you the same Julie on the hp forums? Yeah, random, but I've just got to know! Even if you are not, I've seen your posts on the mobility today forum and I've got to compliment you. You have been providing TONS of posts that have helped so many people out - myself included - and I don't know if anyone has ever taken the time to thank you for your contributions. So, on behalf all those who have ever used your help in some way or another, thank you!
    1. February 19, 2007 Prof Julie wrote:
      Thanks for such a nice compliment!  I'm glad you like the blog.  Yes, I am the same Julie on the HP forums.  I enjoy reading and posting to a couple of different forums - I have learned so much and am always prompted to learn more about Pocket PCs from the questions posed on the forums.
    2. February 20, 2007 pjhollin wrote:
      I second Amr's comments, Julie. Thanks for your contributions. You helped me solve a problem (or, better said, my stupidity) yesterday at mobilitytoday. And your blog is very readable. It's obvious you're a teacher...and my bet is you're a very good one.

      And Amr...thanks for your link to this blog in a thread at mobilitytoday (and your considerable help over there). Otherwise, I never would have known about it.
      1. February 20, 2007 Prof Julie wrote:

        pjhollin,

        I'm glad to hear I was able to help you out.  I've learned quite a lot of useful information from the different forums I visit, and it's always nice to pass that information along.  These little gadgets are really amazing, but not always very intuitive, so I think we've all been made to feel stupid by them from time to time.

        Thanks for your nice comments and for stopping by!

        Julie


  • February 28, 2007 Arthur Ferrier wrote:
    Julie - Very informative article. I'm trying to hook up ipaq 4700 via Bluetooth to Nokia 6103 to access T-Mobile GPRS/EDGE. Have been unable to connect. I get BT to connect, phone attempts to connect to network but fails. Any suggestions ? Have any idea what T-Mobile's access point name is?
    Thanks,
    Art
    1. February 28, 2007 Prof Julie wrote:

      Art, Try these settings for T-Mobile:

      Access Point:  wap.voicestream.com
      Username:  leave blank
      Password:  leave blank

      Julie


  • December 1, 2007 grich wrote:
    I have tried to connect an Ipaq RX5915 to a Motorola VM3, was successful in pairing, but cannot connect. Do you know access point for Motorola? Will appreciate your help.
    1. December 2, 2007 ProfJulie wrote:
      The access point you need to use is one that relates to your cellular provider, not your cellphone.  Who do you get your cellular services through? (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc.)


  • June 24, 2009 Clive Dunbar wrote:
    Hi Julie. I have an hx2490 and trying for months to connect to the internet via mobile phone. I am on WM 5.0.
    Problem is I don't have Cellular line (GPRS) as one of my modem selections.
    Only have Bluetooth dial up, Generic IrDA, hayes compatible and Native IR as selections. Can you help?
    1. June 30, 2009 ProfJulie wrote:
      Have you tried using the Bluetooth dial up option?

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