A USB-cell phone Internet connection is called a tether.
Your 3G data-enabled cell phone may work as a USB modem for your desktop computer, if you have the right software installed. Most wireless phone companies offer this service for their data-enabled phones, but it requires an additional fee beyond your regular phone charges. Some smart phones offer both free and paid applications that can also perform this task--known as "Tethering"--but the service may not be supported by your phone company, so it may not be as reliable. To use your cell phone as a modem, you must be in an area where the phone receives a strong, high-quality signal.
Instructions
1. Contact your phone carrier, such as Verizon, AT&T, Sprint or T-Mobile, and ask about their tethering options. Any monthly fees and software that must be installed.
2. Browse the smart phone market for your brand of operating system, such as Windows, Blackberry, Android or iPhone. Search for "Tether" among the applications. Read all data on the applications you find, including pricing and user reviews.
3. Choose a tethering application to install, either from the phone's market or your service provider. If the application is from your service provider, call the company and ask them to add the service to your phone package.
4. Follow the application's instructions to download and enable the software on your phone.
5. Follow the application's instructions to download the computer-side version of the software and install it on your computer. If your desktop has another type of Internet connection, you can download this software directly. Otherwise, download it to your phone and transfer it to your computer through your standard data sync or transfer method for your phone. Consult your phone's user manual.
6. Launch the application on your computer to access the installation wizard. Follow all of the onscreen prompts until the software is successfully installed.
7. Connect your phone to your computer using a USB cable, which you can obtain from your phone provider.
8. Follow the application's instructions to connect your desktop to the phone's network.
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