[Q] Which phone to use as tether to gTablet?

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My trusty Nokia 3120b just happened to die yesterday, the day my gTab arrived. Looking at all the different phones I could get free (or at very low cost) from my cell provider (AT&T), I thought I should get one which I could use to tether to the gTab so that I can have Internet service when I'm not in range of a WiFi signal.

There are many to choose from and I am quite bewildered. Blackberry Bold or Pearl, HTC Aria or Surround, some Pantechs and LGs ...

Does anyone have any advice or recommendations for choosing a phone which works well with the gTab? Or would any 3G phone with Bluetooth be okay? The only thing I have been using my Nokia for is phone calls and messaging (text and voice) so I've not got any other requirements.

Thanks in advance!

Most rooted android phones will allow tethering with the help of some add-on apps. Search the forums for more info on this, I don't know specific models that were successful.

I do know that current Gen blackberries are very problematic to get tethered through Bluetooth with the Gtab. There is an old thread somewhere here that discusses it, without a clear successful solution.

Without getting into OS wars, I'd probably recommend either an Android or iPhone. I personally love the free wireless tethering app (Available on any rooted android phone). I can set my phone in the best possible spot in my house, then be wherever I want with my tablet.

My advice, if you go Android, is to go with a phone that has at least 2.2 and at least 512 MB of ram. Other things to look for is if the phone has an unlocked/locked bootloader, if you choose to hack it like your Gtab. Do your homework, see what works for you!

Thanks y'all, that narrows it down to four phones. Much easier to compare than a dozen!

I have an se xperia X10 that works great with it.

Originally Posted by GeminiShaman

I have an se xperia X10 that works great with it.

That's one of my choices, but I was leery about the old version of Android which they come with. What do you think of it?

You can put 2.2 on it. I'm a bit leery of only 384 meg of ram, though.

The four were:
Sony Ericsson Xperia (refurb)
Moto Flipout (refurb)
Moto Bravo (new)
HTC Aria (refurb)

Of these, it looks like the Aria is the most workable. It has the 512 Mb and you can put liberated Froyo on it (2.2).

I like the style of the Bravo better, but the dev's for it are not up to the level of those for the Aria. :-/

You should check out Wirefly, you might find you have more options in the "free" category. I've picked up my past 2 phones from them.

Thanks, I will.



ETA: Wirefly doesn't do AT&T.