option—it’s just the most common, and
most commonly free or affordable wireless
Internet standard in many parts of the
world. If you must be guaranteed a wireless
connection even when Wi-Fi is spotty,
nonexistent, or—gasp—blocked, a 3G
wireless cellular modem and accompanying
data service makes sense. (Many of these
devices use EV-DO, which operates over the
existing cellular network, rather than using
the 802.11 Wi-Fi standard, so this option
requires network coverage, but it’s a pretty
good bet that, unless you’re stuck on a
remote mountaintop somewhere—or in a
cave—you’ll likely be able to connect.) Sierra
Wireless ( www.sierrawireless.com) makes the
most varied line of compact EV-DO wireless
modems—most of which plug into your to
your ’Book via USB, and Sprint offers a range
of monthly data services ( www.sprint.com).
If you have a 3G, Bluetooth-enabled
cell phone other than an iPhone—we’re
sorry—you can draft your phone into service
as a wireless modem. In order for this to work,
though, you probably need to be paying for a
cellular data plan on your phone service from a
carrier like Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, or AT&T.
Until Apple releases the iPhone 3.0 software
this summer, there’s no good solution available
at press time for tethering your iPhone to
your ’Book to allow both devices to share a
Wi-Fi connection. The one tethering app that
made it to the App Store, NetShare ($9.99),
was pulled after only a day or two on sale, so
only those lucky enough to install it during
that small window of opportunity can enjoy its
benefits. Apple announced that tethering is
one of the features of the forthcoming iPhone
3.0 software, but didn’t elaborate much beyond
that at the March 17 iPhone 3.0 announcement
event, except to mention that the iPhone’s
cellular carriers (AT&T here in the U.S.) need
to be onboard too. So look for a tethering
how-to in DXZ|C`]\ and on MacLife.com once
the iPhone 3.0 software is available, assuming
AT&T allows iPhone users to tether.
CALLING CAPTAIN BLUETOOTH. Using
a Bluetooth mobile phone as a wireless
modem with your MacBook will require you
to run special software provided by your
wireless service provider in order to use the
network, so check with your carrier to see
if your phone supports broadband dial-up
networking. Non-3G phones can still use
dial-up networking the old-fashioned way:
Obtain a dial-in number from your Internet
service provider, then, on your Mac, open the
Share files with another Mac by creating your
own wireless network. Thanks, AirPort!
Bluetooth dial-up networking controls under
System Preferences > Network > Bluetooth.
With your Bluetooth phone paired with your
Mac, enter the dial-in number and your
account name and password, and then click
Connect. Of course, most carriers require you
to subscribe to their broadband data service
in order to use your Mac on the network, so
You can even share files with a PC by checking
the Share Files and Folders Using SMB option.
you may still have to pay extra for the ability
to use the connection.
iPhone 3G users have a second option:
Since you’re already paying for wireless data
service on top of your voice plan, you can
purchase a 3G wireless USB modem from
AT&T (such as the USBConnect 881, check
att.com for details), along with the Nova
Media app launch2net for OS X ($41.93,
www.novamedia.de) and, using the SIM card
already in your iPhone, you can essentially
siphon your iPhone’s 3G data capabilities into
the USB modem and connect to the Internet
with your MacBook that way.
MAC-TO-MAC CONNECTION. Occasionally,
it’s not so much an Internet connection you
need as a peer-to-peer connection to another
person’s Mac. This might arise if, say, you’re
Once file sharing is enabled, you can move files
between Macs as if you’re moving them around on
your own hard drive.
©©22000099 bbyy bbooooqq llllcc.. AAllll rriigghhttss rreesseerrvveedd.. BBooooqq aanndd tthhee bb ttaabb aarree rreeggiisstteerreedd ttrraaddeemmaarrkkss ooff bbooooqq llllcc..
TTake yourr mosstt ambiittiiouss iideass ffurrttherr
iin a Boa casse llapttop bag..
Viissiitt booq..com ttoday and ssave 20% on
aanny Boa bag orr bacckpacck wiitth prromo
ccode BSC9..
