Using a 3 SkypePhone as a modem
November 26th, 2007 
Tags: 3, Bluetooth, Laptop, Skype, SkypePhone, Travel, USB Modem, WiFi
If you look at the CD that comes with the 3 SkypePhone, you’ll discover you can install USB drivers that allow you to use the phone as a modem via usb. This will result in you getting a nice fast internet connection wherever you can get a 3G signal. You can also connect via Bluetooth to achieve the same thing.
There are a number of payments options open you to for Internet access. If, for example, you have chosen the PAYG 3 SkypePhone, then you can use your £10 topup (which is needed every 30 days to keep Skype working) for the Internet Add-ons, which are:
- £5 per month if you are a regular user
- £2.50 for a week
- 50p for a day
Now, 50p is nothing compared the charges for WiFi, unless you are a regular traveller, in which case you will either have an unlimited WiFi package, or a 3 USB modem already. Any spare credit you have, you can use to make calls (12p/min) or send SMS texts (12p/text).
Remember, without the Internet Add-On, Internet Access is £1 per Mb, so even the 50p per day is very worthwhile.
However, despite the fact that people are using their 3 SkypePhones this way, and despite the fact that people have mentioned this in the 3 SkypePhone forums, we should point out that the conditions attached to the Internet Add-Ons state you cannot use it as a way of getting Internet access on a laptop (ie another device tethered to the phone, whether via a wired or wireless connection). As such, please be aware this method is likely to be against 3’s T&Cs.
Update: Having said that, if you buy the 3 SkypePhone on contract, you can add X-Series or Broadband Add-Ons to the service, of which some of these options seem to allow use of a tethered device. Please confirm this directly with 3 though, as we have been unable to confirm this so far.
Thanks to Chris at Tamebay for the inspiration for this article.
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December 6th, 2007 at 9:16 am
[...] course, you may decide using your 3 SkypePhone as a 3G modem is a cheaper, and more convenient way of accessing the [...]
April 7th, 2008 at 12:48 am
It appears that there is a new option been added to My 3 on the Skypephone – £10 per month for mobile broadband from a computer.
Now don’t get me wrong, it sounds great so I tried it, but it’s not better than paying the 50p/£2.50/£5.00 for the Internet Add On which works perfectly well hooked up to my laptop via USB. Don’t pay for mobile broadband – you get nothing for your tenner that you don’t get for your fiver (Well not that I’ve managed to detect anyway – I’m not going to ask 3 in case they cut me off
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April 7th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Chris – I agree, although the newer more expensive options allows tethering under the T&Cs, so although things may appear no different, the new options do allow you to be 100% in compliance with the T&Cs.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
It’s not just the tethering. Content filters and some outbound ports are unlocked on the Mobile Broadband packages; in addition, on the >£5 packages, all your HTTP requests go through a proxy. So IMO it is well worth it – I just put the £25 MBB add-on on mine, and use it like a normal modem when out and about (I have an N95 as my primary one – ~2MBps
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December 26th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
i think the mobile broadband option might be for the new mobile broadband dongles…
i could be wrong though…
anyway, you wont notice much difference than the normal internet access because the mobile skypephone’s modem isnt actually broadband speed!
i must admit, ive not tried it, but it would be cool if all the content filtering is off!