Is it possible to connect my laptop to the internet via a mobile phone

A.� Yes it is, with some limitations listed below. Alternatively you might like to wait for Bluetooth to become widely available, to read more about it click here.

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Q.� What kind of mobile phone do I need

A.� Your mobile phone needs to be a digital one, rather than an analogue one.

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You'll also need a data cable to connect your phone to the laptop's serial port. There are numerous types available and you need to make sure you have the correct one, see your mobile phone handbook for details.

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If you're planning on getting a new phone in the near future then you might like to think about buying a GPRS handset. GPRS (general packet radio service) phones offer high-speed internet access, because of the more efficient way they send information, using something called packet switching.

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Packet switching involves splitting data up into small sections, each of which contain their destination address. The packets can be sent along the best route at any given time because they don't need to be sent the same way at the same time. The packets of information are then reassembled once they reach their destination. In comparison data sent via mobile phones using the current networks need to have a constant circuit open to be able to transfer data.

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Another benefit of GPRS handsets is that they're 'always connected' but you only get charged according to how much data you actually transfer.

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Q.� Are there any do's and don'ts for connecting to the internet using a mobile phone and laptop

A.� The main downside of connecting to the internet via a mobile phone is the current transfer rate. At only 9600bps, giving you 1.1k per second, things can feel a little slow. The best way to deal with this is to make the most of a network that offers free minutes, usually during off peak hours, and dial up via one of the many free ISPs. This way you can use the internet completely for free.

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One thing to look out for is that your mobile phone network allows 0845 or 0345 numbers (or whatever your free ISPs code is) in their free tariffs as some don't.

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You can also speed things up when surfing the web by turning off images, as they're bulky and slow things down. Although unfortunately without their graphics many sites are then un-navigable.

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Do you have a question about how different technologies or equipment can interact Click here to ask.

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by Lisa Cardy