GPRS mobile Internet service (via GSM phones) in south India?

tigermoon · Nov 16th, 2004, 21:55

hey butterball - so you must be here by now, and are probably dealing with the hassles yourself. in case you haven't committed to anything yet (and for anyone who's hoping to learn something from this): Hutch does, indeed provide prepaid GPRS that is a decent speed. For macs, however, it's all trouble. UNLESS: you get a bluetooth phone and already have bluetooth. you might be able to find a bluetooth dongle here, i'm not sure if the mac software will be with it. now IF you buy a nokia phone that doesn't support bluetooth? well....be prepared to buy Virtual PC, basically. once you have that, it's not a big problem. but macs here are definitely a backward class.

butterball, how's it going for you? and where are you staying? am in mumbai for the moment, making a whirlwind south tour and then settling somewhere for a few months. any advice on where?

Peyompian · Jan 21st, 2005, 04:32

Any updates of what happened to you guys once you hit the ground?

kaliforniay · Feb 16th, 2005, 21:35

okay, i've something to add. i've hooked up my mac with bluetooth to my cell with an airtel magic chip. got a gprs modem script online and for some reason it's quick and FREE! anyone else had the same result? might be a glitch, but frankly, i'm not complaining! oh and also the service has all ports access unlike carriers in the US, so you can get your pop email and use ichat or, er, messenger on those windoze machines.

himadventures · Mar 9th, 2005, 04:39

pickelpak

Your post is correct and this solves the majot problem about GPRS operation.
I used post paid connection on Sony Ericsson T230 and it worked very very well from Chandigarh to Haridwar and then to Delhi to Goa and Maharahstra.

Speed is fine. You can also avail GPRS connection on pre-paid service. ( I had been told this when I was in PUNE in Nov. 2004 )

Simeon · Mar 9th, 2005, 17:10

I'm in India in April. Thinking of buying an imate Jam so I can stay in touch with work. Probably need GPRS cause we could be off the beaten track. Really hard to use a local (AUS) company to hook up cause they don't operate in India. Anyone got a contact at a mobile/gprs supplier in Mumbai?

Thanks

drwho · Mar 10th, 2005, 23:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simeon

I'm in India in April. Thinking of buying an imate Jam so I can stay in touch with work. Probably need GPRS cause we could be off the beaten track. Really hard to use a local (AUS) company to hook up cause they don't operate in India. Anyone got a contact at a mobile/gprs supplier in Mumbai?

Thanks

try http://www.airtelworld.com/ or http://www.orange.co.in

Peyompian · Mar 12th, 2005, 07:14

http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl...&tid=177&tid=3

Slashdot explains how to hookup a mac to the internet through bluetooth to a GPRS phone

Nick-H · Apr 20th, 2005, 15:10

Interesting article here on mobile connectivity, although not a lot of techie specifics. I like the phone-up-a-tree bit

Hey Peyompian: how about a smiling picture. Or would that be just too terrifying for us ordinary mortals to take ?-)

cwcwdavid · Aug 14th, 2005, 14:40

Hi guys,

Am in Goa - Calangute now and planning stay (probably after a trip / some weeks in Bkk starting soon - losing some of the monsoon)

Would *LOVE* to get my laptop connected.

Airtel have a datacard which costs 13.000 rs (330 usd) qand then 600rs/mo but restricted to 1G data which will involve me severely restricting myself.

Wonder if this is the airtel deal discussed / if anyone discussing this last time can post experiences of GPRS - I guess this means I need a card ?? My (new IBM windows) pc has wireless which works e.g. in a hotel with wireless - i guess i still need another card for GPRS?
Anyone have any experiences - info on providers for this?

Thanks,
David.

PS airtel (Kolkatta) were crap for a sim card-mobile. My kolkatta freind immediately said yeah everyone knows airtel are crap.
So in Goa I bought an Idea sim which so far is great. Therefore prefer anything-NOT-airtel

Airtel data card info is at http://www.airtelworld.com/datacard/tariffs.htm

Nick-H · Aug 14th, 2005, 16:09

If you are staying in the same place remember that ADSL is happening in India now.

Anders · Aug 14th, 2005, 16:54

Yes, you will need a card or a cellphone with GPRS, before buying a card check your cellphone, quite a few are GPRS capable. I you still want to buy a card it will probably be cheaper in bangkok. Speeds arent that great so if you have to buy something I would check out Reliance CDMA but don't count on it to work anywhere else except in India. Disclamer: I have used GPRS elsewhere but I have no actual experiance of using GPRS in India or the Reliance CDMA.

cwcwdavid · Aug 15th, 2005, 20:07

Thanks.

I agree I will simply get broadand if I can but wanted the info on mobile choices a. whilst I'm in a hotel, b. to know what the options are if the accomodation I wand doesn't/ can't have adsl (i.e. the landlord won't allow it).

So to get connect with reliance I need a
1. CDMA card or mobile phone with GPRS and cable to connect to te notebook (but any will do, not neccessary to use reliance)

2. a mobile prepaid account with RIM. If you have the PCMCIA card does the sim card fit into that?

Prices for connecting at Reliance are at
http://www.relianceinfo.com/Infocomm...tails.html# b

30rs/15rs per hour is OK
However nowhere do they seem to say what either their card or cable costs, maybe it depends which of their shops you buy in?

Anders · Aug 16th, 2005, 01:09

To connect with reliance you need a CDMA card or a CDMA cellphone that supports that you hook it up to a laptop, no idea if all will do that or not. In this case I would definately buy it from reliance.
To connect to any other operator you need a GPRS card or cellphone with GPRS.
For CDMA I dont think there is a SIM I think it is built in to the phone, but thats only what I think.

Nick-H · Aug 16th, 2005, 01:52

I think that CDMA is Relliance's unique protocol, and that it won't work with any other phone, and that other phones won't work with it.

GoanCanuck · Aug 16th, 2005, 02:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

I think that CDMA is Relliance's unique protocol, and that it won't work with any other phone, and that other phones won't work with it.

Nick, CDMA is not unique to Reliance by any means, Tata Indicom also uses CDMA. It is the most popular protocol in the US and Canada unlike GSM which is popular in Europe and Asia. CDMA phones don't have a SIM card.

Mar 9th, 2005, 04:39	#49
himadventures Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: India Posts: 1,069	Gprs-airtel pickelpak Your post is correct and this solves the majot problem about GPRS operation. I used post paid connection on Sony Ericsson T230 and it worked very very well from Chandigarh to Haridwar and then to Delhi to Goa and Maharahstra. Speed is fine. You can also avail GPRS connection on pre-paid service. ( I had been told this when I was in PUNE in Nov. 2004 )

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Nov 16th, 2004, 21:55	#46
tigermoon Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: USA Posts: 17	hey butterball - so you must be here by now, and are probably dealing with the hassles yourself. in case you haven't committed to anything yet (and for anyone who's hoping to learn something from this): Hutch does, indeed provide prepaid GPRS that is a decent speed. For macs, however, it's all trouble. UNLESS: you get a bluetooth phone and already have bluetooth. you might be able to find a bluetooth dongle here, i'm not sure if the mac software will be with it. now IF you buy a nokia phone that doesn't support bluetooth? well....be prepared to buy Virtual PC, basically. once you have that, it's not a big problem. but macs here are definitely a backward class. butterball, how's it going for you? and where are you staying? am in mumbai for the moment, making a whirlwind south tour and then settling somewhere for a few months. any advice on where?

Jan 21st, 2005, 04:32	#47
Peyompian Baron of Benaulim Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Goa Posts: 174	Any updates of what happened to you guys once you hit the ground?

Feb 16th, 2005, 21:35	#48
kaliforniay Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Columbus Posts: 3	okay, i've something to add. i've hooked up my mac with bluetooth to my cell with an airtel magic chip. got a gprs modem script online and for some reason it's quick and FREE! anyone else had the same result? might be a glitch, but frankly, i'm not complaining! oh and also the service has all ports access unlike carriers in the US, so you can get your pop email and use ichat or, er, messenger on those windoze machines.

Mar 9th, 2005, 17:10	#50
Simeon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Byron Bay Australia Posts: 7	I'm in India in April. Thinking of buying an imate Jam so I can stay in touch with work. Probably need GPRS cause we could be off the beaten track. Really hard to use a local (AUS) company to hook up cause they don't operate in India. Anyone got a contact at a mobile/gprs supplier in Mumbai? Thanks

Mar 12th, 2005, 07:14	#52
Peyompian Baron of Benaulim Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Goa Posts: 174	http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl...&tid=177&tid=3 Slashdot explains how to hookup a mac to the internet through bluetooth to a GPRS phone

Apr 20th, 2005, 15:10	#53
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,189	Interesting article here on mobile connectivity, although not a lot of techie specifics. I like the phone-up-a-tree bit Hey Peyompian: how about a smiling picture. Or would that be just too terrifying for us ordinary mortals to take ?-)

Aug 14th, 2005, 14:40	#54
cwcwdavid Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: asia Posts: 13	Hi guys, Am in Goa - Calangute now and planning stay (probably after a trip / some weeks in Bkk starting soon - losing some of the monsoon) Would LOVE to get my laptop connected. Airtel have a datacard which costs 13.000 rs (330 usd) qand then 600rs/mo but restricted to 1G data which will involve me severely restricting myself. Wonder if this is the airtel deal discussed / if anyone discussing this last time can post experiences of GPRS - I guess this means I need a card ?? My (new IBM windows) pc has wireless which works e.g. in a hotel with wireless - i guess i still need another card for GPRS? Anyone have any experiences - info on providers for this? Thanks, David. PS airtel (Kolkatta) were crap for a sim card-mobile. My kolkatta freind immediately said yeah everyone knows airtel are crap. So in Goa I bought an Idea sim which so far is great. Therefore prefer anything-NOT-airtel Airtel data card info is at http://www.airtelworld.com/datacard/tariffs.htm

Aug 14th, 2005, 16:09	#55
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,189	If you are staying in the same place remember that ADSL is happening in India now.

Aug 14th, 2005, 16:54	#56
Anders Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: England Posts: 630	Yes, you will need a card or a cellphone with GPRS, before buying a card check your cellphone, quite a few are GPRS capable. I you still want to buy a card it will probably be cheaper in bangkok. Speeds arent that great so if you have to buy something I would check out Reliance CDMA but don't count on it to work anywhere else except in India. Disclamer: I have used GPRS elsewhere but I have no actual experiance of using GPRS in India or the Reliance CDMA.

Aug 15th, 2005, 20:07	#57
cwcwdavid Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: asia Posts: 13	Thanks. I agree I will simply get broadand if I can but wanted the info on mobile choices a. whilst I'm in a hotel, b. to know what the options are if the accomodation I wand doesn't/ can't have adsl (i.e. the landlord won't allow it). So to get connect with reliance I need a 1. CDMA card or mobile phone with GPRS and cable to connect to te notebook (but any will do, not neccessary to use reliance) 2. a mobile prepaid account with RIM. If you have the PCMCIA card does the sim card fit into that? Prices for connecting at Reliance are at http://www.relianceinfo.com/Infocomm...tails.html# b 30rs/15rs per hour is OK However nowhere do they seem to say what either their card or cable costs, maybe it depends which of their shops you buy in?

Aug 16th, 2005, 01:09	#58
Anders Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: England Posts: 630	To connect with reliance you need a CDMA card or a CDMA cellphone that supports that you hook it up to a laptop, no idea if all will do that or not. In this case I would definately buy it from reliance. To connect to any other operator you need a GPRS card or cellphone with GPRS. For CDMA I dont think there is a SIM I think it is built in to the phone, but thats only what I think.

Aug 16th, 2005, 01:52	#59
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,189	I think that CDMA is Relliance's unique protocol, and that it won't work with any other phone, and that other phones won't work with it.