Many folks already own cell phones that can work as modems for their laptops. Whether you're at a hotel, a coffee shop, a colleague's place of business, or the local park, you can use your cell phone to get online with your notebook, without having to worry about hot-spot fees or wireless security.

Called "modem tethering," it costs more to turn this feature on with your cell phone plan. But some carriers let you activate and deactivate it at will, without having to sign another 2-year agreement. And it's still cheaper than expensive broadband cards, which cost $59 per month or more--although with cards, you can surf online while taking a call, whereas with modem tethering, your connection will momentarily drop whenever you're on the phone. And some phones allow access only over EDGE or 1xRTT, which is slower (though still faster than dial-up).

Still, if you've always wanted instant online access for your laptop but balked at having to get a second contract and PC card or ExpressCard, modem tethering can be a cheaper and more convenient option, particularly if your phone supports EV-DO or HSDPA data networks. I put together a story on Smart Device Central called "How-To Roundup: Modem Tethering" that discusses the pros and cons in depth. Plus, you'll find how-to articles for each of the four major carriers, and a special one for MacBook and MacBook Pro users. Check it out.

Post by Jamie Lendino