Using Windows Mobile Device as Modem for Internet Connection

Posted at August 27, 2009

Windows Mobile PDA phone can be used as a modem which enables us to get mobile internet connection via GPRS, 3G or HSDPA depending on the carrier that we use. In this tutorial I configure my HTC Touch HD as a modem to be able to connect to the internet from my notebook. This tutorial should work with other Windows Mobile based PDA phone.

First you have to install Microsoft ActiveSync for Windows XP which you can download it here: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/downloads/microsoft/activesync-download.mspx. Most probably you already have this installed if you already do synchronization between your Windows Mobile PDA phone and your PC. For Windows Vista users, you have to download Microsoft Windows Mobile Device Center from here: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/downloads/microsoft/device-center-download.mspx

Create Standard Partnership between your PDA phone and PC

After you install ActiveSync, connect your PDA phone to your PC using its USB cable. Windows XP will detect the PDA phone as new device and ActiveSync will pop-up a window to setup partnership between your PDA phone and PC. In this step you have to create Standard Partnership to be able to use your Windows Mobile device as modem.

After you finished creating standard partnership, unplug your PDA phone, wait a moment then plug it again. This time look at your Windows Mobile device screen and you should see the screen below, you have to act quick and select “Internet Sharing” and then press “Done“. Windows XP will detect your PDA phone as modem device and start installing its driver.

Choose Internet Sharing to enable your Windows Mobile device as Modem

After the driver installation finished look at your PDA phone, it will ask for configuration: for “PC Connection” choose USB and “Network Connection” choose your modem connection setting. The setting for modem can be found at Start > Settings > Connections > Connections. Now let’s make internet connection active by tapping on “Connect” soft key on the bottom left. Wait for the connection to be made and after it’s connected you can start browsing the internet from your laptop.