Re: Sony Vaio SZ series laptop and GSM SIM
Brainsludge
At least for older models of the Vaio (VGN-T350, VGN-TX650P), the EDGE
modems were SIM-locked to Cingular (Pretty dumb if you ask me. I doubt
they are subsidizing the hardware in any way, nor are you signing a
service contract with them). Anyway, Sony eSupport has several
articles devoted to the unlocking procedure:
http://www.iq.sony.com/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBCGI.EXE?New,Kb=CISCV3,Company=%7B46BFA530-E01F-4F7C-B98B-69C2AA06051B%7D,Case=Obj%28422852%29,TS=externalv4,T=case.tem,VARSET_MODELNUM=,VARSET_OBJ=422852,VARSET_TOP=TRUE,question=ref%28QC%29:ord%281%29,question=ref%28QB%29:ord%281%29
Alternatively, visit http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/select-system.pl?DIRECTOR=FAQ
and enter an EDGE-enabled model (such as VGNTX650P), then search for
"edge unlock".
Other possibely useful sites:
http://www.spinyourwebs.com/unlock.htm
http://www.tongfamily.com/pcs/hardware/sony_vgntx630p/unlock_edgeenable_sony_vaio_vgntx650p_1.php
http://www.engadget.com/2005/10/20/how-to-unlock-your-edge-enabled-sony-vaio-vgn-t350/
Once you unlock the modem properly, it should work with any data-plan-
enabled SIM card, granting you access in accordance with your plan.
For example, if you can access XYZ through tethering, you can access
XYZ through the EDGE modem. It's a matter of properly configuring the
settings, such as the APN and the phone number, in the modem
configuration software (you can find these settings in the GPRS
configuration of your phone).
In theory, WAP data plans are supposedly port and/or packet
restrictive but as far as I can tell (I tether over WAP), the major US
GSM carriers are not particulary stringent about this.
Again, I don't know if this info applies to the SZ series of Vaios.
B
On May 29, 11:43 pm, brian <bdoreste_n...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I am looking to purchase a Sony Vaio SZ series laptop, which has a SIM
> card slot and a built-in EDGE modem.
>
> The machine comes with a Cingular SIM card for a trial period, so I
> assume that the machine is SIM-locked to Cingular, but for the
> purposes of this discussion, let's say that the machine is SIM-
> unlocked. (does anyone know this for sure???)
>
> Do you need to get a SIM card that is registered for a specific data
> plan to get the computer to access the EDGE network, or can you simply
> use the same SIM card in your phone?
>
> My SIM has the unlimited smartphone data plan with the WAP gateway;
> could I use that in the Sony to access the data network, or would I
> have to tether the Sony to my phone?