Possible to hook this notebook up to cell phone for wireless?

[KatMac]

I'm heading out of town soon to the country. No working landline. (It's remote and I like it that way ) So I can't hook my notebook up to a landline to get dial-up service.

I need to attend to some property matters while I'm there and having internet would be a huge help. I have a Gateway 400SD4 (IEEE 1394 4 pin, 10/100 ethernet and modem hookup, XP Home). My cell phone is bluetooth capable and Verizon is my cellular carrier. I can get Verizon wireless internet through my cell at a daily rate but the cell phone screen is to tiny it's hard to maneuver. Anyway, back to the notebook. Can I connect my cell phone to the notebook (preferably wireless) and get online via Verizon wireless through my cell? FWIW, where I'm going Verizon does offer residential DSL service in areas nearby (about 7 miles is closest I know of), but as far as cellular towers it's Alltel. Even though cell transmission is bounced off another carrier's tower, I get perfect reception on my cell when I'm down there. So barring any carrier complications, from a hardware only standpoint can I connect my cell and this notebook? I've never done it, how would I got about it, create a new Network Connection?
TIA,

~Kat

[Train]

See what a Verizon card costs for the laptop.

I see them advertising them on TV.

[jdc2000]

Even if you can get Verizon access through an Alltel tower, the roaming data charges may be too costly.

[Train]

Even if you can get Verizon access through an Alltel tower, the roaming data charges may be too costly.

Good point!

[ua549]

It is possible to tether the cell handset to your PC and use the daily data rate.
The caveat is that most likely tethering is expressly prohibited. You'll have to check with Verizon about roaming and tethering.

I used to tether my AT&T handset to my notebook for a flat $20 per month rate until tethering was prohibited. I never paid roaming charges anywhere in the USA no matter whose tower I was on.

[KatMac]

Thanks for the input. Here's the scoop from Verizon:
If I can get internet service on my cell down there in my beloved boondocks, then I can purchase cables + software and surf the net on my notebook with phone acting as modem. $39.95 for software + cables. Not sure if I want to plunk that $ down only to find I can't get internet via cell down there.

I did find some reference online on how to use a bluetooth phone as a modem. But I can't figure it out yet. So far it's all greek to me, I'm guessing it's legal? Because it's a C-Net Video.

Not sure which way to go at this point.

[Train]

Is there a library in the local area?
Coffee shop, chain restaurant, or the like in the area?

I spent 6 weeks on the road this last spring and was not able to get on the internet only 3 times and that was because of the Vista - netgear/ D-link problem.

[KatMac]

Hi Train,
Yes, nearest little town has a library, but it hasn't been expanded since I was a kid. It's about the same square footage as a starbucks and I don't know if they have PCs there yet. I would think they would have at least one, but I haven't been inside in ages. (It's literally a one stop light town, one cop, a smaller version of Mayberry ) I could travel to the nearest small city, a college town, if necessary, but it's a bit of a hike. Won't fret too much, I guess, I kind of like the fact that it's still very much like my childhood, very Norman Rockwell, and a lot of technology and hustle/bustle has not grabbed hold yet. It's only been in the past couple years that my family has been able to get cell service. Some still can't. Depends on if they're in a valley or high on a ridge and even then they have to pick just the right spot to stand outside, turn like an old fashioned TV antenna, and then when they get reception don't budge!

Your 6 week road trip sounds great, was it business or pleasure? One of my dream vacations is to rent a motor home and travel all the back roads.

[Train]

Vacation time. Seeings as I am retired and we could afford it and have been wanting to do that for years, we did it.

Maybe the library's, senior centers have combined their resources in that area.
If they have, they just might have computers and wireless available.

Ours covers a big part of western Washington http://www.timberland.lib.wa.us/ Mostly rural.

And yes, I am more than aware of what happens with hills around. Satellite is the only way out.