Cheapest Internet Device - Free Internet via TATA CDMA phones ??
TATA indicom is a major CDMA operator of India offering really cheap handset along with their connection allowing people to become mobile.
One of the cheapest handset or mobile instrument they provide is Haier C2010 which retails at Rs. 700/- without any connection charge. Where as one may obtain one year of connection with Rs. 149. So handset + connection makes it Rs. 850/-, properbly the cheapest one available.
While playing with the handset I find the back port is very similar to USB (male) Mini-B Type. The one which I have in one of my external USB card readers and can be found in advance models such as Nokia 5200.
Just for curiosity of mine to play with hardwares, I thought, hmm.. Lets give the data connectivity of the handset (Haier C2010) a try. Officially the mobile DO NOT have any data services. Neither TATA web site nor the mobile handset manual have any information on the handsets data connectivity capabilities.
TATA as a service provider also doesnt have any tariff of DATA uses via this mobile.
How ever the biggest issue is, there any no driver available for this handset anywhere, neither any official data cable. So though odds are against any fruitful results but still I thought giving it a try.
Plugging in the device in PC / Notebook USB, immediately starts charging it, and Windows through up the new devices found dialog box.
Please remember, I didn’t have any standalone source of drivers with me for this handset, hence I connected my Broadband connection (ADSL BSNL) and asked windows to search for the device driver in Microsoft Windows hardware database by selecting the 1st option saying “Yes, this time only”.
Though it took a while for Windows to search for a driver but eventually after 3-4 mins or so, it did find a matching driver for the device and installed “BenQ USB Modem 3197″.
I knew from my previous experience with TATA, that their CDMA DATA enabled handsets dial #777 via the CDMA modem to get connected to the internet. Therefore, I created a new dial up connection via network connection setup of Windows XP and selected the available device “BenQ USB Modem 3197″ as the modem
I disconnected my ADSL connection, and used user ID Internet / password Internet to dial this new TATA connection via the BenQ USB modem 3197 and to my surprise, it did authenticate and got connected !!!!
But how’s the speed ??
That part is some what disappointing. I have tried DAP to test download speeds and its around about 3 or 3.5 kilo bytes / second meaning around 30 kbps of connection speed.
Certainly not good enough at this broadband edge however web surfing isnt performing that bad.. It feels the same as browsing via any GPRS connection which doesnt have EDGE support.
So overall the speed testing is any thing apart from success..
Hey How much is it costing ?
The Best thing about this testing is the pricing, as I already have written officially the mobile doesnt support any data connectivity hence no tariff plan for internet uses can be found.
Hence even after downloading few quite a few MBs and few hours of surfing I see the prepaid account is not been charged a single penny !!!
Out Come !!!
Certainly this is not a device which you should purchase for your internet need but those who already own it, do give this a try !! As you never know, TATA may have better network in your place and you may get better speeds and even if it doesnt, with present speed, though no downloading but it would offer you option for mobile surfing at free of cost with your notebook.
So folks do give this a try and let me know your own results.
P.S. There is no support for Windows Vista at-least !! This works with Windows XP x86 only as Vista x64 / x86 fails to find any matching driver in its update services.
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Choto Cheeta said
am January 4 2009 @ 3:27 am
Hello sod
Why dont you give them a call and ask them as why they have charged you..
If the reasons is Internet then ask them how do one use Internet with your handset model number..
As per TATA Docs, this handset doesnt support Internet. So if the they have charged for Internet then its a false charge
TATA also can verify that you have not changed your handset as your handset IMI number would stay same
So squeeze them..
Thanks,
sod said
am January 4 2009 @ 1:08 am
tata charger for above also i check they debit the amt from my a.c
rajendra sharma said
am January 2 2009 @ 11:27 am
the tata mobile phone can be conect the computer and what it speed what is plan of unlilit plan rate
Yunus momin said
am December 31 2008 @ 8:20 am
Hi. Can u give me the procedure to use free internet with moto razr v3c with tata indicom connection
naveen said
am December 29 2008 @ 1:19 pm
thanx for given advice…buti want drivers pls….anybody help me plsssssssss….
{DURGESH} said
am December 24 2008 @ 7:35 pm
whenever i connect my phone it generally connects on a speed of 230.4kbps but i only get 7-7.5 kbps and some times it connects on speed of 28.8 and i still get the same 7-7.5 kbps of connection
{DURGESH} said
am December 24 2008 @ 6:49 pm
hello mr navas omassery
my driver was auto detected by windows add hardware wizard and i tried for it more than 3-4 times and it is “ZTE USB modem CDMA 1X” beside that it also instaled “ZTE Diagnostics Interface CDMA 1X” whicch is on com port 14 while my MODem is on com port 17 tata is providing 30-40 kbps of connection on wireless dial up as per the costumer care . i’m using a cheap data cable which is originally made for card reader tell me whr is the prob
and as well as tell me which driver should i use and from where can i get it i’m using “haier c 3010″
thanks for helping me dude
navas omassery said
am December 18 2008 @ 12:10 pm
driver
{DURGESH} said
am December 6 2008 @ 12:32 pm
hey Mr, cheeta gimme some suggestions to improve speed as i’m getting only 7 kbps(according to speedtest.net) of connection. surfing with device seems as i’m surfing in the year of 1998 not in 2008
any tweak or any software or any thing which improves speed and gimme at least 20-30Kbps of connection
Plz help me all…….
Choto Cheeta said
am October 26 2008 @ 8:31 pm
Hi,
User name and password, both are suppose to be internet
Thanks,
Swamy said
am October 26 2008 @ 8:44 am
Dear pal
u did wonderful job…
let me also try that…
tell me what r the user name & password
thanking u
dhiren said
am September 16 2008 @ 7:29 am
all bluff , for selling trick of mobile
sandeep said
am September 13 2008 @ 3:33 pm
m having virgin mobile haier handset i need haier driver could any one help me out???????
senthil said
am September 11 2008 @ 1:50 pm
That was a cool stuff you have done.
mukesh said
am September 5 2008 @ 5:35 am
it,s really osam yar i m surprised. i have same phone but i have motorola l6i datacable and its usb ports are same and when i connect my phone via datacable then it show that no software found what i do..?
is that possible if i donload benq 3197 sotware to connect the internet
plz reply……………..
i m waiting……..
shital said
am September 3 2008 @ 1:39 pm
i’m very thankfull if i get driver of Benq 3197 usb modem. my mail ID is shital_23@rediffmail.com
jutin said
am August 25 2008 @ 12:19 pm
Please send me the driver of haier C2010 at my email i would be thankfull to you .
Jaikey said
am August 17 2008 @ 3:57 pm
Please send me driver
shantanu joshi said
am August 16 2008 @ 8:36 am
sir get me the rate on the vayer
Sasi said
am August 16 2008 @ 7:02 am
Hi I have installed internal card reader but how can be workout Tata Haier C2010.How can fix cable from mobile to card reader.
Explain me,i am going to buy one now for my house personal internet use.
Thanks
Sasi