[rivercat123]

I just got a new laptop and don't want to pay $59.99 for mobile broadband service and I keep reading bits and pieces about a phone as modem plan for $15 a month. I searched the Sprint site and the only thing I found was a PAM plan for $49.99 a month. Is this info outdated? Is there a $15 plan available?

[Maximumovrdrive]

There was a $15 plan option with a data cap available at one time. It still has that option available for customers with an existing "grandfathered" plan. Basically if you have one of the "Everything Plans" your out of luck.

You may try a work around by going to Sprint.com, sign up for MySprint with admin rights and look for that plan option it may or may not work. Also depending on the phone that you have you can try MobiShark.com, they offer a software package that costs $50 with a 7 day trial. If your phone is compatible you can download and create a virtual modem on your computer and get access. Make sure you have a unlimited data plan on your calling plan otherwise the charges would be excessive.

NOTE: I have no idea if Sprint will be able to detect this type of usage through your phone so they might disconnect your service if you try it.

[LJA]

it doesn't seem that PAM works that cheaply anymore.

[indyalex]

Originally Posted by rivercat123

I just got a new laptop and don't want to pay $59.99 for mobile broadband service and I keep reading bits and pieces about a phone as modem plan for $15 a month. I searched the Sprint site and the only thing I found was a PAM plan for $49.99 a month. Is this info outdated? Is there a $15 plan available?

To my knowlege sprint has never offered a pam plan for $15 per mo.,unless you had a specific plan with premium services built in and sprint may offer pam plan for something like $15 above & beyond the premium service pack.,like combining service pack's.Example:yr's ago I had $15 powervision/ 9.99mobitv,they allowed me to add the $39.99 pam plan which at that time included powervision/sprint or mobitv(what ever)and they combined all 3 serv's.into 1 pack for $39.99..To use a ph. as a modem the key elements are either vision,or powervision service,the software (I use PDAnet), (there are others )and a usb data cable-however if both (both ph.& computer)are bluetooth capable you can connect that way.But this is not called PAM plan,it's a work around and is actually against sprints policy to do,so do so at your own risk.If you pay close attention to your data use & stay within the casual data use you'll likely be ok.I do not recommend using the bluetooth method to connect for 2 reasons-it slows speed,and I suspect it could make it easier to detect tethering.You can ck. your data usage on sprints website or your ph. web ,sprint home,"My Account".Hope this clarifies it for you.

[Coal]

Software like PDANet only works for phones that run Windows Mobile or Palm OS. I am not sure if that is what the OP's phone is, but I do not think so.

As for PAM, I know there is a SOC that allows power vision and tethering/PAM from what I have heard. You would have to test this yourself to be sure but its a free one.

There used to be "PAM1" that allowed PAM to be added to any line for free but it is no longer addable to any line. Only existing people have it.

Your best bet is to get a plan that includes it or get a Windows Mobile based phone which would allow you to tether without any special plans.

[srievley]

Just a few months ago I added the $15.00 a month PAM plan. You must have the PRO pack data/text plan on the line. The PRO pack is $30.00 a month and includes unlimited text and data (possibly limited to 5GB per month). It also includes Sprint Navigation and basic TV and Radio. The PRO pack seemed like a good deal to me just for the unlimited text and data. As far as I know, you can still add the $15 PAM if you have the PRO pack. I added it in September of this year.

[rivercat123]

Originally Posted by srievley

Just a few months ago I added the $15.00 a month PAM plan. You must have the PRO pack data/text plan on the line. The PRO pack is $30.00 a month and includes unlimited text and data (possibly limited to 5GB per month). It also includes Sprint Navigation and basic TV and Radio. The PRO pack seemed like a good deal to me just for the unlimited text and data. As far as I know, you can still add the $15 PAM if you have the PRO pack. I added it in September of this year.

The plan I have is the Sprint Power Pack Family 550. I chatted with a guy at Sprint today and I asked if I could add a PAM plan and he said yes it was $15. I asked him why the Sprint web site indicated the PAM plan is $49.99 and he said I had to pay $15 for data and $49.99 for PAM. He also said the PAM would only work with Windows 2000 or XP and not Vista. I am sure if I chatted with someone else I would get different answers. I get so tired dealing with idiots.

[srievley]

As I understand it, you must have the PRO pack to get PAM for 15 bucks. I might be wrong about that, but I thought I read that somewhere. The part about which OS it works with depends on the phone. I have PAM on a Touch Pro, so it doesn't use Sprint's Connection Manager, but uses Microsoft drivers for internet sharing. I use XP but it would work exactly the same on Vista. Most Windows Mobile phones work this way. If you are using a non-windows mobile phone and have to use Sprint's Connection Manager, it would depend on the software. PAM itself doesn't care what OS you use. You may want to check to see what method your phone uses to connect to PAM.

[rivercat123]

Originally Posted by srievley

As I understand it, you must have the PRO pack to get PAM for 15 bucks. I might be wrong about that, but I thought I read that somewhere. The part about which OS it works with depends on the phone. I have PAM on a Touch Pro, so it doesn't use Sprint's Connection Manager, but uses Microsoft drivers for internet sharing. I use XP but it would work exactly the same on Vista. Most Windows Mobile phones work this way. If you are using a non-windows mobile phone and have to use Sprint's Connection Manager, it would depend on the software. PAM itself doesn't care what OS you use. You may want to check to see what method your phone uses to connect to PAM.

The plan I have is Sprint Power Pack Family 550 which I guess is not considered a Pro Pack so I would probably have to pay $49.00. I might as well get a broadband card and pay $59.99 so I don't tie up my phone. It's amazing nobody at Sprint can give a straight answer about the products they sell. Thanks for your help Srievley.

[PokerFace23]

from what i believe, to get the $15 PAM add on, you have to have an everything data plan (except SEP). or go with the 40-49.99.

[srievley]

Originally Posted by deanwoof

from what i believe, to get the $15 PAM add on, you have to have an everything data plan (except SEP). or go with the 40-49.99.

I have a Fair and Flex family plan with 4 lines. On my line, I have the $30 PRO pack. It is a data AND text add-on. If you have this add-on, you can add the $15 PAM plan, regardless of what type of calling plan you have. The PRO pack is an add-on just like the $15 data plan, except PRO includes unlimited texts and Sprint Navigation. You can add it to any regular voice plan. IF you have the PRO pack add-on, you can get PAM for $15 a month. I did it in September and it shows up on bill as Phone as Modem Add-On $15. To my understanding, you must have the PRO pack first before you can add PAM for $15. Works well for me.

[wolfe_trucking]

You might try this link, don't know if it will work on sprint phone. It works great on verizon capable phones. http://www.myverizonusers.com/forums...asy-steps.html

[rivercat123]

Originally Posted by srievley

I have a Fair and Flex family plan with 4 lines. On my line, I have the $30 PRO pack. It is a data AND text add-on. If you have this add-on, you can add the $15 PAM plan, regardless of what type of calling plan you have. The PRO pack is an add-on just like the $15 data plan, except PRO includes unlimited texts and Sprint Navigation. You can add it to any regular voice plan. IF you have the PRO pack add-on, you can get PAM for $15 a month. I did it in September and it shows up on bill as Phone as Modem Add-On $15. To my understanding, you must have the PRO pack first before you can add PAM for $15. Works well for me.

I don't have the Pro Pack add on, I have the Untimate Pack for $25.00 which gives me unlimited data, premium tv and navagation. I didn't get the Pro Pack because it didn't include premium tv. Would I be able to get PAM for $15 since I have the Ultimate Pack add on?

[SL15]

Ask a Sprint rep if this code will work on your plan. PDSVUNL(0 is the dollar value) is a code on my account that has built in PAM as part of the code. Sprint put this code onto my account to make my VE20 work with PV services cause my plan is the old $85 plan. Sprint had to add this code to my account cause they took my old grandfather code off when they TEP my 5600. While I have the code with a zero dollar value. They may give it to ya for a set price?

[srievley]

Originally Posted by rivercat123

I don't have the Pro Pack add on, I have the Untimate Pack for $25.00 which gives me unlimited data, premium tv and navagation. I didn't get the Pro Pack because it didn't include premium tv. Would I be able to get PAM for $15 since I have the Ultimate Pack add on?

I used to have the Ultimate Pack for the extra TV channels, but I changed to the PRO for the texts. I think that the person I chatted with that added PAM told me that it only works with the PRO pack. I might be wrong but I'm pretty sure that's what they told me.