Please welcome me to the 21st centry. I might be getting an Android phone.

I currently have the cheapest phone available. I am the _one_ person that does not have texting or pictures in their plan... But soon, I will be able to get an unlimited plan through Verizon.

QUESTION: Does anyone have suggestions? Can I tether my eDGe to my new phone (potential new phone) I read that it would not work before... is that still the case? Was it a bluetooth issue? And if that is the case, can a hard wire connection solve the problem?

A phone with Android 2.2 is capable of wifi infrastructure mode, which the eDGe could use for internet access, although forum posts indicate some carriers disable this. Noone has ever posted that a hard wire tether works.

EDIT: see http://www.entourageedge.com/forums/...oid-usb-tether.

Perfect. Thanks! Looks like it will work.

Yes, Froyo is capable of infrastructure mode, but the hardware chip must also be capable. I own an original Droid, and it is not capable even though I am running Froyo. I believe the Droid 2 and Droid X are capable from what I have read, as well as some HTC models. However, you will want to check with the vendor to make sure before you purchase.

Be aware that Verizon will charge an additional monthly fee for wireless tethering (believe it is $20), and you get limited data with it (2GB?). I think it is criminal that the data consumed through tethering is not included in your "unlimited" data plan.

Of course, you can always root your phone and install third party wireless tethering apps and totally bypass Verizon's tethering plan. Not hard at all to do, it seems a bit scary but if you can read and follow instructions it is a snap. And works well.

Originally Posted by VenturingSoul

Be aware that Verizon will charge an additional monthly fee for wireless tethering (believe it is $20), and you get limited data with it (2GB?). I think it is criminal that the data consumed through tethering is not included in your "unlimited" data plan....Of course, you can always root your phone and install third party wireless tethering apps and totally bypass Verizon's tethering plan.

I am sorry to be pedantic, but I believe there is an important difference between tethering and WiFi hotspot (WiFi infrastructure mode). The WiFi hotspot feature in Android 2.2 (and in iOS 4.3) makes your phone into a standard WiFi hotspot. This can usually be shared by up to 5 devices, that need no special drivers, its just regular WiFi. This seems to require provider approval, and as you say, also may incur extra costs. The tethering feature is a bit different, and is either wired or Bluetooth (not WiFi) and may require drivers in the computer (or other device) to use the tethering feature. This also seems to need approval of the providers and maybe extra costs. Here in Japan, we have neither tethering nor the WiFi hotspot feature by the 3 major carriers, although WiFi hotspot did just become available by a minor carrier. I fully agree that this is criminal not to be part of an unlimited data plan!!

I have connected my pE to a DroidX (my GFs) via wifi, and it works wonderfully-

I really really wish AT&T offered the Droid X, as it's an awesome phone, and the wifi would mean I could get rid of my MiFi and just have the one device.

I have a Motorola Bravo, and while I can tether it to my laptop via USB w PDA connect software, I could not make it work with the pE.

My MiFi (through AT&T) works well with the pE

edited to add:

DO get an Android Phone- it's nice to have maximum app compatibility across your devices.

Some forum posts I have read on TMobile, speculate that using the WiFi Hotspot feature alerts your provider by browser agent info, and that tethering an Android, iPod touch etc will not be detected, therefore the added cost for the plan will not be added to your plan. I don't know how Verizon handles the HotSpot feature, on TMobile it is enabled by default, and so far I have not seen any charge added to my phone bill.