Mobile Phone Operators
Mac Information reviews some of the Internet Service providers in Ireland
Mac Information reviews some of the mobile phone operators and services in Ireland. For details on the iPhone, see our iPhone guide page.
Software and minimum spec:
With the advent of Mac OS X Panther and Tiger (10.3, 10.4) and now Leopard (10.5), synchronising your mobile phone contacts with your Mac has never been easier. However before we begin, be warned. There are so many phones and they change so often, that there is only one perfect solution for connecting a phone to a Mac- the iPhone. For other devices, the phone and manufacturer offer different features, so it is worth checking on the web for reviews before buying.
The first place to look is at Apple's Leopard iSync page (details for 10.3 Panther and 10.4 Tiger users are also on this page). iSync is the Mac OS X application which integrates a mobile phone with your Address Book and Calendar (iCal). iSync can synchronise a mobile phone, and a Palm device. Mac OS X Tiger & Leopard complicated things slightly, as syncing contacts and calendars to your iPod is now handled by iTunes. OS X then runs the sync with your MobileMe account through System Preferences. Overall, this means you can control all of your contacts and appointments on your Mac, and then just sync them to your phone.
However this is not always flawless. Check out the chart on the "devices" section of the iSync pages from Apple. Here you will see how some features are compatible with some phones, while others are not currently available.
In general you will need the following:
- a Bluetooth enabled Mac
- a mobile phone listed on Apple's iSync page
- Mac OS X 10.5.x is best (upgrade to the latest version)
- iCal (included with OS X)
Internet:
When it comes to your mobile phone operator, it really doesn't matter which one you choose, but do make sure that the operator is not blocking "data" calls. Some operators have a habit of blocking this until the user requests for it to be enabled. You may not be able to connect to the internet using the phone without this enabled.
Problems have been reported in the US with some phones working with one operator but not with another. But in Ireland it appears that the model of phone is the most important item.
Operator software:
The biggest annoyance for us is the way in which Vodafone (and possibly O2), cripple their phones. Vodafone installs its own software on the phone so that the icons are all designed in the Vodafone colours. This makes the phone's interface extremely ugly. There is no way to change this; certainly no way which will not effect your warranty. You have to live with it. Therefore if you are browsing the manufacturer's website, remember that the software on an untouched phone is different to a Vodafone "preinstalled" phone. The only alternative is to buy an unlocked phone with no SIM-card phone from Amazon.
Bluetooth modem:
You can also use your mobile phone as a modem, allowing you to connect to the web with a laptop when travelling. You can setup your Bluetooth phone as a modem in the Network section of System Preferences (Mac OS X only).
Data:
Full credit goes to Vodafone and now O2 for supporting the Mac with its broadband devices. These USB attachments provide high speed mobile internet access (albeit at a price) and they provide Mac OS X compatible drivers/software. Check out the Vodafone or O2 site for details.
Manufacturers:
For a list of each phone's features, check the manufacturers website: