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Bluetooth is often one of the most under utilised features on new Macs. However, it is a technology that Apple is really pushing and with Bluetooth 2 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) built-in to most new Macs you can connect anything from a wireless keyboard to a cellphone with minimal effort without having to have even more cables cluttering your desk.

While the possibilities are almost endless, this article will discuss how to get online using a GPRS cellphone and your Mac.Get Online with GPRS.

Instructions:

1.Ensure Bluetooth is turned on, on your cellphone, and it's visibility is set to "Show Phone" or "Discoverable". You should be able to find these settings in the "Connectivity" section of your cellphone's menu system. In addition, you may need to download special GPRS drivers for your phone depending on the model from this site. Once downloaded, you need to copy the files from the archive to the modem scripts in the Library folder. This folder is located at the path...Hard Drive >> Library >> Modem Scripts.

2)If not already turned on, activate Bluetooth on your Mac via the Bluetooth menu as shown in Figure 1 below. If you cannot see this menu in your Macs menu bar, you will need to find the "Bluetooth" panel in the "System Preferences" and check the appropriate box as shown in Figure 3. To create a link between your phone and your Mac select "Set up Bluetooth Device..." from the Bluetooth menu or locate the "Bluetooth Setup Assistant" in Applications > Utilities (Figure 2).

3)Follow the on screen instructions as illustrated below and when prompted, enter the passkey shown on your phone. There are two ways to connect to the internet using your phone. Firstly, you can use your phone like a traditional dial up modem and connect to the internet via your service provider. This option basically makes a call and you will be charged per minute. Secondly, you can use Vodafone's GPRS network to access the internet. This article will focus on the latter option as it is the most commonly used and for most people, the cheapest option, as Vodafone will charge you for the data used rather than the time spent online. When you reach the final screen, leave the username and password blank and enter "internet" as your GPRS CID String. You may need to check the "Show All Available Scripts" box if you cannot see a script for your phone in the menu. The screenshot below shows the script download in Step 1 that should be used for a Sony Ericsson phone.

4)If your phone is not set up to access Vodafone's data network, for example, if you bought your phone overseas or parallel imported, you should visit Vodafone's website and follow the onscreen setup instructions.

Connecting to the internet via GPRS is very much like dial-up with slightly faster speeds. Open "Internet Connect" in the "Applications" folder or select "Internet Connect" from the modem menu at the top of your screen and select "Bluetooth". No username or password is required, just click "Connect".

5)If you have successfully followed the above instructions, your phone will show its GPRS connection screen for several seconds while your Mac creates a connection. Typically, a small globe is shown on your cellphone's screen when you are connected to GPRS. When you have finished browsing the internet and checking your email simply click "Disconnect".

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