| The modern cell phone is used for much more | | | | sure your Bluetooth is not crippled in any way |
| than just talk. You can take pictures, shoot video, | | | | before making a purchase. (By the way, even if |
| listen to music, and so much more. And now, with | | | | the manufacturer has disabled OBEX, it may still |
| the the addition of Bluetooth, now a standard | | | | be possible for users to enable it - do a web |
| feature on most new cell phones, you can do all | | | | search to try and find a software fix for your |
| these things easily and more conveniently than | | | | phone. Of course, be aware that you may void |
| ever before, because Bluetooth lets you do it all | | | | your warranty if you screw up, so be careful!) |
| wirelessly. | | | | The top 5 coolest things you didn't know you |
| However, not all Bluetooth phones are created | | | | could do with your Bluetooth cell phone. |
| equal. In order to do any of the cool stuff | | | | 1) Use your phone as a wireless modem for your |
| mentioned here, you're mobile phone has to | | | | laptop - surf the internet by connecting wirelessly |
| support OBEX, which stands for Object Exchange. | | | | through your cell phone. This is my top pick. Why |
| You see, the Bluetooth specifications allow for | | | | spend extra for a cellular modem and separate |
| many different functions, such as connecting to | | | | data plan when Bluetooth lets you use your cell |
| headsets, sharing data, etc. One function - the | | | | phone to connect wirelessly to the web? Most |
| one we're discussing here, is OBEX, which allows | | | | carriers offer an unlimited use data plan - for |
| your phone to exchange data wirelessly with | | | | around 20 bucks extra a month, you can get |
| other devices. Now, a certain cellular carrier | | | | unlimited data access. So, by installing the right |
| (whom we will simply refer to as V), along with a | | | | scripts in your laptop, you can configure it to |
| few other manufacturers, have chosen to cripple | | | | connect to your cell phone with Bluetooth for |
| the functionality of their phones by deliberately | | | | instant, wireless internet access. The real beauty |
| disabling OBEX. They do this for a number of | | | | of this setup is that, since most people already |
| reasons, but the end result is, if your phone | | | | carry their cell phones with them, they can get a |
| doesn't support OBEX, you can't do any of these | | | | secure internet connection wherever they get a |
| cool things. So, the next time you shop for a new | | | | signal, and not worry about carrying adapters or |
| cell phone, you may want to first check to make | | | | having a special modem card. |