[SGVLUG] New card on the market: helio "Hybrid"

[Michael Proctor-Smith]

On 10/6/06, Emerson, Tom <Tom.Emerson at wbconsultant.com> wrote:
> With, of course, only windows drivers... :(
>
> I've started the process of hounding them for "linux drivers", those of
> you with similar interests should visit their webpage and request the
> same...
>
> http://www.helio.com/page?p=devices_hybrid
>
> What is it?  It's a "3G" pcmcia card, i.e., it gives you access to the
> 3G network [wireless broadband without necessarilly being near a
> "hotspot"] as well as working as a traditional "wi-fi" card (that would
> be 802.1 a/b/g I presume?)  The 3G service is priced at $85/month, which
> is about what I recall other vendors asking for on their service as
> well.  Right now, the card itself is "free" if you sign up for a 2-year
> plan.
>
> Unfortunately, searching for information on "Helio" and "linux" is a bit
> of a pain because:
>
>   -- there is a device explicitly called the Helio which apparently CAN
> run linux (it's a PDA type device, what I'm talking about above is a
> phone...)
>   -- there is at least one linux advocate with an e-mail identity of
> either "Helio" or "Helios"
>   -- Helio, naturally, advertises on technically oriented sites, so a
> search for, say, a c-net article on "linux" may have "helio" on the same
> page due to an advertisement or related article link, but google doesn't
> make the distinction between content and advert... :(

Well Helio rides on sprint's CDMA 3G network. Sense both EVDO networks
cards work with linux my guess is that helio's card will work as well.
I turns out that the pccard is actually a usb root hub with a acm
class usb device attached. In otherwords it us a pccard with a cell
phone attached just like if you plug your cdma phone into your linux
system over usb.

Just remember that Helio will be like most companies and say that they
do not support linux, or "what is Linux" or "No it will not work with
linux". Little known fact in California cell companies must let you
out of your contract if you decide to cancel within the first 30 days.
If you are serious go signup and try if it does not work return it and
pay prorated monthly fee. But personal I would not go with helio as
they have the same problem as all cell compaies that don't have there
own network namly no free nights and weekend (instead any time
minutes), no free mobile to mobile, more restrictive data usage.
Because they are paying more for it then a compay that haas there own
network.
Personally unless I am looking for dedicated data, I would get an EVDO
phone and usb cable of ebay and use that.