Ok, I got this new cool phone called the T-Mobile Wing. It has some pretty cool features and is very handy. I am getting ready for vaction and wanted to get my laptop setup to connect to the Internet via the Wing. I thought this was possible, but didn’t know for sure or how to do it.
I searched and found various articles, blogs, and forums on tethering, but nothing on how to do it exactly. I finally got it to work, but only after trying many different things and reading too many articles. So here is a step by step on how to tether the T-Mobile Wing to your laptop via USB:
Windows XP:
- Download and install Activesync on your PC (click here for the download from Microsoft).
- Once you have Activesync installed, plug in your Wing to the USB cable and then into your PC. This will detect and install some device drivers.
- Once that is complete, unplug the Wing.
- On the Wing, click on Start, Settings, then choose the Connections tab at the bottom.
- Run the USB to PC program.
- Check the box and then click ok at the top right.
- Close the settings window.
- Still on the Wing, Click Start, Programs, Accessories, Internet Sharing.
- Plug the Wing back into the USB cable and to the PC.
- First time the PC may install more device drivers – wait until they are all installed before next step.
- On the Wing, be sure the PC Connection setting in the Internet Sharing program is set to USB and the Network Connection is on T-Mobile Data.
- Click Connect at the bottom.
- On the PC – Surf away!
Windows Vista:
- Download and install Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC) on your PC (click here for the download from Microsoft).
- Once you have WMDC installed, plug in your Wing to the USB cable and then into your PC. This will detect and install some device drivers.
- In WMDC choose Mobile Device Settings, then Connection Settings.
- Check the Allow data connections on device when connected to PC checkbox, then click OK.
- On the Wing, click on Start, Settings, then choose the Connections tab at the bottom.
- Run the USB to PC program.
- Check the box and then click ok at the top right.
- Close the settings window.
- Still on the Wing, Click Start, Programs, Accessories, Internet Sharing.
- First time the PC may install more device drivers – wait until they are all installed before next step.
- On the Wing, be sure the PC Connection setting in the Internet Sharing program is set to USB and the Network Connection is on T-Mobile Data.
- Click Connect at the bottom.
- On the PC – Surf away!
That is all there is to it!
Let me know how it goes for you!
Chad Rainey
Senior Web Developer
Media Marketers, Inc.
Many thanks! I just upgraded from an MDA to the Wing, and the procedure to use the Wing as an Internet on-ramp is different. Thanks for the concise, step-by-step! It saved me an extended call to Tech Support! -Al
Comment by Al Schwartz — October 8, 2007 @ 12:50 am
Hi Chad,
When I connect my T-Mobile Wing using internet sharing, it kept showing check USB cable connection and never get connected, do you know why?
Thanks!
Ben
Comment by Ben — October 28, 2007 @ 10:25 pm
Hi Ben, not sure if I can help much. I have only dabbled with my wing and just for a vacation trip. I didn’t have any trouble like you are having, so I don’t have any advice on how to troubleshoot.
I guess the first place I would start is to be sure you have a good cable. Can you activesync it? If so, then the cable is good.
If the cable is good, then probably a software issue. Did everything install OK? Maybe try it on another computer to see if it is a computer problem or wing problem.
Hope this helps. Not sure who to contact if you still can’t find the culprit. I doubt T-Mobile support will be of much help…
Take care,
Chad
Comment by chad — October 29, 2007 @ 6:19 pm
Hi Chad,
Thanks for your suggestion! I have uninstalled the activesync 4.5 and reinstalled it. Then I followed the procedures you described above. It works! Now I can surf internet on my desktop PC using my T-Mobile unlimited data service. The speed is faster than normal dialup.
Thanks a again for your help!
Ben
Comment by Ben — October 30, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
Chad:
Is all this Free? or do you need to pay for any monthly service?
Comment by Frank — June 22, 2008 @ 1:35 am
Hi Frank. You will need some sort of data service on your Wing to get Internet access on the device. This is a monthly service from T-Mobile. I think I have an unlimited data plan on mine so they don’t start counting minutes or data transferred.
You can contact T-Mobile for pricing and details.
Other than that, the ActiveSync software is free…
Comment by chad — June 22, 2008 @ 7:02 am
Chad,
It just works great in Europe as well using Samsung i780 (Blackjack II).
Thanks
T.
Comment by Tom — July 17, 2008 @ 4:29 am
Chad, Do you know how to make this work with a mac? I have connected to my work pc, but use apple at home. Active sync doesn’t work with apple.
Comment by Juanita — July 26, 2008 @ 8:53 am
Hi Juanita! Good question. I rarely touch a Mac at this point, except when the graphics guys systems are acting up… I did some quick searches and did not see anything promising… The only items that came up were using some sort of Windows emulation or virtulization systems and that seems like overkill to get this functionality.
So look like you may be out of luck for now unless you want to run Windows on your Mac.
Anybody out there have any suggestions or know of a way to do this? Please post a comment!
Thanks,
Chad
Comment by chad — July 26, 2008 @ 9:24 am
will this procedure work with my MDA?
Comment by Spencer — August 1, 2008 @ 12:44 pm
Hi Spencer! Not sure, I have only dealt with the Wing… Give it a try and see if the MDA has the same software, etc… Let me know how it goes!
Comment by chad — August 1, 2008 @ 1:49 pm
Chad,
Many thanks, that saved a bundle of time for me. It works perfectly.
Just out of curiousity, do you think the wifi connection could somehow be used in ad hoc mode to do this? (you know, for times I just can’t find that pesky 4 pin usb cable… lol)
-Randy
Comment by randy — August 22, 2008 @ 5:30 pm
Hi Randy! Glad it worked for ya! That would be sweet to use the wifi to do an ad hoc network. Not sure if it is possible and that would definitely be over my head. I will have to ask some of the super geeks I work with to see what they thing.
Thanks!
Chad
Comment by chad — August 22, 2008 @ 9:20 pm
Chad,
This is so Awesome, I ususally sit on the phone with tech support going in circles and taking multiple hours……… did that when I set it up w/ my MDA before going to Italy last year.
Thank you for a wonderul, you have made my day while I wait for TS Fay!
Comment by Karen — August 23, 2008 @ 2:28 pm
Just added total internet on my t-mobile wing, but I can’t figure out how to get the internet working. Do I have to have something else? I thought I could just connect using my wing and total internet? What am I doing wrong?
Comment by Lisa Rahlf — August 29, 2008 @ 3:45 pm
Hi Lisa! Not sure what the total internet plan is exactly. I think I have the unlimited data plan. You may have to call T-Mobile to see if that plan will work. Anyone else have any info?
Comment by chad — August 30, 2008 @ 6:55 am
My wife has a wireless internet card for her laptop thru Verizon but have trouble conecting in one area which she is frequently at. No problem using her HTC Wing ‘tho. After following your instructions, she’s now surfing away and thinks I’m a genius! Thanks for sharing, Chad. You’re the man! (but, I won’t tell my wife that yet until I get my 42″ LCD =)
Comment by Ed — November 8, 2008 @ 9:19 pm
Hi Ed. Glad it worked for you! You can definitely take full credit!!! LOL I understand. I just finally got my 42″ earlier this week…
Comment by chad — November 8, 2008 @ 10:15 pm
What about doing it in the opposite way? Using USB to connect to the internet from a desktop that has internet?
TY
JOE
Comment by Joe — November 20, 2008 @ 4:42 am
Hi Joe,
I think you can do that by installing ActiveSync on your desktop, and then plug in the device. I don’t think there is any special setup to do. I did it a long time ago and don’t remember having to do anything special…
Let me know,
Chad
Comment by chad — November 20, 2008 @ 8:10 am
Chad
omg. you are the best!!
i been trying to do this forever!!! and ive found this and it works perfectly i have the unlimited data plan for 19.99. its kinda slow but it works. im useing it at work on my laptop because they blocked the wifi ( shame on them) but this is awsome and i love ya for it.
how fast does the internet run for you ?
oh and my settings on my wing in the internet shareing section the second selection is tmobile wmodem link. it would not connect to the first option you gave. could this be the reason its running kinda slow?
when i tried to use the option you gave it told me i had to check my connetctions in the settings menu where it gives me the data settings.
thanks
Chayda B
Comment by chayda b — November 28, 2008 @ 5:31 am
Hi Chayda, yep, it is slow… I think it is a limitation of the cellular networks. I think the new 3G networks will speed things up. Glad everything worked for you!
Chad
Comment by chad — November 28, 2008 @ 8:24 am
what do u mean by 3 G.. and will the wing phones have it.. also i was wondering if u wanted to join my google group. there we update about the latest software games info and applications for htc phones. i can tell ur a phone guru so i would be a benifit to us @ phone freaks..
just in case ur interested. and this invitation goes out to any one who wants to join. let me know. and give the avail email addy that goes directly to ur phone.. thanks
Comment by chayda — November 28, 2008 @ 3:45 pm
Hi Chayda, I am definitely not a phone guru. Just had a problem and found a way to do it and thought I would share it with everyone…
3G, from my basic knowledge, is a new standard for data communications on phones. It is supposed to be faster. I don’t think the Wing will have it. Only newer phones that support 3G will have it. Not sure if T-Mobile’s network has 3G or any devices – I am definitely not in that loop.
Check out T-Mobile’s website for more information.
Thanks!
Chad
Comment by chad — November 28, 2008 @ 4:18 pm
Tried to tether my Vista laptop w/o success (has Win Mobile Device Center, not ActiveSync). Firewall/spyare off but no connection to laptop. Phone opens browser w/o problems. T Mobile Tech support useless. Any help welcome. (Works fine on another Vista laptop) w/o Mobile Cntr – could that be a problem?
Comment by Jit — December 21, 2008 @ 12:39 am
Hi Jit, not sure what Win Mobile Device Center is, but you can try ActiveSync and see if it works…
Comment by chad — December 21, 2008 @ 10:43 am
Hey Chad, ActiveSync is not designed to work with Win Vista. Win Mobile Device Cntr (WMDC) is the version for Vista. Tried to tether after removing WMDC but no luck. Problem appears to be communication between phone and laptop. Any suggestions?
Comment by Jit — December 23, 2008 @ 8:01 pm
Hi Jit, glad you sent another comment, I installed WMDC a few days ago, but got distracted and forgot about it. I have added Windows Vista and WMDC instructions to blog post at the top. Let me know how it goes for you.
Thanks!
Chad
Comment by chad — December 23, 2008 @ 8:54 pm
Wooo Hoo! Accessing the web from my car now!
Thanks for the great (and accurate) post!
Nick Camp
Plano, TX
Comment by Ivan Camp — January 23, 2009 @ 5:21 pm
Forgot to add: WMDC instructions for vista worked like a charm
Nick Camp
Plano, TX
Comment by Ivan Camp — January 23, 2009 @ 5:22 pm
Hey Chad,
Do you or anybody surfing through this post know if the above described method works for tethering other t-mobile phones too? I am waiting to buy the scheduled HTC touch pro2 phone on T-mobile, slated for release sometime soon now. I was wondering if it may be possible to try the above method to hook the laptop to t-mobile’s 3G network on other HTC phones, using the same above technique, any suggestions?
Comment by Karry — July 8, 2009 @ 7:54 pm
Thanks for the instructions. I tried them with Imate 8502 and worked!
Comment by Fred Bhesania — July 9, 2009 @ 6:30 am
This was like manna from above. Was about to purchace verizon’s connect card for ridiculous amount…saved me a bunch. Thanks a million Chad.
Comment by Sherry — July 10, 2009 @ 5:56 pm
hey, i’ve been tethering since March 08. first with a MDA via the dial up method using vista. I upgraded to the wing about a year ago and have used the vista method noted above successfully.
a week ago I lost my tether. my data connection went off on the connections page. then wmdc does not recognise my wing. this has happened a few times and usually returns, when it wants to.
I continue to uninstall and reinstall the cab file. sometimes it works, but I have been unsuccessful these past few days recovering my tether.
any further suggestions or do you know of any new vista upgrades that might have corrupted the registry or operating system?
pondering tethering.
Comment by alien teknology — August 1, 2009 @ 5:51 pm
Chad,
Thank you! Thank you! Merci beaucoup! This is absolutely helpful and in these tough economic times, especially when one pays over $90 for cell phone use per month. This really helps while on the road.
Comment by Giselle — March 30, 2010 @ 5:41 pm
Hi Chad,
Thanks alot for publishing this blog. It really helped me alot. I am in India. I took T-mobile when I was in US. I like my mobile alot. With the intent of using internet using my phone I took it. After I came back to India… I tried to connect the internet to my laptop via my handset. But I was not succeeded. I was utilising my friends phone all the time whenever required. I have followed the steps given above. Man its amazing… I never thought I could make it. On the first attempt I had faced some problems connecting to laptop. But I restarted my laptop and tried again… miracle… I made it… Thanks alot dude… Thanks again… I wish you all have a nice time guys… take care
Comment by surender — April 15, 2010 @ 5:27 am