How To: Share Internet Connection Between Windows Mobile 6 Device and Windows Computer

The new Internet Sharing feature in Windows Mobile 6 claimed that it saves lots of hassles to share a 3G/GPRS internet connection from a PDA or mobile device running on WM6 to a laptop or computer. But it was a bad experience for me. It took hours for me to make it work.

Before you even try to do this, you should make sure that your PDA or mobile device can browse the web with its 3G/GPRS. If it’s not working, you should ask your mobile service provider to get the configuration right. Some service provider requires you to activate the service before using it.

Here the steps to enable Internet Sharing feature in Windows Mobile device using the USB cable way:

• On your PDA or mobile device, tap Start > Programs > Internet Sharing.
• Select “USB” for “PC Connection“
• For “Network Connection“, choose the one that you will use to connect to your 3G from PDA.
• Tap “Connect“. The PDA will attempt to connect to the USB, then to the internet using 3G.
• Then, at your laptop, you will see a network connection, just like another LAN connection that you have.

That’s it! You should be able to access the internet by now.

To share internet connection with Bluetooth has almost the same steps, except that you will need to create partnership between your laptop with your PDA first.

I have a few troubleshooting tips if you can’t get it working on your first try.

• You may need to turn off or configure your Windows Firewall or other firewall that you are using.
• You should disable other Local Area Networks (LAN) if you have any. (This is the problem that costs me hours)
• You may need to disable USB connection in the connection settings of your ActiveSync.
• You may need to disable advanced network functionality in your Windows Mobile 6. Go to Start > Settings > Connections > USB to PC to find it.
• Having all above done and still not able to get it working, you may try to read help file from WM6. In your PDA, go to Start > Help. Search for “Internet Sharing“.