This is for anyone wondering whether the Safaricom USB modem works on Linux: it does.
In Kenya, the Safaricom mobile phone network offers so-called "modems" to connect to the internet through the mobile phone network. It's actually a Huawei E160 HSDPA USB stick plus airtime that you can convert into data bundles. The more airtime you pre-buy, the cheaper it is per MB (from 8KSh to 2.5KSh per MB, or 0.10 - 0.03 USD).
The shop the assistant was adamant that it would only work on Windows or Mac OS. Well, it turns out that on Ubuntu Linux 9.04 "Jaunty Jackalope" it just works. :)
..and with much less setting up to do than on Windows. Plugging in the stick brings up a wizard that lets you choose the provider (Kenya/Safaricom is on the list) and off you go.
Some people report that it works better when plugged in before turning on the computer. I can confirm that once or twice it didn't work when plugged in later, but usually that doesn't seem to be a problem. Activating the data "airtime" bundles requires some codes to be sent via SMS. I've done this on a windows computer with the Safaricom software, but it should work just fine with any mobile phone (just put the SIM into the phone for those messages).
When searching for background information, I found that the device itself has different modes (USB composite device), so on a Windows machine it fist behaves like a thumb drive to install its software then switches to "modem" mode. The first time I plugged it into the Linux box, it had already gone through this process, so I don't know if this could affect its usage in a purely Linux environment. But presumably this is not a one off switch process, so it shouldn't matter.
Now, of course it's still too slow and too expensive...
This is for anyone wondering whether the Safaricom USB modem works on Linux: it does.
In Kenya, the Safaricom mobile phone network offers so-called "modems" to connect to the internet through the mobile phone network. It's actually a Huawei E160 HSDPA USB stick plus airtime that you can convert into data bundles. The more airtime you pre-buy, the cheaper it is per MB (from 8KSh to 2.5KSh per MB, or 0.10 - 0.03 USD).
The shop the assistant was adamant that it would only work on Windows or Mac OS. Well, it turns out that on Ubuntu Linux 9.04 "Jaunty Jackalope" it just works. :)
..and with much less setting up to do than on Windows. Plugging in the stick brings up a wizard that lets you choose the provider (Kenya/Safaricom is on the list) and off you go.
Some people report that it works better when plugged in before turning on the computer. I can confirm that once or twice it didn't work when plugged in later, but usually that doesn't seem to be a problem. Activating the data "airtime" bundles requires some codes to be sent via SMS. I've done this on a windows computer with the Safaricom software, but it should work just fine with any mobile phone (just put the SIM into the phone for those messages).
When searching for background information, I found that the device itself has different modes (USB composite device), so on a Windows machine it fist behaves like a thumb drive to install its software then switches to "modem" mode. The first time I plugged it into the Linux box, it had already gone through this process, so I don't know if this could affect its usage in a purely Linux environment. But presumably this is not a one off switch process, so it shouldn't matter.
Now, of course it's still too slow and too expensive...