Linux Internet Access with Sprint Cell Phones: Compatibility Reports

In my personal quest for completely mobile, wireless Internet access under Linux with Sprint, I've found reports on Linux compatible hardware few and far between.

After I was almost done with the first draft of the information here, I found the Phone section of Tuxmobil.org. It is a good place to start and has more information than just Internet connectivity reports. You may even find software there to sync to your phone if you are lucky. But it still lacks the compatibility reports I desire.

The information here isn't specific to Debian, really, but I'm most interested in reports that involve Debian, as that is the distribution I use.

Have you used Linux with a Sprint cell for mobile data access?

Then drop me a line! Let me know what kind of phone you used, what extra hardware was needed (cables, etc), and what kind of configuration you used. Even just a report that it is possible is a place to start. You can find my email address at the bottom of this page, obfuscated against spammers. Send me reports, please! That way, I can share them with everyone.

The ideas expressed on this page are my own and those of individual contributers. This page or the information contained here is in no way endorsed by any of the companies that may make any of this hardware. I do not work for any company related to any of this information.

Current state of compatibility

So far, the only non-GSM service I know of that people have gotten working under Linux is Sprint's Vision PCS service. I have Sprint PCS service myself and I use it regularly with my Thinkpad G40 and my Sanyo SCP-4900 cell phone. I signed up for the cheapest plan with Vision—the voice minutes are more than enough for me as I don't use the phone much for voice access and the Vision is unlimited, so it works out perfectly.

Looking beyond the 4900, I had a hard time tracking down reports of other phones that can serve the same purpose under Linux. So, I have collected here the reports of success I have found, including my own. The following table compiles the data that I have on the models of phones I have heard work with Linux.

GSM Phones

As for other service types with phones that you could perhaps use under Linux, if you live in an area with good GSM coverage or if you live outside of the United States or in, you may be able to pick up a GSM phone that serves your needs. Most of them seem to use bluetooth for connectivity. As I don't have GSM service, I can not confirm or deny any of this information.

Summary of known GNU/Linux compatible Sprint phones

Phone: Sanyo SCP-4900

Compatibility report: natecarlson.com, My own, and probably others.

The SCP-4900 works fantastically, using even the most out of date Linux distribution on earth. This phone works as a Abstract Control Module (ACM) subclass of the Communication Device Class (CDC). (Specifications at usb.org.) The 4900 seems to be the most common phone used with Linux these days and is an extremely capable, rugged, featured phone. Just pick up a Sanyo data cable (cheap) and that's all the hardware you need. Check out Nate's instructions for getting it working in Linux.

If you are looking for just a basic phone (not a camera phone) with a simple setup for Linux, I can highly recommend this phone.

Phone: Sanyo RL-4920

Compatibility report: Works, tested personally.

I personally tested this phone, which is the successor to the 4900 and it works great. It uses the same data cable as the 4900.

If you are looking for just a basic phone (not a camera phone) with a simple setup for Linux, I can highly recommend this phone.

Phone: Sanyo SCP-5300

Compatibility report: None, but Lukewarm's page lists some basic info.

The Sanyo SCP-5300, compatibility with Linux: UNKNOWN. Please send me a report on this phone if you have used it. It looks like a nice picture phone with a flash (unlike the 8100). My guess is it probably works like the 4900 as an acm modem.

Phone: Sanyo SCP-8100

Compatibility report: Lukewarm and F.E. Harrell

The Sanyo SCP-8100 works under Linux like the SCP-4900, no sweat. Several folks have gotten it working.

Phone: Samsung A500

Compatibility report: Nate Carlson

The Samsung A500 is reported by Nate Carlson to work with Linux, just like the Sanyo 4900. I've read at least one report of unreliability. However, unreliability is currently a fact of life when it comes to wireless communications, especially in badly covered areas. If anyone has any more experience with this phone, please drop me a line.

Phone: Samsung VGA 1000 (A620)

Compatibility report:

A friend of mine got the Samsung VGA 1000 phone working under Linux, with a simple USB data cable, like the 4900. Nice to have another choice for a picture phone including internet access in Linux. Dial #777 for mobile freedom.

Another reader, Pat Double wrote in to confirm that the VGA 1000 does indeed work with Linux. Thanks for the report!

Phone: Samsung A460

Compatibility report: Wijaya Kesuma

Wijaya Kesuma emailed me a heads up about a writeup he did on the success he had with his Samsung A460. This older phone, according to Wijaya, operates on Sprints older 2G data service, with slower data rates than their newer, PCS service. Wijaya reports that you should expect rates as slow as 14.4kbps. Thanks goes out to Wijay for his generous and helpful writeup.

Phone: Samsung N400

Compatibility report: Wijaya Kesuma

Wijaya Kesuma sent me another compatibility report that covered the Samsung N400. This phone works just fine with Linux as a standard acm device. It even uses the same cable as the A460, but it is compatible with PCS Vision. Big thanks to Wijay.

Phone: Nokia 3588i

Compatibility report:

Kevin Burton posted a compatibility report. You may need a special cable or kernel source modifications, and speeds may not be good, but it works. Uses the acm kernel module, as well as the pl2303 module.

Phone: Sanyo MM-7400

Compatibility report:

Greg Danielius (despam the address) was kind enough to send me a compatibility report. Uses the acm kernel module, just like the other phones. Greg even went the extra mile and sent config files—a peers file and a chat script for pppd. He mentioned that he was having a trouble with the usepeerdns, but I suspect that had little to do with the phone. The files were used with Mandrake Linux 9.1.

Phone: Sanyo PM-8200

Compatibility report:

I personally confirmed that this phone works great using the same cable and software setup as my Sanyo 4900.