Different from last time is that the staff activated the phone before handing it over.

I plugged it into iTunes which offered to restore my previous unit’s backup and I’m good to go. Smooth!

I have an original 6G data plan with Rogers and according to their FAQ, this is a supported feature and I am not going to get a multi-thousand dollar bill next month.

The Unlimited surfing on your Fido option includes unlimited mobile surfing on your handset only and is only available on selected handsets (non-Fido certified handsets, WindowsMobile devices and PC cards are not eligible). Data usage incurred on ineligible handsets and devices, incurred while tethering (using a handset or device as a wireless modem or laptop) or incurred using non-Fido (third party) applications downloaded to your handset will be subject to pay-per-use charge of 5¢ per KB. Option applies within Canada only. While roaming outside Canada, data transmission charge of 5¢ per KB apply, except in the U.S. where data transmission charges of 1¢ per KB apply.

The Rogers page has a few good ones too, have a look.

This means that I can have unlimited data, but only on devices where I would likely not use much, right?

The Torontoist has an article on this subject.

While IPsec has low overhead, even in tunnel mode, it requires a lot of effort to configure for use by mobile clients. First, we must now assume NATs in the field; whether they are behind the now omnipresent home gateways or on public wireless networks. Secondly, it is my experience that using a VPN system based around bridging has many advantages:

• supports services requiring broadcasts (SMB Browsing, Zeroconf/Rendezvous, etc.
• allows bi-directional routing to remote networks
• supports legacy, non-IP, protocols

I will elaborate on the routing issues. In our setup, our main gateway connects to 17 remote networks via IPsec. In order for a remote client to access a remote network, both the client and the remote gateway must have the correct routing table.

In light of the above, I decided to use OpenVPN. It fulfills my main objectives: simplicity and security. Correctly setup, OpenVPN will perform verification against both the client and server certificates and uses very strong crypto. To set this up you will need a PKI (Public Key Infrastructure).

My server-side configuration:

ca /etc/ssl/certs/ca.crt
ccd-exclusive
cert /etc/ssl/certs/gw.domain.ca.crt
client-config-dir ccd
client-to-client
dev tap0
dh /etc/ssl/dh2048.pem
float
group nogroup
keepalive 10 120
key /etc/ssl/private/gw.domain.ca.key  # This file should be kept secret
local 66.46.199.130
passtos
persist-key
persist-tun
port 1194
proto udp
push "route 10.100.0.0 255.255.0.0"
server-bridge 10.100.0.1 255.255.255.0 10.100.0.90 10.100.0.100
status openvpn-status.log
user nobody
verb 4

My client-side configuration:

dev tap0
remote gw.domain.ca
tls-remote gw.domain.ca
pull
nobind
passtos
float
tls-client
ca ts-ca.crt
cert adam.crt
key adam.key
keepalive 15 45
persist-tun
persist-key
verb 2

Note the tls-remote directive. This is critical to ensuring that the client verifies the identity of the server.

It’s a block away, on Saint-Denis, parallel to Barrie.

I’m not sure what the difference between the full blown AirPort and the Express version is, but the AirPort Express supports use as a bridge to extend the range of an AirPort Extreme-based network. (I assume this is WDS.)

On my radar are the following:

• Sony Ericsson P900
• Handspring Treo 600

The P900 sounds great, but for the Memory Stick slot that can only handle up to 128MB cards. The Treo 600 has a terrific form factor, but comes without Bluetooth or a high resolution screen. In addition, Handspring is not confirming that a quality J2ME implementation will be available for it.

Ideally, I’d have a phone that can handle the new North American frequency, 850MHz, in addition to the frequencies used outside NA. Good Java support is also very important to me.