Today I purchased a 3 Skypephone S2.

Anyone who knows me will think this a bit weird as I am a long time iPhone user - i bought my first iPhone on day one in the UK! But I have held a 3 USB dongle on Pay As You Go for a while as they have about the best non contract 3G data tariff available.

Many websites previewing or reviewing the S2 have mentioned its ability to act as a dongle so I thought it would be a useful addition to use as a ‘secret’ PAYG mobile whilst abroad and as a replacement to the Huawei USB dongle.

The trouble is that 3’s website doesn’t list the phone on their support site yet and no-one seems to have documented adding the device to a Mac for data use - so here goes!

Connecting the phone

Connect the phone via the USB lead supplied. The phone will ask you to select PC Suite and to run the appropriate application - hit the back key.

On the Mac open a Finder window.

You should notice an “S2 Driver Disc” CD in the devices list - on this is a Mac installer package. Run it and it will install the drivers needed.

Configuring the network port

Open “System Preferences” and select the “Network” pane. Click the + below the interface list.

From the list of available interfaces select “S2 Proprietary USB Modem” and name the interface as appropriate - I’ve called mine “Skypephone”

Under “Configuration” enter *99# as the number and “three” and “password” for the username and password respectively. (Note: I have no evidence that these are required but it works for me)

Click “Advanced...” and select the appropriate settings for the modem. The vendor is “amoi  (AMOI)” and the model is “S2”. Enter the APN - 3 UK’s is “three.co.uk” and the CID I left as the default of “1”

OK all the way back to the Network pane and apply all the changes you’ve made. Now click connect and within a few seconds you should be connected via 3’s 3G network!