Since cell phones are mobile, they cannot be plugged into land-based connections like cable or fiber optic line to receive Internet access. While there are many ways for computers to access the Internet wirelessly, there is usually not enough room on cell phones for the adapters and hardware necessary to pick up the same signals. Cell phone service providers have sidestepped this problem by combining their voice connections with data connections.

Wireless Connections

While some cell phones can access the Internet by using WiFi points of access, it is much more likely that your phone uses 3G technology to tap into Internet capabilities. 3G stands for third generation, or the ability of cell phones to use the same radio signals that communicate voice data to also pass along digital data from the Internet. 4G services also do the same thing, but with faster rates of data transfer. In order to have such an Internet connection, you need two different things. The first is a cell phone that can pick up and receive 3G based signals. All smartphones have this capability, but if you do not have a smartphone (with a large screen, a full mini-keyboard, and many extra functions) your chance of being able to use all the Internet's abilities is significantly lessened. The second thing you will need is a service plan that allows you to access the Internet. Cell phone providers offer a number of different service plans that come with various limits to 3G abilities depending on the cost and the type of phone you have. When you purchase a plan that allows for 3G connections, the cell phone transmits data on radio information channels that encode Internet information that the phone decodes back into digital data. This requires that the providers have a deal with an Internet provider, but that does not affect you.

Connections Through Computers

If you want to use your cell phone to give your laptop an Internet connection, or want to transfer information from the Internet to your phone, then you will need a data cable, probably a USB cable, depending on what type of cell phone you have. Your laptop will either need to have an WWAN adapter card that allows it to use a phone signal, or have software downloaded from the phone's service provider that allows the phone to interact with the computer. Most providers sell these mobile kits so people can access the internet in areas that do not have regular Internet access. You will not receive as dependable an Internet connection using this method, but it can be done. If you want to transfer data from the Internet to your phone through a data cable, you will be restricted based on the type of phone you have, and the capabilities your phone plan allows.

Source:

BAMnet: Connect Cell Phone to Notebook

BillMeyers: Connect to the internet using your cell phone and laptop computer

PCWorld: Mobile Computing: Internet Access via Cell Network