Tips and Tricks - Use With Caution

I saw an article at CNN.com/technology that got me a little...well, a little annoyed.  One of the "tips," the first one, worried me a little.

Here's the tip:

Boost your browsing

If your mobile Web browsing experience leaves something to be desired, you're not alone. Unless you own an Apple iPhone, which many experts say offers more user-friendly Internet capability, small screens coupled with tiny keyboards can make Web surfing frustrating.

But if you have a laptop and a phone, you may be able to use them together to the best advantage, says Chris Silva, analyst for Forrester Research, a technology and market research firm.

Tethering -- or plugging in -- your laptop to your mobile device will allow your computer to use the phone's connection for the Internet.

It's a tool that often gets overlooked, Silva says, but it can connect you at speeds comparable to a DSL or cable modem line.

First off, they didn't mention that if you connect to the EDGE network (most GSM phones) or the 1xRTT network (some CDMA phones) that the speed won't really be anywhere near DSL or cable.

The other thing that they didn't mention is that with exception of a Blackberry data plan (which includes tethering at no extra charge) you usually need a phone-as-modem plan for your device to use it in the manner described in the tip.  Sometimes the carrier will suspend your internet access if they see a spike in usage indicative of modem usage.  If you have pay-as-you go data access using your phone as a modem would be a spectacular way to find an amazingly high bill in your mailbox at the end of the month.

Now I'm all about tips for better use of your mobile phone, but for those of you giving the tips, please don't leave out the details.  Or at least mention that the user should probably contact their carrier before trying certain things.  Especially things that could cost someone a bunch of money.