The only missing element from the EeePC is the mobile broadband connection… I already successfully tried using a mobile phone through bluetooth (but again, then a bluetooth usb dongle is needed).

Since I had an Option GlobeSurfer ICON usb 3G/HSDPA modem already, I tried to set it up with the EeePC.

For setting it up, I followed the instructions at PHARscape.org and found a site with a great tool, called usb_modeswitch.

The tool, usb_modeswitch is needed, because the Option Icon uses the so called Zero CD technology, which means, that under the EeePC (and generally Linux), the Option device is recognized as an usb storage, rather than a modem, as we wish to use it for.

1. download usb_modeswitch

2. extract the downloaded file and copy the usb_modeswitch precompiled binary into /sbin and the usb_modeswitch.conf into /etc (you need to do it as root user)

3. modify the /etc/usb_modeswitch.conf file according to your requirements (no editing is needed for the Option Icon)

4. as root user open the /etc/udev/rules.d/50-xandros.udev.rules file in your favorite editor (vim, kate, etc…) and insert the following lines (I put them in line 156).

#Option Icon HSDPA usb modem

BUS==”usb”, SYSFS{idVendor}==”05c6″, SYSFS{idProduct}==”1000″, RUN+=”/sbin/usb_modeswitch”

5. restart your computer

6. plug in your Option Icon device into any usb port of your EeePC and wait a couple of seconds

Now the modem ports /dev/ttyUSB0 - USB2 should have been created (check it with the output of dmesg command in a konsole windows, opened by Ctrl-Alt T)

If the ports are there then there is nothing else left, then using starting the Network setup in the Internet tab (in Easy Mode of the EeePC).

7. Settings for 3G broadband, Network Connections -> Create -> 3G/HSDPA connection (follow, the instructions)

It is that easy…

Of course it would be even more straightforward, if the EeePC recognized the Option Icon out of the box, but anyway…