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With the increase in connectivity need and availability, people are resorting to the new USB Modems offered by Vodafone and Etisalat, and probably Mobinil as well. The most popular one is called a Huawei E220. 
However, the USB modem is only automatically detected on Windows XP, and it self installs its needed drivers; whereas on Mac and Linux you need to manually download and install its software. So don’t panic when you get the dreadful warning “Unrecognized Device” on plugging it… The Vodafone website is updated now to include a Vista Update as well as Mac Software, but since I got mine ages ago, I had trouble finding those drivers until I luckily came across the modem’s original name, so this might be useful for you instead of going through the same hassle I faced. Obviously there are many versions available now. I guess the original  Huawei E220 related one would be the best choice to work with all service providers. Personally though, I’ve Installed this Vodafone Version and it’s working perfectly.Â
Example From Vodafone Version
Tips if you choose to install from Vodafone:
Each time you use your modem u’ll need to go through all the steps, because activation expires when you shut down.
Steps:
Or read the guide attached with the download.
- Plug the Modem
- Open the installed Vodafone Application found in /Applications/Vodafone Mobile Connect
- Ensure that the option “Best Available 3G Broadband/3G (UMTS)/GPRS)“is chosen
- Choose Activate
- Press OK to the confirmation message
- Click on the WiFi Icon on the right side of the top menu bar, and choose “Open Internet Connect…”
- Choose “HUAWEI E220 HSDPA USB Modem” (Unless you renamed it)
- Leave the default settings as they are
- Check “Show modem status in menu bar” if you’d like to quick connect in the future
- Choose Connect
- You’re On!
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Related Links and Guides:
- International Vodafone’s USB Modem Page
- Vodafone Egypt’s USB Modem Page
- Etisalat’s USB Modem Page
- Evandavey’s Detailed USB Modem Installation on Mac Guide
- ArticleCollector USB Modem Installation on Mac Guide
4 Responses to “How to Connect Vodafone or Etisalat USB Modems to a Mac?”
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December 21st, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Hello there,
my experience was mush easier with Etisalat modem (E220) as the “Leopard” identified it the moment i connected it and i did not went through any download process, also – as you mentioned – in Win XP Pro it was installed in a second.
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:52 pm
that’s interesting, i guess the internet life is easier with etisalat..
I just tried my Vodafone modem on leopard and it did recognize it but the settings needed to be inserted so i had to install the Vodafone app to insert them for me..
But anyway I think it’s useful to keep the app because when u are roaming it helps manual choosing of the carrier so that u can choose the cheapest plan..
It detects the carriers of the country and allows u to choose so its actually cool
April 15th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
In case you guys are wondering how to monitor your usage on the mac, after much search, I found this application: surplusmeter. It seems good. What do you use?
Is there a vodafone number we can call to find out exactly what our usage is?
I tried logging on to vodafone egypt to check my bill online, but in order to register I need my “number” – which, in the case of a data SIM, is ???
What speeds do you get? According to three different speed tests I did online: I got approximately 0.4, 0.8, and 1.1 Mbs. This is a joke. I’m paying for a 3.6 connection. I can understand if it is normally around 2, but to get numbers lower than 1 – what the hell? What are your experiences?
I relocated from London to here and I must say that I find the whole bandwidth limit thing not nice.
April 16th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
did you know that you can use your iPhone as a wireless router ? and have the same thing that this USB modem does, without paying around 500 EGP?
It’s called tethering, which wasn’t allowed by Apple until iPhone 3.0 software came up.
If you’re not on 3.0 software right now, you can jailbreak and install PdaNet from Cydia. It connects you by connecting your iPhone to your computer via wifi…
Best thing is: SHARING !!. anyone can also log into this network and be online too, while the USB only serves one computer at a time.
There is also a new program called Tether (from BigBoss repo) in Cydia, that also keeps track of your usage, but I didn’t use it.
I have done several speed tests on Vodafone’s 3G network, and the best is 1 Mbps as ais said. It’s never more than that… less but Definitely not more, which makes me smell a rip-off they buy you a modem for 500 EGP and a data plan on the promise that you’ll have the world in your pocket (you can reach up to sab3a mega ya man) and end up with 1 Mbps at most, while you actually do by using your iPhone to your needs… not theirs.