cheapest way to connect to internet with mobile phone?

compmad1

What is the best/cheapest PAYG sim to use? I've just worked out (with help) how I can use Nokia PC Suite to connect to the Internet on my works laptop. I have got a couple of free Virgin cards with £5 on them.

I want to be able to go on the Internet when I am on holiday (in UK and abroad). I know it sounds sad but I get withdrawal sypmptons when on holiday. A few minutes each day would give me my fix.

Any ideas? I was really impressed with it when I got it going last night. I don't just want to use the phone on its own, but want the full Internet on the laptop.

Thanks for any advice.

gustav

As far as i know, you cant use your payg mobile to connect to the net.
I tried it with my 6630.
Its because the ISP has no way of charging you for the access (think about it).
I believe you can only do it if you have a contract.

matty2767

if you are with bt for broadband you get inclusive wifi minutes for hotspots

espresso

gustav wrote: »

As far as i know, you cant use your payg mobile to connect to the net.
I tried it with my 6630.
Its because the ISP has no way of charging you for the access (think about it).
I believe you can only do it if you have a contract.

:rotfl:

Of course you can use PAYG to surf the net! Go to the mobile operators websites to find out their rates i.e. Virgin charge 0.5p per kb and Orange have had a daily bundle giving unlimited use at £1 per day.

espresso

compmad1 wrote: »

I want to be able to go on the Internet when I am on holiday (in UK and abroad). I know it sounds sad but I get withdrawal sypmptons when on holiday. A few minutes each day would give me my fix.

Quite easy and can be cheap while in the UK, however when abroad with roaming charges, it can be very expensive to get your daily fix!

compmad1

Thanks to you all. I have managed to use a PAYG Virgin card with free £5 credit to connect to the Internet using the mobile phone as a wireless modem. After I got PC Nokia Suite to work with my phone on a wire all I had to do was choose "Connect to the Internet" and it did. I had to go to Services on the phone to make it look for the Virgin web-site first because it wanted to find the 3 site as it had previously been a 3 contract phone. Someone advised me how to unlock it. I'm just looking into other options now. The Orange one sounds worth looking into. A £1 a day when you are on holiday is a treat worth paying for. I may just have to get withdrawal symptoms when I am abroad. ( Or go to an Internet cafe. My husband thinks I'm barmy)

compmad1

gustav wrote: »

As far as i know, you cant use your payg mobile to connect to the net.
I tried it with my 6630.
Its because the ISP has no way of charging you for the access (think about it).
I believe you can only do it if you have a contract.

After messing about with the settings when I forgot I was still connected to the Internet my £5 credit went down from £5 to 44p' so the money does come off.

gustav

espresso wrote: »

Of course you can use PAYG to surf the net! Go to the mobile operators websites to find out their rates i.e. Virgin charge 0.5p per kb and Orange have had a daily bundle giving unlimited use at £1 per day.

What I was trying to do (that didnt work!) was to dial up another (not mobile phone op) dial up isp, using the phone as a modem.
So you reckon I can plug my laptop into my Nokia 6630 and access the net from the laptop using the mobile (orangeworld) access.
(you might have to be a bit patient here..):question:

espresso

gustav wrote:

What I was trying to do (that didnt work!) was to dial up another (not mobile phone op) dial up isp, using the phone as a modem.

:rotfl:

But that is not what your original post said - remember (think about it) contract only! The fact that you couldn't, does not mean that it can't be done.

:rolleyes:

gustav wrote:

As far as i know, you cant use your payg mobile to connect to the net.
I tried it with my 6630.
Its because the ISP has no way of charging you for the access (think about it).
I believe you can only do it if you have a contract.

There are many ways to surf the net on PAYG and if you actually want to dial a connection rather than use GPRS, try using GeoISP.

PS Like your sig.

Donnie

compmad1 wrote: »

What is the best/cheapest PAYG sim to use? I've just worked out (with help) how I can use Nokia PC Suite to connect to the Internet on my works laptop. I have got a couple of free Virgin cards with £5 on them.

I want to be able to go on the Internet when I am on holiday (in UK and abroad). I know it sounds sad but I get withdrawal sypmptons when on holiday. A few minutes each day would give me my fix.

Any ideas? I was really impressed with it when I got it going last night. I don't just want to use the phone on its own, but want the full Internet on the laptop.

Thanks for any advice.

Just don't expect the same costs whilst abroad.

Some useful guides: http://www.filesaveas.com/gprs.html#apn

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?ContentId=449

CHR15

I used to use my old Orange C500 (and C600 for that matter) to connect my laptop to the net.

They weren't wireless so I had to plug it in with the usb lead.

From then on I could use a simple ISP number which offers access without any sign ups or account from anywhere (on an 0845 number).

All I then paid was the call charge as normal (but is expensive as has already been said)

I won't post the free dial up ISP details on here PM me if you need details.