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.

crandy07

If you are travelling to countries where Vodafone operates locally (e.g. Vodafone Spain, Italy) you could use a Vodafone 3G data card which gets you OK internet speeds when your in a 3G area (but the speed can be a bit fustrating when your used to full speed broadband).

What you would need to do is buy PAYG Vodafone sim cards off eBay or in the country youre visiting so you wouldnt be charged romaing rates. Data prices are quite cheap abroad compared to the UK. When you install the software for the data card, you choose the country you want to use the card in. This sets the software and hardware up to work in your country of choice. I think you can then reinstall the software if you want to switch countries.

In the UK, Vodafone PAYG is quite expensive (£2 per MB) and they dont do Data bundles, which means you can't get a set amount of megabytes for a cheap price you pay in advanced like other networks do.

compmad1

Thanks. This sounds a bit complicated. My son has given me an old phone which is a Nokia 7600. I think it only does GPRS not 3G. I don't understand what the difference is between them. I will have to look into it.

benjus

This tip is specific to Spain but it works quite well.

You can buy a Yoigo PAYG SIM card in branches of The Phone House (Continental version of the Carphone Warehouse). This gives internet access at a capped rate of €1.20 per day (certainly works with GPRS, probably with 3G as well). Yoigo are a bit fussy about who they accept as customers - they might ask you for a Spanish ID number when buying the SIM card. We just got hold of a friend's number and said we'd forgotten to bring the card - as long as they have something to type into the computer they're not really bothered. You'll probably have to present your passport as well. Don't tell the staff you're planning to use the Internet with it - this will just confuse them and they'll try to sell you a Vodafone data card or something.

crandy07

compmad1 wrote: »

Thanks. This sounds a bit complicated. My son has given me an old phone which is a Nokia 7600. I think it only does GPRS not 3G. I don't understand what the difference is between them. I will have to look into it.

GPRS is the old technology, which was invented a while ago and designed to work with the old phone masts and is near old fashioned dial-up speeds.

3G is the brand spanking new technology, which is pretty much the same as GPRS, but its a lot faster (closer to broadband speeds) but works on a different frequency so the phone operators need new masts and you need a phone that supports it to get the faster speeds. It's ideal for internet on the move.

Your Nokia phone with GPRS will be fine if you just want to check a few emails/catch up on some quick news headlines. But if you are using a UK sim card in the phone abroad, your credit will run out very quickly. Get the Nokia unlocked, and try the Yoigo Sim card that was previously suggested and you should be fine.

wisper

there is loads of info on the provider's websites about this. If you search for going abroad.

Vodaphone charge £10.28 for 1mb of data using your phone as a modem.
Other providers charge as low as £6

An average email is probably about 15k so in theory you'd be able to view about 70 emails. More if there is less data and/or pictures in it.

An average website page with some graphics on it is probably about 30k

k18dan

For the uk I would say T Mobiles web and walk (dependent on usage) (fair usage applies), aboard I wouldnt go there.. expensive charges will end up costing a bomb, I would try and find a wifi spot when on holiday and connect that way.