Internet access from Hotels

["Mark Harrison (Groups)" <mph@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi all,

A mate of mine in Canada has just bought a Sports Car in the UK, and
intends to spend about 6-8 weeks per year over the next couple of years
touring over this side of the Atlantic.

He's the kind of person who can only go 48 hours between checking email,
and asked me what's the best way to get online with hotels.

I said that the two options were:

- Wireless (802.11b) hotspots
- GPRS data

... both of which would have usage charges.

The costs for GPRS data I can do (though he may have trouble finding a
mobile phone supplier who will sign a contract with a Canadian
resident?)

Has anyone got any experience of the various "802.11b hotspot
providers". I know that T-Mobile have a service, and BT has a service,
etc., etc. What he's really looking for is one of the national networks
where he can sign up for a month, and use any of their access points
around the UK WITHOUT signing up for an annual contract OR paying each
hotel individually. Any ideas?

M.