Re: Internet access from Hotels

["Ben Geach" <BenUKHA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Mark Harrison (Groups)" <mph@a...>
wrote:
> Hi all,
>=20
> 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.
>=20
> 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.
>=20
> I said that the two options were:
>=20
> - Wireless (802.11b) hotspots
> - GPRS data=20
>=20
> ... both of which would have usage charges.
>=20
> 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?)
>=20
> 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?
>=20
> M.

Hi Mark,
Orange offer GPRS on Pay as You go SIMs.

0-3 mb usage - =A33 per mb
3 - 15 mb usage - =A32 per mb etc . . check orange.co.uk

Orange SIMs are less than =A33 new on eBay or i'm sure =A310 at any mobile
=
shop.

I also spent alot of my student life in Starbucks where they have T-Mobile
=
WiFi "hotspots" (=20
see http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/Dispatcher?menuid=3Dphones_wb
) which prove f=
airly fast=20
and reliable if using a laptop or PDA.

At the most expensive its =A35 per hour if you just buy one hour but
cheape=
r for more.
I understand that the coverage is larger than just Starbucks now, but in
Lo=
ndon with a=20
Starbucks on each corner this isn't a problem!

Hope this helps,
Ben