Olivia Wood wrote:

> In Sept I'll be moving to student accomodation with no internet. I wont
> be able to get anything 'wired' put in, and the nearest wireless I'll
> be able to use is the local Starbucks that closes at 7...
>
> Thus - I'm looking for other alternatives. I've been looking at the 3G
> data card things provided by a few mobile companies - but they all
> appear to have very low useage limits (The 'unlimited' packages tend to
> allow around 1GB a month).
> Granted, I have no idea how much useage that would allow - but I use
> the internet a lot, stream videos, use e-mail and messenger (which
> rules out t-mobile). I have even been known to play online games...
>
> Is there any option available to me? Or do I have to accept my internet
> access will be limited by starbucks' opening hours?
>
> What kind of limit would a non-hard core gamer, otherwise average
> internet user use? (I could go without games easily - but would like to
> be able to continue to stream videos, as use them in reference to
> learning the guitar...)
>
> Or does anyone know of any other options?
>
> Thanks (in advance)
> Olivia
>
You didn't mention the type of phone that you had, which would help.
As far as 3G access, verizon has a 10gig cap with 20gig warning....at
$59.99 a month with a very expensive pcmcia card you have to buy for
your laptop....about $200 give or take....

If you bought a really good phone like my Verizon VX-9800 with a mobile
office kit, you could plug in a special usb cable from the phone to your
laptop, and basically use the phone as a modem...yes, believe it or
not...and surf the net for hours...or just for dialup to a server.
It is a little faster than dialup speed, but 3G speed is available
thru Verizon if you can get it to work - yep.
My phone is actually one step from being a smartphone but still has
some of its features like a built in web browser which is really cool -
web access from anywhere (standalone - without being plugged into a
computer).
The cable is usually called a data/charging cable which you can buy
off of ebay (which comes with drivers and basic software). You really
don't need any special software, but you have to configure your dialup
connection properly in order for this to work. Verizon supposedly has a
dialup number or access you can use but it is "connect on demand" and
will constantly timeout and reconnect, but I modified my local ISP
dialup service ($20/month) setting and use it for my phone. I did the
same thing with my VX-6000 which I had before this current phone as well.
Takes airtime charges, but depending on your plan - may not cost you
any airtime or charges at all.
This has been a lifesaver for me so I am never stuck without internet
access unless of course my cellphone doesn't have coverage at my
location....(Yes, I carry a laptop with me wherever I go - I do onsite
service.)
There are various cellphone websites that could help you out with this
and it's amazing what you could find out about your phone and what it
can do.
Let me know if you need any further assistance with this.

btw: I should mention, you can also use your phone as a fax machine as
well for sending out faxes, but not too good at receiving faxes though.

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