GPRS?

steveh

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I am heading south in the Spring and still deciding on how to send and receive emails. I have read all the threads but have a few basic questions
Do I need an ISP? If so any recomendations.
The price is based on MB's used. Does the cost vary if abroad?

Thanks in advance for what is an old chestnut but still a minefield!

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No, you do not need an ISP if using GPRS. The mobile phone company has a connection direct to the Internet and your connection is 'always on'.

The price most certainly does vary when roaming with GPRS but it is extremely difficult to pin the UK companies down to what they charge. I have a friend who was assured that T-Mobile only charged UK rates but, when he got his bill, he was being charged at a much higher rate. Vodafone appear to have the best rates for the Western Med and Greece but even they can't seem to decide what to charge. I cannot find any reasonable rates for Croatia or Turkey from any UK phone company.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.yachtretreat.com>http://www.yachtretreat.com</A>
 
I wrote up how to use GPRS <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kissen.co.uk/communications.htm>here</A>. Its intended for the Baltic but the concepts are identical.

Generally, finding a local SIM card on a PAYG basis with reasonably priced GPRS is difficult (you can get them but the charges are high). Others on the iste have more direct info on Med charging and availability.

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A Turkcell PAYG SIM gives you GPRS in Turkey. It costs about 0.05p a kilo byte, about 1/25 the cost of Vodafone GPRS roaming.

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