Ok so you probably all know this!

[cynthia]

but I'ive just discovered that if you are in Italy and you buy a TIM sim card it is possible to have a cheap GPRS connection to the computer. Provided that your phone can talk to the laptop through either Bluetooth, a USB cable, or infra red you can operate a PAYGO system. 20 euros a month buys you 500 megabytes of info 24/7 access. 25 euros a month buys you unlimited download for a month between 5p.m. and 9a.m.
but extremely limited access at all other times. The 20 euros deal therefore seems to be the better option, as if you run out of the miniscule download allowance on the 25 deal it simply cuts you off for the rest of the month and there is no way you can reconnect until the end of the month (short of buying another SIM card.) Recharge is available at all the usual outlets. The telephone credit is total separate from GPRS credit.

 

[Richard10002]

I use a Wind Sim, (Italian), which gives 1000Mb in Italy for 20 euros per month, and 200Mb when roaming outside Italy, (e.g. in England). It works at 3G speeds, (UMTS?), when you can get a 3 G signal, which makes it seem almost as fast as broadband at home.

Cheers,

Richard

 

[cynthia]

Even better. Could I use this in Greece, Turkey etc? Can it be topped up by pay as you go methods? Thanks for the info.

 

[r_h]

TIM certainly operates in Greece, although I've yet to use their GPRS services. I'll do some research tomorrow and post the results... unless anyone beats me to it. R

 

[Richard10002]

[ QUOTE ]
Even better. Could I use this in Greece, Turkey etc? Can it be topped up by pay as you go methods? Thanks for the info.

[/ QUOTE ]

I cant see any reason why not. I am in England, but plan to leave for foreign climes in August.

I bought the WIND sim on ebay, registered with WIND, and top up on line. It's Pay as you go.

see here:

http://www.prepaidgsm.net/forum/index.php?showforum=1

Although, if you are in Italy, I guess you will be able to buy one in a shop.

Every now and then, someone appears who is using the sim in Canada, or New Zealand, so it seems to be fairly worldwide, with some exceptions no doubt.

They say that it is a special promotion, MEGA NO LIMIT, but it was due to end last November and they extended it to June, and they have now extended it to next January.

 

[Sea_Monster]

Sounds too good to be true - any problems with this? We are headed for France, Spain, Portugal this year and would like data (GPRS)on a phone acting as a modem for the pc.
If this is the cheapest answer - WIND should be paying you commission!

 

[Richard10002]

[ QUOTE ]
Sounds too good to be true - any problems with this? We are headed for France, Spain, Portugal this year and would like data (GPRS)on a phone acting as a modem for the pc.
If this is the cheapest answer - WIND should be paying you commission!

[/ QUOTE ]

It's a bit tricky to setup, but once you're up and running, it's fine.

I use it in Glasson Dock, so see no reason for it to be any different anywhere else. I put the sim in a Globetrotter Fusion Datacard and use it on my laptop.

It's quite easy to use 200Mb if you're not careful, so I use Orange £1 per day of unlimited GPRS when I want to limit my Wind usage, and will have to ration myself when abroad.... but it's infinitely better than the alternatives.

As for commission, I cant see how Wind make any money on this.... unless we are being ripped off mega style by all the others.

In fact, the new T Mobile unlimited Web n Walk offer suggests that this is the case.

Cheers

 

[BrendanS]

could you save me a half hour web searching and explain this in more detail?

Why tricky?

Why use Orange instead of Wind?

Why does Web n Walk support your theory - no idea at the moment what the theory is! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Richard10002]

[ QUOTE ]
could you save me a half hour web searching and explain this in more detail?

Why tricky?

Why use Orange instead of Wind?

Why does Web n Walk support your theory - no idea at the moment what the theory is! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

http://155.libero.it/pls/portal30/w155.home

https://mondowind.wind.it/e-shop/index.asp#

http://www.prepaidgsm.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=888

http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZkarlokruQQssPageNameZSTRKQ3aMEFSQ3aMESOI

......................................................................

Tricky because the web sites are in italian... I use

http://babelfish.altavista.com/

to translate, but there a few strange translations and you have to read between the lines.

Tricky because you have to have a Codice Fiscale, (an Italian Tax thing,

Tricky because you have to give an Italian address to register on mondowind to pay as you go by credit card

........................................................................

If I have used say, 175Mb by the 10th of the month, I may want to save the balance for some fast access time, so I use the slower Orange GRPS only.

..........................................................................

My theory is that mobile telephone costs area rip off, rather than reflecting cost + profit. Data charges in particular.

Web n Walk offers unlimited date, (2Gb), per month for something like £8 on top of your contract.

Both Wind and T Mobile are either losing money big style on these deals, or we are being ripped off by other providers.

(BTW I dont blame firms for charging what they can get away with)

Hope this helps

Cheers

 

[BrendanS]

OK, starting to come to grips with it now

 

[Richard10002]

The guy that sells the Wind sim on ebay is incredibly helpful. He sends a full set of instructions for getting set up... but most of it is in German <g> I used babelfish for translating and, when I got stuck, he replied to emails quickly, (usually within hours).

 

[Bejasus]

can't wait for an up to date review from you then Brendan. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif