Apr 08 2008
Mobile internet connection in the UK
Most of us will know that we can access the internet using our laptops via a ‘hot spot’ - Starbucks for example, offer this service free of charge. There are numbers of others that charge - hotels being one group.
There are new ‘dongles’ coming onto the market that offer 1gb of surfing for about £10 a month - this equates to only about 1 hour a day. This is hardly a great deal and is really only going to be used by those who MUST have access for business etc.
Well, hang on - I’ve been looking at a new mobile phone as mine is up for renewal. It’s a choice between the iPhone and what? O2 currently have the Nokia N95 8Gb phone - top of the range for around £35 a month on an 18 month contract - dig in more
This includes 600 minutes calls and 1000 texts AND you can take out a FREE, unlimited (fair use) data add-on.
before reading the following, please check out Mobile internet connection UK update
This allows the N95 to be used as a mobile internet 3G adapter*, giving you access to the internet wherever you go and take your laptop with you*. It connects using bluetooth, so no cables needed. You can, of course, use the data add-on to access the internet on your phone too via 3G. It also has satnav built-in. If you’re in a wi-fi hot-spot, you can also use your phone wirelessly too. So, if like me, you’ve not yet got to grips with mobile hand-held internet, here’s a possibility.
You can also download Skype mobile (via Fring) and call folks all over the world for free* (Skype - to Skype) direct from your mobile - now that’s interesting
Stuff changes all the time, but I thought it was worth mentioning for those who are frustrated not having access everywhere - like me! It means I won’t have to spend an extra £10 - 15 a month or £1 a day charge* to connect when I visit my parents and introduce my dad to the fun of making a VoiceThread story to go with some of his great photos
The transfer speed seems to be about 250 Kbps, so OK for most things
Note - please check all this information for yourself before trying this - however O2 offer 14 day trial if it doesn’t work out right for you* - update this is not available from the shops - if you sign up, it’s all yours - once again, contradictory info from the O2 people
