Mobile Broadband HELP!

[Pyroman]

Okay so our head's decided that she needs a mobile broadband dongle because she hasn't got internet at home and she wants to be able to "access her e-mails" from wherever she is, including abroad sometimes.

 

What's everyone else using?

Who's got the best service at the moment?

Is there a PAYG option that anyone offers?

 

Cheers

[Domino]

If all she wants is email, maybe a windows mobile phone might be better...?

 

In my experience mobile broadband is woefully slow and quite pricy, plus can take some fiddling to get right.

 

If you use exchange however, windows mobile on a phone is a joy to use. And if you use pop3 or imap its still easy, although not as good

[Pyroman]

She's got a nokia N95 would she be able to log onto web based exchange?

 

edit: saying that i think she wants to use her laptop as she's not incredably happy using computers and i think doing it on her mobile would be frustrating

[LeMarchand]

So she's on (at a guess) £30-40k or more and can't afford the internet at home?

[Pyroman]

So she's on (at a guess) £30-40k or more and can't afford the internet at home?

 

That's my argument but you know how it goes!

[DSapseid]

I installed a 3 mobile broadband thing for the premises manager and it took about 2 mins. All i had to do was plug it in and it installed all the software and configured it itself. Very impressed with it.

[tomscaper]

Is this for personal or for school

[LeMarchand]

That's my argument but you know how it goes!

 

Unfortunately, yes. It's taking a huge amount of willpower not to take this OT with a rant on such penuriousness from certain types.

 

Must... try... not... to... explode...

[Domino]

She could do web based with the browser, but if you enable pop3 on the exchange server she'll be able to get her emails just as she text messages

[Domino]

Unfortunately, yes. It's taking a huge amount of willpower not to take this OT with a rant on such penuriousness from certain types.

 

Must... try... not... to... explode...

 

 

 

Open new tab,

 

google.com

 

Define:penuriousness

 

 

 

....ahhhhhhhhhh

[Pyroman]

Is this for personal or for school

 

school

[StewartKnight]

it's only "school" so that school will pay for it!

 

3 do a PAYG

 

I have one, but dial up is faster most of the time!

 

Tell the tight fisted so-and-so to get broadband.

I take it this is more about getting the school to pay!

Edited July 4, 2008 by StewartKnight

[Pyroman]

it's only "school" so that school will pay for it!

 

3 do a PAYG

 

I have one, but dial up is faster most of the time!

 

Tell the tight fisted so-and-so to get broadband.

I take it this is more about getting the school to pay!

 

I have interrogated her a bit and it seems as though she's actually gonna use it for e-mails, she's out and about alot at various schools and conferences and stays in hotels and the like and wants to eb able to access her e-mail. I've warned her about thje stupid costs if you go over your usage limit and she's adament then it's gonna be used for school use.

 

just found this one £15 for 5Gigs from 3

[Jona]

Whilst £15 is good it works out to £180 a year, that seems a lot just so the head can check their e-mail......

[Pyroman]

Whilst £15 is good it works out to £180 a year, that seems a lot just so the head can check their e-mail......

 

i know *shrugs* can't think of any other way for them to access their e-mails on the go though

[DSapseid]

Our head has a blackberry. He moved his personal phone sim card over into the blackberry. He pays for the calls school pay for the data package.

[Jona]

maybe dialup? I guess it depends what e-mail is worth to your head but I think you might have trouble justifying £180 a year on school funds especially if it's only going to be used part of the time.

[LeMarchand]

Surely most hotels (especially of the sort that head teachers will stay in) and conference centres offer wi-fi these days?

[Dos_Box]

I have a Vodafone PAYG USB contract. £20 per month with a 3GB limit. Quite nippy in a 3G area, but for email anywhere it is ideal.

[Dos_Box]

Surely most hotels (especially of the sort that head teachers will stay in) and conference centres offer wi-fi these days?

 

They do, and they charge per night what you would pay per month with a mobile broadband contract.

[ChrisN-0123]

If she gets mobile broadband just make sure she reads small print when using it abroad. The roaming charges are very high. You could use it for 1 minute and its an instant £8 charge.

 

When abroad she should get a hotel with free wifi.

 

At home that mobile broadband isnt bad really. I would recommend a proper broadband connection as it dont cost much.

[somabc]

Just make sure she does not download prison break while away abroad at a 'conference'.

 

Broadband Customer 'Hit With £31,000 Bill'

[dancingdruid]

I've got a Three mobile broadband dongle which I use as a backup to my home connection and when out and about.

 

Despite using it heavily I have yet to use more than 1Gb traffic - I'm on the £10 a month contract (reduced to £5 a month since I have a mobile with them too).

 

The speeds are pretty fast at home and in quieter areas. I've found the speeds in the town where I work are pretty slow. For simply checking email the speed isn't really an issue (I used to do this over GPRS).

 

The only problem I have with Three is where there is no signal. No signal = no connection. With the other networks they have a 2G network to fall back on.

 

The USB dongle itself is pretty good, works with weak signal and the PC sees it as a modem and storage device (for installing drivers).

 

I think that £10/£15 a month is pretty insignificant for a school.