General discussion

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #2273924

    going mobile…

    Locked

    by jsdonow ·

    What have you found to be the fastest, most reliable, most cost effective way to access the internet while traveling?

    Thanks!

All Comments

  • Author
    Replies
    • #2724370

      mobile road warrior spreaks

      by rwhite ·

      In reply to going mobile…

      Wireless access is good and cheap in Public areas, some are free (in public parks or unsecure wireless access points) and some you pay a low monthly fee ($20 – $30). The advantages of subcribing is that you have more availiability. For example Tmobile HOT Spots are in Kinkos, Starbucks, Borders, and airports. Also Verizon has hotspots which is free to thier DSL subcribers. Now if you need constant internet access and find yourself in spots where there is no wireless access available, then try the AirCard service (which is like having a cell phone for your laptop) it is a card you stick in your laptop and allows you permanant internet access 24/7. I use this option because I travel to remote places alot.

    • #2720233

      Over a dozen answers

      by Jay Garmon ·

      In reply to going mobile…

      TechRepublic has a whole spotlight page on mobile access and security right now. There are several white papers, webcasts, and articles on the subject. Check it out here.
      http://techrepublic.com.com/1200-22-5266055.html

    • #2700554

      not a sales pitch

      by pete.mcgettigan ·

      In reply to going mobile…

      but I do suggest you could look at iPass. I have customers who use their service and are very happy with it. Good and reliable global coverage and an increasing investment in wireless hotspots. Also some neat integration and enforcement of corporate security standards to give your security officer peace of mind.

    • #2700548

      Open AP’s – Way to Go?

      by sealife ·

      In reply to going mobile…

      Call me a ranting meanie but I object to the pricing of many of the hotspots. At typically ?6 per hour (in the UK) it seems like a ripoff to me. I can understand that provision of such a service costs but I think it’s pricing set at a premium level and relies on misconceptions about availability, security and reliability. I use a mix of GPRS and consume.net and drive (or sail) to the nearest access point with 100% reliability so far. In fact, if you use Netstumbler and drive around any large town in the UK you’ll find a huge density of open AP’s now. I reckon about 80% of all WiFi installations are completely unprotected. I am not advocating service theft but if we all follow the consume.net model and make our own hotspots free to use then bandwidth would be as free as the air (well, it would come as a consequence your own contribution). There are plenty of tools to ensure adequate security of connection. I know this begs the question of facilitating illegal use of open connections but perhaps we each have a responsibility to police our own patch.

    • #2700541

      Totally wireless

      by woodhead1 ·

      In reply to going mobile…

      Get a wireless card/Service from ATT or sprint or whomever.

      The you do not need to find a ‘hot spot’. I can connect from a hotel (with no hotel fees), or when visiting friends (without locating a phone jack) or even in a highway rest stop. Total freedom.

      I even use it at home (so I can dump my phone line)

      • #2700539

        Susteen’s DataPilot

        by tj8 ·

        In reply to Totally wireless

        I’ve used a combination of hot spots (which are all not created equal with regard to ease of connection), hotel connections, but I just got the DataPilot connection kit so I can use my cell phone like a modem. Plug the phone into the laptop or enabled PDA and connect. It’s pretty good but like an aircard, rely’s on your carrier’s signal. I think it’s important to have options since connecting at some hot spots is not always easy. I’m also testing Netroamer and I’mInTouch for for backup ISP access and accessing my network just about anywhere. Both seem to work well, certainly better and IIT is definitely cheaper than GoToMyPC, but it’s too soon to give both an unequivical ok.

      • #2700536

        2 Ways

        by dessnsebs ·

        In reply to Totally wireless

        I have found 2 ways that covers me in almost every situation. First is a SPRINT PCS card. It is not that fast but I can use anywhere there is Sprint service. Second, I also carry a PCMCIA wireless card for FREE hotspots which are more common. I just do not see the point of paying $30 a month for a hotspot that is hard to find, like TMobile’s

        • #2700533

          use a usb cable and snapdialer

          by julieflynt ·

          In reply to 2 Ways

          I use my cell phone as a modem. I get 230kbps on SprintPCS Vision and all I have to do is hook up my cell phone with a USB cable. Futuredial software gives the ability to set up the connection. I have an abundance of minutes on my account. I only have one phone for business and personal. For $100 month that more than allows me to surf and talk. The vision service is on my phone.

        • #2700531

          Use or Sprint

          by staceman ·

          In reply to use a usb cable and snapdialer

          I know Sprint is close to rolling out their new EV-DO service which claims DSL speeds, I wonder if Julie is using this newer network, although I wasn’t sure if it was avail yet! I have several clients that are trying to accomplish the same. A laptop with built in satellite wireless access would be nice instead of built 801g, built EV-DO instead or other compatible service. Right now you have to buy a separate card, I like the idea of not needing a card, thanks, I will check into it!

        • #2700522

          Not new

          by julieflynt ·

          In reply to Use or Sprint

          I’ve been using this for over a year. I came across it quite accidentally. I tried using a SAMSUNG phone for a while but the speeds weren’t as good as with my Sanyo. I don’t know why there’s a difference, but I went back to the Sanyo! It works great and since I carry my cell everywhere I can even hook up in my car to get directions!

        • #2701551

          Sprint or Verizon Wireless if you don’t’ mind the $$

          by fasebit ·

          In reply to Use or Sprint

          I have had some good experience with Sprint Wireless data Access and I heard good things about verizon. The problem seems to be that you only get the high speed when you are in major metropolitan areas. The cost $80 per month for unlimited is also somewhat high.

        • #2701382

          Sprint Vision service and your cell phone

          by julieflynt ·

          In reply to Sprint or Verizon Wireless if you don’t’ mind the $$

          My internet connection with SprintPCS costs me only as much as the Vision service ($10/mo) when I use my cell phone and the USB cable. My Vision service comes free of charge because it’s part of my service with a lot of minutes. I don’t have a land line, I only use my cell phone. My entire price for the month is $100 for all my communications, which includes my mobile internet time. I find it to be very cost effective. I’ve never had the need for the Sprint adapter card. That’s the $80/month you’re referring to.

        • #2713440

          Caution When Using Cellphone Vision Service as Modem

          by jh_chicago_suburbs ·

          In reply to Sprint Vision service and your cell phone

          During Christmas 2002, I worked as one of those Sprint PCS salespeople (actually worked through a third party contractor) who you see in some retail locations. Vision had been available for a few months, SnapDialer and the USB cable were just becoming available. Sprint PCS Vision was cheap, either free or $5/month. Several sharp users asked me about it and I dug into what issues there might be to using the handset as a modem.

          The marketing brochure with service plan pricing contained language that SprintPCS reserved the right to cancel your account if it was used as a modem. It was stated in different terms but it was clear. I asked a Sprint PCS Sales or Marketing Director several levels up about it. The language was there because they realized that it was technically possible. It had been discussed in meetings.

          Sprint PCS seemed to be prepared at that time to let it occur because Vision usage was not too high. However, I understood from the conversation that Sprint PCS would know exactly which accounts were using so much Vision activity (and probably that it was connecting to the general Internet, not just the select family of Vision services) that the customer was heavily using Vision service as a modem.

          Obviously Sprint PCS wants to acquire and retain customers. However, I do not doubt that some time in the future when this activity loads down the network too much they will start with the heaviest users of this model and “encourage” them to buy a separate cellular modem “air card” with a separate service plan ($) for this activity.

    • #2700512

      Depends on where you are traveling!

      by mlayton ·

      In reply to going mobile…

      Can you at least specify a country?

      • #2700507

        Where I travel

        by julieflynt ·

        In reply to Depends on where you are traveling!

        I have been in many US states (including Puerto Rico) with this service. SprintPCS is nationwide and my internet connection is dependent upon where they are (virtually all over!!). Basically, if I can talk on the phone, I can surf the internet.

        • #2700368

          But internationally….

          by mlayton ·

          In reply to Where I travel

          …I suspect it’s a different story. In the countries I have traveled (admittedly, mostly Africa, Turkey, and a little Europe) I still depend on the hotel’s phone connection and occasionally an Internet cafe, and when all else fails, the office of the telecom provider for reliable service. (It helps to be working with the telecom provider at the time! 🙂 ) While tri-band phones may offer some connection capabilities, many international internet connections have much different pricing and plans than the U.S.

    • #2700448

      Tried a bunch of methods

      by mfitch ·

      In reply to going mobile…

      I have a laptop with built-in ethernet, 802.11b, and of course 56Kb modem. I also have a Sprint PCS card (Compact Flash edition).

      I find the Sprint Service has been excellent in my areas of use, mostly on the east coast. As a ‘prototype’, I was able to run AIM almost continuously on a trip from Jersey to Florida with only a few deadspots, and Jersey to Maine with coverage up to about Kennebunk. I have users throughout the US using the Sprint card, and have nothing but praise for it.

      In my tests, the Cnet internet bandwidth tests I run put the Sprint service consistently ahead of dial-up. In a couple of tests, it was actually faster than the free high-speed access provided by a hotel I stayed at.

      I have this service working w/a VPN client and local firewall policy on a win2K laptop. With the flexibility of the sprint card card, I can easily connect via RJ-45 ehternet, 802.11b or if I am dettached, the sprint service, in that order of preference (the only time I have used dial-up in the past 2 years was in the remote reaches of maine, and overseas).

      A second benefit of the sprint card is I can slap it in my Dell Axim, and get handheld access anywhere (again, using VPN software to connect back to my corporate exchange system).

    • #2700417

      WOW is everyone MOBILE???

      by rwhite ·

      In reply to going mobile…

      What is funny is that just a 2 years ago this would have been a lonely forum topic…. Technology is really taking true Road Warriors seriously. My job is 90% on the road and I am glad that I can finally have options which are cheap. Just a couple years ago the only option was Richocet, now everyone has jumped on the bandwagon.

    • #2700414

      AT&T Edge cards – “your mileage may vary”

      by debunker ·

      In reply to going mobile…

      My company uses perhaps a dozen AT&T EDGE cards. They’re really great *when* they work, but AT&T’s network has significant coverage limitations and reliability problems, so there are times and places where they should work and they don’t. Just because you connected OK from a particular location yesterday doesn’t mean that you can do the same thing today.

      Salesperson’s original claim: “Anywhere you can make an AT&T cellphone call, the EDGE card will work fine”. WRONG!!! I’ve personally seen cases where the signal strength is full-scale and it just won’t connect.

      Its also puzzling how the speed in a given location will vary so widely. Sometimes 200+ kb/s and latency as good as a typical DSL connection. Other times it’s like an 14.4 dial-up modem on a very crowded network

      On a related topic – We originally used Treo 600’s on AT&T voice/data service for smartphones for top executives. Big Mistake! Ongoing reliability and coverage problems (for both voice and data) with AT&T Wireless over many months means that I now have 10 fairly new retired Treo 600’s sitting on the shelf looking for another home.

      • #2700352

        It Must be Me then

        by steven.l.southerland ·

        In reply to AT&T Edge cards – “your mileage may vary”

        I have, in the last three months had three out of four one-the-road experiances that were very bad. (1) I stayed at a [International Chain Hotel] that had free internet service. It did not work in my room, and two of the three connections in the Businness office did not work. I had to use VPN dialup at 26K, painful and worked most of the time. (2) In the Same city, the conference was at tha Marriott and they had good Internet service throughout the Conference Center. My wife could even see me on their web cams. However, ANY ONE that had a open share (printers or files )on their PC got a virus from the network. (3) At my Mom’s house way up in LaFollette, TN, they can’t even spell Internet. I was force again to use the old reliable modem at 26k again. No Internet cafe’s even exist up there. (4) At the same [International Hotel Chain] in another city, they provided software and a wireless-B card, which for whatever reason refused to work on my W2K laptop. I wnt out to WALMART and bought a Motorola Wireless adapter ( because I left my D-Link at home ) and with their software Everything worked just fine.
        New Thought… Verizon has a Unlimited plan for $99.00 a month that you can use an AIR_CARD ( they want over $400.00 to buy the card, and I found it at Delta Computers in Atlatna for less than $30.00), but they want a 12 month commitment and I just want it when nothing else works, but they won’t budge, so they are getting zero revenue from me instead of a holding fee, with an occasional full $99.00 a month when I really need the thing.
        I feel Much better !

    • #2700334

      K.I.S.S.

      by entertaining it manager ·

      In reply to going mobile…

      Hi
      I rolled out MS SBS03 last March and did a bit of work on the Sharepoint Services area to create departmental Intranet sites. My CEO was presented with an O2XDA with the redirected URL set up in the favourites. Any user that is out of the office are able to check their Mail via Outlook Web Access (much improved) and/or work from their desktop remotely via the /remote URL extension. This gives remote users full access to their office workstation from any remote source that has Interent access (ie Hotels, Internet Cafes or O2XDA)without needing a degree in I.T. to do it!!
      Full logging makes tracking easy and no gateways or firewalls are breached.

    • #2701323

      Smart phone?

      by acrimsons ·

      In reply to going mobile…

      ever consider a smart phone as another option? There are quite a number of model available in the market now

    • #2703721

      Combination of BlackBerry and small laptop with UMTS

      by horcnl ·

      In reply to going mobile…

      Dear John,

      We are using in our projectmanagement company BlackBerries and laptops with UMTS (3G: 384 kbps).

      Works good for 3 years now. Another real timesaver is MindManager a MindMapping software package which we use for brainstorming, notes, presentations and setting up projectplans. Also available on pocket pc’s but not on the RIM Blackberry.

      Regards,

      Jerre.

Viewing 11 reply threads