GPRS and EDGE

I have been investigating methods of connecting to the internet using a mobile phone.

From my investigations - TIM - offer quite a good service for PAYG customers.

Its called MaxxiTIM Ricarica Facile

It costs €30 for 1 block of 30 days - so useful if you dont live in Italy all the time.

At the moment till July 2006 - you are allowed 500MB worth of traffic plus a bonus of 500MB each block of 30 days bought.

GPRS running at upto 80Kbs and EDGE (EGPRS) running at upto 236Kbs (tho my phone will only go to 177Kbs). Its getting onto ADSL speeds.

Further - I have signed up with iBox - and now can view and charge my phone on the internet from the UK.

I can also view usage of the phone. Bigger Cities have access to UMTS which can go upto speeds of 384Kbs.

[tuscanhills]

Question; are the TIM 30 day block consecutive days or "take 'em as you use them?"

Also, you might want to look at wireless access points; there are a vast number dotted around as if you have a laptop and if it's wireless, it's a really simple affair.

Try searching for points at www.jiwire.com. I found a number of options that start at EUR1 for 30 mins (30 mins that can be used anytime, for as long as needed.) Some spots need you to 'join' different companies to access them, but it's not a killer of an affair.

.......you need to be close to a hotspot, but it's an alternative to all the other alternatives(!)

Thats 13 miles away but costs you $21 to join

Yes - the TIM option is for consecutive days - but considering you get 1GB of traffic for €30 seems a good deal - they also do a contract for 500MB for only €10 a month but the offer ends April 2006

http://www.privati.tim.it/pr/pr_dett...4_7525,00.html

Exclusively for pre pay customers - I think I have understood the web page right! (No I have changed my mind - you have to sign up for Relax - ) - The first option is the best


And I got it wrong - its only €20 for 30 days - so even cheaper - not bad for 1GB of traffic

http://www.privati.tim.it/pr/pr_dett...7_6979,00.html

And correct me if I am wrong it looks like it costs 6 cents a KB to use in the UK

http://www.privati.tim.it/pr/pr_dett...70_518,00.html

available to prepay or contract!

[tuscanhills]

.....might just set up my own wireless in Salano & charge a few bob to those gullible Britz. Hmmmmmm......

[tuscanhills]

You're right about the nearest Wireless point; I've got a work connection that means it's free to connect & so all I need to do is to synch regularly. Nipping to La Spez or Srazana doesn't seem too much of a hardship. (once in the morning (brioche time!) another at midday (chow-down time) and again in the evening (ditto!); at least work fits me dining schedule ;)

The TIM option looks interesting though. Let me know how it goes if you decide to take that option.

[derekL]

Originally Posted by tuscanhills

.....might just set up my own wireless in Salano & charge a few bob to those gullible Britz. Hmmmmmm......

Anyone know of any wireless connections available in Lunigiana......? ;)

Cheers, I.M. Gullible

[Rob]

Salve Tutti,
For those that are unaware of the language that is being spoken on this thread, may i offer some assistance.

I too, need to connect to the internet when we arrive in Abruzzo in a few weeks time and as there is no ADSL line, in other words we can't have broadband up at the house through a telephone socket, we looked to use a mobile phone connection.

Vodaphone offer a piece of equipment called a 'connect card' & this fits into the expansion slot on your computer. This is in effect the computers mobile phone. With this comes a package which is what is being spoken of in the previous posts. Normally, when you sign up to an Internet service provider (ISP) in the UK, you either have continual usage, broadband, or pay as you use, in other words, the more use surf the internet, the more you pay.

In this case using a mobile connection, as the technology is more expensive, they offer packages that need you to anticipate how much information you are likely to want to send or receive. In effect you are paying for your computer to be on the phone talking, not you.

The more data you are likely to transfer the more expensive the package. I don't know how to relate mgbytes/kilobytes to an average e-mail etc. Perhaps someone could help me out on this one.
Also, if i do not send or receive data how long can i stay on the net? What would be the best package for someone that just wants to check his e-mail box once a day, send 1/2 emails a day & read the Italymag forum? What happens if i stay on longer that my monthly declared allocation?

When we're all up and running out there, i'll post & let you know what i've got, how much & whether it's value for money......unless someone out there has already set themselves up and can post the info now?

For instance upto Robs last post on this thread - was 13Kb on Italy mag forum.

The living in Italy (www.livinginitaly.co.uk) home page is 32Kb

My hotmail account which has many messages per page came in at 80Kb for the first listing

A 100 page pdf file is 610Kb

Originally Posted by derekL

Anyone know of any wireless connections available in Lunigiana......? ;)

Cheers, I.M. Gullible

www.jiwire.com lists the nearest points - La Spezia was the closest I found to Villafranca, Aulla and Pontremoli.

Of course there are internet cafes around in both Pontremoli (near the old Bridge - one down from the foot stone bridge) and one in Aulla near the station

But the whole point is I want access to the internet from home - where I can print stuff out etc and scan stuff in

You should be able to see the size of any web page by right clicking somewhere inactive on the page and choosing properties. Further - with the TIM service you can monitor your Internet traffic and credit on the phone at any point - I have looked at the Vodafone option - but you seemed tied into a contract. - And I am not always in Italy.