The Skype Alternative (How About Internet in Italy?)
 

An alternative for international calls while traveling is to use Skype or similar and call free or at least cheaply with Skype-out. I have been in Germany for 7 months and this has cut costs very much.

A problem, however, is how to get free or cheap Internet service. My immediate problem: I am moving to Italy and do not know how to sign up for Internet or even if I can! I have found out that Fastweb has terrific plans with €9.90 per month trials and it only costs €49 to break the contract. But will I be allowed to sign up for service??

Can we start a thread about getting Internet access/service in European countries when we are there for a limited period (but more time than the usual tourist, I suppose)?

In Italy, over the summer, I used the WIND 5Gb per month 24/7 for 30 euros per month, plus TIM off peak 9Gb per month, (not 9am-5pm Mon-Fri), for 25 euros per month.

Watching UK TV via Slingbox, and using Skype was fine where I could get a 3G signal, (which was most places - not Stromboli).

Cheers

Richard

Fastweb is a landline operator and to get the € 9.90 offer you must subscribe with them before December 31st and you pay that little only till march, after that month, if you want unlimited internet, it's 65 euros per month... I think you must keep that subscription for minimum 2 years and you have to pay with banck account or credit card, which I suppose must be Italian. So I really guess it's not a great idea.

Much better to use a mobile service. 3 has quite a good offer to call US numbers: 15€/month to get 50 hours. You can also buy the Skypephone, it's a rather cheap 3G phone with Skype capabilities, if you refill every month you get free Skype calls to other Skype numbers (no SkypeOut calls by now).

If you are going somewhere where there is 3 3G coverage, http://3skypephone.com/ will work. Skypeout may be blocked, however.