Independent site listing internet and cell phone deals
 

Hi,

I'll start working in the US (Lancaster, PA) in a few weeks for a period of up to 6 month. Since I don't think the apartment provided by my employer will have internet access available, I'm already checking out options for going online there without having to commit myself in 2-year-contract or something.

I have found some articles and blogs providing information about prepaid deals with prepaid 3G service, but all that focuses only on single offers without giving me the chance to compare prices of other carriers. Here in Germany we have dozens of websites you can use to query regularly maintained databases giving a broad overview of the market and what is available. I can't seem to find any such site for the US market. prepaidgsm.net is a start, but it focuses too much on cell phone services and hardly on data-only deals (e.g. USB surf sticks) or combinations of different services. Sorry, but it's a bit static. ;)

So, I'm looking for an independent website that I can use to search for US internet and cell phone plans and deals by using certain criteria like "contract", "prepaid" or which hardware I need etc, and for comparing the prices.

Is there such a site observing the US market?

Cheers,
Mac

USA internet access.
 

If your apartment is provided by your employer, you can aford internet access<g>. I suspect DSL and Cable internet is available. If you are in an apartment, I would not be shocked if you can access Wi-Fi from you neighbor[s]. I would be shocked if you could not. Unless they are all Amish--but Amish do use cell phones at times.

I just found out that the apartment is prewired by some local cable company, but internet access still has to be activated and paid by myself. I already contacted one of their sales reps, but of course a response will take a little time. The thing is, I probably will have to pay termination fees when I move out because I won't be staying there long enough.

I have been to the US a few times, and I know there's open Wi-Fi everywhere. But I wouldn't want to rely on it. ;) When you travel around on a road trip and your current motel happens to have no internet access (which they almost all have, even the shabby ones), it's no problem to simply check your email in the next motel you check into on the next night. Odds are high you don't run into "no-access" twice in a row. :) But if you're tied to one place, I wouldn't want to drive by the next motel or friendly neighbor evertime I wanna read my emails. ;)

Cheers,
Mac

Check if there are any minimum contract periods. Certainly with the cable modem internet in my area in the US there wasn't, I used to just switch it on and off for a few months when I was at the house. (that eventually involved reconnect fees each time, so I now just leave it on).

Sometimes a promo deal of some sort will have a fixed-term, but you can normally just go on a month to month deal as an alternative. Probably even get a discount for the first few months.

Thanks for your comments, guys!

I spoke to one the cable company's sales reps, and he said I could have internet access without any penalty when leaving after less than their minimum contract periods. Must be some deal with my employer and the fact that these apartments are somehow always rented by them. :)

Best,
Mac