Great way for U.S. customers to roam!

[jeffharris]

Originally Posted by DRNewcomb

Andy,
I've asked myself the same question. Or, why not just use my Palm for VOIP? One thing about American cellular subscriptions is that the per minuite cost is so low that it is almost free. Some plans give you 3000 minutes for less than US$40/month and you may even get unlimited night and weekend calling too. So, with this sort of plan, I guess you'd be able to sit in CR and chat on your cell phone for hours at night and on weekends with no extra charge whatsoever. And you'd be using your same incoming and outgoing number as if you were still in the US; same address book, etc.

I think it is nice because it is EASY, and SIMPLE. You can use your same trusty GSM device, with the same phone number SIM, and seamlessly hand off. I guess that works for some people. Especially when I am in the Hollywood Hills in LA, it's nice to be able to hand off to a router, and use my cell in an area of no signal.

[DRNewcomb]

Originally Posted by jeffharris

I think it is nice because it is EASY, and SIMPLE. You can use your same trusty GSM device, with the same phone number SIM, and seamlessly hand off. I guess that works for some people. Especially when I am in the Hollywood Hills in LA, it's nice to be able to hand off to a router, and use my cell in an area of no signal.

I agree that easy and simple have a lot to do with this system being attractive. OTOH if the cost were ~25c/min instead of ~2.5c/min I think the easy & simple part would not be so important.

[snaimon]

I don't want to downplay the usefulness of @ home/wifi arrangements, but all that glitters is not gold. The WFI coverage was not good at all.

Back from 2 + weeks in Germany, Duesseldorf, Berlin & Frankfurt area. Stayed @ hotels in each place. Here are my WIFI experiences.

In Duesseldorf we stayed @ a small hotel with no WIFI or internet. Spent some time with wife's relatives and none of them had WIFI. First 7 nights. There was an internet cafe close at 2 Euros per hour.

Berlin Crown Plaza WIFI/internet rates: 30 min, 5 Euro; 120 min 10 Euro; 1 day 12.5 Euro.... 4 days 46 Euros. Needless to say I did not sign up. Next 6 nights. There were two internet cafes quite close at 2 Euros per hour.

Frankfurt (actually Gross Gerau). WIFI hotspot by T-Mobile Germany. Well, I did not even bother. Final 3 nights. There were two internet cafes quite close at 1 Euros per hour.

Stan