Great way for U.S. customers to roam!

[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