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mobile broadband and Skype

5 replies

SparkyUK · 24/06/2010 10:16

We're moving to a new house and will be without phone and broadband for a while so was thinking of getting a dongle and PAYG mobile broadband package. Has anyone used Skype on one of these? Does it work okay? and does it rip through your gb allowance?

thanks

OP posts:
NetworkGuy · 24/06/2010 11:41

Sorry, have never used Skype, but have used a mobile network for ~21 months. I'd have thought that for reliability you might prefer to use a mobile (Asda PAYG costs 8p per minute for calls to 01/02/03 landlines, and Skype is perhaps mostly going to offer you calls to friends/ relations rather than business calls, at a guess).

How long do you expect to be without a landline? Only ask because you can find people offering SIMs on Ebay for Three, Vodafone and probably other networks. The differences can be quite major though - on Vodafone, someone might charge a tenner for 1 GB of data, while a PAYG SIM for Three may cost 9 quid or less and be for 3 GB for 3 Months, whichever gets used up first.

If the postcode for where you are going has Three as an option, it might give you a breathing space to connect up a laptop or PC using a USB dongle. Getting a dongle with 1 GB of data is 30 quid from the online Three store, and then you could get a further 3 GB via Ebay. (Three sells a dongle with 3 GB of data for 40 quid, so each GB is roughly 5 or 6 pounds compared with 3 or less off Ebay).

Or consider a Three MiFi (combination that uses SIM and mobile network to offer internet access and a wi-fi access point for your laptops/mobile phones to use). You can then add 3GB/3month SIMs as often as you need buying them on Ebay at lower price than top-ups in a Three store.

Other networks may offer better options - there used to be SIMs for Vodafone where any data credit was not wiped at end of a month but new SIMs apparently only have data allowance for a month.

Worth checking the options for all mobile networks for your new location.

PS If you do choose to use Asda mobile, they use the Vodafone network so check coverage on Voda and either use a Voda mobile phone, or get an unlocked phone (Asda Living sell a range). If you buy a 5 quid top-up voucher you can get the Asda SIM pack free, so each time you top-up you can check to see if you get a nice "memorable" number in a new SIM pack (and flog the SIM on ebay !

NetworkGuy · 24/06/2010 11:42

Forgot to say that several Three mobile phones have Skype as standard. ZTE F107 (black, 2 MP camera, MP3 player etc) is only 29.99. However don't know what the call costs are on Three PAYG as I am only using their network for data.

NetworkGuy · 24/06/2010 11:44

Of course, using Skype you may be able to avoid Three PAYG charges for landlines - I know Skype can handle calls to landlines but don't know if that option is available via the Three phones (they would be shooting themselves in the foot as they'd cut off an income stream, wouldn't they!)

SparkyUK · 24/06/2010 12:46

We'll be using our mobiles for calls, so that's not a real problem. Our parents live overseas though so for the to call our mobiles is $$$ and we have regular Skype video calls with them too so wanted to see if we can still do that with mobile broadband.

some of the networks block VOIP so I guess they block Skype video calls then too. I have a 3 phone though and they are very pro-skype so I think I will just go with them, checking in the store that mobile broadband is also happy with skype.

OP posts:
NetworkGuy · 24/06/2010 14:53

If you already have Three with Skype on your phone then you could call them with that, perhaps. Just maybe no video until you have a landline? Equally they should be able to reach your Three mobile by making the call on Skype (I trust it allows incoming calls just as easily as outgoing), so problem should be solved with the existing Three SIM (might need to swap phone if yours does not have Skype already).

30 quid for ZTE F107 is small outlay compared with house move

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