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Worldwide net access at local call rates.
Cheaper notebooks mean more of us can enjoy computing on the move, but getting online when abroad can still prove awkward. Wifi is great, but only if you can find a local access point, while Internet cafes are usually crowded and force you to use someone else's system, and dialling back to an ISP in the UK is expensive.
With a pay-as-you-go service that works across 105 countries, Netaway provides dial-up Internet access at 8p per minute. You pay for the local call to the ISP, but in most cases it will still be far cheaper than dialling home. You use your own system, software and email accounts - just install the dialler and change the name of your outgoing email server. You don't even need to change it back when you return.
The initial package price includes five hours of online credit, which can be topped up online or over the phone. The minimum top-up is 150 minutes for £12 and the credit sits on your account until you use it. Buying time in bulk reduces costs to 6p per minute.
Following a few teething troubles with busy signals and connection breaks, everything worked as advertised during tests in Belgium and France. But it's surprising how quickly five hours of surfing and emailing goes with a 56K connection. The hassle and cost of international phone adapters should also be factored in.
Although we'd obviously like an even cheaper service, the convenience of Netaway makes it a handy tool. The service can also be used with a PDA or Mac.
Contact: Net2roam 08707 511 111
www.netaway.com
System requirements:
Our verdict
Pros:Easy to set up; uses existing accounts; reduces your call costs.Cons:Dial-up speeds; lack of phone adapters.Overall:Netaway provides a no-fuss and more affordable way of getting online abroad.
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A total waste of money
I bought the standard package before a long trip overseas (10 months) in which I travelled across Europe and Asia to the Far East, then down to Australia, New Zealand and the Far East. I tried the service before I left the UK. It worked locally, but I was worried by the fact that there was insufficient information to actually address any configuration issues if they had occurred. During the 10 months away I tried to use NetAway on several occasions in over 10 countries, all of which were on their list of supported ones, but it didn't work on even one occasion. It was a complete and total waste of money. In case you're wondering, I'm an IT consultant and could handle instructions of any complexity to set it up and make it work, but there weren't any and it didn't. It's all very well saying "try it before you go", and proving it works in London, but you can't try it in Australia unless you're actually there! Fortunately there were almost always internet cafes etc with WiFi and when they weren't available NetAway didn't work anyway - so what's the point?
Posted by L Rose, 13 Nov 2008