Hey xda. I'm thinking about participating in a Semester at Sea, which is basically a semester on a cruise ship that docks at various countries. They give you like 2 hours of wifi, then it's $0.30 a minute. Do you guys know of any other options either through mobile carriers (im with tmobile now) or companies? Thanks!
What countries would you be visiting? How long would you stay at each country? Would you actually disembark, or stay on/near the ship? When not in port, do you have any idea if you would at least be near land (e.g., near cellular signal)?
On one hand, I think the idea would be a great opportunity to be "disconnected" for a while. Just enjoy what's actually going on around you.
Or look into satellite-based internet. I don't know how practical that would be or how much you're willing to spend - they're usually data-capped services, so while it may end up being cheaper than 30 cents a minute (a charge that perhaps exists in order to keep you focused and only have you use it for essential communications), you may or may not get what you want out of it.
post-mortem said:
What countries would you be visiting? How long would you stay at each country? Would you actually disembark, or stay on/near the ship? When not in port, do you have any idea if you would at least be near land (e.g., near cellular signal)?
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Embark: San Diego, CA, United States 1
Hilo, Hawaii, United States
Yokohama, Japan *
Kobe, Japan *
Shanghai, China *
Hong Kong, China *
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Singapore, Singapore
Rangoon, Burma
Cochin, India
Port Louis, Mauritius
Cape Town, South Africa
Tema (Accra), Ghana
Casablanca, Morocco
Debark: Barcelona, Spain
Detailed: semser at sea [dot] org /voyages/spring-2014/calendar/
Im assuming we'll be near the ship, but I dont know for certain.
Wow, so you will definitely be spending many days in the middle of nowhere. You should plan on not having any internet access at all, though there will probably be an internet cafe within walking distance of every stop. Save your 2 hours of usage for when you really need it (they may charge by 15 minute intervals, or even by the hour). When you use the wifi, make sure you log out! And, use it smartly: all outgoing emails should be composed ahead of time; if you want to read something (blogs, wikipedia, etc.), it might be more cost effective to just print it out & read it later.
Most of all, as I said, be prepared to spend a lot of time away from the internet. Remember that you can still use your electronic devices, so you can always play (offline) games or whatever if you get bored playing miniature golf.
If you don't have one already, buy a camera, and don't run out of digital storage! If you don't have a laptop, someone else will probably have one (so bring some blank DVDs), or you can stop by an internet cafe to burn pictures onto DVD.
Although I didn't read the link, I think you should do it. You won't remember the stuff you "learned," but you'll remember the trip.
Good luck.
Related
So I'm relatively new to the whole globetrotting cellphone concept but will need one in a few months as I plan on spending some time abroad. A friend recommended this site as one for customizing cellphones and finding all sorts of interesting applications to facilitate taking a cellphone with me around the world. I've been browsing around, snooping and what not and close as I can find budget-, feature- and style-wise, the Vox is for me.
But here's the pickle: I live in Canada and all the models I've managed to find nationwide are going for ridiculous prices, be they used or new. I've found some retailers in the UK that are selling them at a low enough rate that even with the duties and customs fees it's still a very interesting price.
If I import a Vox from the UK, will it still be just as simple as popping in my SIM card? Or would there be any fancy trickery involved with configuring a European Vox to run at home in Canada?
Thanks for your time and understanding.
Hi all,
Couldn't wait any longer for touch pro to be available through the neworks. Took the plung and ordered today through Expansys with T-Mobile Flext 35 with W n W. My only concern it the reports of bad recieption on t-mobile. What are my rights of return with on-line sellers if my signal is bad. In my home there is no 3g and my GSM signal is between 1 and 2 bars. Always when out and about will I get the H or just 3G I seem to remember some comments on Expansys not including H with their sim cards.
Thanks everyone for taking the time to read and responding.
College.
I bought exactally the same deal and I have no worries with the signal, I get HSPDA at work, home and my GF's (3 quite spaced out locations, and I also live in the bottom of a valley).
As for returning, your problems lie with T-Mobile as you have entered an 18 month contract with them. I don't think you have many rights with regards to canceling that contract, certainly no more than about 10 days I think. But if you are having problems with reception, I'd say it was down to your area rather than the network or the phone.
l0st.prophet said:
I bought exactally the same deal and I have no worries with the signal, I get HSPDA at work, home and my GF (3 quite spaced out locations, and I also live in a valley).
As for returning, your problems lie with T-Mobile as you have entered an 18 month contract with them. I don't think you have many rights with regards to canceling that contract
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You should have a cooling off period - usually 14 days to return the product contract or not. Vodafone offer this, so i dont see why tmobile wont. You will have to pay for calls made etc.
ardsar said:
You should have a cooling off period - usually 14 days to return the product contract or not. Vodafone offer this, so i dont see why tmobile wont. You will have to pay for calls made etc.
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Sounds reasonable, I'm sure if you were to phone them up they would tell you where you stand.
I believe that the law in the UK states that on any mobile contract, you must have a 14 day period within which you can return it for ANY reason.
if expansys refuse to allow you to do this, they are breaking the law!
Hows your phone and T-Mobile ???
I'm toying with the idea of getting the same deal you went for , but i'm just unsure about t-mobile , so hows it all going ????
I went through expansys but with the t-mobile combi 30, no problems as of yet
Actually there is no law that states there is a 14 day cooling off period, this somewhat changed when the major networks got a significantly high percentage of coverage, if you purchase a phone from a shop you do not have a right to return it unless it is faulty, ie orange will not allow a return when a phone has been purchased from a shop and advise you or should advise you of this at the time, as it was costing them so much money to deal with the returned phones.
however, seen as all purchases from the internet are govered under distance selling rules, you will always have 7 days in which to return the phone to the dealer if you do not want to keep it.
And of course you still have statute law which coveres faulty goods ect.
bagg1234bagg said:
Actually there is no law that states there is a 14 day cooling off period, this somewhat changed when the major networks got a significantly high percentage of coverage, if you purchase a phone from a shop you do not have a right to return it unless it is faulty, ie orange will not allow a return when a phone has been purchased from a shop and advise you or should advise you of this at the time, as it was costing them so much money to deal with the returned phones.
however, seen as all purchases from the internet are govered under distance selling rules, you will always have 7 days in which to return the phone to the dealer if you do not want to keep it.
And of course you still have statute law which coveres faulty goods ect.
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The Distance selling regulations are actually 7 working days btw....
Hi all,
I'm new to the forum, although I've been lurking a few weeks.
Anyway, I too got a Touch Pro through Expansys with the T-Mobile Combi 30+WnW contract.
I noticed a problem with it (the contract) yesterday, which was the billing date, which was set to the 20th (had to sign up to the T-Mobile website to find this info out), and I had only got the contract on the 1st! I thought it was a little unreasonable to want me to pay over a week before the end of the month and it was also a couple of days before I get reimbursed for my time at work (and I don't want to eat cereal for a week ). I read the FAQ and billing info which said I could change it if it was in 14 days of the billing date, which it was just! So I battled with 150, robot voice of annoyance, and after managing to confuse it twice, it dropping my call twice while waiting for a reply from tech support, and giving up waiting after 10 minutes, I used their contact form to email them. A guy called me back 5 minutes later, brilliant! He moved the billing date to the 26th, for some reason the 25th which I would have preferred was a problem, but never mind.
So far though I really like the phone, which is my first windows mobile and at least the buttons work, unlike those on my hate inducing K800i.
BTW I'm pretty sure Expansys website says you have 10 days to notify them that you are going to return the phone.
Owen
2
do somebody can work it??
herrajohny said:
do somebody can work it??
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Do you speak English?
As for T-Mobile, I have had my phone for a few week now and no problems at all. I get great HSPDA signal for web browsing, after some faffing about I get YouTube streaming, calls are clear (1 dropped call in 2 1/2 weeks)and no problems with messaging either. T-mobile has by far one of the best Mobile Werb plans in the UK (Orange has 250mb limit and vodafone has 500MB fair useage, T-Mobile has 1GB Fair useage).
All in all I am very glad took the plunge!
I certainly think t-mobile offer a good service (unless abroad! - made my wallet somewhat lighter) but they have no business sense at all, as an existing customer with a month and a half left on my contract I can't use the same method to upgrade to the Touch Pro. I have a feeling it's going to be cheaper with vodafone etc when it launches though I dunno but I think I may hold out (Also for their faster HSPDA).
I wouldn't worry about fair usage policies, when I moved house with my t-mobile 1gb fair usage I didn't have the internet for a month so I plugged my n95 in and was able to get 1.5mbps to my pc. I think I must have used at least 10gb that month using it as my usenet client etc. All that happened was they sent me a letter two months down the line. I think unless you always use lots of BW, you really can see it as unlimited on any fair usage policy.
i'm going to be in london next week - are there any stores that i can walk into to see the Raphael in person?
i live in the US and this is my first time in the UK, so i'm not familiar with the providers and stores over there.
thanks
Aaron
Yes. Inkino have them in stock (www.inkino.co.uk). Although their store is quite small, they keep a good range of phones at good prices. They are also reliable (and honest) and an HTC Partner. They are at 48 Tottenham Court Road W1T 2EF. Tel: +44 (0) 207 631 4567.
I would be careful with some of the other shops on Tottenham Court Road, particularly some of the smaller ones.
PS No, I don;t work for Inkino!
Can I just add that I have bought my QTEK S200, Trinity and Touch Pro from INKINO. You may not get the very best price (you are generally talking only a few tens of pounds on a £500 product), but the service and assistance I have had from the guys who work there is second to none.
I went in yesterday with a problem on my Touch Pro and it was sorted straight away with no quibbles whatsoever. All the people who work there know their stuff when it comes to HTC and will be very straight with you. They are an HTC Authorised Ultimate Partner. They do not hard sell or push something they know is not what you want or need. A BIG contrast to some of the other stores in that area!
There are in fact two INKINO stores. The one at 48 Tottenham Court Road is within another shop and can get busy, the other is a little down the road at 9 Great Russell Street, bigger and generally more staff but no less quality of service.
(A big thanks to Alan, if you're listening, for yesterday - its working fine)
PS I don't work for them either.
remember to look around all the shops at tcr because theres a wide range of prices from 490 to 650 there
THANKS! everyone, appreciate it
Has anyone ever taken their phone on a cruise (in the Caribbean) and had cell coverage? I have a Tilt with ATT service and have "International" turned on, but am wondering if the phone will work on the cruise ship and in the various ports (Bahamas, St. Thomas, etc.) Is there anything I can do to make the odds better?
Mine worked while in port at The Gran Camen. But, I didn't have my current phone, it was an older phone, not the new quad band "world phones".
So, your experience may be different.
yggorf said:
Has anyone ever taken their phone on a cruise (in the Caribbean) and had cell coverage? I have a Tilt with ATT service and have "International" turned on, but am wondering if the phone will work on the cruise ship and in the various ports (Bahamas, St. Thomas, etc.) Is there anything I can do to make the odds better?
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Welcome to the forum
I think this "coverage area" is also limited by your cell provider according to your contract.
On my case, I never tested on a ship, but have been in several places and always having coverage.
Of course this service have a cost.
I{m sure however that sea coverage will be more expensive
Just my thoughts
Well, after thinking about the original question for a sec, the phone won't work while at sea. There are no towers out there!
won't work at sea, but may work at certain ports. you will need to ask at&t about what caribbian cities are roaming covered.
May work at sea using the same technology that they are currrently putting in planes, a pico-cell, which will take the mobile call and then route it via the ships existing satellite connection. Anybodies guess as to the roaming charges though.
Here You Go
http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/24/man-charged-28-000-for-using-data-card-slingbox-to-watch-footb/
http://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/19/tuaw-tip-using-your-iphone-on-a-cruise-ship/2
I know for a fact that some ships have built in cell towers that can be activated once you've left shore. However, I do believe it counts as data roaming, SO BE CAREFUL!! At 2 cents a KB, things can get expensive quickly. This article shows what can happen.
Dave
DaveTheTytnIIGuy said:
I know for a fact that some ships have built in cell towers that can be activated once you've left shore. However, I do believe it counts as data roaming, SO BE CAREFUL!! At 2 cents a KB, things can get expensive quickly. This article shows what can happen.
Dave
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That would be a HUGE shocking bill to get!
But at least the guy didn't have to pay it, but I bet it was a huge hassle to get it all straightened out.
Your telephone will have service on any populated island you go to. Typically you will find carriers like Digicell in the west indies. My knowledge of the northern caribbean is limited, but since the southern (and less developed) countries have decent gsm coverage, you should have no issues when less than 10-20 miles from land. Essentially islands which are within sight of each other should have few coverage gaps if any. When you have a 5 hour cruise over open sea, you will have nothing.
Roaming will depend on your carrier. I use Rogers which has dropped its rates from 5cents/kb to 3.
http://www.rogers.com/web/content/wireless-network/international_roaming
This link will let you select a country, when the little window opens, click the option for a coverage map. International GSM coverage has nothing to do with Rogers, it will just tell you who has coverage where. Obviously ignore the rates, all you can use from this is the map
Hi all,
I'm going to play with the Xoom at Carphone warehouse tomorrow. My main concerns are the overall ergonomic and screen quality.
If I'm happy with the Xoom, I'll buy it for £130 and 5GB of data per month for 24 months with Talk mobile at £25p/m.
My main concern is I never used Talk mobile before and would like some input about there data coverage in the UK please? I'm located in north London area.
Many thanks
It uses vodaphones network so coverage seems quite good! I get 6mb download speed in my house (knowsley 10 miles from Liverpool city) yet barely get a phone signal at all on my android phone! Downside is Vodaphone have an 'adult content control' which stop you from accessing some. Completely innocent sites and talkmobile told me they can only lift it after 3 months! I've not been able to access some news sites either... I wouldn't mind but even if I was looking for porn, why would I have to wait 3 months? Does that make any difference? Will the xoom have cleansed my muddy soul by then?? ;-)
Anyway back on topic... its been great signal for me so far... even got gprs on a campsite surrounded by hills in Wales...
Bigmille said:
Hi all,
I'm going to play with the Xoom at Carphone warehouse tomorrow. My main concerns are the overall ergonomic and screen quality.
If I'm happy with the Xoom, I'll buy it for £130 and 5GB of data per month for 24 months with Talk mobile at £25p/m.
My main concern is I never used Talk mobile before and would like some input about there data coverage in the UK please? I'm located in north London area.
Many thanks
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