internet connections (laptop, high end, DSL, modem)

[littlelou]

Okay, I am technologically challenged. How do you get internet access without a phone line. I have 2 friends who have moved away and only have cell phones and neither knows how to connect to the internet from home. Neither place is WIFI accessible.


Help??

[swagger]

Cable, "naked" dsl (inet over phone a line without a telephone account), wireless (not a lot of wireless ISPs around, though, and the ones that are aren't cheap).. and of course dialup

[aquila]

Originally Posted by littlelou

Okay, I am technologically challenged. How do you get internet access without a phone line. I have 2 friends who have moved away and only have cell phones and neither knows how to connect to the internet from home. Neither place is WIFI accessible.


Help??

Simple. They either have to get landline accounts so they can use dial-up or DSL, or subscribe to broadband via a cable or satellite company. I've never actually heard of DSL availability without having a landline account, but Swagger probably knows more than me. Maybe it's just not available in my area.

They could try going to a local library when they need to access the internet, but there are time limitations in doing that, and it can be inconvenient.

[NHDave]

Originally Posted by aquila

Simple. They either have to get landline accounts so they can use dial-up or DSL, or subscribe to broadband via a cable or satellite company. I've never actually heard of DSL availability without having a landline account, but Swagger probably knows more than me. Maybe it's just not available in my area.

They could try going to a local library when they need to access the internet, but there are time limitations in doing that, and it can be inconvenient.

X2 on that in my area, you cannot get DSL service without also having a phone account with the provider.

[swagger]

Don't be too sure about the availability of naked dsl - the phone companies don't advertise it. They want to sell you dsl along with telephone service, of course.

If you're interested in it, call up your local telco's Internet department and ask them about "dry loop" dsl service.

I had naked dsl in southern California through Verizon. I dropped my regular phone service and switched to dsl only in about 2004 or 2005, and kept it until I moved at the end of 2006.

Also, to the OP - most of the cellular companies have data plans with PC cards or USB devices. They're not cheap and not remarkably fast, but they work. If it's an extremely rural area or something, it might be possible alternative.

[aquila]

Originally Posted by swagger

Don't be too sure about the availability of naked dsl - the phone companies don't advertise it. They want to sell you dsl along with telephone service, of course.

Well, duh - of course they do. *slapping myself in the forehead* I didn't think about that. See, I knew you were a smart person.

Originally Posted by swagger

If you're interested in it, call up your local telco's Internet department and ask them about "dry loop" dsl service.

Oh, that's ok. I'm pretty squared away with my service. I'd just never heard of something like that before. Sneaky little boogers for hiding it from us, huh?

[Brian.Pearson]

There are a lot of places where you can take a laptop, though I'm not all that inclined to do so until they have a longer lasting battery. United Markets, Hastings, Schlotzsky's, are a few. I've seen some rest areas on the side of the highway with Internet access.

[grannynancy]

Sometimes people "piggyback" on neighbors' wireless, but most folks nowadays are savvy enough to lock others out of their home netowrk.

[J Arp]

If they're willing to pay for unlimited data service on their phones you can set up newer, more high end, phones to act as a modem. It is pretty handy if you are out in the boonies and its typically faster than dial-up.

I guess the phone doesn't have to be -real- high end, but it needs bluetooth, and the unlimited data was just a suggestion. If they plan on using their cellphone for internet usage their bill will get big very quick.

You can get satellite internet service too, but it stinks. Cellphone is my choice.

[Brian.Pearson]

From what I've heard about satellite Internet, the ads on TV are very misleading.