[ourquest]

Telecom seem to have much more coverage for mobile data than vodafone. Is this true and is it a practical (and sufficiently affordable) solution to internet access?

[Chiba]

I have a 3G Telecom card for my laptop and it works OK. Comes up fast, throughput's reasonable (I don't expect miracles) and seems stable too. Don't know about affordable, sorry - work pays.

[ourquest]

Thanks for the quick reply Chiba. Cost seems ok according to Telecom's website but if coverage is patchy and/or intermittent it might not practical. I would also use it for a laptop but outside major centres.

[Leccy-Lee]

I know idea about over here, but i know i ran up a HUGE bill in UK using my mobile and a laptop for two weeks!

Oops

[KerryS]

I have mobile internet through Vodafone - using a vodem. Cheap as chips, as I don't have a phone line to the house, I skype all my calls.
Speed is excellent, and I can download and upload easily. I live in Auckland, and travel with work, and have had no problems anywhere I've been so far. It worked really well in Kawhia as well, which is well away from the main centres.
Anywhere that a Vodafone phone works, I've had coverage, and a reasonable speed.

[gpbenton]

I also have mobile broadband through Vodafone. I used is as my only internet access with my laptop before my other computers arrived, and it worked fine, but the download limit was a bit restricting for me.

Now I still use it when I'm on the road.

With Vodafone you only get broadband speeds in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. But I had perfectly good slow service from my hotel room in Queenstown.

[ourquest]

Thanks everyone for your input. :)