SanDiegoSue

We have a Verizon wireless Wi-Fi connection but have been told that Verizon doesn't work in Australia. We'll be in Melbourne for 3 weeks and I'll need to access the internet for business. Is there a short-term access that we can buy?
Thanks
Sue

lavandula

You can get mobile broadband (an internet stick) from Optus and Virgin and I think also Vodaphone, or many hotels have internet access. Some is free, some not. When we stayed at the Mantra in Southbank (Melbourne) last year the hotel had internet access which you could buy. I don't recall exactly how much but I found it quite expensive (in the $27-28 dollar range???) and you could only buy days of access. As we were only there for a few days I think I bought access for one day and then on other days waited until my husband came home as his workplace provides mobile broadband and I used his work computer to access emails. I would contact the hotel first and see what arrangements they make for guests who want to surf the internet, and find out specifically what it will cost.

Lavandula

shandy

My son who is the techno geek in my family say, yes, unfortunately Verizon will not work in Melbourne. He suggests the following:

I'd probably suggest getting a prepaid mobile broadband card. Two main options there would include:

Three Mobile Broadband PrePaid: http://www.three.com.au/cs/ContentSe...=1221530699083

Telstra PrePaid Mobile Broadband: http://www.telstra.com.au/bigpond-in...rted/index.htm

Three's one is cheaper ($49), but Telstra's one ($79) has much better network coverage and will be of particular use if they're going out of suburban Melbourne into the country.

Three's one comes with 200mb of data, which probably wont be enough and you'd need to purchase more data. Telstra one comes with 2gb of data which is probably enough for three weeks.

As Lavandula has already said, check with your hotel. Some charge outrageous prices for internet access. It seems to me that the more expensive the hotel, the more they charge. It's absolutely ridiculous when you consider nearly all the cheap backpackers have wi-fi for free.

There is no shortage of cafes with free wi-fi access around but as it is for business, presumably you need something better than this.

SanDiegoSue

Thank you!!
Sue

scrb11

Just my experience. I got broadband access through my hotel, which uses "MovieLink Broadband" which appears to be using Optus. It's ethernet so I hooked it up to my MacBook Pro and I could share the connection with my iPhone.

It costs $22 a day or $66 for a week.

Speed is very good but I can't retrieve any email unless I use web email. Port 995 times out trying to access Google Mail. What is odd is the first time I connected, it worked but hasn't since. Problem is, there were 2 govt. holidays so tech. support wasn't available and during the day I was out so didn't get a chance to contact tech support.

Also finding that VPN doesn't work either at least PPTP and L2TP used by my work.

I've just lived with it because it's good enough.

I did look into getting a Mifi and Telstra seems to have the best network from what I've read. They are offering one for $150 which includes 5 GB of data for 30 days. But the device is locked to Telstra and the unlocking fee is $100 additional, unless someone finds an unlock code so that it could be used in other countries as well.