Hi! This is not a vacation question, more a computer one. I'll bring my laptop over from US to UK for a long period of time, and just happen to have wireless modem card sitting around. I know some places in US like cafes and such you can utilise wireless modem connection there. Is this compatible in the UK or is this common at all?
Thank you for your help!

I am going to take a wild stab in the dark and say it's likely they are on a different system.

I do know WiFi has been more common in the UK for longer, but I don't know for sure the system specs they use. Is this something wherein your cell phone has an infrared beam which makes the connection, or an actual WiFi transmitter is needed? if it is the phone, my guess is that their cell phones are not compatible with ours - thus, good luck, if it is true WiFi - surely there is an expert here who can give you a definitive answer.

I'm no expert. But assuming you're talking about 802.11b, the protocol is standard worldwide.

The problem is finding wireless access. The warchalking.org site will help you a bit. But there's one of those Web vicious circle issues about access points: few provide them, so few organise their lives to need them, so few provide them. And the UK's greater sophistication in everything to do with mobile phones and texting means that people who want to pick up email on the move have far easier ways of so doing than all that nonsense with WiFi.

But if you're here for any length of time, your card will help you share broadband access with flatmates or any organisation you're involved with. And of course an increasing proportion of people you might want to share files with will also have 802.11b on their machines. Most new laptops on sale here will have them pre-installed.

Some of the London's hotels do have WiFi. It's not as common there yet.
If you go to this page, it lists about 50 Starbucks in the UK that provides the service. I assume you know that you have to sign-up with T-Mobile in order to get on line.

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/Dispatcher...mp;uc=personal

Have a great trip!

Sorry, this is the right address:

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/Dispatcher...=phones_wb_l_l

Thank you for all your help!
Sounds like it's not a very common thing, so maybe I'll just go without it!