Internet cost help

[danb]

Hello, I need some help. I need internet access for about 25 days. Where we are now wants (China Tele-com ?) to charge us over 900 yuan. Something to do with being a new customer and they are charging us for a year. No , I can't just pay for 25 days worth. I went to the mobile phone store (China unicom) and asked them about tethering my phone to my computer. They said no can do. I asked about a "dongle( USB)" where I can just use computer to access the internet. They did not know what I was talking about. So I am now sitting in a cake shop that has Wi-Fi. Is this the best/cheapest way to gain access for my computer? Any suggestions? Thanks. Danb

[Randy W]

You should be able to buy a SIM with a data plan fairly cheaply. Your phone can be used as a WiFi hot spot for the computer.

[danb]

Randy, I was at wo.com unicom store. And I can verified that a lot if not most got lost in the translation. Using the Chinese phone as a hot spot is something I heard about when they were trying to sell me a AT and T phone last week. In China they weren t giving me that pitch. I have last years phone. A Huawei smartphone So i need to see if I have that capabilties. Somewhere in my settings I am guessing. Thanks for the idea. I am guessing but 3gigabytes should be enough. thanks again. danb

[Greg.D.]

Both Apple and Android offer tethering now ("Mobile Hotspot"). So, your phone is capable.

 

On one trip a friend gave me the sim from a second phone to use .... So that was an existing account. On the last trip, I though I would use T-Mobile who says free data in China. But, at the time, I did not have a pre-paid recurring plan over 1 GB/month, so that didn't work. A backwards way of saying T-Mobile could have helped you had you known.

 

I would keep asking around. But, if you are with somebody much of the time who has a phone, they can tether you and you can pay them for the data.

[danb]

I appreciate you all,s help. 20 or so years ago my mobile phone was a large motorola phone that I kept under my car seat. For emergency purposes only. I think I was paying about ten bucks for that peace of mind. Fast foorward to today I use my mobiles so much more. As far as peace of mind, that is real questionable. Trying to type on my smartphone with my fat thumb is no fun. I found wanlan, happi sharing and datasharing. When we go back to the phone.stores today we can show them these pages. It should help. Thanks again. Fat thumb DANB.

[danb]

Hello!!! Thank you to everyone for your help and ideas. When I am in China I usually get what they give me. I can ask for this or for that but often the end result may varies from the original design. I am using a USB dongle that T/R directly to the internet to send this post. I just happy to get back online with my computer at home. I got the dongle ( box says Wireless Data Card) for about 100 yuan and a 100 yuan for a Sim card that plugs into the dongle. When we got to the China Unicom store it was decided this is what I should get. I went, thinking that I was getting the data plan with a phone card that would make my mobile phone a hotspot. I thought that is what we had agreed on the night before. Like I said I usually get what they give me. It is ok. I am now connected again. I am happy. So much nicer. Next time I will try to find a store where they have some one who speaks English. In Nanning I have a friend who could have helped me but I am unfortunately not in Nanning at the moment. Thanks again. Danb