Internet without a BT phone line.

[Floella]

I'm sorry if this is a dumb question, but can you have internet access on a lap top without a phone line.
My daughter is going to get a laptop for uni work and she needs access to the internet, but my husband won't have a BT line.
Is wireless broadband a way round this?
Any advise welcome. TIA.
Floella x

[rojash]

You will need either a phoneline or a cable connection - the wireless part just refers to how you connect to the phoneline or cable. Maybe you have cable TV?

[Floella]

Thanks Rojash,
We have got Sky but without the phone line connection, its through the dish.
Sounds like my husband is going to have to swallow his pride and get a BT line installed.

[ugly_bob]

You can get it through vodafone (and probably other mobile networks too). You can either plug your pc into a compatible phone or get a dedicated data card that plugs into your PC with a sim card in it.
You then connect completely wirelessly through 3G.
It's more expensive and slower than having a fixed line though, but you can use it anywhere (inc abroad).

[ugly_bob]

http://www.itreviews.co.uk/hardware/h592.htm is a review
http://www.vodafonebusinessshop.co.uk/index.cf m?fuseaction=MobileEmailAndData.mobileConnect& mnuid=4&sbmid=4.1&WT.srch=1 gives some price plans

[Floella]

Thanks UglyBob,
I had a look at the link, very helpful, but as you said its more expensive and as she's a taxdodger aka a student she hasn't got a lot of money to spend on an internet provider. It looks like a land line is our only real option.
Thanks anyway.
Flo xx

[ugly_bob]

yeah, it's aimed at business users at the moment really. Give it a year or so and it may become more viable for personal use.
Just as an aside, my boss recently got one and found he got much faster speeds - approaching 1.5Mbps in Amsterdam, whereas over here, has trouble getting 300Kbps.