Travel Technology - Air Card for overseas use

I take 2-3 trips a year to the UK and I'd like a air card for my laptop. Usually my trips involve lots of downtime ie staying with the in-laws, train rides, etc. Since my trips are infrequent and short duration I don't want to spend a monthly fee to use them when I'm not using them (ie ATT). Work gave me a Verizon 5750 but I don't think I can use it overseas. What options are there for pay as you go, or pay per month?

I would also be interested if there is a GSM based aircard that could be used in any GSM country (except USA GSM) with a local Sim card ,

Rally

Only ATT as far as I know for US based carrier. TMO doesn't have a broadband data network yet and Sprint/Verizon EVDO cards only work in North America plus a couple of locations.

List of ATT GSM LapTop devices:
http://www.wireless.att.com/businesscenter/solutions/wireless-laptop/modem-cards.jsp?WT.svl=title&wtLinkName=LearnMore&wtLinkLoc=BDY

Just watch the plans. Expensive to start and there most plans have limits on the amount of data...

http://www.expansys.com/c.aspx?t=cat&f=495

It actually never occured to me to look at T-Mobile. They have a USB stick for 48GBP and internet it 2GBP/day or 10GBP/week with a 3GB cap per month. Perfect!

I wonder how much shipping to the US will be.

I've used TMobile UK instead of hotel broadband. Three also has an interesting offer.

Does anyone have info on aircard/ wireless USB capabilities in mainland Europe, esp. France, BeNeLux, Germany?

Buy an unlocked Sierra USB 881 or Mercury off E-Bay:

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=sierra+usb+hspa&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=sierra+usb+2100&_osacat=0

Don't use the ATT software, instead download the Sierra Watcher utility from the Sierra website:

http://www.sierrawireless.com/product/watchersoftware.aspx

It has stored configuration for most GSM providers.

Wow, thanks for such a complete answer, with links and everything! This is why FT is one of my favorite boards.

Thanks Dubai Stu!^^