I am moving from the UK to Los Angeles for the summer and going to be staying in an appt(s) that probably does not have a phone line and I need internet access to primarily check my email.

What's the best option for me ? Should I rely on wifi sites ?

I've checked out the Starbucks site and it seems that the subscription for T-Mobile is quite expensive. Are there many Free WiFi sites in Los Angeles (SF Valley / Hollywood) ? or should I use just internet cafe's .. that will work of course but can be inconvenient cos you have to make the trip specifically to check your email.

Or should I make sure I get an appt with a phone connection and subscribe to AOL or something.

I'm looking for the best solution in terms of price and flexibilty for me. I will probably only be in LA for about 3 months I think.

Thanks
Bill

$39,99 a month isn't that bad, in a country where decent dialup will cost you $25 a month... If Internet is that important then I'd pick the easiest solution, check the appartment to see if there is any open signal, see if any neighbours with WiFi are willing to share it (for a fee).

If you are not as US citizen then getting a phone line for a few months will prove pretty hard as all operators want a social security number, so you'll need someone else to sign for it, plus after the cost for the phone line and the ISP the WiFi option will probably be cheaper anyway...

Make sure you bring a GOOD WiFi card, or get one that has an external antenna, that way you can be sure you'll pick up any signals out there.

While it doesn't have a phone line, it will probably have a cable television line, I would check to see if they offer internet over the cable line.

If not then the neighbor sharing thing is a good alternative, somebody within wireless distance must have DSL or a cable modem, and probably is already wireless.

I'll check that out.

I will also be subscribing to a Cell phone service, possibly a T_mobile service .. are there any options there there that will allow me to access the internet via the cellphone subscription ? like an add-on package ?

Unlimited wifi from T-Mo drops to $29.95 if you have a T-Mo phone account too.

Acutally, it's $19.95 on any T-mobile voice plan.

But once again, remember that you will only be able to get a T-mobile voice plan with a social security number and a US credit history. Without a credit history they will put you on a "special access" plan where most services like GPRS and WiFi are NOT available.

Plus, T-mobile plans have a minimum contract of 12 months, the same probably applies to a cable TV subscription.

I am not certain of California but most libraries in most of the USA allow free internet usage on their in-house computers. Kinkos have connection service. Many mid-priced hotels have *FREE* Wi-Fi available (admittedly for their guest usage, but hey!) in their lobbies. I am using one now and I am not a paying guest.

MisterNice

Some California libraries do offer free internet access. Not by WiFi, but by reserving time on one of their machines. I bet you can find the library system of the municipality in which you will be staying on google.

Many coffee houses now offer free wireless ... no chains that I know of, but independents trying to compete.

Good luck.

Mapping WiFi access seems to be a popular pasttime. There's a current Washington Post article summarizing all the web sites offering this info, Getting Connected With the Hot Spots.

They like www.wifimaps.com for the map details, (but check out the other sites they list also). Wifimaps.com even listed several points in some small towns deep in the mountains of northern Pennsylvania (Williamsport and Coudersport).

Other sites that could help are

www.wifinder.com
www.wi-fizone.com

And, I don't think you have to have an SS number. A german friend of mine got one in December, not a prepay (which is an option and some access is free there) and only had to give a credit card number. They bill the phone to his account and made the bills go to the credit card account as well. It was a eurocard or mastercard I think, so this might be possilbe, but why would you when prepay is relatively cheap.

But still, without a US credit history they will pretty much always place you on their smartaccess plans with considerable limitations.

As for prepaid, that works out a lot more expensive than a normal plan.

hey, thanks for the info. I know i can't get a SS number. I tried asking the DMV for for a Calif Drivers licence and they said that I needed to show them a SS card but the Govmt Dept that issues them specifically states on their web site "SS numbers will not be issued specifically for obtaining a driving licence". So I'm stuck between a rock & a hard place on that one I think. I'm going to have to rent a car for the summer using my UK licence .. unless anyone has any other suggestions ??

OK, back to the phones. I intended to order a cell phone from these people http://www.foncentral.com/ via the i*net. I can't see where they ask for a SS number, just a credit card. that is unless they just want to charge the phone to my card and do a seperate agreement for the phone service ??

I'm in the UK still so can't call the 1-800 number. If anyone can do that for me and check the SS number question out for me and post back, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks again
Bill

T-mobile prepaid is pretty darn cheap, if you buy minutes upfront. 100$ nets you 650 minutes, I guess that is .065 a minute? Not too shabby maybe about 2X with an annual subscription from most plans. The 40$ for 1000 minutes plans are short term deals, 40$ for 600-700 is about standard.

then, just use a calling card such as onesuite or something for .04$ cpm to UK and you're set!

http://www.jiwire.com/search-hotspot-locations.htm

Scroll down on the left to "Power Search" fill in the stuff and check the "Free" Wi-Fi box. Lotsa independent coffee shops here in LA that have free Wi-Fi. Maybe there will be one near where you are staying?