With wifi practically everywhere these days, there's not much need for what I'm going to ask about.

Does anybody know about a company or provider who will sell you wireless airtime via some sort of device you'd plug into a USB port? Something a person could use to surf the web while taking a road trip, or at a camp ground.

And here's the key point--no contract. I would like weekly or monthly capability only.

You would have to go country-by-country. Each entity providing the service would probably make you buy their own dongle as well as part of the set-up cost. From what I've seen these average around US$50.
If you insist on doing it this way, as opposed to using the wifi provided by the hotel or whatever else, consider getting a local SIM chip for your phone that includes internet connectivity, then via USB (or maybe Bluetooth) have your phone function as a 'router' for your laptop.

If you find something like this that is truly international do tell.

You can get unlocked multiband UMTS 3G USB dongles off E-Bay and other places for like $30 that will work with just about any GSM carriers SIM that has a data plan. Pretty much any country including USA has prepaid 3G data available these days.

Still, though, agree with Bendejo that tethering to a smart phone is the best solution.

Thanks for the info gentlemen...

The post was vague as to WHERE you need the data service but it's worth noting that T-Mobile in the US has an on-line prepaid deal @ $0.00 signup fee and $30/month for up to 5 Gig of 4G data service and then unlimited throttled to EDGE speed data after that. (plus 100 mobile minutes and unlimited text) This strikes me as hands down the best value US cell plan out there since 5Gig throttled 4G is allot and if you exceed that you can reup a second account for another $30 for another 5Gig.

Use it with a free Google Voice acct and get all your calls over 4G w/o using minutes so the 100 min is irrelevant.

I canceled my previous T-Mobile plan when the contract expired and get essentially unlimited calling and 5gig 4G internet access for my laptop tethering to a Galaxy Nexus Android phone, anywhere T-Mobile USA has service all for $30/mo with no contract.

I'm living in the stone age when it comes to cell phones. Have had one since 2000 with Verizon, but strictly a calling plan. I could, but don't have a data plan. I'm too old to need that much connectivity...LOL

That T-Mobile deal is awesome though.

Sancho,

Where did you get your SIM for the Galaxy Nexus? Did you order one online and then activate it online? Or use Walmart? If you used Walmart, did they let you activate the $30 deal just bringing in the phone off the street?

Just buy a "T-Mobile SIM Card Activation Kit" here for $6.99 with $6.00 off, free shipping and it comes with $3.34 of Pulsa already on it. Might as well buy 2.

http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/cell-phone-detail.aspx?cell-phone=T-Mobile-Prepaid-SIM-Activation-Kit&class=prepaid

Then activate it ON-LINE here. http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-activate and select the $30 Unlimited data(5 gig 4G), 100 min plan.

DO NOT call to activate!!!!! Only activate on-line.

Not sure if you need the IMEI of a "T-Mobile Phone" or not. I suspect any IMEI will work but I used an ooollldddd T-Mobile Motorola V60 to activate just in case it had to be a "T-Mobile" IMEI. In any case once it's activated you can freely switch the SIM to any compatible phone at will.

Fund it on-line with a credit card or input any $30 T-Mobile load card.

It's called the "Walmart Plan" but you don't have to have anything to do with Walmart to sign up. You can do it all on-line strait from T-Mobile.

Other caveots? It's new activations only which mainly means you cant port your existing T-Mobile # to it if that's important but you CAN port your existing T-Mobile # to Google Voice for $20 and forward to the new prepaid # which is accually a better arrangement anyway since you can forward the GV # wherever is most convienent at the moment and your callers always reach you.

Also, be aware it comes with "Web Guard" enabled by default which blocks CH and all porn sites which sucks. You have to log in to mytmobile.com (it's under the change password/acct settings screen) or call India and ask the nice Desi lady to please disable "Web Guard" so you can stream porn. Since obviously blocking streaming porn defeats the pourpose of 4G.

Here is a better way to refill wireless cards.

http://www.callingmart.com/products/wireless/wirelesscards.aspx?id=1

You get 3% off by buying from CallingMart. You can get another 3-5% off for using the coupon codes. It says 5% off of Tmobile. So you get anywhere from 6-8% discount by going through Calling Mart.

http://www.retailmenot.com/view/callingmart.com