Travelling Abroad with unlimited Internet flat rate

Having Internet access during traveling is almost mandatory for me as I have to regularly check business emails as well as responding to customers inquiries. Many hotels offers free wifi or Internet connection during your stay. We can find free hotspot in restaurant and cafe as well.

But for those who wants to get connected all the time, whether using Blackberry, iPhone, or other mobile devices, finding free hotspot means you can't be mobile as you have to sit on free hotspot location to get connected. The solution is clear, you have to pay for data plan. This will also eliminate your necessity to choose lousy hotel because they offer free Internet service.

First option is you have to buy local GSM SIM card, but you will loose ability to be contacted with your Indonesian number. This may also more expensive for Internet usage only, but for cheap local calls you must choose this option.

The other option is to bring your own Indonesian number and activate roaming service. You can be reached using your own number, but beware of expensive roaming rate. Apparently there is another plus point of bringing your own country GSM: Unlimited Internet with flat rate.

3G Internet with AXIS GSM

Today Axis launches new Internet package bundled with free 3G modem.

axis

Axis 3G sells this package for IDR 1.388.000, and you'll get:

Cheap Mobile Internet Solutions in Indonesia

After 2 years we've been seeing GSM Operator battle for 3G Internet solution, let me conclude what options we have currently (data gathered as per Sept 12th, 2008).

The hot offers for this time being is : Indosat 3G Unlimited, Telkomsel Flash Unlimited, and Indosat M2 new package. Read each provider's summary in my article below.

Indosat M2

Indosat M2 (IM2) is a subsidiary of PT Indosat Tbk. Their business is mainly in providing pay TV and Internet services. Mobile Internet services comes with providing a USIM Card with prefix 0814, it can be used for data only, voice call is not available.

IM2 offices are separated from Indosat Galeri, but you can find them operating together in some places, such as at Galeri Indosat Artha Graha, Roxy, Pondok Indah. Or you can go to their new store at Plasa Semanggi.

Currently they offer 2 options for mobile Internet

• Pre-paid option.
  Package name is called IM2 Broom. Similar to prepaid GSM, you have to buy voucher to top-up your account. Vouchers can be purchased from BNI and Permata Bank ATM. The good thing is if you don't fully use up your quota then it can be used for following month depending of expiration of the voucher. This is a cheap Internet solution for light users. Voucher prices are vary:

IDR 50,000.- for 100MB, expired in 30 days after first use
IDR 100,000.- for 200 MB, expired in 45 days.
IDR 150,000.- for 300 MB, expired in 60 days.

A new promo package with 3G/HSDPA Model is also available. By paying approx. IDR 125,000 for 6 months contract (by charging to Mandiri or BCA Credit Card) you will get **ZTE MF620** HSDPA modem plus Voucher for 200MB data. You can purchase this starter pack on their reseller outlets (see [the list here](http://www.indosatm2.com/index.php/services/indosatnet/resellerprepaid_3g)). - [Post-paid option](http://www.indosatm2.com/popup.php/promo/3G_popup_brochure). For quite heavy users, you need a bigger Internet quota. You will be billed on monthly basis, separated from Indosat GSM Matrix billing (if you also have it). Here I only list cheap packages

• Paket Eco, IDR 160,000 per month, 700MB quota, excess quota: IDR 0,4/KB.
• Paket Ecofit, IDR 259,000 per month, FREE Modem, 700MB quota per month.
• Paket You, IDR 350,000 per month, 1,2GB quota, excess quota: IDR 0,35/KB.

Indosat

Indosat as a 3G Player is often not too aggresively pursuing customer by not offering cheap mobile Internet. They have IM3 and Mentari for GSM Prepaid, Matrix for post-paid, and Indosat 3G / 3.5G Broadband for Internet-only users.

Operator Three (3) - How to Win Indonesian Market with Skypephone

It has been several months for GSM Operator 3 (operated by Hutchison) entered Indonesian market. First month of the launching was quite a hit and word-of-mouth. But recent months was quite difficult for 3 because they didn't offer something CATCHY and BIG as a new player (you can compared with Esia or Fren). Surely they couldn't compete in price level since many operators compete in price. It's time for them to adopt their success story in Europe in here.

Hutchison 3 U.K has just launched Skypephone, a handset designed to simplify use of the Skype VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) application.