Job Discussion Forums

[mishmumkin]

Way back when you could purchase an internet phone card from Etisalat and plug into any phone jack for dial up access (ugh). What are the options now for those waiting on their residency? Are there wifi hot spots in public restaurants and cafes? Has anyone seen signs for free wifi? I suspect not, but thought I'd ask.

[adorabilly]

Hey Mish.

When you go into Etisilat to sign up for internet service to be set up at your home they will give you your internet card with the username and password on the card.

Then go into any starbucks, and use their wireless. It will ask you to please pay to use it, but one of the options is that you are already an Etisilat internet customer. Use your internet card's login and password and log in for free and run the internet.

Quite often when you find "free" internet cafe's you have to pay so much an hour in purchases to use the net. so they aren't really free.

Your other option is to use your cellphone's wasel account and charge the amount to use the internet to your cell phone...

I like the first option the best though.

Not sure about other options, or anything about abu dhabi though...

[mishmumkin]

Thanks, adorabilly. So that's once I get my residency, right? Any fixes until then? I can pay per hour to use Starbucks hotspot?

[holbrook]

Depending on where you work you may not have to wait. If you work for HCT, UAEU or Zayed you can just get a letter from them that your visa is pending and Etisalat will let you get your phone or Internet set up. Just don't forget to get them the visa when completed. After two months they turn it all off if you don't produce the visa.

It might work from other schools too, but I don't know.

[mishmumkin]

Thanks, Holbrook!

[adorabilly]

Thanks Holbrook... I forgot about the Visa requirement... HCT took care of all of that on our second day here... so Mish, you need to get a letter from your employer (ECAE) about applying for the visa, and then go into Etisilat to sign up for internet and phone... then do what I suggested.

[helenl]

most of the larger hotels have wifi access for a fee. In some coffee shops - Costa, you have access for free. Of course, there are always lots of internet cafes where you can get internet access by the hour for a reasonable amount.

Most HCT colleges are wired for wifi access - so long as you have access to the HCT system (usually set up on the first day) you can access your own internet account from there (Yahoo, Netscape, etc.)

[mishmumkin]

Good to know that costa coffee has free wifi. I'm hoping that hotel does, too. Thanks to everyone for input on this!