Satellite internet for laptops with worldwide coverage?

[SomethingClever]

So a friend of the family apparently told my dad that he bought a $300 device from Verizon that receives worldwide wireless internet (from a satellite, I presume).

He said the device was $300 and that monthly service is $60.

I called Verizon and they had no idea what I was talking about. Then I called Sprint and some other companies and they couldn't help me either.

Does such a thing exist?

[funkyworms]

Verizon offers internet services but it is from towers and it isn't worldwide.

The only satellite internet provider I know of is HughesNet (formerly DirecWay)

[Freakin]

Definitely not possible...

You'd have better luck getting a cellular wireless card that takes SIM cards, then you can get a data SIM for the country you are in (if they have wireless broadband).

Mobile satellite internet doesn't exist AFAIK

[Josem]

there are a bundle of companies offering satellite internet in australia ('cause with a population density like australia's other techniques are simply not feasible)

they all require permanently fixed dishes to target the satellite correctly.

[ph2133868789]

He is probably talking about EVDO or HSDPA. These are cellular services with cellular coverage areas. Speed is about 500k down the last time I was on EVDO but I understand its faster now. Uploading is really slow and the connection seems slow for browsing because the "lag" is so bad.

As funkyworms said, HughesNet is the only sat. internet I know of, and this also does not have global coverage. There are SLLOOOWWW speed super-expensive (talking like $.99/minute here) global sat. internet, but not for $60/mo. These are for mostly government use.

[ph2133868789]

Also, the lag is even worse on hughesnet, and although there are mobile set ups they are huge. In-motion setups are available but cost several thousand dollars and, although I can't recall why, violate TOS or something similar.

[whiteyblz]

google- immarsat and VSAT. It can be expensive but there are global services.