What options (PDA or otherwise) do I have to access the internet and/or Skype while traveling overseas?

Question

I travel overseas a lot, and recently bought a Verizon Samsung PDA so I can access the internet without needing my laptop. Turns out there is a very limited list of countries that I can access WiFi or the Verizon data network from that phone. What options do I have as far as phones, PDAs, or smartphones, to check my e-mail and/or make Skype calls?

- I'll be touring in Belgium, The Netherlands, Finland, Russia, South Africa, and all over Europe this year (to give you an idea of where I'm talking about when I say "overseas") -

Answer 1

There is some kind of support for Skype in most Nokia S60 platform phones (and windows mobile phones too), just choose phone that supports all networks you are going to use.

If you don't need to access internet all the time, you could use WiFi hotspots. Most smart phones have WiFi or you could buy MID (mobile internet device) like Nokia N770/N800/N810 (also other manufactures make same kind of devices). These devices are little bit larger than mobile phone and don't have any phone capabilities, but have large displays and _very_ good internet surfing capabilities and even support for office software like OpenOffice (not officially, but it can be installed).

Nokia N810 cost about 300-500$ it is not very cheap and therefore smartphone might be enough.

I would think that best option for you is buying smart phone that has good network support and that supports HSDPA and wifi. Nokia E90 has all these, and it is marketed for executives etc. Also Nokia N95 has quite good features, but it is not really meant to be "business phone".

I'm only recommending Nokia phones because I am more familiar with them. I'm sure there is at least as good solutions from other manufacturers.