Mobile Broadband - Get online on the move
Mobile Broadband - Get online on the move
Waiting for a dial- up service to connect to the internet is like watching paint dry. However, a landline is not a prerequisite for an online connection anymore. Welcome to the world of mobile broadband. Originally aimed at laptop friendly business users who move around a lot, the latest communication service can be yours for only £10 a month, and is designed to be fast, cheap and convenient. Wireless, portable and charged by the imaginatively named ‘dongle’, mobile broadband is yet another way to keep in touch, wherever you may be.
Sound too good to be true? Well, it all depends on where you live and how you use the internet. A 3G phone signal is essential for accessing mobile broadband, and although 90% of the population fall under this category, the more remote your abode the more difficult it is to get a strong signal.
Other considerations include how often and how much you download from the internet. Those who like to download regularly may find landline broadband a cheaper option until downloading prices fall. As it is, most providers offer around 1GB a month for a one off payment, charging more if you exceed this limit. However, if you’re not a heavy downloader who lives in the back of beyond, mobile broadband could definitely offer you more for less.
And this is only the beginning. Giant service providers such as 3 and T-Mobile hope to provide mobile broadband to 98% of the UK by 2010. In addition, their proposals to double regular broadband speeds make for a very attractive package, leaving landline and dial-up connections in the shade.
With this in mind, it might pay to wait before signing a lengthy mobile broadband contract right now. The chances are that prices will fall as downloading capacities increase, so your patience may be rewarded financially by a cheaper mobile broadband package in the future. One thing’s for sure, if you can’t live without the internet and you’re always on the go, mobile broadband will revolutionise your working relations and you won’t miss a breath.
