Mobile Broadband put simply is your method of access the Internet on your laptop or Tablet PC away from your home or office Wi-Fi connection. It utilizes the same network as your Smartphone and if you do not have a connection, there are a couple of things that you need to consider before making your new purchase.
Probably the first point to consider is whether or not you need to sign up for a monthly contract or not. While there are some significant advantages for those with a monthly contract (see below), the flexibility of not being tied down definitely appeals also, especially for those only requiring access on an ad-hoc basis. Fortunately Mobile Broadband is offered in both a PAYG and contract fashion and the choice is very much dependent upon your needs.
If this is your primary connection, then going with a contract is definitely the better option as aside from having a fixed price that you can budget for, generally you will also receive a faster connection and an increased data transfer allotment. However, if you already have a Wi-Fi connection and just need something to tide you over for those locations in which you are not able to receive a connection, or even if you are just travelling to a new city or town and are in need of Internet access, PAYG is the best option for you.
One significant advantage to new Mobile Broadband contracts is the freebies that the Network providers are offering. On the low end these include the USB dongles needed to gain access to the Mobile Broadband network, but on the upside you can get some fairly significant laptop deals too! In addition, these are not just netbooks or low powered Intel Celeron laptops, based on the provider and contract that you choose you can get a very powerful dual core system at a significant discount versus buying it outright. When you consider that the laptop is bundled with monthly Mobile Broadband access also, it really is a win-win situation!
As I have already mentioned, the Mobile Broadband network used by Laptops and Tablet PCs is the same one that you use on your Smartphone. The best way to see if you are going to be getting the connection you need when you are away from your home or office Wi-Fi is to actually use your Smartphone to browse the sites you are interested in those areas. This is a simple, but effective test and while your Smartphone generally does not have the processing power of a full sized computer, if it works well, you should be fine.
However if you either do not have a Smartphone yet or if you are not happy with the coverage / service / price / plan that you are getting from your current provider, you will want to check out a comparison company like Broadband Genie to see what all your different options are. In addition to the deals and freebies already mentioned, they will also provide you in a clear, concise and constructive manner a list of all the different companies and the services that you can get from them.
Make sure that when you choose your Mobile Broadband package that you give yourself a little bit of a buffer in terms of the amount of data that you will actually be using. Unfortunately as more and more information has transitioned to the Web, our needs have also increased and frequently you will end up online for things that you would have once done offline. While this is generally quicker and easier, if you have a limited amount of data available, you could find yourself paying extra for the excess.
This post about about choosing the best mobile broadband package was contributed by Mobile Genie
Pay as You Go (PAYG) or Monthly Contract
Probably the first point to consider is whether or not you need to sign up for a monthly contract or not. While there are some significant advantages for those with a monthly contract (see below), the flexibility of not being tied down definitely appeals also, especially for those only requiring access on an ad-hoc basis. Fortunately Mobile Broadband is offered in both a PAYG and contract fashion and the choice is very much dependent upon your needs.
If this is your primary connection, then going with a contract is definitely the better option as aside from having a fixed price that you can budget for, generally you will also receive a faster connection and an increased data transfer allotment. However, if you already have a Wi-Fi connection and just need something to tide you over for those locations in which you are not able to receive a connection, or even if you are just travelling to a new city or town and are in need of Internet access, PAYG is the best option for you.
Laptop Deals and Freebies
One significant advantage to new Mobile Broadband contracts is the freebies that the Network providers are offering. On the low end these include the USB dongles needed to gain access to the Mobile Broadband network, but on the upside you can get some fairly significant laptop deals too! In addition, these are not just netbooks or low powered Intel Celeron laptops, based on the provider and contract that you choose you can get a very powerful dual core system at a significant discount versus buying it outright. When you consider that the laptop is bundled with monthly Mobile Broadband access also, it really is a win-win situation!
Network Coverage
As I have already mentioned, the Mobile Broadband network used by Laptops and Tablet PCs is the same one that you use on your Smartphone. The best way to see if you are going to be getting the connection you need when you are away from your home or office Wi-Fi is to actually use your Smartphone to browse the sites you are interested in those areas. This is a simple, but effective test and while your Smartphone generally does not have the processing power of a full sized computer, if it works well, you should be fine.
However if you either do not have a Smartphone yet or if you are not happy with the coverage / service / price / plan that you are getting from your current provider, you will want to check out a comparison company like Broadband Genie to see what all your different options are. In addition to the deals and freebies already mentioned, they will also provide you in a clear, concise and constructive manner a list of all the different companies and the services that you can get from them.
Data Cap
Make sure that when you choose your Mobile Broadband package that you give yourself a little bit of a buffer in terms of the amount of data that you will actually be using. Unfortunately as more and more information has transitioned to the Web, our needs have also increased and frequently you will end up online for things that you would have once done offline. While this is generally quicker and easier, if you have a limited amount of data available, you could find yourself paying extra for the excess.
Price
If price is a key issue, you need to evaluate each of the previous requirements as that will help you make the right choice. Quite often PAYG works out cheaper to start with, but if you end up using it a lot, will be significantly more expensive than going with a monthly contract. In addition, if you already have a laptop, ensure that your choice of freebies (if any) are appropriate as while they are called “free” – there is a small surcharge choosing one of these packages in comparison to Mobile Broadband service only.This post about about choosing the best mobile broadband package was contributed by Mobile Genie
