Compare the best mobile broadband deals and save money!

What is mobile broadband?

If you've ever wished you could get on with some online work while away from home, or that you could catch up on your emails without scouring the streets searching for an internet café, mobile broadband could be a life changing piece of technology.

Mobile interent allows you to connect to the web wherever you are, regardless of whether you're in a Wi-Fi hotspot or near a phone line. The information isn't received through a fixed-line modem, so you don't have to worry about line rental and you don't always have to connect to the net using the same computer. Normally you have what is known as a 'dongle' (or stick) that plugs into a USB socket on your laptop or PC. In the same way your mobile phone works, you can access the internet all over the country (and overseas if you like) as long as your service provider (the mobile broadband company you sign up to) covers the area that you're in.

Just as your mobile phone connection sometimes gets weak, making the call break up or even cut off, wireless mobile broadband coverage can be a little temperamental too. But the good news is services are improving all the time. In a lot of built-up areas your mobile internet service connects to a 3G mobile broadband network. This means you can surf the net with speeds that are sufficient to easily use modern internet facilities such as the BBC iPlayer and YouTube.

When you sign up to a mobile interent service your provider will supply you with the USB dongle required to get you online (although some deals now include a subsidised laptop, which have a data card inside instead of a dongle, that does the same job). Sometimes you get the dongle thrown in for free, especially if you are subscribing to a contract that's 18-months long or more. Otherwise you'll have to pay for your dongle separately, which can be anything up to £60.

How much does mobile internet cost?

Subscription rates for mobile broadband are changing all the time, so it's worth hunting around our website for the best deals before signing up.

There are two ways to pay when signing up to mobile broadband: just like when you sign up for mobile phone deal, your options are a monthly contract or a 'pay as you go' option. Contracts will often land you a free dongle and a better usage allowance, at the cost of agreeing to stay with the contract for anywhere from 12 to 24 months. Some mobile broadband providers also now offer rolling monthly contracts, but the price is less competitive than longer deals and you're less likely to get a free dongle (like a mobile phone contract, but with speed and usage limits rather than talk-time limits and a free handset).

Pay as you go (PAYG) lets you buy credit for your dongle, topping up when you need more data. This can be done in two ways, depending on which mobile internet provider you choose: pay per day, or pay per GB. These options can be much better for occasional and light users. PAYG deals usually involve paying an up-front fee for your dongle.

UK contracts start from around £10 per month, but these cheap mobile broadband deals tend to come with a small data allowance. If you go over this allowance, you can end up paying a hefty excess for the extra content you download or web sites you browse to after this.

Subscription prices tend to fall the longer you sign up for, while the amount of data allowed becomes more generous: just like a mobile phone or a fixed-line broadband service. ISPs tend to offer 1, 12, 18 and 24-month contracts and these can cost anything up to £30 per month for dongle-only tariffs. There are many deals that also include a 'free' laptop - for 'free', read subsidised. Expect to pay up to £40 per month on a long contract for one of these deals.

Also, you should be aware of one important thing with mobile broadband: UK costs are one thing, overseas is something else entirely. Taking your dongle abroad and using the mobile internet is prohibitively expensive and you risk a huge bill on your return. Only Vodafone has offered specific overseas mobile internet deals to date, costing anything from £45 to £110 depending on allowances and countries covered.

Can mobile broadband replace my home broadband?

In theory yes, but probably not for the majority of people - yet. Some analysts predicted 3G mobile broadband would outperform home, fixed-line broadband by 2010. But in our experience, mobile internet speeds (despite the advertising) don't match up to home broadband quite yet. The same goes for the reliability of signal. And, with Virgin Mobile pushing fixed-line broadband speeds up to the 50Mb mark in 2008, the gap has widened, not shrunk. However, mobile broadband is great in certain situations and for certain types of users: it is a great home broadband back-up for when you have a technical problem and can't be without a connection (especially for businesses), while students flitting between halls of residence, the family home and the library often find it ideal. And, of course, you can use it anywhere!

Does mobile internet actually work?

Here at Broadband Genie we've been road-testing mobile broadband, and we've been pretty impressed. When we first plugged a dongle in, we spent the first 10 minutes marvelling at the fact we could access the internet from anywhere, just like that, but it didn't take us long to take it for granted and start moaning about the occasional drop in speed.

It's nice that when you're not in a 3G coverage area you can still access the internet via the 2G network (albeit at slower speeds), and the single best thing about mobile broadband is that you just plug the dongle in and you're away (unlike home broadband, which can take hours - sometimes on premium support numbers - to get working).

Let's face it, all technology can be temperamental at times. Just like with a mobile phone, you can sometimes experience difficulties with coverage, or 'time outs' when you're web browsing. The classic for us has been using mobile broadband on the train, where you whizz along for a bit on a speedy 3G connection, then go through a tunnel and lose coverage - back to square one.

Just like your home broadband, it pays to be a dubious about the advertised 'up to' maximum speed the service providers claim. This is the maximum you could possibly get with the technology they offer, so don't expect to get it. You're more likely to be able to surf at a fraction of the speed your provider tells you. Plenty of things affect the speed of your mobile broadband. If there are lots of other mobile broadband users in your area, you all have to share the same bandwidth - this can slow the speed right down. Other factors such as signal strength and electrical interference also play a part.

If you are in a rural area, chances are you won't be able to connect to a 3G service - unfortunately, this means that your speed will be a lot less nifty. The good news is that even at its slowest pace, you should be able to carry out everyday tasks, such as checking your email, without too much stress.

Once you compare mobile broadband providers, before you sign up to a service it's worth checking their coverage map. With this you will be able to determine where you will receive 3G broadband. If you are based in or visit an area a lot of the time that doesn't have 3G coverage, it's probably not the right service for you.

How do I compare mobile broadband deals?

Currently, the main providers for mobile internet are T-Mobile, 3, Vodafone, Orange and O2 - in other words, the mobile phone network operators. Both BT and Virgin Media now also offers a mobile broadband service. It's impossible to say which of the providers is 'best' as there are several factors people need to consider when looking for a mobile internet package.

There's no such thing as the best mobile internet deal: you need to take the time to think about what you want from your package. Here are some of the main criteria to bear in mind when doing a mobile broadband comparison:

• Usage/download limits? Probably the most important thing to consider is whether you'll be a heavy or a light user (in the same way as you would judge a mobile phone contract by how much you're likely to use it). For the vast majority of users a lower limit (perhaps 3GB) will be absolutely fine, but you'll need more if you plan on file sharing, downloading lots of music, or streaming content such as YouTube or the BBC iPlayer.
• Speed? Different providers advertise different speeds, but the chances are you'll get a similar performance from all of them - your location will probably be more of a deciding factor, due to mast locations. We wouldn't recommend choosing a package purely on the basis of the speed offered.
• Monthly contract or pay as you go? Decisions, decisions...
• Free laptop deals? Many providers offer deals where you pay a bit more and get a 'free' laptop as part of the contract. This can be a great way to get online if you need a new computer, but do make sure you add up the total contract cost and check that it's not cheaper to just go and buy a laptop. Also, are you really getting a laptop that exactly fits your needs?
• Price versus contract lengths? Generally, you'll get a cheaper monthly tariff if you're prepared to commit for a longer contract. But due to the ever improving nature of the mobile broadband market, this can also be a risk.

Rather than clicking round all the providers' sites, Mobile Broadband Genie maintains an up-to-date, complete listing of mobile broadband prices and offers which you check free of charge. It's the best way to compare mobile broadband deals.

Are there any hidden costs?

The main additional cost you may experience after you buy mobile broadband is 'overage' charges - penalty charges for exceeding your usage limit.

You need to be aware that, like home broadband, most mobile broadband contracts include a download cap. Unlike home broadband, though, the mobile providers enforce these limits strictly and there have been occasional high-profile horror stories where consumers have accidentally (but expensively) gone way over their usage limits.

You can often protect yourself from these charges by making use of a manual 'limiter' that allows your computer to limit you to a set daily amount. However, you need to be careful with these too - we have had complaints from our users about some of these trackers being unreliable, so be on your guard. Alternatively, T-Mobile offers a 'fair usage' policy rather than a strict download limit - this means you won't be charged if you go over your limit, but if you do so repeatedly T-Mobile will start to slow down your connection. If exceeding your limit is a real fear, it is definitely worth considering a pay as you go option.

As long as you stick to your download limit you should be OK. If you go over your download cap, however, you will be charged for every megabyte of data you use - this can soon mount up into a hefty bill if you do this regularly and you should check your provider's rates. And don't be fooled by deals that claim to be 'unlimited' - these will still be liable to a fair usage policy.

It's important to remember you may not be eligible for a free USB dongle with your package. Some tariffs require you to purchase your modem for a one off payment before you can get on line, while others charge a one-off set-up fee. Make sure you know all of the costs involved before you sign up.

Can I use mobile broadband overseas?

You should be able to use your mobile broadband dongle overseas, but be very aware of the costs. There have been some real horror stories from customers returning home from holiday to find a bill on their doormat for thousands of pounds, all because they downloaded a TV show whilst in another country to watch on the beach.

To combat this situation, mobile broadband operator 3 has changed its policy so its customers have to get in contact with it before using its service abroad, so it can make them aware of the costs involved. We can only hope other mobile internet providers follow suit, but until they do its up to you to be extra careful.

If you regularly travel overseas, it is worth looking for packages specifically aimed at travellers. These include monthly bundled overseas data allowances, but are also very expensive.

Is it as difficult to install as home broadband can be?

Thankfully, it's not. There are no complicated settings to get your head round and you really could be set up within minutes. Unlike home broadband, you don't need to worry about ISP settings or working out how to set up usernames and passwords. You don't even have to set up security preferences either. Once you plug in your USB dongle, the drivers should automatically install on your machine and you're ready to go. If they don't, it should simply be a case of running the device from the 'My computer' link - it should be recognised as a new drive in your list.

Of course, this also means you can easily switch computers at any time: if you have more than one laptop or PC, you can share your USB dongle around without a fuss.

What do all these techy words mean?

When you're searching for a new mobile broadband provider, the chances are these words will pop up now and again. Here's what they mean...

3G mobile broadband - 3G is a name for the service that allows fast, mobile access to the internet via the mobile phone networks. It's what makes fast browsing possible when you're away from home. With a 3G service, you should be able to carry out quite demanding tasks like downloading videos and music.

HSPA - This stands for 'high speed packet access', which is a bit of a mouthful. All you need to know is that this allows you to upload and download large files to your device like email attachments at something like the speeds you would with your home broadband. you may also see HSUPA and HSDPA - with the extra letter standing for 'upload' and 'download' respectively.

Dongle - This is the name given to the USB modem that plugs into your laptop. It bears a resemblance to a USB memory stick, but enables you to get a connection for your mobile broadband. Dongles are 'plug and play', so once you slot it into one of your laptop's USB slots it will automatically install so you can surf the web within minutes.