Mobile broadband not so shiny on new Mac operating system

There are issues with mobile broadband connections for Mac users running the operating system OS X Snow Leopard, it is reported by tech website Electric Pig today.

The new Mac OS, which was released in early September, has caused issues for Mac users with mobile broadband dongles because the majority of the networks overlooked necessary software updates to keep the dongles functioning with the new system. And when contacted, there seemed to be varying degrees of helpfulness in terms of supporting Mac users stranded with no connection.

T-Mobile had no comment, but its website states that two of its dongles are 'incompatible' with Snow Leopard, causing 'serious issues with system stability'. O2 offered a complicated work-around, which presumably works if you have enough technical knowledge to implement it; while Vodafone supplied an update through its support pages; and Orange developed its own connection manager to solve the problem.

Mac users have been overlooked in the past when it comes to mobile broadband support and information, but complete failure of dongles in the face of the latest operating system (being sold with all new Macs) seems to indicate new levels of disinterest in the Mac contingent.