There is a lot to consider when comparing mobile broadband packages, and if you’re new to it it can be a daunting task. In an attempt to demystify some of the confusing jargon here’s a brief run-down of some of the terms you’ll encounter along your way:
Price
This usually consists of a set-up fee and then a set monthly charge or a pay-as-you go rate. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that the advertised rate is the maximum you can be charged for your service. Some mobile broadband packages have some extra costs in the small print for things like going online whilst abroad or going over your agreed limit. Make sure you are aware of these charges before you sign up to your provider to avoid any nasty bills.
Download speed
This refers to the maximum speed your connection is capable of. The slowest maximum speed on the market is about 1.8 MB, which is similar to many home broadband speeds, and would be suitable for most users.
Mobile broadband connections do come faster than this, so if you are a heavy internet user or someone who regularly plays online games or watches film clips you will probably want a package with faster download speeds. The fastest mobile broadband provider on the market at the moment is Vodafone, which has both data card and USB Modem services.
Similar to a fixed-line broadband package, all service providers advertise their ‘up to’ download speeds. These could entice you towards one particular provider over another, but be warned - you can’t guarantee that you will always be able to reach this download speed.
Download allowance
Download allowance is the amount of data (film clips, music etc) you can download from the internet to your computer each month. Mobile broadband packages usually charge you on a pay-as-you-go rate if you exceed the monthly download limit (though unless you’re a really heavy user you don’t need to worry too much about this).
Because you can take your modem anywhere you might find that you get charged at a different rate depending on what country you’re in – so watch out for this. Some providers offer a special package for those who travel often which could save you money (see Vodafone - mobile broadband travel, or 3 - broadband max which has a 7GB monthly download limit).
Read the small print carefully, some companies include the downloaded and uploaded data combined, which means that you could exceed your monthly usage without realising.
Although many companies give you a better deal if you have a longer term contract it should be worthwhile to note that the pricing is dropping fast so in the long run a 12 month could be better since you can get the new tarrif.
i was asked that if you had mobile broadband,does this mean that you can cancel your service provider???
im going into hospital for a while in a couple of weeks and will want to stay in touh with friends and family via msn and emails, so is this a good thing to have????