Is Mobile Broadband Right For You?

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 50
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Mobile broadband hasn''t been around for long, but it has already transformed the way that we access the web. Launched in 2007, the ''dongle'' enjoyed an almost immediate popularity explosion, with millions of Brits now benefiting from internet on the go.

Unless you''ve spent the last couple of years living in Antarctica, you''ll probably be aware of how mobile broadband works. By plugging a small, portable USB modem ? a ''dongle'' ? into your laptop, you will be able to browse the web and check emails anywhere that has signal.

There are some great plusses to investing in a mobile broadband device, some of which will be immediately evident. If you travel frequently and find yourself using expensive pay-as-you-go hotel and coffee shop broadband networks, a dongle could save you both money and time. It''s also a useful device for anybody who has a long train ride to work and wants to make the most of their daily commute.

Mobile broadband may be great for working on the go ? but that isn''t the only reason it has become so popular so quickly. It also gets around the need to sign up for a fixed-term standard ...
... contract; great for anybody who rents or moves around frequently.

Another potential advantage that mobile broadband has over the standard equivalent is that it is available on a pay as you go basis. For anybody who isn''t keen to take out a contract ? whether for financial or usage reasons ? this could be a real plus.

That isn''t to say that there are no downsides to broadband on the go. The speed and quality of the connection is dependent on network coverage, and you may find that your dongle doesn''t work in your local area. Most companies will offer to reimburse you for your purchase if this is the case, but it''s worth researching the coverage in your neighbourhood before you buy.

Currently, mobile broadband is also a little slower than a standard connection. Speeds are slowly improving ? but if you regularly use the web to download large files, stream videos or play games, you should consider retaining a landline connection for the time being.

Despite a few inevitable downsides, mobile broadband has to be one of the most useful inventions of the new millennium. In this age of internet dependence, a dongle is a device that most of us simply can''t live without. Bonny Kominek suggest Vodafones mobile broadband if you are on the move. You can now take your office with you.