Price cuts make mobile broadband viable

By Fergal Barry-Murphy. Published on February 25, 2008 This post currently has no comments.

Relaxing with the laptop

High costs have kept most British consumers out of the market for mobile internet services over the last year or two. However, prices have become much more affordable recently. We look at the costs and benefits of mobile internet.

It has been possible to access the internet on the go using mobile networks for a good few years now. Initially, you could simply dial an ISP from your mobile to create a connection from your laptop. GPRS allowed for slightly increased speeds, while this developed further with EDGE and other technologies. However, prices for data connections were invariably high and connections slow.

Now, with 3G, HSDPA, CDMA and other technologies, potential speeds for mobile internet users are getting better and better. The technology has been around for well over a year now and there are indications that initially high prices are beginning to come down.

Eighteen months ago you would have paid £45 per month for Vodafone's mobile internet package. Now you can go online on the go for just £15 per month. Also, download limits have increased from 1GB to a much more realistic 3GB per month. However, be aware that you pay £15 for every addition GB you download.

Also, you will probably have to pay for the USB modem you need to receive a signal with your laptop. Vodafone does offer its slower modem for free if you sign a 24 month contract. However, you will want the higher speed 'Modem Stick' to get the most from the service and this costs an extra £39 on a 24-month plan, or £99 on a 12-month plan. Vodafone also offers a 30-day option for £20.

Vodafone's prices seem to be pretty standard at the moment. One of its main rivals in the mobile internet market, T-Mobile, charges about the same but you also get free access to its Wi-Fi spots. It also offers a handy day by day option if you don't want to get tied into a contract.

There are plenty of providers on the market now so be sure to shop around, but watch out for limitations. Also, if you are going to be locked in for 24 months you want to be sure that you are getting a quality service.

In fact, we would advise you to try it out first to make sure connections speeds are up to your expectations. Vodafone's 30-day offer or T Mobile's one-day option would be a good place to start. There are also companies on the web that will give you the modem and connection for about £5 per day, but you will have to put down a deposit for the modem.

In general, mobile internet speeds have been reported to be good. However, it will depend on where you are, and because users are mobile the number of users online in your 'cell' at any one time can fluctuate dramatically, and with it connection speeds. Your connection may also be affected by weather conditions.

Mobile internet has certainly become a whole lot affordable in recent months. Speeds are good in a lot of areas, and at £15 per month it is now challenging traditional broadband in terms of price. However, with download limits of 3GB, or even 1GB, on many products it may not be a practical replacement for you current broadband package. However, if you are unlikely to go over these limits and/or you move around a lot, mobile internet could be an excellent option for you.