Mobile phone Guide

Mobile phone with mobile broadband

By Seamour Rathore seamour@consumerchoices.co.uk

If you want to get online when you’re out and about, whether for work or pleasure, you may want to get a mobile broadband connection.

All the main mobile phone networks offer mobile broadband. Mobile broadband is a great way to get online while you’re out and about using your laptop. With mobile broadband and your laptop you can check your emails, do office work or just stream music wherever there’s a mobile broadband signal.

With a dongle or built-in mobile broadband, you can get online anywhere as long as you’re in range of the network, and you don’t need to be in a Wi-fi hotspot.

Mobile broadband plus mobile phone deals

As an existing mobile phone customer of a network, you may be entitled to a cut-price mobile broadband service from the supplier. Orange and Virgin Mobile both have a special deal for these customers.

Mobile broadband coverage

Mobile phone coverage and mobile broadband coverage are not exactly the same, so if you’re thinking of getting mobile broadband, you should run a postcode check to ensure you’ll be able to use your mobile broadband in the areas you’ll need it. Just because your phone works in an area, it doesn’t mean your mobile broadband will work too.

Mobile broadband runs off the 3G (third generation) network, It is possible to get a perfectly good phone service in an area where a mast is not 3G-enabled, and so there won’t be sufficient mobile broadband coverage. So make sure you do a dedicated mobile broadband postcode check.

Using your mobile phone as a modem

The providers of mobile broadband are the mobile network operators. While the most popular way to connect to mobile broadband is with a dongle (modem), you can also use your existing mobile phone as a modem to get on line.

Mobile networks including T-Mobile and Vodafone allow this option for an additional monthly fee – dispensing with the need to carry a dongle as well as your phone. When you sign up for the service your network provider will send you some software to install on your laptop plus a micro USB cable to run between your phone and your laptop. Or you can use Bluetooth to make the connection. You may also need to adjust your mobile phone settings, but all the information you need will be provided by your network.

3 has a wireless device known as Mi-fi which provides a broadband connection for a range of devices from laptops to the iPod touch. It has comes on a tariff similar in price to mobile broadband through a dongle.

Netbooks with built-in mobile broadband

If you like the flexibility of being able to work while out and about, you may find that the best way to complete your virtual office is with a mobile broadband with free laptop deal. Most of the main networks offer powerful, lightweight netbooks sold incorporating mobile broadband for around £30 a month on a 24-month contract. These are a great way to spread the cost of the netbook, but you need to be sure you’re happy to take on this level of financial commitment for two years.

Many netbook deals now come with a built in mobile broadband datacard dispensing with the need for a dongle altogether.

For the latest mobile broadband deals, including discounts for existing customers, run a mobile broadband comparison.