When it comes to staying connected while you’re on the move then there’s plenty of choice out there, although the vast amount of mobile broadband deals can be tricky to get your head around. That’s probably why the comparison website has become so popular in recent years, because you’ll get all of the packages listed in one place, and they’ll be bang up to date too.
Getting the right mobile broadband deal is all down to doing your homework and being a little bit canny when you’re searching for the various options. The great thing about comparison websites is that you can instantly compare and contrast what’s on offer in the marketplace, without having to suffer a persistent salesperson that you might encounter in a traditional store.
Mobile Broadband
Plenty of options
The other benefit of doing it all online is that you can take your time and pick through what’s on offer. Mobile broadband basically comes down to two different options, with pay as you go being the cheap and cheerful route to take, while a contract deal can mean you’ll probably get a more flexible package although it’ll mean signing on the dotted line for a fixed period of time.
Either way, you’ll generally need to get yourself a mobile broadband dongle, which will enable you to get hooked up to the Internet via a network provider. Dongle deals are everywhere right now, so be sure to spend time picking through the array of different options. Some mobile providers will even give you a dongle for nothing if you sign up with them, while the PAYG angle will generally require you to pay for the device and then put credit on it.
A new angle
Mobile broadband technology is getting better all the time, and one of the most interesting developments of late has been the development of the MiFi. This gadget is similar in style to a traditional mobile broadband dongle, but it allows you to share the signal with up to five other users. This can be very useful if you have a household where more than one person needs to get on the Internet.
Going in the MiFi direction though means that you’ll have your data allowances divvied up between the users, so if you have people sharing the signal who download a lot of content then you may need to check that you have a package or deal that can cope with that kind of usage.
Get your quota
In that respect it’s critical that you pick a mobile broadband deal that has enough of a data allowance for your needs. Pay as you go deals often have less flexible allowances, so if you’re something of a heavyweight mobile Internet user then you’ll have to ensure that you go for a contract package.
Bear in mind that, no matter what kind of deal you sign up for, you’ll also be at the mercy of coverage. Mobile broadband is pretty good right now, but coverage isn’t universal and can fluctuate depending on geographical location and other factors, including the amount of network traffic and what content is being downloaded at any given time.
Get it right
With all of that in mind, be sure that you take your time picking through the mobile broadband comparison websites, and ensure that you check out the terms and conditions of any deal that you like the look of. Spending time on the comparison part of getting a mobile broadband package will ensure that you get the right deal and for the right price. It’s easier than you might think.
Rob Clymo writes on behalf of www.broadbandgenie.co.uk, the independent comparison website for iPad deals, broadband and mobile broadband.