More than one billion people around the world will be accessing the internet by mobile broadband. These are the latest predictions for mobile broadband users by 2012.
Slightly worrying however, is the fact that in Europe the current uptake on mobile broadband and internet dongles has caught the operators out. The number of new mobile subscriptions are rising so fast that the mobile networks are struggling to keep up.
In the UK, the mobile broadband operator Vodafone (visit the Vodafone website) is increasing its mobile network speeds up to 14.4Mbps – more than double the current speeds.
Vodafone and Apple have confirmed that they have reached agreement to bring iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS to the UK and Ireland in early 2010.
Beginning today, Vodafone UK and Vodafone Ireland customers can register their interest in the iphone at www.vodafone.co.uk/iphone (visit the Vodafone website for more information – the iphone link is on their front page). Pricing, tariffs and availability information will be announced locally in the future. Vodafone now offers iPhone through thirteen of its operating companies.
There is surely going to be a pay as you go offering. I hope so anyway. And the more mobile phone operators that sell the iphone, the better the prices will be, as they become more competitive.
As widely reported, Orange will soon be offering the Apple iphone in its UK stores. The exclusive iphone contract which had been held by Telefonica’s O2 is coming to an end.
Orange – who already have the iphone contract in over 20 countries across Europe – will be able to offer both the 3G and 2G versions of the mobile phone. Orange has already been importing 2G phones from outside the UK to sell in its British stores, but by thismlatest move, Orange will be able to sell the iphone in a range of contracts and pay as you go guises.
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The UK telecoms watchdog is keeping an eye on mobile broadband in the UK. When marketing its mobile broadband products the UK mobile industry is tending to be a little on the optimistic side regarding the implied speeds of internet access.
Ofcom’s recent research shows that consumers are increasingly using mobile networks to access the internet on their computers via a dongle or 3G datacard. There were over two million new connections to mobile broadband between February 2008 and February 2009.
Mobile network coverage in the UK is generally good but some problems persist, particularly in rural areas. Ofcom is focusing on persistent so-called not-spot areas and working where it can to facilitate better mobile coverage.
Thousands are signing up to mobile broadband deals which allow them to connect to the internet on the go – without having to rely on a landline.
Tesco has reported a 71 per cent increase in pay-as-you-go mobile broadband deals, as the appeal of being able to use the internet anytime, anywhere grows. The mobile internet is here to stay.
Visit the Tesco website for further information and to purchase you mobile dongle – they have some good deals.
It’s easy to see the appeal – all you have to do is plug an “internet dongle” into the side of your laptop, or computer, and in a couple of clicks, you’re surfing the net.
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Tesco see growth in pay as you go mobile broadband
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From under £5 per month, existing Orange broadband users could be accessing the internet from anywhere. The “Orange internet everywhere” dongle simply plugs into your home PC or laptop. Visit the Orange website for further information.
“High-speed mobile broadband from £4.89 a month”
This is not a true pay as you go mobile broadband service, but at just under £5 per month it does offer the cheapest monthly mobile broadband package on the market.
“Available on an 18 month contract, this great value package comes with a usage allowance of 500 Mb per month and download speeds of up to 3.6mbps. Perfect for those who have low usage needs and just want to email and surf the web.”
The major computer manufacturers * have come together to work on a future mobile broadband initiative. All seem to agree that the broadband dongle (USB internet dongle) pushed into the side of a computer is not the smartest way of accessing the internet in the future.
They agree that mobile broadband is the future and that future computer devices will contain the internet dongle components internally - The humble internet dongle with time will become phased out.
September’s a busy time for students, but this offer is guaranteed to get the new term off to a flying start. Up to 10Mb broadband is just £15 a month for the first 3 months, and only £20 a month after that. It comes with unlimited downloads and no phone line is required -making it ideal for houseshares.
Okay so the deal is not a strict pay as you go broadband deal but it is a cracking offer if you don’t want to get tied to a phone line contract.
From Virgin:
Ofcom have recently released advice for Students about to go to University. It is the first time the organisation has provided a broadband mini guide for students.
The guide compares the benefits of pay as you go mobile broadband against the need to pay for a fixed line (from someone like BT) and monthly broadband fees. The number of pay as you go (PAYG) broadband deals for home broadband are low but the number of pay as you go mobile broadband contracts are increasing everyday.
1. You’ve got the web everywhere
No more wasting hours hunting out Wi–Fi hotspots. Snag yourself a 3 mobile broadband deal and you’ll be able to hop onto the web wherever you plonk your laptop. Work when you want, or just have a giggle at the latest YouTube hits.
