3 Mobile Broadband Review (UK)
Written by Simon Barker on August 17, 2008 · Filed under Review, Tech
You might be thinking “why do I need 3 mobile broadband internet?” – Well I’ve recently come to realise that this would be a great addition to my gadget bag, it means I don’t need to rely on the places I visit having wireless internet access. For instance, many coffee shops/hotels still do not provide any form of wireless broadband internet, or if they do, it is often charged at an expensive rate.
Therefore by having a 3 mobile broadband USB dongle (card), it gives you the convenience of working/surfing the internet anywhere with a mobile network signal, in my experience there are very few places these days that don’t have any signal at all. It also makes for a great backup in the event your ADSL or cable connection go down and you still need to access the Internet, particularly important if it involves your work!
Another handy use of having a 3 mobile broadband internet USB dongle, is if you don’t have a landline telephone or cable TV installed, you could use this instead. This then obviously saves you having to pay unnecessary additional charges such as line rental or TV subscriptions.
In terms of download limits, the pricing plans also make them a very attractive option to anyone who is a casual internet user who doesn’t do a lot of downloading or streaming of video.
There are various tariffs available to suit your individual needs, for example, there are ‘Pay As You Go’ and Pay Monthly packages at prices starting at just £10 for a 1GB data allowance, with the top packages costing £30 for 15GB – certain packages also include a free USB mobile broadband modem dongle!
Click here for Pay Monthly 3 Mobile Broadband
Click here for PAYG 3 Mobile Broadband
I would have to say, as someone who plays online games, I would probably stick to a wired internet connection for that purpose as relying on a mobile broadband connection will mean you’re more liable to experience varying connection speeds, as well as generally slower response times that are more susceptible to fluctuations.
Overall, I think this is a great option for anyone who requires mobile broadband that gives them an internet connection on any computer that they choose to use the wireless internet USB dongle with. Now the price point has come down, I would definitely recommend this as I find it extremely useful having access to 3 mobile broadband!
UPDATE: If you’re looking to save some money on a 3 Mobile Broadband contract, then take a look at the 3 Mobile Broadband voucher code to save £54 over the course of an 18-month 5GB contract.
Comments - share your opinion or ask a question...
I was given a 3 mobile broadband dongle a few months back to review and it was excellent! I was upset that they asked for it back :s Prices these days are very competitive which is great.
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Mobile broadband isn’t quite up there as an alternative to a landline based solution. If you’re a serious internet user and need to upload files as well as download, forget about it on a 3G HSDPA connection. I use my 3 dongle when I want to surf in the park or at a coffee shop. Things will improve as LTE technology (or 4G) starts to surface.
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In response to rhino, whilst i agree mobile broadband is not ideal for gaming, it is handy for general browsing and there are some good offers out there, you just have to find the right ones.
yes,mobile broadband is now like a sim card for the laptop and for the general use computer..Somehow it is having good speed..But need to compare the the different isp providers…
Yeah these things suck for online gaming. They are good for giving you internet practically everywhere. I’m not keeping mine though as the online gaming thing is important to me.
3 mobile broadband improved dramatically, after months of problems. Bought a 2 metre ext lead, cost £3, raised the dongle like a tele ariel, great now, don`t know why nobody in the shop knew about this. .
Having tested all the main providers 3′s mobile broadband is on a par or better than the others (Vodafone is up their too in my opinion). 3′s also the cheapest so is a good option. As some of the above commenters menion it’s definitely not going to fit the bill for gaming though. Whatever option you go for check 3G coverage strength with the provider in question in your area (you can do this on most mobile broadband provider sites), as this willl be the single biggest factor you should consider.