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If you’re a business user and want to take the internet with you to meetings, on business trips or just to pass the time on long train journeys, there are some great business mobile broadband deals available.
All mobile broadband suppliers offer business versions of their packages, with higher download allowances, better hardware or cheaper prices than normal consumer tariffs.
| Business mobile broadband 3GB (24 months) | Business mobile broadband 3GB (12 months) | Business mobile broadband: Never Pay More (24 months) | Business mobile broadband: Never Pay More (30 days) | ||||
| Monthly charge | £12.76 (ex. VAT) | £12.76 (ex. VAT) | £18.00 (ex. VAT) | £18.00 (ex. VAT) | |||
| Dongle/Laptop costs | Free | Free | Free | £41.70 | |||
| Usage limit | 3GB | 3GB | unlimited | unlimited | |||
| Speed (up to) | 7.2Mb | 7.2Mb | 7.2Mb | 7.2Mb | |||
| Minimum contract | 24 months | 12 months | 24 months | 1 month | |||
Vodafone (www.Vodafone.co.uk) offers up to four business packages to choose from, each with a different contract length. The shortest plan is a flexible 30 day contract, with longer term contracts available over 12, 18 and 24 months. Business users should consider Vodafone's USB Modem Stick Pro: the dongle delivers download speeds up to 7.2Mbps and upload speeds 22 times faster than standard 3G.
| 3GB (24 months) | Unlimited (24 months) | ||
| Monthly charge | £10.64 (ex.VAT) | £15.00 (ex.VAT) | |
| Dongle/Laptop costs | Free | Free | |
| Usage limit | 3GB | unlimited | |
| Speed (up to) | 3.6Mb | 3.6Mb | |
| Minimum contract | 24 months | 24 months | |
O2 (www.businessshop.o2.co.uk) offers a dedicated business mobile broadband package for SMEs and office users: it comes with a free mobile dongle, access to over 6,100 Wi-Fi hotspots in the UK (with The Cloud), and a 3GB download limit. O2's business mobile broadband plans are available under different contract lengths, from 30 days to 18 and 24 months.
| Mobile broadband Plus 3GB (18 months) | Mobile broadband Extra 5GB (24 months) | Mobile broadband Plus Daily (2GB fair usage) | |||
| Monthly charge | £15.00 | £30.00 | Pay as you go | ||
| Dongle/Laptop costs | Free | Free | £19.99 | ||
| Usage limit | 3GB | 5GB | 2GB | ||
| Speed (up to) | 4.5Mb | 4.5Mb | 3.6Mb | ||
| Minimum contract | 18 months | 24 months | No contract | ||
T-Mobile (www.T-Mobile.co.uk) offers its two standard mobile broadband plans, on both 12 and 24 month contracts and customers willing to sign longer tariffs get a reduced monthly cost. Both USB modems and “future proof” USB modem sticks are available on both plans. Customers also get inclusive WiFi HotSpot access.
| Lite 1GB (24 months) | Lite 1GB (18 months) | MiFi Mobile broadband - 1GB (18 Months) | 5GB (18 months) | ||||
| Monthly charge | £7.50 | £7.50 | £9.50 | £15.00 | |||
| Dongle/Laptop costs | Free | Free | Free | Free | |||
| Usage limit | 1GB | 1GB | 1GB | 5GB | |||
| Speed (up to) | 7.2Mb | 7.2Mb | 7.2Mb | 7.2Mb | |||
| Minimum contract | 24 months | 18 months | 18 months | 18 months | |||
Three (www.Three.co.uk) offers its three standard mobile broadband packages, one pay as you go “casual” package, and one specific business package. However, for a limited time, business customers can get 50 per cent off Three’s standard packages, bringing its cheapest business tariff down to just £4.26 per month.
| Business Everywhere Unlimited (24 months) | Business Everywhere Unlimited (18 months) | Business Everywhere Unlimited (12 months) | Business Everywhere Traveller (24 months) | ||||
| Monthly charge | £15.00 (ex.VAT) | £20.00 (ex.VAT) | £25.00 (ex.VAT) | £35.00 (ex.VAT) | |||
| Dongle/Laptop costs | Free | Free | Free | Free | |||
| Usage limit | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | |||
| Speed (up to) | 7.2Mb | 7.2Mb | 7.2Mb | 7.2Mb | |||
| Minimum contract | 12 months | 18 months | 12 months | 24 months | |||
Call Orange on 0800 072 4137 | Call Orange on 0800 072 4137 | Call Orange on 0800 072 4137 | Call Orange on 0800 072 4137 |
Orange (www.Orange.co.uk) is the latest provider to join the business mobile broadband market, with: Business Everywhere Unlimited and Business Everywhere Traveller. Both plans come with unlimited download allowances, and are available under different contract lengths, from 12 to 18 and 24 months.
Think carefully about your budget and the way that you’ll need to use your mobile broadband package. You want the best value tariff, but also one that will meet your needs so that you don’t end up with big bills for exceeding your download limit.
And remember, the connection will work in any laptop, so you don’t need to get a package to “share” unless you want lots of people to use it at the same time.
Click here to Compare broadband packages, and find a provider that's right for you.
Click here to view a list of Mobile Broadband UK packages
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