Mobile Broadband

USB modem sticks compared

Updated: Tuesday 04 January, 2011

By Editorial - news@consumerchoices.co.uk

USB modem sticks allow you to connect to the mobile broadband network and surf the web at the fastest possible speeds.

T-Mobile (www.T-Mobile.co.uk) calls its USB modem stick “future proof” and you need one to connect to Vodafone's (www.Vodafone.co.uk) superfast mobile broadband network that currently offers the UK’s fastest connection at speeds of up to 14.4Mb - though it estimates that this will give users an actual speed of between 1Mb and 4Mb and a “practical maximum” of 10.8Mb.

Mobile broadband USB modem sticks look like USB memory sticks; small, sleek and light. And like all dongles, they come with “plug and play” technology that allows you to simply connect your modem to your computer’s USB port where the software will automatically be installed, and you’re ready to connect to the internet on the go.

Benefits of a USB modem stick

USB modem sticks are now the standard way of connecting your laptop or netbook to the mobile broadband network, allowing you to get online anywhere that you have a mobile signal.

When you sign a mobile broadband contract you'll be given a USB modem stick as part of your package, allowing you to get online at the fastest possible speed. They are small and portable, and very easy to use.

Once the software has been automatically installed on your computer you'll be able to get online whenever you want using your modem stick and log into your account to monitor your data usage simply by clicking on the icon on your desktop.

New models are coming out all the time, offering faster, more reliable connections - and some even have a slot for an external memory card.

Other ways to get online with mobile broadband

Although the older mouse-style modems are no longer offered by mobile broadband providers, there are also other ways that you can get online.

You can now get mobile broadband routers that turn your connection into a portable wireless hotspot. 3 (www.Three.co.uk) offers its MiFi mobile wifi dongle that allows you to connect up to five different devices at the same time.

Some of the latest laptops and netbooks on offer as part of mobile broadband laptop deals even come with built-in mobile broadband. This means that once you've put your sim card into your laptop, all you have to do to get online is turn your computer on. You don’t even need a USB modem stick.

But despite the new technologies emerging all the time, dongles for laptops (also known as USB modem sticks) remain the most popular way of surfing the net with mobile broadband.

Click here to read more about the different types of mobile broadband hardware.

Or click here to view a list of mobile broadband packages

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