Mobile Broadband

Dongles for laptops

Compare the UK's best selling dongles for laptops and PCs with our buyer's guide. Mobile broadband providers now offer a broad range of mobile broadband dongles on pay-as-you-go plans and contracts.

Dongles for laptops

When you sign up to a new plan from a mobile broadband provider, you’ll be given a "dongle" - or USB modem stick, as they're also known. Even if you have to pay for your dongle on a pay-as-you-go tariff, this should only set you back around £20.

Dongles allow you to connect to the internet, using your laptop, wherever you are. Out and about, or on the move, you'll be able to get online with your laptop dongle anywhere that you get a 3G mobile signal - with around 93% of the country covered.

Simply plug your dongle into your laptop or netbook and all the software you need to get online will automatically be installed, using the latest “plug and play” technology. You'll be able to go online and surf the web within minutes.

Choosing the right dongle

Dongles for laptops are a great way of getting online, whether you want a one-month contract, a sim-only deal, a longer commitment or just a pay-as-you-go tariff.

However, there are some things that you need to take into account before signing up. Make sure that you check the mobile broadband coverage in your area before committing to any one provider - one ISP might have better reception in your area than another so it’s always a good idea to compare all the options.

Also think about your download allowance - even if you're not using a router to share your connection, you still need to keep an eye on your download allowance, as out-of-bundle charges can be as high as 10p per MB with 3 (www.Three.co.uk).

Finally, the download speed you receive from your mobile broadband dongle isn’t likely to be as high as your home broadband connection - something you should bear in mind if you're thinking about replacing your home broadband with a mobile connection instead.

Do you need a dongle at all?

A mobile broadband dongle is a great way to get online wherever you are, but it’s not the only way to connect to the mobile broadband network.

The latest generation of laptops and netbooks come with built-in mobile broadband, so you don’t even need to use a dongle to go online. Your sim card is inserted directly into your laptop and all the software will automatically be installed - allowing you to access the internet within minutes.

Some mobile broadband free laptop packages offer models that come with built-in mobile broadband - giving you everything you need to get online with one monthly package.

Mobile broadband laptops

If you're after a new computer but can’t afford to fork out the cash for a new PC in one go, a mobile broadband laptop deal could be the answer. These offers allow you to spread the cost of a new laptop or ultra-portable netbook over the course of a 24 month contract, as well as giving you a monthly mobile broadband allowance.

Depending on the package and model you choose, you'll either get a laptop with built-in mobile broadband or a free dongle to use to go online.

Mobile wifi

If you want the latest technology to share your mobile broadband signal, mobile wifi, or MiFi from 3, is a dongle and router in one - so you don’t even need any additional hardware.

You can also sign up for a mobile broadband wireless router if you want to share your signal with friends or colleagues. If this is what you're after, there are two options to choose from; if you're looking for your first mobile broadband connection you could choose a mobile wifi modem and forgo the dongle altogether. But if you’ve already got a mobile broadband dongle, you can simply buy an additional wireless router to send your mobile broadband signal wireless.

However, if you are thinking about sharing your mobile broadband signal, you'll have to be extra careful with your download allowance to make sure that you don’t go over your limit. Costs can soon add up and you could end up with a big bill at the end of the month.

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