Mobile Broadband

USB modem sticks compared

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If you want the latest technology to go with your brand new mobile broadband contract then look no further than a USB modem stick.

T-Mobile Broadband (www.T-Mobile.co.uk) calls its USB modem stick “future proof” and you need one to connect to Vodafone Broadband'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 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 - no matter where you are.

3 USB modems

3 Broadband (www.Three.co.uk) offers a sleek, ZTE MF627 to all of its customers, regardless of whether or not they’re pay monthly or pay as you go mobile broadband users.

It gives users the option to add 4GB of external memory and allows customers to connect at speeds of up to 3.6Mb.

T-Mobile USB modems

When T-Mobile launched its USB modem stick it said that it was “future proof” - so customers who bought it didn’t have to upgrade their hardware when T-Mobile upgraded its network to speeds of up to 7.2Mb in 2009.

It offers different dongles for different pay as you go or pay monthly contracts, though all of its devices come with a memory card slot that allows you to add up to 4GB of memory.

One of its models also comes with four interchangeable covers, allowing you to personalise your dongle.

Vodafone USB modems

Vodafone offers two different modems - a USB modem stick Pro and a standard model. Both allow users to connect at speeds of up to 7.2Mb, though the Pro model - which customers on some packages have to pay for - will also allow customers to connect at the company’s faster speeds as they’re rolled out.

Customers also get the option to add up to 4GB of external memory.

O2 USB modems

O2 Mobile Broadband (www.O2.co.uk) offers different USB modem sticks to pay monthly and pay as you go customers. Contract customers get the white, E169 modem stick, which allows customers to connect at speeds of up to 7.2Mb, and which automatically connects to the fastest possible network.

Although Pay and Go customers get the option to add 2GB of external memory to their white E160 modem stick, the device is only capable of connecting to the mobile broadband network at speeds of up to 3.6Mb.

Orange USB modems

Orange Mobile Broadband (www.Orange.co.uk) offers a wide range of mobile broadband plans, including the only packages to offer free overnight downloads, allowing you to make the most of your data allowance.

It offers three different coloured dongles; black, white and pink, all of which allow users to connect at speeds of up to 3.6Mb and offer a generous 8GB of external memory.

Virgin Media USB modems

Virgin Media Mobile Broadband (www.Virginmedia.com) offers one standard mobile broadband dongle, which allows users to connect at speeds of up to 3.6Mb but doesn’t offer any external memory.

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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