Mobile Broadband Dongles & Mobile Broadband With Free Laptop
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With mobile broadband access using your laptop and a USB modem or USB stick (known as a Dongle) becoming a 'must have' for many of the UK's population, we've put together this guide to help explain what mobile broadband is all about.
We've compared the latest mobile broadband dongle packages available from T-Mobile, Vodafone, 3 and Orange. Prices now start from just £10 per month with a free USB modem or USB stick (known as Dongles) being offered when you order online. We've also included the mobile broadband with free laptop packages that are now available from the Carphone Warehouse from just £25 a month, including the free Elenox Webbook (mini laptop) with Orange Mobile Broadband.
What Is Mobile Broadband?
Mobile broadband enables you to surf the Internet at broadband speeds on your laptop from anywhere you have 3G mobile phone coverage. This means you can use your laptop to surf the web or check your emails from wherever you want as opposed to fixed line home broadband or the various wireless hotspots available in hotels, cafes and airports.How Does Mobile Broadband Work?
Mobile Broadband works by connecting your laptop to a 3G mobile phone network using a USB modem or USB stick (known as a Dongle) supplied by the mobile broadband provider. The 3G mobile phone network offered by the likes of T-Mobile, Vodafone, 3 and Orange can typically offer mobile broadband speeds ranging from 2Mb to 7.2Mb, making it comparable with your normal home broadband connection.How Do I Get Mobile Broadband For My Laptop?
All mobile broadband services require you to choose a mobile internet service provider (a mobile phone operator) that offers a mobile broadband service and a USB modem or USB stick (dongle) for your laptop. There are many suppliers that offer mobile broadband services including T-Mobile, Vodafone, 3, Orange and the Carphone Warehouse - who resell many of the UK's mobile broadband packages with free laptops. You can read a full review of their latest packages by clicking the respective link or compare them all below in our two comparison tables.Compare Mobile Broadband Packages From T-Mobile, Vodafone, 3 & Orange
| Mobile Broadband Provider | Speed | Download Limit | Contract Period | Monthly Cost | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Up to 1.8Mb (7.2Mb rolling out now) | 3Gb | 24 months | SPECIAL ONLINE OFFER - £10 p/m for first 3 months |
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Up to 3.6Mb | 3Gb | 24 months | £15 |
|
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Up to 2.8Mb | 3Gb | 12 months | £15 |
|
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Up to 1.8Mb | 3Gb | 18 months | £15 |
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Up to 7.2Mb | 3Gb | 24 months | £15, plus one-off £39 for USB modem stick |
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Up to 1.8Mb | 10Gb | 24 months | £30 |
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Up to 2.8Mb | 1Gb | 12 months | £10 with £49.99 one-off set up fee |
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Up to 2.8Mb | 15Gb | 18 months | £30 |
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Compare Mobile Broadband With Free Laptop Packages From The Carphone Warehouse
| Mobile Broadband Provider | Speed | Download Limit | Contract Period | Monthly Cost | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Up to 1.8Mb | 3Gb | 24 months | £25 plus get a FREE Webbook Mini laptop & FREE USB modem |
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Up to 1.8Mb | Unlimited | 18 months | £29 plus get a FREE Acer laptop & FREE USB modem |
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Up to 1.8Mb | 3Gb | 24 months | £30 plus get a FREE Acer laptop & FREE USB modem |
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Up to 2.8Mb | 3Gb | 18 months | £35 plus get a FREE Acer laptop & FREE USB modem |
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T-Mobile Broadband
T-Mobile can deliver broadband on the move on your laptop using the T-Mobile network and either their USB modem or new USB stick (collectively known as Dongles). They offer two fast mobile broadband packages to choose from - called T-Mobile Broadband Plus and T-Mobile Broadband Max. Prices start from £10 a month with both packages currently including a free USB modem or FREE USB stick when you sign up online. You can read our full review on T-Mobile Broadband here.Vodafone Mobile Broadband
Vodafone provide super fast mobile broadband for laptops or desktops using its 3G mobile network and either their 3G USB modem or new USB modem stick (dongles). There's a range of packages to choose from depending upon whether you're planning to use mobile broadband just in the UK or when travelling abroad. In the comparison table above and on our review page, we've picked out two Vodafone mobile broadband packages that are ideal for regular use just in the UK. Both package prices are now half price at £15 a month with one including a free 3G USB modem. You can read our full review on Vodafone Mobile Broadband here.3 Mobile Broadband
3 offer customers low cost mobile broadband services that use the 3 mobile network - meaning you can use your broadband wherever you want by simply plugging the 3 USB modem (dongle) into your laptop. 3 offer three mobile broadband packages to choose from - called 3 Mobile Broadband Lite, 3 Mobile Broadband Plus and 3 Mobile Broadband Max. Prices start from £10 a month for up to 2.8Mb download speeds, with all three packages currently including a free USB modem when you sign up online. You can read our full review on 3 Mobile Broadband here.Orange Mobile Broadband
With the new Orange Mobile Broadband service (known as Broadband without a landline) you don't need a phone line to enjoy broadband. Simply plug the Orange USB modem dongle into your desktop computer or laptop, follow the on screen prompts and you're off with mobile broadband speeds up to 1.8Mbps and a monthly download usage limit of 3Gb. It's that easy and only costs £15 a month on an 18 month contract. Read our full review on Orange Mobile Broadband here.Carphone Warehouse Mobile Broadband With Free Laptop
The Carphone Warehouse has partnered with T-Mobile, Orange and 3 to offer users great value mobile broadband with free laptop packages. You'll receive a free T-Mobile, Orange or 3 USB modem dongle that you'll need to plug into your free laptop. There's also Carphone's professional Geek Squad set up available if you need it. Find out more about these great deals at the Carphone Warehouse.Like this page? Email it to a friend
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