Surf the web anywhere in your iPad with mobile broadband
There’s now a new way to surf the net on your iPad if you haven’t got a solid broadband connection at home. Although there are plenty of cheap broadband deals available from providers like Sky.com, that’s no use when you’re on the move. Mobile broadband allows you to connect to the internet on your iPad wherever you can get a mobile phone signal. No wires, no router, all you need is a handy little dongle that you can plug straight into your iPad using the iPad Camera Connectivity Kit (a sneaky way around the no-USB port iPad problem).
There are two main types of mobile broadband tariff, pay as you go, and contract. You’ll no doubt be familiar with these terms through your mobile phone use, but pay as you go and contract tariffs work slightly differently when we’re talking about mobile broadband.
If you opt for pay as you go mobile broadband, you simply pay for your credit upfront. Usually this means paying for use of mobile broadband for a certain amount of time, from a day to a month, rather than paying per megabyte for your usage. If you’re a keen downloader, compare providers first as many of them set limits on how much you can download.
Opting for pay as you go mobile broadband means that you’ll have to pay for your dongle upfront, just as you have to buy your own mobile phone when you opt for a pay as you go mobile. One downside to pay as you go is that the rate you pay will be higher than if you opt for a mobile broadband contract, however, a major plus point is that you’re free to switch providers whenever you like.
Your second option is to go for a contract. This means you’ll have to sign up for a direct debit agreement, where your contract fee is taken straight out of your bank account each month. You’ll find various lengths of contract are available, usually 12 months, but some providers offer short-term contracts that are as short as 1 month. Remember that with a contract, you won’t be able to switch providers until your contract comes to an end.
As for mobile broadband speeds, don’t expect the kind of speeds you might be used to with cable broadband packages. All mobile broadband providers are currently working on expanding their 3G networks however, and mobile broadband speeds will only get faster and faster as a result.
If you’re looking to cut the cost of your mobile broadband, talk to your existing mobile phone service provider. Most mobile providers now offer mobile broadband too, and if you’re already a customer, this could entitle you to a hefty mobile broadband discount.
