Uncovering the Myths and Lies about Mobile Broadband

While around 99% of the country’s population is able to get mobile broadband there are a number of myths that still surround this. It is important that you know what the myths are and what the truth is regarding the best mobile broadband packages. When you know the truth you can better understand mobile broadband and what this offers you.

The Expense of Using Mobile Broadband Abroad

There have been many stories of people using their mobile broadband abroad only to return to bills which cost hundreds or even thousands. While using your connection abroad will still cost you quite a bit more than in the UK it is not as much as you would think.

There are now EU regulations that providers have to adhere to which help the consumer. Providers have to warn consumers if they are close to their limit. This means that abroad excess charges will not end up shocking you. Of course, this may not be the case in all countries and it is best that you verify this.

The Best Mobile Broadband Speeds Are Slow

If you have fibre optic broadband then this myth is true. However, if you look at it from a more general perspective it is false. The average broadband speed for the UK is around 12mb per second. This means that the 7mb per second that people can get with mobile broadband is not that much slower.

There are ways that the speed of your mobile broadband can be increased as well. When using a device which connects to mobile broadband there is a special browser you can use to increase the speeds. If you use the Opera Turbo browser you will be able to increase the overall connection speed of your mobile broadband.

The Data You Get is Very Limited

The most common myth regarding these deals is that the data allowance is not sufficient for consumer needs. While this might have been true at some point providers are moving away from this. It is still possible to find deals that offer very small amounts of data each month. However, most providers now offer deals which have much higher data limits.

Data limits are generally around 3GB to 5GB and you can get a deal which has around 10GB or more. If you get a deal with 10GB you will be able to:

· Download 320 average length music tracks

· Download 50 30 minute standard definition videos

· Surf the web for 100 hours

· Download and send around 10000 emails

Very Long Contracts

This is a myth which was true at one point. In the past many mobile broadband providers only offered contracts for 24 months. This is no longer the norm and contract lengths have decreased. In fact it is possible to get contracts for this broadband that only last a month and continue on a rolling basis.

If you do not want to have any form of contract there is an option for you. Pay as You Go may cost more in the long term but it also allows you the freedom of only paying for what you need. One problem with this option is that the data you buy will have an expiry date of 30 days after purchase. If the data is not used by that time you will not be able to use it.

Outside is Where You Should Use This

Most people believe that the only time you should use mobile broadband is when you are outside your home. Recent information has shown that that around 75% of people who use mobile broadband do so from inside their homes. The reason for this is that there are more free Wi-Fi zones available to people trying to connect outside. As these connections are free they are a better option than the paid for mobile broadband.

Very Expensive Excess Data Use Charges

There was a time when using data over your limit would have cost you an arm and leg. While there are charges if you use excess broadband it may not be as much as you think. You will generally pay a small fee for every gigabyte you use over your allowance.

In a bid to stop people using more data then they have providers have included tracking systems with their broadband. The tracking system will keep track of what you have used and what you still have available. In many cases you can set the tracker to alert you when you reach certain milestones in your usage.

Mi-Fi or Dongles are Needed

While the majority of people do still use dongles to connect to mobile broadband it is not the only way to get mobile broadband. There are many laptops which now have mobile broadband modems built into them. It is also possible to tether mobile phones and other devices to your laptop. The popularity of tablets like the iPad offers a different method of getting onto the mobile broadband network.

Dongles Are Very Outdated

When dongles first came onto the market it was more function over form. This means that they were not that convenient to use and could often be quite cumbersome. This is no longer the case as technological advances have allowed these devices to decrease in size. The standard dongle today is the same size as a USB memory stick.

Dongles are also more stylish today. The skins of the dongle are often stylish and fit the current styles and trends. Dongles are also no longer just a means of getting onto the internet. Many dongles can now be used as a USB storage device as well as a mobile broadband modem.

Mobile Broadband is Not Financially Viable

Mobile broadband no longer costs as much as it once did. This means that more people can afford it and it is no longer seen as a luxury. For certain users it may cost them less to have mobile broadband than a fixed line connection as there are fewer additional costs. You will not have to pay a line rental when using this connection which saves you quite a bit each month.

Sam Jones’s daughter visited to ask about the best mobile broadband deals.  He knew that they would easily be able to find out from sites like uSwitch and he could do a comparison in minutes.