Spending a Huge Amount of Money without thinking

As 3G Broadband becomes more and more popular, its easy to spend a huge amount of money and not get the service which is best for you.

As the title suggests its very easy to spend a lot of money on a product without really thinking about the benefits that actually thinking may have on 1. Your service and 2. Your bank balance at the end of the month.

According to figures published by the ACMA sales of mobile broadband grew dramatically in 2009, with 2.1 million total users (up 162% on the figures for the previous year). A quarter of all Internet subscribers now use mobile broadband. However, just as many landline subscribers haven’t put much thought into buying the best plan, It is suspected many mobile broadband users are as equally impulsive.

For the majority of consumers, the actual products required to run a Mobile Broadband connection on a computer are fairly basic in terms of operating system and general type of computer. You do however require a 3G Modem/Dongle and a Sim Card. Generally you will receive a free SIM Card with the dongle/modem you buy.

There are usually two options as to how to go about purchasing a mobile broadband connection:

• Buying the hardware outright and opting for the pay as you go price plans. Or…
• Signing up for a contract. Generally this means you are pretty much tied into a set period usually 18/24 months. However, with this option you are going to see a big reduction on the hardware and indeed access costs.

Ultimately the choice will be yours or in fact your banks decision as to whether you are eligible for a contract (credit check).

No matter what deal you choose its always worth asking yourself a few simple, process of elimination questions, to better determine the best plan for YOU.

What’s the reason I’m investing in mobile broadband?

There are three likely answers to this (outside of “it’s a cool idea”): flexibility, insurance, or lack of alternatives.

Flexibility covers both someone who expects to move house frequently (such as a university student) or someone who travels a lot . Your biggest concern in this scenario is likely to be overall coverage.

Insurance covers a scenario where you largely rely on traditional ADSL, but like the idea of 3G as an additional resource if there’s a power or connection failure. This is common if you’re utterly reliant on Net access to do your job. In this scenario, cost becomes an important consideration, and pay-as-you-go is likely to be an attractive option.

Lack of alternatives If you live in an ADSL blackspot, then 3G may be the only viable option. In this scenario, you may not have a lot of choice about available networks anyway, so “whatever works” may be the only alternative (assuming you’re not planning to invest in a satellite dish).

What’s the reception like at home?

No matter which category you fall into, it’s worth checking on what the network reception for a provider you’re considering is like at your home. Coverage maps may give you some idea, but the best way to do this is find a friend whose mobile phone operates on that network and check how it handles voice and data tasks. As an added backup, make sure you specify when you live when you eventually buy the 3G device, so that you can return it if it turns out to be a dud.

What’s the reception like where I need it?

The same exercise should ideally be repeated anywhere you’re likely to want to use broadband with your laptop. Obvious options include your workplace, schools or campuses, relatives’ houses (if you visit frequently) and even train lines you regularly use. You’re unlikely to get ideal results everywhere, but a consistent series of blanks might suggest thinking about a different provider.

Is there supported software for my preferred OS?

With sufficient effort, you can get 3G to work on just about any platform without actually installing new software, but for the average user, you want to be able to install software from the box and to call on technical support if things go wrong. Virtually every provider supports Windows (though support for versions prior to XP is unlikely); many support Mac, but there’s often a delay before official software becomes available. Linux is for the most part a DIY prospect.

What’s the total cost?

For contract plans, look at the total cost over the time period (which has to be specified in the documentation). For pay as you go, check the expiry period on unused credit: if you routinely top up with $20 but then only use the service one day a month, you’re likely to be ripping yourself off.