The Dongle

A small piece of technology with a very unusual name has created a major revolution in mobile broadband .

You will have seen the ‘dongle’ posing next to a laptop in billboards or newspaper ads.

The USB modem, which provides internet access on the move through the 3G mobile network, is basking in its five minutes of fame.

Analysts say mobile broadband seems to be taking hold

Unlike video calling and multimedia messaging, mobile broadband does seem to be taking hold. Analysts at Morgan Stanley estimate 50,000 people are buying the devices every month in Britain and more than a fifth of 3′s new customers who sign up to monthly contracts are buying dongles.

With advertised speeds of up to 7.2mbps (megabytes per second), it seems as though we can finally achieve fixed-line rates without the hassle of activation charges and long-term contracts – ideal for those who rent, such as students or foreign workers.

And it is a revolution – albeit one that feels as though it should already have come. We surf the web so often at home or work it seems we must be able to log on whenever we want.
With WI-FI spots of charging hefty charges for usage, and the ease of plug’n'play, the ability to check emails, contact friends etc are easier then ever.

Yet dongles may not be the solution for all. ‘Mobile broadband packages impose very low download caps and charge a premium if you go over the limit, so they aren’t right for heavy internet users or regular downloaders,’ says Rob Barnes, head of broadband and mobiles at moneysupermarket.com.

‘If you are a heavy user, you’d be better off looking at fixed-line deals as a number of these packages offer unlimited downloads and competitive prices.’ Indeed, one user was stung with a bill for £4,900 after using her dongle to download The Apprentice on holiday.

Even Alan Sugar’s not worth that. Most packages fall into the 3.6mbp rate range, although Vodafone claims it can reach speeds of up to 7.2mbps.

The main factors in achieving the quickest DL speed include the number of other users in the area, distance from the base station, signal quality and the application that you’re using – all bring your data rate below the maximum.
The best advice I can give anyone would be to check whether you have the best mobile broadband is to ensure before you take a contract out or pay as you go you