20 September 2009
Mobile broadband has been one of the most exciting emerging technologies of the 21st century, which allows high-speed wireless internet access through your laptop or PC.

Mobile broadband has been one of the most exciting emerging technologies of the 21st century, which allows high-speed wireless internet access through your laptop or PC.

The selling point has always been the fact that you don’t need any wires, telephone lines or having to be in a Wi-Fi location to access the internet - you simply connect through a USB modem or data card in your laptop. So if you want to check out the latest cinema times and reviews whilst on your laptop on the move then mobile broadband is ideal for you.

Although 3g failed spectacularly to live up to its initial hype, 2008 finally saw the technology enter the mainstream. Recent reviews from industry experts have commended mobile broadband providers on their service and the vast improvement of reliability from a few years ago. The good news is that reliability is only going to get better with increasing pressure being exerted by the Government’s digital departments on all broadband providers.

Mobile Broadband can (theoretically) achieve speeds up to 7.2Mb in some cases and coupled with generous download limits, it has seen a relatively large up-taking during the past year. It is also extremely easy to set-up - simply plug in your ‘dongle’ and the connection manager will automatically set you on the way. In parts of Scotland, and particularly in the Highlands, coverage can be very poor and some areas are unable to receive mobile broadband at present.

Luckily for consumers, there are a number of broadband providers in this market and with each of them desperate to gain market share, the prices can be very competitive. The main players are the big phone companies of o2, Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile and 3 who all have various packages available to choose from and suit every budget.

There are lots of websites offering mobile broadband reviews, and these can help you find the package which best serves your particular needs. Service for the money and a largest coverage area, so you can literally go anywhere and still be in a coverage area in order to receive a good signal for your Internet access.