A technology-based website has claimed that mobile broadband consumers should take no risks when it came to choosing a mobile broadband dongle for connecting to their personal computer or laptop (netbook).

According to the website, Electricpig, many mobile broadband dongles that were sold at the market were not compatible with the operating system of Apple, Snow Leopard. This was cited by the website to warn the buyers that it was all the more necessary for them to be extremely cautious in their approach.

Another point emphasised by the website was the need for the consumers to check thoroughly without fail the small print found on dongle deals. The website observed that if the fine print said it worked with a MAC, it was necessary to check which version, and if there was any sort of uncertainty this was to be cleared before making the payment.

Meanwhile, the website does not fail to acknowledge that valuable advice could be gained from the support pages over the internet, as local broadband vendors as well as broadband providers outlets should also be able to render further guidance.

The website had earlier this week, reported that the mobile broadband dongles offered by different broadband service providers including O2, T-Mobile and 3, failed to function with the Apple OS, Snow Leopard at the time.

]]> http://www.broadbandsuppliers.co.uk/uk-isp/dongle-compatibility-check-a-priority-for-consumers/feed/ 0 http://www.broadbandsuppliers.co.uk/uk-isp/mobile-broadband-dongles-sales-soar/ http://www.broadbandsuppliers.co.uk/uk-isp/mobile-broadband-dongles-sales-soar/#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:16:02 +0000 admin http://www.broadbandsuppliers.co.uk/uk-isp/mobile-broadband-dongles-sales-soar/ The mobile broadband dongle has recently turned out to be a must-have gadget, as its popularity is on the rise constantly. This is more than evident from the latest news that 3 Broadband, a mobile broadband ISP in the UK has sold around a million mobile broadband dongles, if not more.

The mobile broadband dongle that is a miniature USB device that not only provides internet, but also offers data storage space, has been a runaway success, very much unlike some other 3G applications that had crashed hopelessly.

A significant fact that was brought to light by expert broadband analysts was that the mobile broadband dongles put forth by 3 Broadband UK, as well as its rivals posed a potential threat to not only the broadband service providing companies like BT who resorted to traditional phone lines, but also to the Wi-Fi hot spot providers.

The consistent decline of the prices for mobile broadband dongles also adds to the cause. As a matter of fact, the dongle prices have taken a nose dive from around GBP 100 to less than GBP 50, in a span of one year. It is also significant that in many cases ISPs offered them for free of cost.

The mobile broadband dongle is well known for its user friendliness, as well as its unsophisticated start up. A user simply required to plug the dongle into his laptop’s USB port to start using it. There was simply no need of any forceful configuration.

Today, all the major mobile broadband service providers, such as Orange, O2, 3 Broadband, T-Mobile and Vodafone has laid the focus on the mobile broadband dongle market. It cannot be left unobserved as well the fact that today, out of a total mobile broadband users amounting to 495 million, in the European Union, 13 percent used data cards or dongles.

The term mobile broadband dongle became popular with the launch of mobile broadband connections by the famous Internet Service Provider 3-mobile. Mobile broadband dongles are devices that can be plugged into the computer and used for browsing whenever required. The major advantage of mobile broadband dongles is that it is compact. Portability offered by mobile broadband dongles is quite high, so that you can surf even if you are traveling or if you are in a library, provided there is relevant Internet Service Provider’s coverage. Most of the internet service providers are availing free broadband dongles along with the mobile broadband connection.

mobile-broadband-modem

These portable modems are also termed as USB sticks or USB modems. There are many other sorts of aiding mobile internet services, which include data cards, phone modems and 3G laptops with in-built mobile broadband modem. But these are comparatively more complicated than the mobile broadband with dongles. The major advantage of mobile broadband dongle connection is the easy setup and installation. All the mobile broadband dongles are equipped with self installing software. One can start surfing with three easy installation steps in the case of mobile broadband dongles. Bluetooth dongles are available in markets that can be used with the PC, notebooks and even with Bluetooth enabled mobile phones.

mobile-broadband-dongle

Mobile Broadband with dongles offers faster internet connection without a landline phone. Instead it uses SIM card to connect to the internet, which is inserted in the dongle (USB Modem). Whenever you need to surf, you just have to plug the dongle into the laptop/computer and start browsing. The major advantage of the mobile broadband is its portability, and it is of great use to frequent travelers, students, people working from home, etc. Dongle is one of the most inevitable devices in mobile broadband technology, and enables internet access without using landline. Almost all Internet Service Providers like 3-mobile, T-mobile, Vodafone, O2, Orange, etc are offering free mobile broadband dongles along with their mobile broadband connections.

The dongles can be used with both laptops and desktops. One can get connected to the internet by plugging the broadband dongle into the USB port. The dongle will establish internet connection by getting connected to the mobile network and also to the nearest mobile mast. Mobile mast, technically called as the Base Transceiver Station(BTS), in turn routes the Broadband connection’s unique identification number to the less trafficked channel to enable internet access. Though the process seems to be lengthy in papers, the connection is established in a jiffy. However, the speed broadband connection depends on the mobile reception strength. Mobile broadband speed can even match 3G standards if there is sufficient signal strength.

Communication Minister Lord Carter’s dream about Digital Britain can be realized only with the help of mobile broadband connections, where fixed landlines are not possible. With the sales of mobile broadband dongle connections rocketing high to over one million, and prices slashing down to £10 per month approximately, it is evident that majority of the internet users are going for mobile broadband connections. However there is a wide-spread disappointment about the sluggish internet speed and patchy network, especially when used inside buildings unlike the advertised speed and efficiency. It is also reported that many internet service providers are having high return rates due to these issues. This is the case with fixed broadband connections too.

With the increasing allegations on under performance of the broadband connections, Ofcom has released a new code of conduct for UK ISP in which service providers have to give a rough estimate on actual maximum speed of the broadband connection. According to the code of conduct, the Internet Service Providers are supposed to give an approximate limit of the actual peak speed of the mobile broadband connection with the latest sign-ups. Along with the speed limits, the Internet Service Providers are also supposed to give tips for boosting the performance of the broadband as well. However the Internet Service Providers are finding it very hard to give accurate rough estimate of the maximum speed limit in the case of Mobile Broadband, since it is highly arbitrary and depends solely on the network traffic and signal reception.

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