Mobile broadband myths

Mobile broadband popped up when no one was really looking.  While it has arrived very quickly, it wasn't quick enough to avoid collecting a few myths along the way.  Myths often have a tinge of truth, and this guide tries to debunk them.

1) The fastest mobile broadband is best

Can't argue with speed, it's certainly a good thing.  It improves everything, especially music and video downloading.  Real mobile broadband speed, however, varies dramatically depending on where you are and other factors.  It's very rarely close to the advertised 'up to' speeds. 

A far better indicator of speed is to check which mobile broadband network offers the best speeds in the different places you'll be using it.

2) Mobile broadband is expensive

It certainly used to be, and if you're caught out by greedy excess usage charges, it still can be. 

Nowadays, however, its cost is pretty similar to home broadband.  You do still need to be alert to the danger of excess charges, but a little care will keep you safely within your download allowance.

3) You still need home broadband

In the same way as many people have given up their ordinary phone and only use a mobile, it's perfectly possible for most people to only use mobile broadband.

There are some uses for broadband which favour home broadband (particularly gaming and lots of video downloading), and home broadband is usually still quicker.  If these don't bother you though, there's no real reason why you need both.

4) Contracts are too long

Contracts used to be always well over a year, but now that USB modems are cheap, contract lengths have come right down.  Indeed you can buy pay-as-you-go mobile broadband for one day at a time, so contracts are now pretty short.

Nevertheless, signing up to a longer contract is usually good value.  Not only do you normally get a free usb modem, but you often get a lot more download for your money as well.

5) It doesn't work

Mobile broadband certainly doesn't work everywhere.  But this is just like mobile phones! 

Mobile broadband coverage is now over 90% (by population) and still increasing.  It's easy to forget how amazing it is that you can be out and about and still have access to the entire internet.

6) Download allowances aren't big enough

Again, no arguing that bigger is better, but download allowances are now more than generous enough for most users.  Indeed, unless you do a lot of music or video downloading, we think you'll struggle to use more than what we class as a 'typical' download allowance.

What is true is that some mobile broadband networks have high excess usage charges, so we recommend checking carefully that you stay within the download allowance you buy.

7) I get email on my mobile, I don't need mobile broadband

If you get email sent to your mobile there's a good chance you're a business user (though this is beginning to change). 

BlackBerrys and their like are great for keeping tabs on email and sending quick replies, but how much better to have up-to-date emails on your computer wherever you are.  No more squinting at spreadsheets or PDFs, no more mis-typing important replies.

8) I should just get mobile broadband from my mobile supplier

It's true that some of the mobile phone networks do excellent deals if you are an existing customer, but coverage is more important than cost.

Also 3 are one of the leading mobile broadband suppliers, whereas they were the last of the mobile phone companies to get going and so have always been trying to catch up.