Mobile Broadband from 3 - any opinions?

[gadgetman]

I often live away from home so need some kind of data access. On my current O2 contract the prices are terrible (£1 per Mb) so I've been on the lookout for a better 'data' deal. I'm quite happy with the phone side of my contract so don't really want to leave O2.

Anyway at lunchtime I came across this deal from 3. Basically its a USB "Data Card" (actually more like a pod) which gives you 'up to' 2.8mbps with inclusive allowances of 1Gb for £10/month, 3Gb for £15 and 7Gb for £25 (these are for 12 month contracts).

There's also a one off charge for the modem of £99/£69/£49 depending on the monthly tariff (less if you commit to 18 or 24 months).

The whole thing is completely standalone i.e. no additional mobile contract is needed and its supposed to work out of the box.

The only thing that comes close is T-Mobile's web'n'walk (£7.50 for 1Gb) but that has to be linked to a handset contract and I found coverage pretty poor.

Vodafone do a similar thing to the 3 deal but its £30 per month!

My next gig is in London so coverage should be fine. Anyone had any good or bad experiences of this?

Also does anyone know if I could take the SIM from the USB pod and use it in my unlocked SE 880i handset (for data)? The salesperson said it could be used in a 3G handset but I'm not convinced.

[b0redom]

I use this from T-Mobile:

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/services/m...-and-datacard/

When I signed up, it was the best deal on offer.

[poser]

T-mobile definately cheapest - im on web n walk plus incorporated into my tariff - and from what others have told me the one to go for rather than 3.

[gadgetman]

The deals on that page are:

Web'n'walk plus which gives you 3Gb for £29 / month, modem is free.

Web'n'walk max which gives you 10Gb for £44 / month, modem is free.

These are way more expensive than the 3 deal(?) Especially after 12 months.

e.g. for the 3Gb deals on both networks:

3 on 12 month, 3Gb = 12 * 15 + 1 * 69.99 = £249.99 (then £15 / month)
Web'n'walk plus, 3Gb = 12 * 29 = £348 (then £29 / month)

I use this from T-Mobile:

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/services/m...-and-datacard/

When I signed up, it was the best deal on offer.

[gadgetman]

I agree its the best deal if you have a T-Mobile contract but I don't. I had one and coverage was not good and that was not out in the sticks.

T-mobile definately cheapest - im on web n walk plus incorporated into my tariff - and from what others have told me the one to go for rather than 3.

[TheFaQQer]

Will 3 do that deal as a business tariff though?

[gadgetman]

Well I got my company name put on the bill. TBH I'm not fussed - I only signed up for £15 / month.

Anyway its working well and the SIM works in my phone. The 'pod' doubles as a sort of CD drive and the software loads automatically from it - very neat.

The shop is now sold out and they're sold out online too - apparently they've been selling like the proverbial...

[poser]

good point broidy forgot to mention i had a contract with T-Mob already.

[DBA_bloke]

T-Mobile: No complaints, and seem cheap but good. Only been with them for a few weeks.

[~Craig~]

Just ordered a Vodafone 3g card (the new one) that apparently connects at up to 7.2 Mbps. Probably more likely to be something like 50kbps for 90% of the country :-)

£25 a month. Will let you know how it is!