Mobile Broadband - a quick rant.

Zardoz · 28-08-2008, 10:01 AM

Hi Guys,

Why is it that every supplier of Mobile Broadband assumes that you are using Windows or a Mac? Therefore they only offer those horrible USB modems for use with the PAYG broadband offerings.

I use Linux on my laptop 95% of the time, and I already own a high speed PCMCIA broadband device, specifically a Sierra Aircard. This works perfectly well under both Windows and Linux, and when I insert a T-Mobile PAYG SIM into it, the broadband fires up as expected.

What I REALLY want is a PAYG offering from T-Mobile or Vodafone that just gives me a mobile broadband SIM without the associated USB dongle, which is a) SIMlocked, b) will not work on Linux and c) will cost me real money.

Anyone aware of such a package? I only use mobile broadband on the laptop rarely so a pay monthly service is not an option. This is another reason why I don't wish to pay for hardware that I can't use.

Z.

anthony · 28-08-2008, 11:45 AM

Hi Zardoz

Welcome to the MF Forums!

I think the networks probably only want to support their own approved devices. Also if they put you on one of their own (sim locked) devices, they can lock you in for a contract term - and boost their subscriber figures/ARPU etc.

I did read on Amazon that the T-Mobile USB Broadband dongle works with one of the new ASUS eee PC models based on Linux. With Linux netbooks like the eee PC taking off big time, perhaps the UK networks will start to market their products to this growing market segment.

Quote:

"Asus have added an auto 3G detection utility, which worked perfectly with the T-mobile USB stick I tested it with."

Amazon.co.uk: ASUS Eee PC 1000 BK002 Netbook, Linux Preloaded, 1GB RAM, 40GB SSD (Black): Electronics & Photo

So I think if you can cope with a USB dongle and a contract, then the T-Mobile USB dongle might be a solution. (but not a cheap solution!)

Mobile Internet Access - Mobile Internet - T Mobile

I wonder if anyone else knows any more about this?

Anthony

MobileDataUK · 28-08-2008, 05:21 PM

What you can do is get a standard Pay as you Go SIM Card from T-Mobile and then get in contact with their Customer Services to have it changed to the Web'n'Walk package. This charges up to £4.00 per day and ou have a fair usage policy of up to 3GB per month. The only other network that does Pay as you Go Mobile Broadband at the moment is 3. And they do it through Add-ons. You can get 1GB of data for £10, 3GB for £15, or 7GB for £25. With 3 you can also just get a Pay as you Go SIM Card and then you just need to convert a top-up to a Mobile Broadband add-on. I've written a post on my Blog about Pay as you Go Mobile Broadband if anyone is interested in a little more detail.

MobileDataUK: Pay as you Go Mobile Broadband

Hope this helps,

Neil
MobileDataUK

anthony · 28-08-2008, 06:08 PM

Nice one Neil, I didn't know you could switch to web n walk from a standard PAYG SIM - I thought you'd need a special 3g SIM or something like that.

Anthony

28-08-2008, 10:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
Zardoz Mobile Fun Newbie Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Mobile Broadband - a quick rant. Hi Guys, Why is it that every supplier of Mobile Broadband assumes that you are using Windows or a Mac? Therefore they only offer those horrible USB modems for use with the PAYG broadband offerings. I use Linux on my laptop 95% of the time, and I already own a high speed PCMCIA broadband device, specifically a Sierra Aircard. This works perfectly well under both Windows and Linux, and when I insert a T-Mobile PAYG SIM into it, the broadband fires up as expected. What I REALLY want is a PAYG offering from T-Mobile or Vodafone that just gives me a mobile broadband SIM without the associated USB dongle, which is a) SIMlocked, b) will not work on Linux and c) will cost me real money. Anyone aware of such a package? I only use mobile broadband on the laptop rarely so a pay monthly service is not an option. This is another reason why I don't wish to pay for hardware that I can't use. Z.

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28-08-2008, 05:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
MobileDataUK Mobile Fun Newbie Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	What you can do is get a standard Pay as you Go SIM Card from T-Mobile and then get in contact with their Customer Services to have it changed to the Web'n'Walk package. This charges up to £4.00 per day and ou have a fair usage policy of up to 3GB per month. The only other network that does Pay as you Go Mobile Broadband at the moment is 3. And they do it through Add-ons. You can get 1GB of data for £10, 3GB for £15, or 7GB for £25. With 3 you can also just get a Pay as you Go SIM Card and then you just need to convert a top-up to a Mobile Broadband add-on. I've written a post on my Blog about Pay as you Go Mobile Broadband if anyone is interested in a little more detail. MobileDataUK: Pay as you Go Mobile Broadband Hope this helps, Neil MobileDataUK

28-08-2008, 06:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
anthony Mobile Fun Staff Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 11 Rep Power: 5	Nice one Neil, I didn't know you could switch to web n walk from a standard PAYG SIM - I thought you'd need a special 3g SIM or something like that. Anthony

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