the Cost of Mobile Broadband Internet Access for a Computer

About half a year ago I signed up for mobile internet access through one of the major cellphone providers. What I received for the $59 monthly fee (plus taxes and such, of course) was unlimited bandwidth, meaning that I wasn't charged any additional amounts for using the internet "too much" as may be the case with some cell phone providers' mobile internet plans.

The mobile internet provider also gave me the PC card necessary to access the service for free because I signed with a two year contract for the mobile broadband internet service. The PC card was brand new and not refurbished equipment.

I had some issues finding a provider that had good coverage in my area, but the interactive service coverage maps found on each of their respective websites helped me figure out which one worked best for me. This was a particularly major issues as I do travel between different areas and require continuous coverage.

The speeds advertised for the mobile broadband internet service and the actual speeds don't seem to quite match, but I'm still very satisfied with what can be equated to a rather fast dial up connection. I have high speed internet at home for when speed is the issue, but when on the road I just need the access to be reliable.

From the very start I was very satisfied with the service. Since I signed up for a two year contract term, I was provided with a free PC card to use to access the internet through the mobile service. I thought that this was a pretty good deal since I intended to continue using the service anyway.

I'm able to access the web at speeds that are comparable to some of the faster dial up modems out there. Now this may not seem very fast compared to internet access that is not based on cell phone service, but when you're able to use your laptop to access the internet anywhere where you have a cell phone reception, then it is incredible.

I've had some brief down times where I was unable to access the service, which according to the provider were due to "upgrades being made to certain cell phone towers". I'm not sure if this was really the issue, but the down times were insignificant and quickly resolved.

Overall, I like the service and could not imagine working without it now that I've had the experience of being able to simply log from anywhere without having to search for a wi-fi connection.

I would recommend comparing cell phone providers' plans in order to determine which one will offer you the best deal for what you require. In my case I really did not want to be limited to a certain amount of bandwidth each month so I searched for an unlimited plan which would let me rest at ease and not worry about every link I click. Another major deciding factor was which provider offered the best coverage in the areas I required it in. What's the point of having a service that you can't use where you need it? So be sure to check on whether the coverage is good in your area.

Once you've found a mobile internet provider and plan that you're happy with, ask if there are any deals on the PC cards that you'll need to access the service. More often than not, the mobile internet provider will give you any equipment necessary for free if you are willing to sign a one or two year contract.

Note: you should always double check that the equipment provided is compatible with your laptop hardware and software. The mobile internet provider should be able to help you with that issue.