Get more value from your dongle

As we look for more areas to save cash, even dongles have joined the pay-as-you-go race. Here's a look at the best of what's on offer...

It's been a while since dongle fever first hit town. Since then, technologies have advanced and trends have passed. Dongles, however, are definitely here to stay.

Thankfully, these nifty mobile broadband devices - which allow you to surf the net with a portable plug-in, rather than relying on a broadband or a modem connection - are now a lot cheaper than they used to be. Although, as I highlighted in this article, in order to get a good deal, you'll have to sign a contract of up to two years.

But what if you don't want to commit for such a long term? Perhaps you've just moved into a new home and want to keep your options open, or maybe you're tempted by a dongle, but don't want to plunge in at the deep end just yet.

If this is the case, you may want to consider a pay-as-you-go option.

When it comes to dongles, pay-as-you-go is cheaper than you think, and in many cases, you can get the same value as a pay monthly plan, with the flexibility of a pay-as-you-go contract. The only downside is you'll have to stump up an initial fee for the dongle.

Here's a round-up of what's on offer at the moment:

Going pay-as-you-go has proven popular, and four of the five main providers offer a pre-pay option.

Orange does have a similar deal at £29 for a dongle, plus £14.68 per month for a 3GB allowance. However, this operates as a rolling contract, as opposed to being able to top-up when you want to use the dongle.

Overall, I think O2 is the best plan in terms of extras, and gives you the flexibility to choose from three types of top-up, depending on your needs.

In addition, you get free access to over 6,000 Wi-Fi hotspots while your credit is active. This can come in handy in areas where dongle reception isn't strong, and means you don't have to eat into your data allowance.

Vodafone also has a great plan. Its dongle deal is different, as unlike the others, your top-up doesn't have an expiry date. This way, it could save you having to fork out a fixed charge per day if you only plan to surf for a few minutes.

Vodafone's service is also pretty fast, and the service proved a cut above the rest when I tested it last year. Obviously coverage will depend on where you live, so be sure to check reception before you sign up.

Share your dongle

One initial dongle downside was the fact you could only connect one computer to the internet at a time.

However, you can now buy a 3G wireless router which enables you to share your dongle with the rest of your house using a wireless connection.

T-Mobile has its own branded version, which you can pick up for around £129 on a pay-as-you-go basis. Alternatively, you can buy a generic one from eBay for around £50, which will save any arguments over that precious dongle.

Just bear in mind that the more computers using the service, the faster you will use up your allowance.

...but don't take it abroad!

Of course, as we become more connected, another thing you might consider using your dongle for is going abroad.

But though mobile broadband may offer good value while surfing at home, this isn't the same case when abroad, and I wouldn't recommend taking one on your travels.

For starters, only 3 Mobile offers roaming on a pay-as-you-go basis (all networks allow you to surf overseas if you have a pay monthly plan), and charges £3 per MB to countries within Europe, and America, and £6 per MB everywhere else.

On first glance, you may think that's reasonable, but when you consider 1GB of data costs £10 in the UK, compared to over £3,000 abroad, I doubt a £10 top-up will last even a few minutes. You have been warned.

At the end of the day, a dongle won't suit everyone. However, they provide an attractive option for the occasional surfer.

After all, we are busy people leading busy lives, and it's nice to have a broadband plan that's tailored to our surfing habits, and not the other way around.

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