Vodafone are widely considered to be the most expensive of the UK mobile broadband providers which is one of the key reasons that it lost its number one spot to current market leader Orange. Many market analysts are suggesting that Vodafone lost the number one spot not because Orange were doing anything outstanding, but that in fact Vodafone (along with 3) were simply getting it wrong. One of the key selling features of the Vodafone product is the ability to roam in over 100 countries, which is why their broadband is more popular with business customers than home users. The average spend of a business customer is higher than that of a home user so perhaps this may go some way to explain the higher average prices. It maybe worth noting that Vodafone prices have taken a tumble recently bringing them more in line with the industry average. If you have been doing your research and have found conflicting customer opinions, there is an obvious explanation for this. The biggest issue is expectation. People have a reasonably fast broadband service at home, provided through their telephone line, then when they hear about mobile broadband, they make the assumption that they will get the same speeds, which unfortunately is not the case. Not only that but the actual download speed can vary depending upon your location, the strength of signal, and how many other people are using the service in that area at the same time. This isn’t just an issue with Vodafone, it’s an issue being faced by users on every network. The following are differing examples of customer opinion as posted on broadband comparison website WhyBroadband. co. uk:Tony; “I bought one of these things a few months ago and it is unbearably slow to the point where it’s useless. I haven’t tried another provider but I just think it is shocking that Vodafone are taking peoples money for nothing. ”Jane; “ I have to say I don’t know what the fuss is about. My Vodafone broadband is great. I have to previously tried a comparable T-Mobile product but it was no where near as good as this. Great service from Vodafone. ”On a positive note for potential Vodafone customers in densely populated areas there will soon be the option to use their “superfast” mobile broadband which has speeds of up to 7. 2mb/s as opposed to their current standard of 3. 2mb/s. This service is currently only available throughout the London area and at every major UK airport. Vodafone are currently in the process of rolling this service out to major metropolitan areas such as Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool, and Manchester, with other areas set to follow. In the UK Vodafone uses standard 3G technology which makes use of the same network used by mobile phones. In order to use wireless broadband you will need either a Laptop or a PC running Windows XP or Windows Vista. If you are using a USB device it is basic plug and play, with the necessary software automatically installing with minimal fuss. For most people in the UK, mobile broadband is simply a fad, brought on by insistence by providers to offer free laptops as an incentive. I’m sure you’d agree that mobile broadband isn’t for everyone. Our advise would be to check the coverage in your area (see link below) and go for fixed line broadband if it is an option. For those of you who will inevitably feel left out when it comes to getting a new laptop, it may be worth looking at the offers from AOL, which often include a free laptop with their fixed line broadband.
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