Coverage

There is no point in having a mobile internet connection if you can never use it. Different companies boast better coverage in different areas, so it may be worth checking their websites to see who can provide you with the best facility for where you live or work. The best coverage will not necessarily be provided by the most expensive provider, so do some research to avoid spending a lot of money for broadband that you can’t use.

Added Extras

Many contracts will offer freebies in an attempt to entice you to signing up for a contract. These freebies could be anything from a mobile broadband dongle to a laptop. It is important to remember that it’s rare for something to be completely free in today’s expensive society, so check to see if your monthly bill will actually be more than you would have paid had you purchased the freebie separately and simply paid for the broadband contract.

Contract Length

The price that you pay per month may well be affected by how long you are prepared to be contracted to a certain company for. 24 month contracts are becoming more common these days, as in a contract of this length you can expect to see your monthly bills reduced. Don’t want to sign up to a contract? Consider a pay as you go mobile broadband solution to save being signed up for a significant period of time.

Speed

The mobile broadband speed that you need will depend on the reason that you use it. If you will be doing significant amounts of surfing via your mobile connection you will certainly need it to be quick enough to suffice. However, if you only intend to check your email once every now and then you may be able to make do with a slower connection speed.

Data Limit

Downloading on a mobile broadband network will cost you, so it is important to consider exactly how much you will be downloading before signing up to a contract. If you wish to download songs, movie clips and more then ensure you opt for a large data limit on your contract to avoid being stung with large and unexpected bills. Alternatively, save money by choosing a contract with a smaller data limit if you only require your mobile broadband connection for occasional use.

Cost

The cost that different companies will offer for their mobile broadband connections does vary considerably, so ensure you check each of the five above elements to a contract to find the best deal for your individual circumstances. This will help you to keep your costs to a minimum, while still enjoying the mobile broadband connection that you require.

Why the Most Expensive Mobile Broadband Package Is Not Always the Best is a post from: Broadband Hub - Mobile Broadband Comparison

In our convenience lifestyle it’s no wonder then that eBooks have started to grow in popularity over the last couple of years. The success of this new technology has reached a new milestone now though, as Amazon has announced that, over the last three months, 180 Kindle eBooks have been sold for every 100 hardcover books. For the first time in history, eBooks have outsold their traditional hardcover rivals.

Although the figures released by online retail giant Amazon do not cover the sales of paperback books, it is obvious that eBooks are on the rise. The US in particular has latched onto the eBook market firmly, with the majority of sales coming from this country. However other countries are starting to get to grips with the technology, with Amazon starting to sell its Kindle eBook readers in Australia toward the end of last year.

One possible cause for the recent success of the eBook is the significant drop in price of the Kindle device itself. Many sources claimed that the new iPad from Apple would run the Kindle out of the water, however due to the high price tag associated with the Apple device the cheaper option has certainly maintained its popularity. Even Amazon’s large screen version of the Kindle, only released on the 1st of July, has already seen its price slashed to be cheaper than the cheapest iPad available.

If you are interested in getting hold of a Kindle for yourself to enjoy instant access to a range of different books, you should be aware that the performance of the device is not the same in Australia as can be boasted in the US. The connection to the 3G network to allow you to download new titles can often be painfully slow, due in part to confusion as to who actually provides the broadband coverage for Australian customers. You may also find that less content is available than expected, with many popular Australian authors not present at all.

As eBook technology is still comparatively new, we can certainly expect to see significant updates and improvements to Amazon’s Kindle service within Australia soon. Whether sales of eBooks will continue to rise to overtake that of paperback and hardback books remains to be seen, but it looks likely that this is a technology that is here to stay.

Amazon EBook Sales Higher than Hardbacks for the First Time in History is a post from: Broadband Hub - Mobile Broadband Comparison

Unfortunately though, things aren’t quite as simple as mobile broadband technology has always suffered with frightfully low speeds, and serious connectivity issues. Even in built up areas you could occasionally struggle for signal as you strive to check your internet connection. With so many people jumping on board and connecting to mobile internet through laptop computers or other portable devices such as smartphones, the network has been seriously struggling to cope.

However, now there is cause for hope in Australia, as Stephen Conroy, the minister for broadband and communications, has recently announced that 126 MHz of the broadcasting spectrum is to be released to help to grant access to high speed mobile internet for the masses.

Many of the mobile broadband providers will be rejoicing at the news which will enable them to provide a better service to their customers. And, although there stands to be a delay before this broadcasting bandwidth is freed up, at least the future is bright for the mobile internet user in Australia.

Toward the end of 2013, all analog television signals will be switched off in Australia, being replaced with digital signals all round. It is this changeover that will free up the promised 126 MHz of the broadcasting spectrum. We have a few years to wait then until the spectrum is cleared of all analog users, but with the prospect of a faster connection to mobile internet, you can rest assured that this technology will be pushed through as fast as is possible.

There is no denying that the ability to access the internet on the move is growing in popularity with each passing month. Although developments such as this, providing an improvement to the technology, may help to ease the pain of a slow connection, there is much work still to be done by both the broadband networks available in the country, and the broadband providers.

Undoubtedly then, we can expect to hear of more and more updates as time goes by as it seems certain that mobile broadband is a technology not set to diminish any time soon. Perhaps the solution will come in the form of a 4G network or just in significant improvements to our current 3G connections. Whatever it may be, you can rest assured that progress is being made in order to allow us fast broadband access wherever we may be.

Fast Mobile Broadband on the Horizon in Australia is a post from: Broadband Hub - Mobile Broadband Comparison

To fix the fault and emphasise the point of Steve Jobs that “we care about every user”, Apple is now offering a free case to anyone that has purchased an iPhone 4. This case should fix any signal problems, and is certainly the cheaper option for the company when compared with recalling every phone for repair.

Obtaining your free case is simple; all you need to do is register on the Apple website from the 22nd of July. Unfortunately though, it seems there aren’t enough cases on the shelves at present for every user, so you may be forced to wait for some time while more stock is sourced and created. The free case offer will continue until the 30th of September so ensure you have registered before this date if you yourself are suffering from reception issues with your own iPhone 4.

Apple announced their solution to the problem at a recent press conference, called after negative reports of customer service started to circulate via social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter, and even video sharing website YouTube. Steve Jobs was insistent that this particular problem is not one common only to the iPhone, even showing videos of other smartphones featuring the same issue during the conference itself. Insisting that the problem “has been blown so out of proportion, it’s incredible” Jobs insisted that the entire industry must work to remedy the common fault.

The problem with the iPhone 4 stems from the fact that the phone’s antennas are actually housed within the unique steel alloy from which the phone case is created. When you hold the phone on the left hand side, the gap between two of these antennas is bridged which can dramatically lower the signal received, and may even cause calls to be cut.

The solution is simple and low-tech, and involves placing a rubber “bumper” around the phone itself. This bumper prevents the two antennas from meeting, effectively eliminating the problem altogether.

Customers that still aren’t happy with the solution even after receiving their free iPhone 4 case may also return the phone, so long as it is within 30 days of the initial purchase, for a complete refund.

It seems unlikely that this small error on the part of Apple and the iPhone will damage the company in the long run. However the angry reaction of the public to the slow speed at which Apple actually responded to the issue has certainly dampened the otherwise flawless reputation of the company.

Free iPhone 4 Cases Offered to All Customers is a post from: Broadband Hub - Mobile Broadband Comparison

The successful test from Optus is only the first phase of study to ascertain the levels of potential return from a 4G network, with further testing planned for later this year. As additional sites will be brought into the test with phase two, the new network will be tested with an increased load to see the effect on its performance, while also demonstrating how it will work with the existing 2G and 3G networks that Optus runs.

Along with continual research and successful testing from other mobile broadband networks, this Optus trial should reassure the Australian public that vastly enhanced mobile internet could be on the way sooner rather than later. Perhaps even as soon as 2012, when television broadcasters will be forced to switch to a digital, rather than an analogue, signal. The freeing up of a section of the spectrum at this time will enable mobile broadband providers to provide a 4G service to their customers and, as it seems likely that the spectrum will be auctioned by the federal government in 2012, we should expect to see significant improvements from that point on.

LTE broadband may well be available before this point in time but, due to spectrum constrictions, will not be as fast as the speeds that we can hope to see from 2012 onwards.

Faster broadband won’t only be coming in the form of mobile internet throughout the next few years though, as the $43 billion endeavour by the federal government to create an Australian national broadband network (NBN) could also see us enjoying vastly improved download speeds in the home.

Although the improvements to mobile broadband have cast some doubts as to the validity of spending so much on creating the NBN, Optus insist that the two technologies will complement each other, rather than driving business away from one another. This is because there will still be a demand to watch high definition television and movies from the home, which a mobile broadband connection will not be able to provide as successfully as a fibre optic network of cables.

As we all still love the ability to access the internet on the move as well as enjoying downloads at home though, it seems that both fast mobile and home internet connections will be around in the future of Australian broadband.

40Mbps Mobile Broadband Speed Demonstrated by Optus is a post from: Broadband Hub - Mobile Broadband Comparison

Home Broadband Connections

There is no denying that there are many advantages to having access to a high speed internet connection in the home. Your emails are never more than a quick click away, you can stay up to date with the latest news and even your kids could benefit from researching their schoolwork within the internet’s vast information reserves.

A home broadband connection such as ADSL or cable can provide you with a very quick way to access any information that you need. It also provides the freedom to download movies, TV shows, music, games and much, much more within a reasonable period of time. Although the different speeds that you can expect to receive from your broadband connection will differ based on your location and how much you are willing to pay per month for your contract, you can rest assured that you will receive a reasonably fast connection.

The downside to a home broadband connection then, is that you can’t pick it up and take it with you. A wireless router could certainly help you to enjoy the internet from every room, and even from your garden, but once on the train commuting to work you will leave it behind.

Mobile Broadband Connections

Enter the mobile broadband connection. A mobile broadband dongle or datacard can be taken wherever you may go, allowing access to the internet wherever you can get a connection. Although there are still many areas with a limited signal, it is improving all the time as more and more Australians start to utilise this technology to access the World Wide Web.

Mobile broadband isn’t just for the move though, as it can also be used effectively as your predominant home broadband connection. There are even special routers that provide you with the ability to split the signal, allowing other users to access your mobile internet connection wirelessly, just as if you had a wireless router though a normal home broadband connection.

Of course there must be a downside, and it comes in the form of the speed and download limits that you can expect to receive from a mobile broadband contract. As already mentioned, the signal strength is improving all the time, as is the speed and ability to download more cost effectively.

Choosing Your Connection

Until mobile broadband is fast enough to contend with a home broadband connection it may not be suitable for your downloading needs. But without the ability to connect to the mobile network there is no way to access the internet on the go. If both of these things are important to you then, at present, you will need to pay for both contracts.

Keep watching this space though, as mobile broadband technology is swiftly developing. With a 4G network planned, mobile broadband connections could soon be significantly faster than their rivals, making them a sensible choice no matter what you need to access the internet for.

Is it Worth Having a Mobile Broadband and a Home Broadband Connection? is a post from: Broadband Hub - Mobile Broadband Comparison

Early indications suggest that the iPad will be another feather in the cap of technology company, Apple. Pre-orders for the device have prompted an announcement on the Apple Store website that any new orders placed will have to wait until either the 12th of April, or late April, depending on the model in question. As Apple struggle to catch up with the demand of orders, the short supply of the different models will inevitably help to stir up more hype for the new technology, such as in the case of the initial short supply of the Nintendo Wii.

Those hitting the high street needn’t worry about too short a supply for sale on Saturday though, with some reports suggesting that as many as several hundred thousand units will be arriving in Apple retail outlets and Best Buy electronics chain stores. The shops will provide potential buyers with the opportunity to get to grips with the device before purchasing, with display models showcasing the best of all that the iPad offers, including the ability to connect to broadband plans. This hands-on experience will help some to feel more comfortable in buying a product of which they have only heard about from Apple.

The eagerly awaited tablet computer, the iPad, will have the ability to play music or video, run games, surf the web via iPad data plans and even display eBooks, potentially posing a threat to Amazon’s Kindle electronic book reader. What’s more, the iPad itself will have access to the many applications that have helped to make the iPhone and iPod Touch a roaring success. The majority of the 150,000 applications on offer can be run on the iPad, but another 12 unique apps especially designed for the tablet will also be available, with more to come in the near future.

At present, the model set to enter stores around the US on the 3rd of April will allow access to broadband plans wirelessly, but not yet via 3G mobile broadband plans. However, with plans for the 3G equipped models to appear on shelves by the end of the same month of April, users will soon be able to enjoy internet on the go with mobile internet.

In Australia, both models of the iPad will be available in late April. Although details of iPad data plans have been slow in their arrival, you can be assured that by this time there will be adequate plans available for access to mobile broadband plans wherever you may be.

iPad Available in US on Saturday is a post from: Broadband Hub - Mobile Broadband Comparison

Between June and December last year, the use of mobile internet increased by a massive 40% according to the latest Internet Activity Survey (IAS) from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). In fact, the total number of users now accessing the internet via a mobile device such as a USB dongle or a data card now exceeds 2.8 million. These startling figures are starting to threaten broadband providers that don’t offer mobile alternatives, as companies strive to hold on to their existing fixed line clientele, and attract additional custom.

For now though, DSL fixed line broadband internet does remain the predominant technology when it comes to accessing the World Wide Web, despite a drop in popularity. In June 2009, DSL accounted for 57% of all non-dialup connections. Although this figure dropped to 51% by the end of 2009, DSL still holds the majority card for the time being.

Those of us that remember the days of dialup connections will be happy to hear that this technology is well on the way out. Approximately 90% of broadband internet connections across Australia are now broadband. The number of dialup connections has dropped drastically from 1,286,000 to 927,000 between the end of 2008 and the end of 2009, clearly showing that this is a technology on the way out. To rub salt in the wound of the now archaic technology, broadband usage increased from 6,639,000 to 8,184,000 in the same time period.

Internet speeds are also on the up, with the majority of internet users in Australia now able to access an average 1.5 megabits per second on their connection. This increase in speed has led to an unsurprising increase in downloads as well, with songs, TV clips or movies downloadable within minutes.

The success of the internet has escalated since its first release to the general public, with all of its users keen to see that success continued. Whether mobile internet will be the choice of preference from broadband providers in the future remains to be seen. However its popularity here and now has led to dramatic technology advances in the field, improving the speed, stability and success of this fledgling technology.

Mobile Internet Popularity Increases by 40% is a post from: Broadband Hub - Mobile Broadband Comparison

Despite laws imposed across the globe banning the use of mobile devices while driving, the accident rate caused by such incidents has not reduced at all. It is suspected that this is simply because users are not paying attention to the law due to the difficulty in enforcing it. Instead, drivers are continuing to text on the move, perhaps due, in part, to a lack of clarity as to what actions are actually forbidden. After all, research is only recently starting to return results regarding what constitutes dangerous usage of a mobile device while driving. Would a handsfree chat reduce your concentration? What about programming the satellite navigation system on your mobile broadband? Does dictating a text message distract you as you consider how best to phrase your message?

Many phone applications can now be downloaded via mobile data plans that aim to prevent the use of your phone while driving, but all of them have faced the same issue of struggling to ascertain when the user is actually driving a car. They will also only work on some phones, making the widespread adoption of the new technology difficult. These apps have all also been developed by relatively small companies, lacking the persuasive power that the federal government and mobile broadband providers could offer.

One such example of a proposed application designed to prevent phone use while driving was created by Drive Safely Corp. Smartphones featuring a built in GPS chip can identify when the device in question is moving at a speed of more than 15 miles per hour. If someone attempts to use the phone at this point they will be required to enter a series of letters and number, based on what is displayed on the phone. The logic being that a driver would be unable to complete this task, where a passenger in the car would not struggle. Of course, there is no guarantee that drivers wouldn’t try, potentially making the situation even more dangerous!

Other apps could hold incoming text messages until you stop moving, or simply block your ability to create a new message until the device is stationary once again. At present these applications can be downloaded via mobile broadband plans, but they tend to be more expensive than regular apps. And as it is impossible for many to distinguish between driving a car and travelling on a train, most offer an override system that could be used by the driver in question anyway.

With these issues faced by the small start-up companies creating these safety-focused applications, it seems unlikely that we will face a solution to the problem of mobile use while driving in the near future.

New Applications for Download on Mobile Broadband Attempt to Stop Texting While Driving is a post from: Broadband Hub - Mobile Broadband Comparison

iZup from Illume Software

Most smartphones come with a built in GPS chip that allows the device to know exactly how fast it is travelling at any given moment. This ability is the fundamental base of the iZup application from Illume Software. Once the app realises that the device is moving (faster than you could walk or run) it will lock a certain set of predetermined functions, for example your ability to write a text message or make a phone call.

Unfortunately iZup has no way of knowing if you are actually driving the car, or are simply a passenger. Therefore as a passenger you will be forced to temporarily turn off the service, by using mobile wireless broadband to retrieve a password from the iZup website. A great system, until you find yourself in an area with no mobile broadband coverage or course!

Costing either $4.95 a month, or $49.95 a year, this app isn’t cheap and can only be used on BlackBerrys, Android and Windows Mobile enabled phones.

Cellcontrol from ObdEdge LLC

An expensive solution called Cellcontrol may work more effectively, but forces you to purchase a device that will actually connect with your car’s diagnostics through the port usually found underneath the steering wheel. The device itself will set you back by $60, and with an application that costs $25, and a monthly fee of $8.95, Cellcontrol will certainly set you back.

Using Bluetooth technology, your purchased device will communicate to your smartphone, informing the phone that it must restrict your use of texting or calling when it senses that the vehicle is in motion. This technology will work with Blackberrys and Windows Mobile enabled phones, as well as Symbian software.

DriveSafe.ly from iSpeech Inc.

Unlike the other two applications, DriveSafe.ly will simply work based on a trust system of you switching it on once you start to drive. Should you receive any text messages while the application is activated, it will read them aloud to you so that you won’t have to wait until you stop the car to discover what someone has said to you.

The service must be switched off once you finish driving, or you can expect some embarrassing moments as your phone starts speaking to you in a meeting, for example. Once used a few times, you might find that you adjust to the pattern of switching the service on and off, but it will take some getting used to.

DriveSafe.ly might not be as sophisticated as the other two apps, however a free version of the app for download on mobile wireless broadband will allow it to read just the first 25 words of your received messages aloud. Spend $13.95 on the Pro version though, and your texts will be read in full. This app can also be used on more models, with functionality provided for BlackBerrys, iPhones, Android and Windows Mobile phones.

Would These Mobile Internet Apps Stop You from Texting While Driving? is a post from: Broadband Hub - Mobile Broadband Comparison