Posts tagged Mobile Broadband

Don’t know who Bob is? Well, he’s the misinformed robot fellow at the centre of this YouTube mobile broadband public service announcement from 3.

Judging by his first reaction to the word dongle we should have got him writing for 3mobilebuzz…

Reminiscent of troubles dealt with by Aaron Heath, richdawe has been fighting a compatibility issue between his 3 dongle and Macbook Pro. Thankfully though he has it solved!

His Macbook, a US incarnation running Tiger (10.4.x) was feeding back the message ‘internal error 5370’. However, after some help from an in-store 3 techie and perusal of forums, things started whirring into action. It’s worked every time since.

If you’ve had a similar problem find the full richdawe fix process here.

Tech venue Cnet has reported on the latest development for 3 Australia, prepaid mobile broadband for 12 months.

Prepaid mobile broadband is available through other operators, but only over a 90 day period as the maximum. 3’s offering of a year paid up front for mobile broadband is a first in Australia.

3 have modified their Mobile Broadband offerings to give small businesses a helping nudge in the current financial climate. They’ve put together two offers that will hopefully increase cost effectiveness.

The two packages in question have had their data allowance upped, meaning rather than 3GB and 7GB customers will get 5GB and 15GB. On top of this, if a business is buying the contract (mobile broadband or voice) over 18 or 24 they get the option for a second contract at half price.

MobileToday, Vnunet and ISPreview all quote the head of 3 business, Renato Bottini on the new package, “3 Business has always been focused on offering small businesses a wide range of communications options at the best possible price, [...] it is especially important in today’s climate for small businesses to be able to work smartly on the go without paying over the odds.”

Mobile Industry Review and Pocket-Lint also cover the news.

Style is as prominent in the technology market as anywhere else, arguably even more so recently. Has anyone noticed the influx of fashion orientated programming arriving through the tube recently? It’s definitely a movement.

Mobile Broadband Blog has asked, whether the USB Dongle a fashion accessory? This is because in Sweden, the appearance of your dongle has been tied in to the latest offer. Signing up for any 3 Mobile Broadband contract for 18 months allows a choice of skin for your dongle at no extra cost. It’s a deal that the fashion conscious and colour co-ordinated must surely be pleased about?

Any preferences? I’m kind of all about the paisley, but have to say the black and white offering is tickling my fancy.

It has been a while since we’ve featured an unboxing, so not wanting to deny you such treasures I give you 3’s D100 wireless router emerging from the packaging.

The video comes courtesy of KCJH who bought online. He’s promising a full review shortly, but for now enjoy his work as he takes in the D100 for the first time.

The grumblings relating to the financial state of our country are referenced in this Mobile Today article that discusses the latest figures regarding 3’s consumer base: “3 UK emerged from the difficult first half of the year with a net addition of 390,000 customers“.

Good news indeed, and the reason? Well it’s down to that most lovable of mobile, gadget-y critters, the broadband dongle. It appears that high speed internet on the move is want the people want. Despite this increase, the financial squeeze has been felt with 3 customers average spend dropping. An undeniable sign of the times?

The comparison site Broadband Expert set about getting the views and opinions of over 4000 mobile broadband users for their awards. Taking the information from January to September 2008, the competitors went head-to-head in eight categories.

3 shone, bagging four of the eight awards up for grabs. These were best value, best laptop bundle, best pay as you go and best overall provider of mobile broadband. Not a bad haul at all. This success led William Harvey, Technical Expert for Broadband Expert to state, “3 have led the way in reducing the cost of mobile broadband forcing other providers to bring down prices to stay competitive.” This is something that will keep the 3 peeps happy, not only snagging awards, but maintaining challenger brand status while doing so.

For a full run down of the results click here.

Reported by iTNews is Vodafone and 3’s struggle in Australia of price points on their respective mobile broadband services.

The latest development is that Vodafone have piled on the reductions by unbundling its ’special pricing’ and offering the $39.95 for 5 GB per month and 1 GB plan to $19.95. These adjustments see a new customer saving about $10 per month in comparison to the previous structure. 

Despite this change, 3 still offer the better deal and as iTNews states, “[Vodafone's] pricing is still only on par – or worse – than that of its rivals, who have been involved in a price per GB war in recent months.” In the case of 3 they are competing at what can be described as disruptive pricing. They currently edge the battle by providing a GB extra at $39.99 and doing the 1GB plan for almost $5 less.

3! At the 8th annual Mobile Choice Awards 3 bagged the prize for best ‘Tariff Deal of the Year’.

The tariff that brushed aside the competition was 3’s Mobile Broadband offering in a category that featured Asda’s prepay deal, the O2 iPhone tariff, the Virgin Liberty Sim deal and another 3 plan, the Mix and Match. Judges were impressed with 3’s endeavours in the market place in relation to Mobile Broadband, “3 have focused more than any other mobile operator on taking broadband out of the home and into the big, wide world. If you have a laptop or a mobile phone and you want to access the internet 3 makes it simple, and offers good value. It’s innovative, the pricing is clear, and 3 is dominating the market.”

Needless to say, Johnathon Lutz, Head of Mobile Broadband at 3 was elated, “I’m really pleased about this award as it’s another validation from consumers that our Mobile Broadband pricing is straightforward, flexible and a great value.”

Pats on the back all around!

In this fast-moving, modern world, fifteen minutes is just too lengthy a time in the spotlight; far too much to occupy the attention of the next generation of ADD-addled youths who demand instant gratification streamed directly into their grey matter. It’s with this in mind, that we thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster for 12seconds.tv.

12seconds is perhaps most easily described as the Twitter of video. You’re invited to record and publish short (12 seconds short, in fact) updates about, well, whatever you like. For example, have a look at Neville Hobson posting about activating his 3 dongle at the end of this post.

Do you have a 12seconds channel? If so, share your username in the comments below Neville’s video…

Dongle activating on 12seconds.tv

Herman2811, ’serious MoneySaving Fan’ of MoneySavingExpert, started a thread yesterday evening in an attempt to clarify whether 3’s half price mobile broadband offer is only for new or existing customers.

Short answer: it’s for both.

Long answer: I’ll leave it to fellow serious MoneySaver, Tiamai_d to respond…

“Just signed up (well, for my parents) who are new customers. All went through ok, nothing to say price would go up or anything.

Plus, you get 3 days to find out if your area is within coverage (which is a worry for my parents, not a good coverage area).

From what I saw, I’m happy (on their behalf, for now).

Go via quidco, the 5Gb is giving £12.50 cashback! Forgett what the higher one is giving… but worth it.

edit, £27.50 cahsback and £15 per month for 15Gb.”

Hit this link with your rhythm stick to tell Herman2811 what you think about mobile broadband.

Inquirer contributor, Tony Dennis has written a post on 3’s mobile broadband offering and the way it’s designed to connect the unconnectable.

This Robin Hood type painting of 3 by the Inquirer is built on the brand’s positioning; specifically, 3’s ability to offer their mobile broadband service in a package that engages the previously ‘disenfranchised’. This being that portion of the market that, for circumstances such as bad credit history (for whatever reason) or a free-roaming nature, aren’t suited to a fixed connection solution.

This is what the Inquirer believes is accountable for the large and expanding mobile broadband dongle UK user base, recently reported at almost 500,000. Like Tony says, “All you need is a computer, a USB port and a decent signal from the nearest 3 mast.”

We’ve covered mobile homes before on 3mobilebuzz with the excellent online community at Motor Home Facts forum. However, now it is the turn of the entirely water-bound home to demonstrate dongle versatility, belonging to, in this case, Sue and Vic.

Sue maintains Retirement with No Problem, a blog about the ongoing adventures experienced as they spend their days cruising Britain’s waterways. No Problem is actually the name of their boat and it is hooked up with broadband, which is due, possibly, for a change after Sue saw the now unfortunately expired 3 mobile broadband offer through Quidco.

It appears that Sue will be keeping an eye on the 3 mobile broadband deals as they arise, impressed by the credentials of the service. You can see what she makes of them in detail here, as well as learning a little about life lived on a narrowboat. Moored up at Mailers Meadow sounds like a particularly pleasant way to spend some downtime…

3 have announced that their service users are now pushing 500,000 strong across the UK, which accounts for half of the million people on their mobile broadband contracts across Europe!

The news comes via Mobile News International and is also on Mobiles4u.net. Both quote 3 chief executive Kevin Russell, who addressed the issue of the price rise in voice minutes, which is a result of having to subsidise other network operators because of termination rates. “As a consequence of putting prices up, we have seen a 20 per cent fall in voice minutes on our network. However, our data usage is up 600 per cent.”

Broadband Expert have covered the story in a little more depth, making note of the lay of the land in the mobile broadband market - basically extremely competitive and growing. Just the way the consumer likes it.