Qualcomm Inc (QCOM)

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Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G/GPRS datacard
price: £100-200

Features
Performance
Ease of use
Value for money
Overall
Reviewed By: Andy Shaw

This review updated: 17/05/2004
Featured in magazine:
Issue 82
Manufacturer Contacts:
Supplier: Vodafone
Web Address: www.vodafone.co.uk

Features
The device is designed to slot into the PC-Card (or PCMCIA) slot provided on the vast majority of laptop computers. Once installed you can surf the web, check your email, chat on an instant messenger or do anything that you might normally do when you connect to the internet. The difference is the speed, which in an area with good 3G reception can download at up to 384kbps, is well over half the speed of a standard broadband connection.

Performance
Compared to what you’ll be used to if you already take a laptop out and about, this device is capable of blistering speeds. The downside is that Vodafone’s 3G network is currently only available in a few large cities across the country. When you leave these areas you’ll only be able to connect using the older GPRS network, which is significantly slower. You can check the coverage on Vodafone’s website at www.vodafone.co.uk/coverage.htm.

Ease of use
Getting started is easy – just install the software, plug in the card and you’re off. It comes with a great piece of software that can launch the internet connection, keep an eye on your usage and lead you to your email, web browser or text messages.

Value for money
This is new technology and it isn’t cheap. The part that most users will balk at is the fact that you need a separate sim (and therefore Vodafone account) to put in the card, even if you’re already a Vodafone customer, and you’ll need this in addition to your phone, since the card doesn’t carry voice signals. Once you’ve swallowed this bitter pill things start looking up. How much you’ll pay depends on the usage plan you choose to subscribe to. In the final analysis though, this is a pricey device to run.


Verdict
Once you’ve started to use broadband at home, any other kind of connection falls short. To get an equivalent internet connection while you’re out and about, you can either join the Wi-Fi club and jump from hotspot to hotspot or, if you want to check your email absolutely anywhere on the fastest possible connection, this 3G card is the only way to go. Expect to pay a premium though, at least until the competition catches up.

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