High Speed Internet Access (HSIA): Mobile Internet

There are some good offers coming up soon from Virgin Mobile for both postpaid mobile broadband and postpaid mobile phones. The offers are basically 50% off for the first five months of the contract.

Virgin Mobile was awarded APC Magazine Editor’s choice and was commended for mobile broadband speed and range of features which cater for high end users and entry level users looking for cheap mobile broadband. The mobile broadband packages have no excess usage charges, flexibility of top-ups if you need them and good coverage on the Optus network with 97% of the population covered.

The mobile phone promotion runs from March 9 until March 23. You get 50% off the access fee for 5 months ( applied in months 1,2,3,4 and 5 ) . The offer excludes Big Cap Plans, iPhone Plans and BYO phone plans. The mobile broadband promotion runs from March 24 until April 13. The deal is similar in that you get 50% off the access fee for 5 months. The offer excludes the $19 Plan and BYO Modem.

See the Virgin Mobile website for all information on mobile broadband plans and mobile plans.

Virgin Mobile Broadband higher value postpaid mobile broadband plans include $100 bonus credit if you buy online. This offer is valid until 2nd March 2011 with $39, $49 and $59 plans. A USB modem is included for free, there are no excess usage charges and coverage is good on the Optus network.

See the Virgin website for full details and order online to take advantage of the offer.

If you are an existing Vodafone customer you can have the flexibility of a month to month mobile broadband plan and get a USB modem completely free. There is no long term commitment and no up front cost for the modem which normally costs $49 on the month to month plans.

The most popular plan is $29 a month for which you get 4GB of data. The offer is also available on Vodafone’s $39 and $49 month to month plans.

See the Vodafone website for full details. The offer ends 31st March 2011.

3 Mobile and Vodafone offer a Pocket Wifi modem free up front with all mobile broadband plans from $29 a month.

The Pocket Wi-Fi is a portable wi-fi hotspot which lets you connect up to 5 devices using one mobile broadband plan. This can be very useful if you regularly carry multiple devices such as a smartphone, laptop and maybe a tablet such as an iPad. All of these devices can be connected to the Internet via wi-fi with the pocket wi-fi. It can also be a very easy way to set up a wireless hotspot in the home to have multiple devices connected to the Internet with one mobile broadband plan.

See the 3 Mobile website for full details or check out more information on the Pocket Wi-Fi.

A few days ago, Vodafone announced all the pricing details for Samsung Galaxy Tab plans. The 24 Month mobile broadband plans are now available online. The cost per month is divided into data costs and a monthly charge for the device. The combined costs per month range from $45 to $75 a month with data allowances ranging from 1.5 GB to 16 GB.

See the Vodafone website for full details and order online.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab is available online from Vodafone from Monday 15 November. There are a wide range of plans to choose from. Mobile broadband 24 month plans range from $45 a month to $75 a month. This is inclusive of data plus the monthly cost for the Galaxy Tab. The data options range from 1.5 GB to a huge 16 GB a month. Month to month plans range from $15 a month to $49 a month but this is for data only. With these plans the Galaxy Tab must be purchased up front at a cost of $999.

Another option is to purchase the Samsung Galaxy Tab on a Vodafone Cap Plan as the device can be used as a smartphone as well as a tablet computer. Voice plans are available from $20 to $99 a month. The higher value plans include the Galaxy Tab with no additional cost. On the $29 and $49 Cap Plan a monthly charge of $26 and $16 respectively is charged for the device.

The Galaxy Tab is the first major tablet computer since the iPad and as such it has been eagerly awaited and reviewers have been keen to compare it with the very successful iPad. On the whole the reviews have been very good. The Galaxy Tab is smaller than the iPad. The screen is 7 inches compare with the iPad 9.7 inches. There are obviously some disadvantages to a smaller display but the upside is the greater portability of the Galaxy Tab.

Feature for feature the Galaxy Tab stacks up well against the iPad and it looks fantastic. It will appeal to Android fans. The Android interface is excellent and you can customise to your hearts content. There are pre-loaded apps and access to apps from the Android market.

Telstra are offering a pre-paid wi-fi modem from this week which will compete with similar products from Vodafone and Virgin Mobile Broadband.

It’s a small device which acts as a portable wi-fi hotspot giving you the ability to connect up to 5 devices wirelessly. It’s compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems.

The Telstra pre-paid wi-fi modem costs $149 up front with a starter pack including 5GB of data with 90 day expiry.

It’s the first wi-fi modem product from Telstra. Vodafone have a Pocket Wi-Fi product which is $119 pre-paid or available on mobile broadband plans. Virgin Mobile also have a wi-fi modem for $199 and 1GB of data, available from Dick Smith until the end of November.

It used to be that mobile broadband plans were over 24 months as the only option. Now there is more flexibility. 3 Mobile are offering new 12 month plans in addition to 24 months and month by month.

With the new 12 month mobile broadband contracts you get a free USB modem. Prices are $29 for 3GB a month, $39 for 6GB a month and $49 for 8GB a month.

See the 3 Mobile website for full details.

Vodafone has half price mobile broadband deals on currently. The deal is that you get the first six months at half the monthly cost and then pay the full price over the remainder of a 24 month contract.

There are three options:

3GB for $29 and in the first six months you pay just $14.50 a month. The total minimum cost over the 24 period is $609. Offer code o2922

8GB for $39 and in the first six months you pay just $19.50 a month. The total minimum cost over the 24 period is $819. o2923

10GB for $49 and in the first six months you pay just $24.50 a month. The total minimum cost over the 24 period is $906.50. o2924

See the Vodafone website for full details and order online to take advantage of the free deals.

Browse our mobile broadband page for a comprehensive look at the best mobile broadband plans in Australia.

Vodafone has slashed the price of prepaid mobile broadband. The prepaid starter pack is now $49. Previously it was $79. The pack consists of a USB modem and 1GB of data with a 30 day expiry. Current prices for additional data are $29 for 2GB and $49 for 4GB expiring in 30 days. There is also a recharge option for 180 day expiry costing $100 for 6GB and an option for a 12 month expiry costing $150 for 12GB.

Prepaid mobile broadband is ideal if you want to use the Internet wherever you are, whether that’s at home or when you’re out and about. The prepaid plans are flexible in that there is no contract so data can be purchased whenever it is needed.

See the Vodafone website for full details and to buy online.

Not sure whether you want prepaid mobile broadband or a mobile broadband plan with a contract? Take a look at all our featured mobile broadband plans and see which is the best for you.