Slashdot Mirror
T-Mobile Launches £2 Per Day Mobile Broadband
Mark.J writes "ISPreview reports that T-Mobile UK has launched an interesting range of new off-the-shelf Mobile Broadband products that do not require customers to sign-up under a long-term contract. The pay-as-you-go (PAYG) style products cost from only £2 per day for 'unlimited' access (3GB Fair Usage Policy applies). To access T-Mobile pre-pay Mobile Broadband, customers simply need to purchase a USB (Modem) Stick 110, which includes a memory card, for just £49.99 and plug it into a laptop to access their favourite websites. Credit can be topped up direct from the laptop and customers are able to select whichever package suits them at the time." For American readers, that's about $3.66 right now -- plus shipping yourself to the UK.
Still, you're living in the UK, so it's not all wine and roses.
Could be worse. I could be living in the USA where the next 300 years taxes my family will be paying will go straight into the pockets of the fat cat investment banks.
I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't looking good either. - Scott Adams
I think it's aimed at occasional users. I like the idea that I can pay a couple of quid and use when I'm travelling occasionally. However, what puts me off is the outrageously expensive USB stick you need to get. It claims to be a 'memory stick' as a well as a modem but it is really a microSD card adapter and it does not appear to come with a card. I would not pay more £20 for such a device.
Yes, but it's absolutely fantastic if you travel frequently to the UK for short stints. Paying £7 for a week's worth of fairly generous 3G data access, or £2/day, or any other tiers they may have is a great option for those of us where this is the case. This is especially true of corporate accounts that have disabled international data roaming in the downturn, leaving overseas cell and data usage to a tedious reimbursement system (designed to drive people mad before actually cutting any checks/cheques).
At £2 a day, it can come out of the per diem and no one will miss it enough to file for reimbursement.
For vacation travelers, they've got Internet access without being nickel-and-dimed with usage charges based on kB.
I'm not aware of anything competitive with this in the US, or in most European countries, for that matter--usually I've just seen monthly unlimited plans (for cheap enough prices that it's worth paying, even if you're just there for a week, but still).
Here in finland you get usb 3G modem and unlimited traffic @ 384kbps for 9,80euros /month
I can put up with all the 'only £1.99 a day!' and 'from just £49.99' style marketing speak. It's jarring, but at least it's not dishonest.
However I am absolutely sick of hearing 'Unlimited usage! (fair use policy applies equal to 3Gb of data in any 28 day period subject to change)
I'm happy to pay for a 3Gb per month limit. I'd be delighted with an unlimited usage package. But I am fed up with providers advertising 'unlimited', when it is is clearly, unequivocally, NOT unlimited!
I'd urge any UK readers that agree to generate a gentle trickle of complaints to the Advertising Standards Agency and the Office of Communications.
If you actually check T-Mobile's site instead of reading the article you'll find no use of the word "unlimited" anywhere on the pages.
In fact next to each plan it lists "3GB fair use amount - without any run-on rates."
In fact the only reference I can find to "unlimited" broadband is on ISP Review.