Originally a service facilitated mainly by business users, allowing them to wirelessly "keep in touch" with the office, mobile broadband is starting to find its place in the consumer market.

In terms of hardware it's surprisingly easy to set up, all that is required is a USB dongle that you plug into your computer or laptop and you're then free to surf away!

Research suggests that this service would prove particularly useful to those in rural areas of the country, who are yet to benefit from conventional broadband.

Boasting speeds far superior to that of dial-up connections, and with relatively low costs, rural customers are likely to benefit from adopting mobile broadband.

Similarly, if you find yourself moving a lot, or only use a BT home phone line to make use of a broadband service then chances are you too would benefit from a mobile broadband service.

Of course as is the case with current cellular networks, the speed you will actually experience will vary depending on location and network coverage.

Currently, almost 90% of the UK is capable of receiving a 3G signal. However, the merger between T-Mobile & 3 will mean that 98% of the country will be able to reap the benefits of a 3G network. This network will be capable of achieving speeds of up to 7.2Mbps.

There are currently three companies in the UK that are offering mobile broadband, each of which offer their own spin, regarding download limits, contract length etc.

To ensure you get the best deal, it's advisable to make use of an online mobile phones comparison site.

Liam is a UK based author, currently focusing on cheap mobile phones Compare pay as you go mobile phones online today.

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