Technical definition of a dongle is a piece of hardware that can be attached to a computer to run secured software from it. Dongles were designed for the need of security and privacy. They look just like normal USB devices that we have been familiar with for a long time. A USB dongle with Wi-Fi added to it can act as a wireless internet connection and provide internet connectivity to a laptop or desktop PC.
That is what a mobile internet dongle is; it provides wireless internet connectivity to your devices like laptops, netbooks, notebooks, tablets, and desktops through a mobile internet connection. This is also called ‘mobile broadband’ or ‘wireless broadband’ connection. With the connection you will get a USB dongle that you can insert in to your laptop, install a simple software and your device is all set to go online.
Benefits of Mobile Internet Dongle
A mobile internet dongle has so many benefits for its users:
· Maximum area coverage.
· High speed broadband connections on the move.
· Extremely simple to install.
· It is compatible with most PCs, Macs, laptops, netbooks, notebooks and ultrabooks. It is also compatible with those tablets that have a USB port.
· One mobile internet dongle can be used on multiple PCs.
· No sort of wiring is required to get a mobile broadband connection started.
Choosing a Mobile Internet Dongle to Suit Your Needs
Most mobile broadband connections are provided by mobile carriers that are already providing internet connectivity on cell phones. Dongles are handy and best for those who require connectivity while on the move. To choose the best mobile internet dongle package to suit your needs you need to keep a few things in mind.
1. What is your need for bandwidth usage?
If your major use of the mobile internet dongle will be to check e-mail at various locations through your laptop, then you probably don’t need to subscribe to a heavy data mobile broadband plan. But, if you plan to use your mobile broadband connection to do a lot of downloading, like movies, songs, television shows, large image files, etc. then you most definitely need a plan that offers high bandwidth along with a higher data cap.
2. Which subscription and payment option suits you the most?
Mobile broadband providers offer many subscription and payment options to their customers. If you will not be using your mobile internet dongle on a regular basis then you can opt for a Pay-as-You-Go plan where you pay according to your usage of the internet bandwidth and time. Regular subscription plans are best for higher usage and span over 1 month, 3 months, 6months, etc. and have data caps set on them. So you can choose the one that suits you best.
3. Which mobile broadband provider is the best in your area?
Mobile internet dongles’ speed and access depends on the coverage of the provider in a specific area, just like mobile phone coverage does. So talk to neighbors and friends living in your area who use mobile broadband and ask for their reviews on their providers. This will help you judge best which mobile broadband provider has the best coverage in your area.
4. Test the Mobile Internet Dongle before purchasing a connection.
We don’t buy a car without taking a test drive or a cell phone without using it first to see if it suits us; then why not test the mobile internet dongle before we buy it? Test the connection and dongles’ compatibility with your laptop by taking it to the store and trying it right there before you purchase it. Test it by using the dongle for the purpose you are buying it for, if it’s downloading then download a movie, if it’s emailing then check the email server right there.
Conclusion
You can carry your mobile internet dongles anywhere and they will have connectivity in most places that mobile carriers do, which is a lot of area coverage. With a mobile internet dongle you will never have to be without internet again. But make sure that you choose the mobile internet connection carefully by keeping these things in mind. Better be safe than sorry!
About the Author:
The above article is composed and edited by Eva K. She is associated with many technology and web communities as their freelance writer and adviser. In her free time she writes articles related to broadband deals, technology, mobile applications, etc
