MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Just started work with a new company, they've told me to go and buy a mobile internet dongle (PAYG one not contract) as I'll need it for my job, then claim it back on expenses.
Anyway... Which one do I buy? Usage wise, well to be honest if I use 1GB a month I'd be gobsmacked, more likely to be 250-500MB tops, so I don't need one with a large data package. What I do need is data that doesn't expire if it's not used within a certain time. And it also wants to be bloody cheap, as though I can claim it all back, I'm REALLY skint right now... Oh, and good 3G coverage would be useful too funnily enough!
Advice please...
if coverage is a major concern you'd be well going for one of the big three mobile companies, I'd say Vodafone or O2 would be best.
you would spend less on contract IME as these can be as little as £15/mth
if you are claiming it back through expenses, pay for it on your credit card as they will pay these monthly I assume. you should never be put out of pocket for a work necessity
p.s. don't be fooled by all the marketing about it being mobile - trying to get one to work on a train for any amount of time is nearly impossible!
just a thought but a lot of decent phones now can act as HSDPA modems, my huwaie phone does,as does my 3 branded phone and also my nokia e71 does, vodafone do 1 that £15 for 1 gb but it doesnt expire after 30 days so that may save you money over the other networks
Cheers highclimber, i'm not signing a contract though otherwise it's me that would be liable for it... And well, i'm on a 6 month probationary period with this company. I also know they're pretty bloody useless, have had a vodafone dongle in a previous job and it was only any good outside, and in areas of very strong signal (ie. nowhere I was!). Oh, and no credit card, might have to try and sort one out but I've not got the best credit history so I'm not counting on it...
swampi, just got an iPhone 4 so not sure I can couple it up to my work laptop and do that. And I suspect the work phone they're about to give me will be as basic as they come. So it's gonna have to be a dongle.
Anyone know what 3 are like now? They're offering a 12GB dongle that lasts for up to 12 months, for 80 quid... Seems like it would be perfect, if I can get them to stump up in advance possibly...
i have tried all the networks in last 3 years, currently i am with 3,but it all depends on your area etc,at least with pay as you go you can try to see what works in your area
OK cheers
It's not "my area" that will matter, as at home I've got a pretty fast Sky Broadband connection, and when I go into the office (which will be about once a fortnight) they've obviously got broadband there. It's for out on customers sites that it will matter, so a bit of a lottery in that respect!
Oh, and if it makes any difference, I'm on O2 for my mobile. I notice Orange do cheap deals for their mobile dongles if you're already an Orange customer...
And it also wants to be bloody cheap, as though I can claim it all back, I'm REALLY skint right now...
just got an iPhone 4
🙄
For £29 as an upgrade aracer! I can tell you I am not one of the idiots that paid £800-1000 on ebay for one!
Some people really just have to get on their high horse at any opportunity...
For £29 as an upgrade aracer! I can tell you I am not one of the idiots that paid £800-1000 on ebay for one!
Well to be honest if I were skint the first thing to go would be a £35 a month phone contract, back to a simple pay as you go stylee, but each to his own I suppose 😀
Well to be honest if I were skint the first thing to go would be a £35 a month phone contract, back to a simple pay as you go stylee, but each to his own I suppose
Errrr
My finances aren't the subject here, the mobile internet dongle is! Anyway, being temporarily rather skint is due to leaving a job that paid on the 15th of the month to join one that pays on the 30th, having had a few unpaid days off sick, and a couple of big bills to pay recently. Next month all will be back to normal! Anyway, the amount I use a mobile phone to speak to the GF and mates etc. I'd spend way more than 35 quid a month on PAYG... So... Kinda pointless comment there coffeeking! Aside from which, the whole point of a "contract" is that it's a "contract"...
Anyone else with some useful information that will be gratefully received?
As a previous caller said, suggest to work that they supply a decent phone that will act as a modem and connect it with an 'unlimited; internet package. They really ought to do that anyway, just from a tax (theres and yours) point of view.
I've a Nokia N71 on 3, and often use it as a modem, even though 3 tried to sell me a dongle too!
Won't an iPhone work as a modem?
IMO - PAYG are bad value, unless you never ring anyone.