Vodafone’s Mobile WiFi router signals entry into the MiFi market
Vodafone has recently announced that they will be launching a new mobile broadband device that will allow users to share their own connection with a maximum of 5 Wi-Fi enabled gadgets.
The network operator, Vodafone, has also announced a ‘Vodafone Mobile Broadband Hotspot’ gadget, which is also known as the MiFi 2352, which enables users to connect to a number of gadgets wirelessly from any gadgets within a radius of 10 m in the broadband network of the company.
The device, which is just a size of a credit – card, has been produced by Novatel, will enable users to connect to a number of Wi-Fi enabled gadgets, which include laptops, digital cameras and gaming consoles.
It also has a one – touch power switch as well as an internal battery which provides a maximum of 4 hours of uninterrupted usage with a single charge.
The device is capable of providing download speeds of upto 7.2 Mbps and upload speeds of upto 5.2 Mbps and it depends on the coverage of the network within a particular area. In addition to that, it also provides a large amount of storage space, which is due to the memory card slot which enables you to use a 16 GB microSD card as well, thereby turning it into a flash drive as well.
Some of the readers of itproportal.com have told them that the 3G router isn’t exactly much of a big thing as any 3G phone which is WiFi enabled could potentially be made to function as a router. This does make a lot of sense and it would have been quite useful if users are able to change their phones into a fully – fledged router without a hitch.
Source - itproportal.com
Vodaphone Mobile Broadband
Vodaphone is UK’s second most popular mobile networking and internet service provide after O2 and with operations across five continents and 33 partner networks used by about 190 million subscribers, it is also one of the leading global players in mobile telecommunications services. Its network coverage reach in the UK provides local subscribers access to its broadband 3G and HSDPA networks for speeds of up to 3.6 Mbps.
Broadband Plans
Vodaphone mobile offers three major broadband internet plans designed to suit various internet surfing needs from the simple daily email checks to downloading videos form the net. It starts with pay-as-you-go deal branded as TopUp and Go to the monthly post paid plans that include a netbook starting at ₤25 per month.
- TopUp and Go
You pay only ₤15 per 1GB of downloads without any 30-day expiry. The only catch is you need to pay one-time for the vodaphone broadband USB dongle at ₤34.99.
- Post Past Plans
Vodaphone mobile offers various plans that carry 12, 18 or 24 month contracts with 3GB or 5GB download limits with two cost options at ₤15 or ₤25 per month. All options include free broadband USB dongles in two models attached to the plan both with microSD slots.
- Post Paid with free Laptop
This plan offers a free Dell Inspiron Mini 10 that already has a built-in broadband modem and is available when you take out its 24-month contract for either ₤25 per month on a 1GB download limit or ₤30 per month for a 3 GB download limit.
Why Choose Vodaphone?
- You can opt to get the Vodaphone passport which enables you to take the UK rates with you to over 35 countries that includes New Zealand and Australia.
Vodaphone’s TopUp and Go is the only pay-as-you-go broadband plan in the UK that has no 30-day expiry.
LTE Seen as Better Data Access Technology
Industry experts speaking at United Kingdoms’ Wireless 2.0 conference expressed their view that LTE or Long Term Evolution technology will not have problems competing with today’s fixed broadband connections in future markets.
Professor Michael Walker, director of Vodafone UK’s research and development group, said that the new data technology coined Long Term Evolution or LTE will be able to match or even surpass the connection speeds of current hard line regular fixed broadband connections.
The mobility and heightened experience of wireless internet combined with the high speeds of today’s fixed line broadband speeds will results in a richer and higher quality experience, said the professor. By matching land based fixed broadband lines with wireless connections former concerns of data speeds and reliability will be put to rest.
Long Term Evolution, WiMax, and FTTH or Fiber to the Home are now competing technologies vying for market share in the United Kingdom. This competition is key to learning the future of broadband technology in the country. Currently Vodafone’s stance is clear that LTE is their choice for future broadband connections.
Current HSPA networks employed by the United Kingdom’s mobile broadband operators use a lower spectrum that is less efficient in data transmission. Long Term Evolution will use the 20 MHz spectrum which can carry a download speed of 15 Megabits per second. Field trials of the technology has shown 20 Megabits per second transfer speeds at the center of a Long Term Evolution cell and 1.3 Megabits per second transfer rates at the edges.
Learning from its mistakes using 3G technology, Vodafone’s says that it will ensure the viability of Long Term Evolution before purchasing a radio spectrum. "3G was going to give 1Mbit/s but in some places you were lucky to get 300Kbit/s. It's not going to be like that with LTE." said the professor.
Ireland Shifts to Vodafone for Broadband Connections
A new contract between British Telecom and Vodafone led to the transfer of Irelands voice and broadband services to Vodafone. Small businesses and residential consumer broadband customers of British Telecom will now receive their connections from Vodafone. The deal which has been in play for several months know is deemed to beneficial for both companies and consumers.
Vodafone, the mobile phone company, has become the second largest provider of land based broadband in the recent months. It has gained a total over three thousand small businesses and eighty-four thousand residential customers as a result of the transfer from British Telecom. The seven year contract ensures that Vodafone will maintain its major position in the broadband market today. Other than land based broadband connections, Vodafone is also known for mobile broadband connections and other mobile phone based data applications.
British Telecom will now be focusing on wholesale broadband and its underlying infrastructure. Using a technique called Local Loop Unbundling, British Telecom intends to increase the number of corporate customers using previous resources devoted to consumer businesses. One of these new customers is the new consumer broadband provider, which is Vodafone.
The contract is valued around 4.8 million pounds in assets. This latest business transaction make perfect sense for the situation in Ireland where small business and consumer broadband only accounts for about ten percent of the overall customer base of British Telecom in the area. According to British Telecom (Ireland) CEO Chris Clarke ‘Our core focus has been the corporate market. And infrastructure-based competition hasn't happened in Ireland."
The executive also added that they are planning to unbundle fifty-eight more exchanges to add to the twenty two exchanges already unbundled by British Telecom. Using this unbundling technique almost two-thirds of Ireland will have broadband speeds of up to 24Mbps which is a great increase from the previous available broadband speeds in the area.
Vodafone Offers Free Access to Facebook
Vodafone recenty announced a new promotion giving free access to Facebook for subscribers who use their mobile broadband services. This and other premium promotions are part of Vodafone’s renewed effort to increase its mobile broadband subscriber base and extend their market influence.
Coined as the Free Friday series, these promotions were launched last and started with offers of unlimited mobile internet access for a flat rate of 50p per day. Vodafone also included premium access to digital rights management free music on free music Friday. This new campaign involving Facebook, along with their other programs are targeted at today’s youth.
Vodaphone’s new marketing campaign is aimed at creating a youthful mobile internet base to maximize their existing mobile communications network. New technologies acquired by Vodafone has enabled them to offer mobile broadband to most of their coverage areas and in the major population centers.
The free Facebook service is available to subscribers using their laptop or home pc with Vodafone’s mobile broadband service and through Vodafone’s mobile phones. The data counters used by Vodafone will stop moving when visiting the Facebook website and resume counting when moving out of them. The regular pay as you go rates or the standard 50p per day rates will apply when visiting non Facebook websites.
Other than this Facebook access time, Vodafone is also offering a Facebook alert service that will enable users to receive updates on their profile pages. This ranges from wall alerts, status updates, pokebacks and other alerts on facebook. The updates will be sent through SMS or text messaging. Users may also reply to these alerts to and standard text messaging rates apply.
Shopping Incentives for New Vodafone Mobile Broadband Subscribers
With the increase in popularity of mobile broadband services in the United Kingdom, broadband service providers have unleashed a slew of attractive packages and deals that may entice new subscribers into their customer base. Telecommunications giant Vodafone has introduced a new incentive program for their new customers.
Recent announcements have revealed that Vodafone will now include incentives, in the form of thirty pound vouchers from lastminute.com, to their new subscribers. The voucher itself can be used to purchase a multitude of products and features from simple show tickets to holiday retreats and theater breaks.
The voucher is available to new subscribers to selected mobile broadband service packages. Interested customers enter a promotional code on the Vodafone website to qualify for the voucher. Vodafone offers mobile broadband in twenty four month packages priced at fifteen pounds a month. Other than the voucher the package come with a data rate of up to 7.2Mbps, a free usb modem dongle, and a 3GB data allowance. Greater data allowance capacity of 5GB is available with the twenty five pound mobile broadband package.
Mobile broadband services in the United Kingdom are experiencing rapid growth and with that, increased competition. Other than competitive prices, most of the companies now offer promotional discounts, incentives, freebies, among other additional service to encourage new customers. It is wise to check out these great deals before making a decision on which carrier to go with.
Network congestion and customer service has also become a key factor in user carrier preference especially when concerning mobile broadband. Newer technologies such as the mobile broadband ready netbooks, WiMax and instant-on mobile broadband access modems has changed and is continuously influencing the mobile broadband market.
Vodafone’s goal: To provide its rural users a much better reception
Just recently, an announcement was made that Vodafone have planned to sell a broadband device that aims to enhance their mobile phone signal strength. This will be done through the use of broadband connection at home to route calls.
Access Gateway is a fresh new product, which costs £160, with a monthly charge of £5 per month. This is planned to be released by the end of June. Ian Shephard, consumer director of Vodafone UK, stated his positive beliefs on the usefulness of this device. This device is ideal for users, who are based in rural areas in the country. There is limited access; and several experts have made criticisms regarding this new signal-enhancing device. Vodafone is one cheap means to increase its network coverage.
"The Vodafone Access Gateway will boost indoor mobile phone coverage for customers who today find they need to move around the rooms in their home to get consistent signal strength." Shephard mentioned.
This size of this new device is the same as that of a broadband router, which connects over a standard broadband line. Also included in its features is its ability to permit users to access the device with the use of any mobile phone, which can connect over a 3G network.
Some experts say that the benefits that were brought by this new device are also proven to be useful for mobile broadband users, who are using a USB modem.
By 2012, the government has an objective to provide universal broadband access at a speed of at least 2Mbps. They will do it with the help of this new device.
However, the objective of this new device to provide the added coverage needed to give broadband users in the more rural areas access is presently considered to be unachievable.
