Vodafone Mobile Connect

The 3G mobile phone network isn't just about having video conversations. It also offers internet speeds of up to seven times faster than a dial-up modem. It's this data-transfer rate that Vodafone is boasting about with its new Mobile Connect PC Card.

All you need is a suitable notebook PC - the provided software takes care of the rest and it's surprisingly easy to use. Pressing the Connect button gets you online in a couple of seconds. It also has shortcuts to launch a web browser and email, as well as manage text messages.

During our tests we were very impressed at the speeds reached. However, the big problem is the price. Contracts start at £11.75 a month, which includes 5Mb of free data. However, every 1Mb transferred after that costs £2.35, which could work out very expensive. The cost can be brought down by buying more expensive monthly plans, but these are mainly aimed at businesses.

An interesting bit of technology but not one for home users quite yet.

Contact: Vodafone 0800 101112
www.vodafone.co.uk