5 free MP3 album downloads with £10 3 mobile pay as you go broadband dongle

[title=http://images2.moneysavingexpert.com/images/dp/wtd_underline.gif] What's the deal?[/title]
Until 31 July, a promo deal from 3 means you can get its Pay As You Go mobile broadband dongle for £10 (usually £20) and a 5-album Datz.com download voucher worth c. £35 on top.

While the dongle itself has been cheaper (£5), the key here's the download voucher, making it worth it for music fans even who don't want the dongle (see below for a dongle definition).

[title=http://images2.moneysavingexpert.com/images/dp/wtd_underline.gif] How do I get it?
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Grabbing the deal's a relatively simple matter of going to the dodgy-sounding-yet-actually-legit 3dongle4free site, setting up an account, and waiting for your coupon code to be sent through by email.


Once armed with the code, you can return to the site and go through the payment process. The price will initially show as £54.94 inc postage, but enter the coupon code you received and click the 'redeem coupon' button and it'll drop to £9.99 all-in. Now you can checkout as usual.

The dongle should be delivered, along with the download voucher, within 2 working days of payment. There's a strict one-per-person rule, and multiple purchases will likely be cancelled. For top-up costs see below.

[title=http://images2.moneysavingexpert.com/images/dp/wtd_underline.gif] Where's the free music from?
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The 5-album download voucher is redeemable at online MP3 store Datz.com, which offers totally DRM-free (i.e. copyable) music downloads. Once you download the files, they're yours to do what you want with. Sadly however the site isn't compatible with Apple Macs.

You can download any 5 albums you like, and while Datz's chart selection isn't as comprehensive as the likes of iTunes, most should easily find enough to get excited about. Its album top ten currently includes Paulo Nutini, Eminem, and Lily Allen.

In terms of file types, Datz.com's in the process of migrating its library to MP3, but currently still offers many files in the WMA (Windows Media Audio) format. However, we've been informed by the company that "Once the migration has been completed all consumers who have accessed the site since we obtained our “MP3 rights”, i.e. since December 2008 and who have downloaded a WMA will be emailed and asked if they want to download a new MP3 version Free of Charge".

If you're not sure, and you're looking at this deal mostly for the downloads, then why not check out what's on offer first?

[title=http://images2.moneysavingexpert.com/images/dp/wtd_underline.gif] What's mobile broadband?
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Mobile broadband allows you to surf the web on your laptop anywhere there's a mobile signal, by plugging a USB flash drive-sized 'dongle' into it. It generally offers far slower download speeds than landline broadband, but since it can be used almost anywhere, and on the move (on trains etc), it's especially popular with those who can't get a conventional broadband signal in their area, or travel with laptops frequently.

With this deal however, you get a Pay As You Go dongle, which is best suited to occasional, infrequent mobile broadband users. There's no monthly charge, and you top-up your download allowance only when you need to use it. Frequent mobile broadband users and those living in landline broadband 'notspot' areas should consider contract packages instead; they offer far better value per MB.

For more info on the ins & outs of mobile broadband, and the current top contract packages (and cashback deals!) read the full Free Wireless and 3G Internet guide

[title=http://images2.moneysavingexpert.com/images/dp/wtd_underline.gif] Topping up your dongle
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3's data top-ups cost £10 for 1GB, £15 for 3GB, and £25 for 7GB. Unfortunately however, they all expire 30 days after activation, at which point all data left over will be wiped off your account and you'll need to top up again. This is true of most current PAYG mobile broadband packages, with the exception of Vodafone's (thanks Nicky H).

It's very important with 3 to convert any top-ups you buy into mobile broadband add-ons so you don't pay a colossal £1/MB for usage (approx. 100x more expensive). How to do this depends on where you bought the top up - see 3's support page for the full lowdown. Hopefully the network will start offering a straightforward solution soon, but in the meantime make doubly sure you convert every bit of credit you buy.

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