Mobile broadband

mobilejunkie

Having never used this I have a few of quick questions. O2w are offering a half-price dongle and the cashback via Quidco (allowing for the minimum required top-up) effectively makes it zero cost. I don't have a current need for mobile broadband, but it may be worth getting this anyway since it's free - for future potential use. This depends on answers to the following questions:-

1) Will it be locked to the O2 network?

2) Once the top-up has expired, could I keep the dongle and use it with a future O2 contract?

3) Are mobile broadband contracts the same as phones, in that the dongle comes with the contract?

4) Is there any way to use the dongle without paying for credit?

Basically, given that I have no use for this at present, is there an advantage in getting it at zero cost? With a phone deal there is a point - the phone has a value and could be used in a sim-only deal, for example.

This offer expires on Monday so I have to make a quick decision!

redux

There is a long thread about a Littlewoods offer on this. I have not read it all but I think I understood it is not locked. Should answer some other questions ...

mobilejunkie

I have read the thread, but I'm none the wiser. Even whether it's unlucked isn't clear to me; it appears it starts out locked (despite some posts stating the opposite) and then you can unlock it through some sort of software installation. One post indicates it also serves as a memory card/stick (which might be useful if true) but overall I haven't found simple and clear answers to my questions. Since it works out free it may be better to get one and hope there's a point - that's as far as I've got!

herbertthehelper

mobilejunkie wrote: »

Having never used this I have a few of quick questions. O2w are offering a half-price dongle and the cashback via Quidco (allowing for the minimum required top-up) effectively makes it zero cost. I don't have a current need for mobile broadband, but it may be worth getting this anyway since it's free - for future potential use. This depends on answers to the following questions:-

1) Will it be locked to the O2 network? - Yes - but you can unlock it

2) Once the top-up has expired, could I keep the dongle and use it with a future O2 contract? - Yes

3) Are mobile broadband contracts the same as phones, in that the dongle comes with the contract? nope

4) Is there any way to use the dongle without paying for credit? - nope

Basically, given that I have no use for this at present, is there an advantage in getting it at zero cost? With a phone deal there is a point - the phone has a value and could be used in a sim-only deal, for example.

This offer expires on Monday so I have to make a quick decision!

Sim only deal is a good idea

mobilejunkie

Not as good as 12 month free deals - my particular area of expertise and my bread and butter! In fact, I also have a selection of free PAYT sims with free credits; it's the dongle which is alien to me. However, since the deadline has now passed it's academic; I grabbed one, it arrived today and tracked - though not as expected. Now all I need to do is find the time to try and figure out if it's going to be good for anything at some point in the future.

lechat

The offer has been extended until the end of today says Quidco

mobilejunkie

Yes, noticed soon after my last post. Since i'm not sure if it's any use I'll just stick with the one I've got for now though. I expect there will be similar offers in the near future!

LeeSouthEast

Bear in mind unless you live near a mast with low usage, it won't be like any 'broadband' you've ever experienced before.

Think 33.6kbps dialup, and you'll be more accurate