(Credit: 3 Mobile)
Paying catch-up in broadband services once again, 3 Mobile has launched a prepaid option for its mobile broadband customers. Its offer of 12 months of internet will be a first in the Australian mobile broadband market, however.
As of the 12th of November, 3's customers will have the option to pre-purchase 12GB of data for AU$149 with a 365-day expiry period and without any additional contract. Depending on each customer's usage, this could equate to a full year's access to data services.
Other prepaid plans available through 3 include 500MB for AU$15, 2GB for AU$29 and 4GB for AU$49, all with 30 day expiry periods. On top of this expense, new customers will be required to purchase a compatible USB modem through 3 Mobile for AU$129.
Prepaid mobile broadband services are currently available through carriers Telstra and Optus, and through resellers.
I use 3 for mobile and they do have the best rates, which is what you'd expect when you get the least coverage... So it is only for major metro areas which they cover. Best idea is to have a friend who uses 3 on their mobile check just how many 'bars' (signal strength) you get at the places you are most likely to use it. Coverage maps from any telco are highly-misleading, as they show the broad range of areas from which certain places have coverage, but fail to show the micro-geography which limits reception in many of the areas within this regions (valleys etc).
And then re-think if the extra radiation could easily be avoided, by using copper/fibre where possible, to lessen overall exposure... given the jury is still out on on cancer risk from long-term exposure, given we are switching so heavily to mobile comms... and of course this comment relates to ALL radio transmission methods, using ANY telco (ie not 3-specific).