BT has launched a new offensive in the residential mobile broadband market. They have announced new mobile broadband packages available with the BT Total Broadband (home broadband) service, which BT claims to be the UK’s cheapest.
BT Business Total Broadband Option 3 already offers mobile broadband bundled with a land-line broadband service and this is now being extended to residential BT Total Broadband customers.
BT Total Broadband customers will get “free” 7.2 Mb/sec BT mobile broadband with a 1GB monthly usage allowance when taken with the up to 8 Mb/sec wireless home broadband service.
The BT mobile broadband service uses the Vodafone mobile broadband network and a new Huawei-made USB modem with a hinged design. The BT dongle only works with Windows-based PCs, but BT says a Mac-compatible model is coming within weeks. As well as the 3G connectivity, those opting for service also get membership of the BT FON network of 400,000 such hotspots around the world, and Wi-Fi minutes at BT Openzone hotspots across the UK and Ireland, including in Starbucks.
The new 1GB data allowance, 18-month, BT Total Broadband options vary from £9.99 for the dongle and then £18.59 a month for the first 3 months, £24.46 thereafter to £49.99 for the dongle and £7.78 a month for the first 3 months, £15.65 thereafter. BT is also offering the dongle as a standalone prepay option, with a one-off purchase price of £129.99 for 1GB allowance for 18 months with the option to top-up if necessary.