3 USB Dongle now £49 to students...

[3GScottishUser]

Now on the 3 website, your choice of USB dongle on contract or PAYG with a £50 credit (Price £99).

On-Line advisors useless, they know nothing about the offer but it's genuine and sadly to order on-line you need a sensible, informed on-line advisor to get an offer code.

This offer is also available in 3Stores and at roadshows organised by 3 at some big British universities.

[getti]

All you need in store is a valid NUS card and you get the modem for £49.99. or if you sign up to a contract you get £50 credit on your bill

[Ben]

Good stuff. I'm seeing quite a few Hutch IP's about on the net, they're definitely shifting these modems!

[3GScottishUser]

Can you just go into a store and get one on PAYG with an NUS card for £49?

If so I might do that..... I have £30 worth of top up which I can use with it.

[solo12002]

" Can you just go into a store and get one on PAYG with an NUS card for £49?"

dint think you had one, do you know a good printer?

[3GScottishUser]

Of course I have......

Life long learning and all that!!!

[gorilla]

Is it just me or does this seem like the wrong time of year to advertise such a deal to students? Surely they would have been better running this promotion back in September.

[getti]

Can you just go into a store and get one on PAYG with an NUS card for £49?

If so I might do that..... I have £30 worth of top up which I can use with it.

As long as its a valid NUS card you can just go to a 3 Store and pick 1 up

[3GScottishUser]

As long as its a valid NUS card you can just go to a 3 Store and pick 1 up

Have done!!!

It's pretty good so far.... less messing about than using the phone as a modem. I can cancel my Internet add-on on the handset now... maybe.... but maybe not as they don't appear to be charging me for it!!

The modem is good and worked pretty well straight out of the box.

Sadly it did not like the use of another USIM in it. It rejected my contract SIM which has the Internet add on and the PAYG one from my Skypephone. No matter I have topped up the thing now and it seems happy and first impressions are that the dongle seems better than the handset for coverage so far. I notice you get GPRS coverage too which is good. On a handset it simply comes up with the 'out of video coverage area - limited service' message.

Well 3 months down the line I'm still pleased with the LG Viewty, still amazed at the value offered by the 3Skypephone and delighted with the USB modem at the price. Kevin Russell seems to be doing a lot right with 3 now. I like the way messages are displayed etc too. the software is seamless although it's a wee bit annoying how it attempts to install the software appliction everytime you plug in the dongle. There must be some way of stopping that? Perhaps it would be good if they now put the Planet 3 portal on the Internet so you could browse it using a dongle without using up data allowance just as you do on the 3 handsets..... asking for too much maybe?

[Hands0n]

You don't use up your data allowance to view the 3 portal. The only clowns who do that are Orange! Everyone else lets you view their portal free.

[solo12002]

Does this work on the:

ASUS EeePC

[Ben]

With Windows installed it would... don't know about otherwise.

[Hands0n]

Does this work on the:

ASUS EeePC

It may do - but you would have to locate the Linux drivers for the particular distro you are using. Check out the manufacturers website. Expect no support from 3, unless it is specifically offered.

[miffed]

Yes , works perfectly in under Windows (as youd expect ) - and under Xandros
Simply plug it in (under easy mode ) and set it up through the connection wizard
It will seems to have all the world's log-in info on some kind of database , so you enter you country and provider and it sets itself up - not as simple as the windows installaition , but still straightforward and easy nonetheless

The downside is , you don't get the "Control Panel" you get with the Device on windows , so you are unable to send & receive SMS's , which doesn't sound like a huge deal , but keep in mind , when you first set the device up , you will need to register on "My 3" to activate your credit - and this registration process involves receiving a mail from Three ! - so you have a couple of choices
1 ) Set up the modem on a Windows PC first

or 2 ) Put the SIM into a handset to set it up , them once its done, move it back to the modem

Once this is done , it is simple to connect and disconnect to the network - but as I say , you don't have the dashboard features

[solo12002]

I was thinking of contract as over run rates ar 10 p per meg were PAYG its a £1 per meg lol

[Hands0n]

Yea, but either way don't hit a 1GB overrun or you'll seriously heamorrage your hard earned. But if you're thinking of contract - have you considered Vodafone's £15/3GB - the overrun charges are much less (which is saying something for the big red V).

[MORPH]

I went out and got the 3 modem on the £15 a month, main reasons being are that it's free (not like vodafones) and the charges are MUCH less when you go over your limit! Not had chance to use it much yet, but it's very simple to set up and seems reasonably quick, I'll update as I use it more.

[solo12002]

"have you considered Vodafone's £15/3GB - the overrun charges are much less (which is saying something for the big red V)"

Iam I think over run on three is £100 on vodafone its £12 per GB, only two things.

1. I like the idea of home like home as im in NI and travel to the south once in a while so I can use my 3Gb.
2. Taking out a contract with three as I like their mix and match, home like home and cheaper roaming rates in the EU and the fact that the modem is free, not £50 - £100 for it.

[miffed]

I am surprised how little I actually used !

I browsed for an about 2-3 hours per day (on a 3 days on , one day off basis, I have been using youtube occasionally , and downloading far more than I'd have liked - AVG AV , (incl daily updates !) Safari , Firefox , Adobe reader - among other things
My "Broadband lite" add on was due to expire yesterday , so I logged onto my Three , half expecting to see my balance eroded - and I was still 600mb WITHIN the 1GB !!!
This suggests to me that the 3GB package is going to be PLENTY for me ! , the 1GB seems sufficent , but getting the extra 2GB for £5 seems a very reasonable "safety net" IMO

[Ben]

I went out and got the 3 modem on the £15 a month, main reasons being are that it's free (not like vodafones) and the charges are MUCH less when you go over your limit! Not had chance to use it much yet, but it's very simple to set up and seems reasonably quick, I'll update as I use it more.
Depending on how much you go over, Vodafone could be cheaper. But if you're going to stay within the limit then it's all ifs and buts... I suppose it all comes down to the coverage in your area.

[chaslam]

Depending on how much you go over, Vodafone could be cheaper. But if you're going to stay within the limit then it's all ifs and buts... I suppose it all comes down to the coverage in your area.

With vodafone, I believe when you go over its another £15 for 1GB of data (dont quote me on that) however, what I was told by the vodafone sales manager who came to my store is that they dont charge your for that all in one go, again it depends on the useage. If you go 500mb over, they will charge you £7.50, whereas 3 is 10p per mb which, if you go heavily over, can work out very very expensive (£100 per 1gb!).

[Ben]

With vodafone, I believe when you go over its another £15 for 1GB of data (dont quote me on that) however, what I was told by the vodafone sales manager who came to my store is that they dont charge your for that all in one go, again it depends on the useage. If you go 500mb over, they will charge you £7.50, whereas 3 is 10p per mb which, if you go heavily over, can work out very very expensive (£100 per 1gb!).
You're certainly right about the £15/GB under the new tariff on Vodafone, which is great value currently. If you're right in that Vodafone will apply this charge on a pro rata basis then it's very good value indeed and blows Three out of the water. Otherwise, if they charge the whole lot as soon as somebody goes over 3GB, it will all depend on how much more data is used. Perhaps you could quiz that sales manager a little more on that, should you get the chance? ;)

[chaslam]

You're certainly right about the £15/GB under the new tariff on Vodafone, which is great value currently. If you're right in that Vodafone will apply this charge on a pro rata basis then it's very good value indeed and blows Three out of the water. Otherwise, if they charge the whole lot as soon as somebody goes over 3GB, it will all depend on how much more data is used. Perhaps you could quiz that sales manager a little more on that, should you get the chance? ;)

Yes, will ask the vodafone expert when I go in today and see if he can clarify it for me.

[Hands0n]

The overrun charge can be horrendous.

3's is 10p/MB which for 1GB works out at £102.40
Vodafone's is £15/GB whic works out at errr ummm £15
Vodafone said: (http://online.vodafone.co.uk/dispatch/Portal/appmanager/vodafone/wrp?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=template08&pageID=VA_0031&WT_ref=INT-COUK-010208-Broadband-Pricepage)
..... Charge of £15 per GB applies if you exceed inclusive allowance.

I am quite surprised, myself, that Vodafone are cheaper for overrun than 3. Especially considering that they very frequently beat up anyone using data abroad (remember the chap earlier this year with the £20k+ mobile bill that was set to bankrupt him? Vodafone were quite unforgiving.

So long as you are not likely to overrun then either 3 or Vodafone will do at this £15/3GB bracket.

Where are T-Mobile (http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobile-phones/internet/pay-monthly/?ref=newhome_broadband) on this? They led the pack only 18 months ago with their Web N Walk series. It is still there but looking distinctly dated already - 1.8Mbps HSDPA, £20/3GB, 24 month contract! Definitely not this month's flavour.

[gorilla]

Perhaps not that correct thread to post in, but here goes.

I had a proper sales pitch from three yesterday. They rang to explain they had a new product (mobile broadband) and would I be interested. I'm not as I don't need it, but the best bit...guess how much?

24 month contract, free modem, 1gig all for £7.50. I very nearly said yes. At that price surely these things are going to fly out.

[Ben]

One gig though... In the current market that's not as good, perhaps, as it once was. Not on a 24 month contract when things are changing so fast.