| When most of us think of an internet connection, | | | | with talk of upgrading phone networks to cope with |
| many a tangled wire springs to mind. Cable upon | | | | the influx of ultra-fast broadband connections, many |
| cable at the back of our machines, linked to socket | | | | are choosing to go wireless when it comes to |
| after socket in an attempt to connect ourselves to | | | | connections. |
| the World Wide Web. | | | | When searching for an internet package that |
| However, over recent years the use of cables has | | | | provides connection through a dongle - whether |
| been pretty much eradicated through use of wireless | | | | you're looking to have a net connection or to replace |
| routers - allowing us to establish broadband internet | | | | your phone with VoIP technology - there are a few |
| connections without tangling the back of our | | | | aspects you should bear in mind when searching for a |
| machines up. | | | | deal: |
| Most of us now make use of dongles in order to | | | | - Connection speeds and what can be achieved on |
| connect. Dongles are portable modems, which over | | | | the deal you're interested in |
| the years have been scaled down to smaller sizes in | | | | - Bandwidth limits - what is the allowance and is there |
| order to save space. | | | | a charge for exceeding your limit? |
| These handy little units plug into USB sockets on | | | | - Contract length - this varies with each plan, so it's |
| your computer, and give users the chance to | | | | best to determine how long you're likely to need |
| connect to a broadband connection through use of | | | | wireless service for before committing to any |
| wireless technology, with a large number of providers | | | | contracts |
| now making use of these devices in order to offer | | | | - Additional costs - these can include the price of the |
| internet services of their own. | | | | dongle itself |
| Indeed, many mobile phone companies are now | | | | Industry insiders are predicting that, in future, these |
| offering their own services for people on the move - | | | | dongles could allow people the potential to have |
| with deals on dongles driving sales as consumers | | | | faster broadband on the move, even replacing their |
| strive for fast and cheap broadband connections. | | | | phone lines as VoIP technology continues to grow in |
| However, the system itself is still relatively new, and | | | | popularity. |