3's key to mobile broadband to open doors

Stephen Withers
Thursday, 22 May 2008 12:39

Business IT - Networking

A new wireless broadband modem from 3 looks pretty spiffy, with styling that's closer to a USB TV tuner than the familiar mouse-like modem it's been offering customers.

Dubbed the "Internet Key", the new modem is available for just $10 a month in conjunction with a $A15/1G data plan.

You won't have paid it off until two years have passed, but that's a relatively painless way of getting mobile broadband if you just need basic email and a little light browsing when you're on the road. Just beware of excess charges when you go over the limit (10c per meg), and be extra careful that you haven't roamed off 3's network or you'll be whacked a swingeing $A1.65 per meg!

The Internet Key works with Windows 2000, XP and Vista, as well as Mac OS X 10.3 and above, which is good news in this increasingly cross-platform world.

Currently an HSDPA 3.6 device, a software upgrade to HSDPA 7.2 is promised.

If you need more data, the Key is also available at the same price in conjunction with other plans. But that $A15 plan is almost enough to tempt me - if only there was an option to pay only for the months where you actually use the service...

There's a nice pic of the device over at Gizmodo Australia.