Mobile operator ‘3’ has finally launched the X-Series in Australia, giving Aussies the same cheap access to cellular mobile broadband, Skype and other services enjoyed by other countries where ‘3’ is in operation – but they weren’t the first to offer cheap wireless broadband.

The second, four years after the initial 3 Mobile launches, is X-Series, offering consumers the ability to purchase 500Mb of data at mobile broadband speeds for AUD $20, 1b for $30 and 2Gb for $40. Each extra megabyte is charged at AUD 10c per megabyte once the limit has been reached, or AUD $10 per gigabyte, which is much cheaper than competing carriers have offered.

Included in those plans is access to Skype minutes, specifically for Skype to Skype phone calls (but no Skype instant messaging or video calls as yet) without affecting the broadband download plans, at rates of 1000, 2000 and 4000 minutes respectively, depending on the AUD $20, $30 or $40 plans on offer, which are charged above and beyond the rate you’ll be paying for voice and video call minutes.

The move to much more realistic data pricing comes after 3 Mobile launched their ‘3 Like Home’ program, allowing 3 Mobile subscribers to enjoy calls, when roaming in other countries that have a 3 Mobile network, at the same rates they pay at home, demolishing the super expensive voice roaming rates that mobile operators have been enjoying (and gouging customers) for years.

However, 3 Mobile are not the first in Australia to offer cheap mobile broadband, but that does not take anything away from what look like fantastic packages at very realistic pricing, something that is sure to throw the cat among the mobile pigeons in the Australian telecommunications industry, as competitors scramble to either launch similar services and pricing of their own, explain to customers why their existing product is superior and worth paying extra, or simply lowering their prices somewhat to better compete while making valid claims of greater coverage areas and the promise of much faster speeds.

X-Series works with both 3G and 3.5G handsets, with those on HSDPA handsets able to download data at speeds of 600Kbps to 1.5Mbps, with a ‘theoretical maximum’ of 3.6Mbps.

In Australia, 3 Mobile’s competitors are the dominant national carrier Telstra, along with Optus and Vodafone. Telstra’s 3.5G network is complete and covers 98% of the population, far outstripping for range of other 3G networks by a factor of 100, according to Telstra, and testing we’ve been able to do ourselves in different locations around Australia, some far from capital cities, has certainly proven this claim to be true.

Vodafone and Optus, who are sharing some 3G and 3.5G infrastructure, also offer 3.5G HSDPA services, but have yet to match 3 Mobile, who have now switched 3.5G HSDPA on in all areas they cover, which includes Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Adelaide and the Gold Coast.

When not in a ‘3 Mobile’ broadband zone, users roam on Telstra’s GPRS (and likely their EDGE network which does offer faster speeds than GPRS), but will pay $AUD 1.65 per megabyte roaming charges when doing so.

That said, if you don’t travel very often, or even at all, to areas outside the major capital cities, this won’t be a big deal, although frequent regional travelers will find that Telstra’s Next G service will offer much better and faster coverage.

Telstra also have another ace up their sleeve, which is an HSDPA network now almost fully upgraded to ‘up to’ 7.2Mbps and 14.4Mbps speeds, depending on the speed of the mobile device you are using, although soon all (or most) of Telstra’s Next-G offerings are likely to be ‘up to’ 14.4Mbps capable, making it the fastest and biggest single mobile broadband network in Australia.

Unfortunately, Telstra’s pricing is much more expensive than 3 Mobile’s offering, but if you travel frequently to regional areas or simply need the fastest mobile broadband possible from almost anywhere, Telstra’s Next-G service simply has no competition, and for some, at least, the price will be more than worth it.

So, who still offers the cheapest mobile broadband in Australia? Please read onto page 2 to find out, and for the conclusion!