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Vodafone mobile broadband

Vodafone overview

  • Good range of pay monthly mobile broadband packages from 1 to 24 months, plus 'free' laptop deals
  • PC protection security and backup capability with monthly contracts.
  • Free delivery for online orders; 7-day returns policy

Best selling Vodafone mobile broadband deals

Vodafone Broadband Genie Road Test results

Vodafone Road test
Vodafone Huawei K4505 dongle
Downloads
rating -4 stars4 stars
Uploads
rating -3 stars3 stars
Most stable
rating -3 stars3 stars
Coverage
rating -3 stars3 stars
Feelgood factor
rating -4 stars4 stars
Dongle software
rating -4 stars4 stars
Overall rating
rating -4 stars4 stars

May 2011

2011 Awards: Best Software Winner, Best Uploader runner-up

After a pretty strong first two Road Trips, plus a new dongle (the Huawei K4505), we were hopeful of great things from Vodafone this time out. The dongle looks cool and the provider had no problem repeating its Best Software showing from 2010. However, it was disappointing that a new dongle wouldn't install on a Windows 7 laptop without some forum searching and then having to input a command line prompt to get it going. Hardly a good start for beginners.

Once we were on the move, unfortunately the Vodafone dongle didn't quite live up to its promise either. It had taken Most Stable in 2010, and was runner-up overall in 2009, but despite the new dongle it didn't make any inroads when it came to download speeds. In fact, against the competition, it seemed to have slipped back a little. It did at least take runner-up in the Best Uploader category, continuing its feat of taking at least two awards each year.

Stability and coverage were both real problems though, with a high number of failures in tests due to a lack of (or dropping out of) signal. It was a shame, as when it did perform the K4505 returned some strong numbers – faster upload speed and a strong average download speed. Oddly, it had a higher than average performance on actually downloading content from websites. But then conversely it failed to upload images to Facebook and was poor for streaming content.

We can't help thinking that, in a good coverage area, the Vodafone dongle will be a good bet thanks to the nice software and good download speeds. When it works. On the move, though, it's just another dongle in the middle of the pack.

Overall analysis of the Mobile Broadband Genie Road Trip 2011

by Chris Marling May 2011

About Vodafone

When it comes to standing the test of time, Vodafone wins hands down. It has been in the mobile business since the start and the same goes for 3G mobile broadband: it has a good name across the board, from reliability to service, and much like its branding it relies on reputation rather than flashy bells and whistles. Vodafone is pretty much the only choice right now for overseas mobile broadband data deals, although it is still expensive. It also offers mobile broadband laptop deals

Vodafone is the only British owned mobile broadband UK network: it has operations in more than 20 countries and is in fact the biggest mobile network company in the world (by turnover). Launched in 1985, it was one of the UK's original two mobile networks (alongside BT Cellnet, now O2). Vodafone helped pioneered mobile broadband, launching mobile broadband for business customers in 2004 and for consumers shortly afterwards. October 2008 saw the first of its so-called 'free' laptop deals, throwing in a Dell laptop and dongle on a long term mobile internet contract. It launched 'top up and go' in December 2008.

Vodafone announced a network infrastructure collaboration with O2 in March 2009 - the biggest deal of its kind in the world to date. The two mobile internet providers will build future mobile sites together, as well as merging existing ones, aiming to improve coverage, future-proof their network and of course cut costs.

2010 saw Vodafone branch into both mobile Wi-Fi units and SIM cards/deals for handheld tablet devices. In 2011 it introduced its ‘data test drive’ service, letting new smartphone customers use as much data as they like for the first three months of their contract so they can more easily set their required data limit going forward.

Vodafone customer reviews

Show all 266 Vodafone Mobile Broadband reviews»

  • unhappy

    by Warren at 22:50 on 1 Feb 2012Report abuse

    I bought a Vodafone sharing dongle in approx August last year. I was told that as a member of HM Forces I would be entitled to a discounted contract on the £20 (ish) for 5Gb allowance. After several emails to Vodafone customer services, I received a reply quoting another email address that I must apply to for the discount. All this within the (ticking) 30 days I had to establish the discount. I was eventually told that as the contract was a business deal, I would not qualify for the discount. I bit the bullet, as the dongle is quite useful, however I am appalled at how quickly I appear to get through my 5GB allowance, this is made all the less palatable by the quotes (on vodafone website) as to how much surfing / downloading etc I could get for 1GB. I have gone over my monthly allowance after just 2 weeks (of purely evening use - and not excessive at that) and my bill (on top of my contract charge) is already at £55. I now face 2 weeks of fretting and wondering what on earth I got myself into. Thankfully it's only a 12 month contract. I will not be renewing and would NOT recommend a vodafone dongle or internet package to anyone. I shudder to think what sort of bill an individual could run up on an IPad2 contract with only a 2GB monthly allowance. Avoid these deals at all costs.

  • unhappy

    by Red at 18:40 on 18 Jan 2012Report abuse

    I would not advise anyone to get a Vodafone pay monthly dongle. I got one for my daughter for Uni and she used it about three times, taking care of the 3GB limit. I have just seen a payment to Vodafone on my bank statement for £120 more than it should have been. I called Vodafone about this and was told that my daughter has used the dongle every day between the day it was activated and yesterday (17 Jan 2012). In fact, my daughter was in hospital for a week in late November 2011 and then moved home (where we have broadband) and the dongle has been completely out of use in a drawer. I explained this to Vodafone and they INSISTED that it could not be a defective dongle, Vodafone could NOT be wrong. They also said that there was activity on the dongle on 16 Jan 2012 - on this day I know for sure that my daughter was at Uni for the whole day, her computer was left at home and the dongle in the house, I was at work all day as was my husband. Vodafone said that SOMEONE ELSE must have used the dongle while we were out. No-one has access to my house and the only 'people' present were my dog and two cats - I pointed out that THEY were unlikely to have accessed the internet using the dongle. Vodafone have been extremely unhelpful and I intend to cancel all my accounts with them.

  • unhappy

    by brymedia at 15:49 on 7 Jan 2012 | registered | 7 postsReport abuse

    O so sorry i forgot to tell you the guy above trying to make Vodaphone a better buy would it's his job ,any hoo these little Dumb-Dongles were tested in china where it takes 2 minites to download any movie free (they put a sattalite up many years ago and part of it was for best 3g) but in the U.K the story is different as we are not in-line with this satalite and that is mainly why these little devices will never work. They do not even have accelerators for better signal as were all used to ''EDGE'' +''GREEN DOT SYNDROME'' as we get the worst ever reception for these little rip off's go to hell Vodaphone if they can make a program called 'cowboy builders' then i am making videos about COWBOY VODAPHONE DONGLES + DONT BUY THEM AS IT'S MY MISSION IN LIFE FOR 2012. MMMWWWHHHAAAWWW

  • unhappy

    by brymedia at 15:28 on 7 Jan 2012 | registered | 7 postsReport abuse

    If i have posted posted on here trying to help you all and now all the posts are so right,Vodaphone Lite does not work it is not broadband either it's 3g like an smartphone but to be honest i hope and pray no-one else is forced to buy any dongle in life especially a Vodaphone one,i had 2 and to be honest just useing my local paper and Facebook it would last 9 days maximum as for there 15 pounds for 2-gig is diabolical. So i hope you all have done what i done went to virgin - media and you only pay 18 quid max for just a broadband line-in,no telly box or telephone as everyone has mobiles now and for there t.v Freeview will be adding another 5 channel just this year so why have it or sky t.v were in a recession andneed to watch the pennys as paying to watch a t.v programs is beyond me when your both at work all day. So bye VODAPHONE DONGLE WE WANT ALL OUR MONEY BACK FOR WASTING ALL OUR TIME TRYING TO SORT OUT YOUR PROBLEMS

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