Mobile Broadband USB Modem
A mobile broadband USB modem offers the similar functionality to the USB stick, but in a larger form that connects to the computer via a USB cable. They are also plug and play for Windows computers. Being cheaper to manufacture than the USB stick they tend to be used on PAYG offers and the cheaper contracts.
Below: The USB modem offered by 3 mobile broadband on both PAYG and contract, available in white, black, and pink. Manufactured by Huawei (model 220), the same model is also available from Vodafone and T-Mobile in the UK - though only 3 offer it in pink! This model is 89mm x 43mm x 14mm and very light, so it is still very portable, even with the USB cable.
USB modems are offered in the UK by the following networks:
If you have an unlocked USB modem, then you can use it with a mobile broadband SIM card from 3.
You can view a video of us installing a USB modem on our laptops: Coming soon!