Five months after a similar business user oriented service was released, BT has now launched a consumer based mobile broadband package for its customers.

The new mobile broadband dongle is slightly different from the old white version with a new and more stylish silver and black design and access to the internet from almost anywhere in the UK is achievable with both versions of the modem. The level of 3G coverage offered by BT is currently about 80 percent, although on HSDPA covered areas will offer users the maximum speeds of up to 7.2Mbps.

There will be a one off cost of £50 for the modem dongle for any new customers signing up to the BT Total Broadband Option 1 or 2, and a £10 charge for anybody opting for Option 3. A 1GB monthly download allowance is available with all the options as is the 18 month contract. Cost of 4p per MB and £10 per GB are incurred for anyone exceeding their monthly limit.

The dongle can be purchased on its own from BT at a cost of £130 for those who are just looking for basic mobile broadband, and the monthly cost breaks down to £7.22 a months as it include the same 1GB for 18 Months. When compared to offers over the same period like Vodafone at £15.93 per month, O2 at £9.13 per month and 3 at £11.63, this service is cheaper.

Any users that are already customers with BT Total broadband and are within the first two months of their contract can add this dongle to their package, whereas the facility to renew their contract for 18 months is available to any customers that has two months or less remaining on their contract. The dongle must be purchased separately at a cost of £130 for any BT customers that fall between either of these periods.

There are currently more ways to connect than with any other provider for customers of BT Total broadband. At home users can access both wireless and fixed broadband connections, also throughout the world there is the BT FON network, which has 400 000 BT FON hotspots that BT customers have membership to and all over the UK and Ireland there are BT Openzone hotspots that users can use inclusive Wi-Fi minutes on.