Vodafone's 3G USB modem plugs a gap in the laptop connectivity market with fantastic ease of use


One might have thought, after more than a couple of years in IT journalism, that the day when it would be necessary to write a review of a modem would have long passed. From the bad old days of 9600 baud modems to writing reviews back in around 1999 of the latest, hottest 56kbps dial-up modems, they were never exactly racy, but they were vitally important and new. Those were the days.



Since then, even writing about 3G datacards last year (see [2006] Gazette, 6 July, 15) has not generated the same warm feeling of bleeding-edge customer satisfaction. Until now, that is, after using Vodafone's 3G USB 'dongle' modem.



The USB modem is a reaction, probably, to the inclusion of ExpressCard slots in newer laptops. Whereas most laptops until very recently had an 'old', wider PCMCIA card slot for device connection, newer ones have a smaller, faster slot called ExpressCard. This would be wonderful if it was not for the fact that none of the mobile phone operators offer ExpressCard 3G datacards.



So someone thought it a great idea (some years after the notion was suggested by the IT press) to make a 3G USB-connected modem for laptops.



It would not be hyperbolic to say this may be the most joyous IT package to come the Gazette's way in a while - mainly because the USB dongle modem is so blindly easy to use.



The clever bit: rather than having a CD with your modem that means you have put it in, set up the connections then, not before, stick in your hefty datacard, and only then start up the Vodafone software, everything is done from the USB stick. Inside the modem is a chunk of Flash memory, and on that memory is loaded the installation software for the modem and the Vodafone 'lite' connection software.



Once the USB modem is plugged in, Windows XP (or a Mac, believe it or not) sees it as a CD drive, installs the drivers and then starts up the connect software. One minute later, the almost infinite pleasures of the new high-speed 3G, HSDPA, are yours.



This is simple, easy, quick and it works. It is not often an IT journalist gets to write that.



The downside: Vodafone has been promising the Gazette on a weekly basis for well over a month that there will be a version of the on-board driver software issued for Windows Vista 'imminently'.



None has yet appeared, but as half the software in the world does not yet quite work with Vista, it might be being a bit premature to bring it up. However, any lawyer running Vista probably wants to hang on before getting one.



For those running Windows XP, however, this modem represents child-like ease of use and installation, as well as good looks.

If Vodafone now brought out lower-cost price packages like T-Mobile's Web'n'Walk, it would probably rule the world.



Rupert White



3G broadband USB modem

Up to 1.4Mbps broadband, USB 2.0 connection modem

Cost: Modem £49.99 depending on contract; £25.95 monthly charge (all plus VAT)

Visit www.vodafone.co.uk/mobileconnect