My Cellphone My Terms

Is the Mobile Internet Stick For You?

Mobile Internet Stick, Rocket Stick, Internet Key, USB Stick what ever it’s called, they’re all one of the same. If you travel a lot for work or pleasure and need to stay connected; don’t want the hassle of finding and messing around with an open WiFi node then you might want to consider taking a Mobile Internet Stick along for the ride. It’s small, compact and easy to use.

How does it Work?

It looks like a memory stick and plugs into your USB port on your laptop or desktop. Usually anywhere you get a wireless signal on your cell phone you should get internet signal on your Mobile Stick. So for the most part the coverage is pretty widespread and will satisfy your online connection demands i.e. send and receive emails, upload and download files, surf the web anytime. However, if you are looking for faster data speeds and international roaming you might want to consider one that runs on 3G + network.

What you need to get started

It’s simple. Just purchase the Mobile Internet Stick and like your cell phone the cost of the device will vary depending on the number of years you are willing to sign the contract for your data plan. You also get a SIM card that allows you to use your cell phone to make calls but look out for local and long distance charges and beware of roaming charges if outside of Canada. Next you choose a data plan that best fits your lifestyle. Data Plans vary from 0.5 GB to 5 GB depending on your needs. With the device in hand and data plan that covers your needs you are good to go, just plug your stick into USB port on your computer and after a simple automatic install you’re ready to surf.

How much does it Cost?

The cost of the Internet Mobile Stick will vary depending on the plan you choose. If you sign-up for a two (2) year contract, most providers will give it to you for Free. If you are not willing to tie yourself to a contract, you might have to dole out $149 upfront for the stick.

Looking at the data plans for mobile Internet you’ll see that you will pay $x for yGB/MB of transfer, with the cheapest being around $35 for 500 MB (0.5 GB) and most expensive $85 for about 5 GB of data transfer. However, while the cost of say $35 a month sounds reasonable, if you exceed the amount of data allocated, the cost of additional data will run you $0.03/MB. Some providers, Rogers I know for sure, has a Cost Protection Plan which protects you from going over your data usage amount allocated in your data plan or you can get variable rate data plan where you will be billed for what you use over your allotted data entitlement.  One good thing is that most providers will waive the overage charges for the first 2 months until you get a better idea of your data needs. Don’t forget also activation fee of $35 on average that some providers will charge to get you all setup.

How much data do I need?

It is important to determine what your data needs will be like before you decide on your data plan. Here is quick snap shot on what you can get from a 1 GB and 5 GB data plan. You can also get full information on planning for your data needs.

Before you purchase your first Internet Stick be sure to compare rate plans and choose the best deal on your terms.