1GB for $15
3 Mobile - 1GB for $15 Wireless Broadband Plan Review
Our Rating: 
Simply put - this is one of the best value wireless broadband plans available! 1GB is only $15 per month, and if you are an existing 3 customer the USB modem is free. If you are not with 3 alreadywith an additional $5 per month for the USB modem on a 24 month plan. The easiest way to become an existing to customer is to have a look at 3’s Mobile Phone plans - if you sign up for a mobile plan with 3, you instantly become an existing customer and get your USB modem for free!
Data Allowance
1GB won’t be enough for everyone, but it will cover most business people who want out of the office mobile internet. If you will be using wireless broadband as your primary method of connecting to the internet, then you should look at one of 3’s wireless broadband plans with more data allowance. Even if you think 1GB will be enough, the excess fees for exceeding the download limit can add up very quickly at 10c per MB. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Speed
3 mobile broadband is enabled for HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access). It has a maximum download speed of 3.6Mbps and uplink speeds up to 384kbps. Speeds will vary due to a number of factors such as signal strength.
3 wireless broadband is compatible with PC or Mac. You’ll need Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, Vista (32+64 bit) or Mac OS X (Mac OS 10.3.7 or later). To use the wireless USB modem, you’ll need a USB port on your computer or laptop.
Coverage
3’s network primarily covers major populations such as Sydney, Melbourne, Geelong, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide and Perth. Outside of these areas you can roam onto the Telstra network, but at $1.65 per MB to roam it is a very expensive option. You receive the first 1MB of roaming included in your plan, but after that it’s charged on top. You do have to activate roaming if you want it - 3 has turned it off by default.
Signing Up
For the best deals, we recommend signing up directly with 3 on their website
More Information
See the 3 website
Hardware Options
3 gives you the choice of the white or black USB modem or broadband card for PCMCIA or Express Card slots.
Make sure you read all the terms and conditions on the 3 website. We endeavour to make choosing a wireless broadband plan easy, and part of that is not giving you information overload. We draw attention to features of a plan which could be potential benefits or pitfalls - but naturally we don’t list every term and condition. So make sure you read the terms and conditions on the 3 website.