CAMBRIDGE, England — Tablets are set to be the hottest gift of Christmas 2012, but broadband and smartphone comparison site BroadbandGenie.co.uk is warning that consumers should shop carefully to avoid getting caught out by the extra costs of a tablet with mobile broadband.
Popular choices like the Apple iPad Mini, Google Nexus 7 and iPad with Retina Display include options for 3G mobile broadband, giving online access wherever there’s a network signal.
However this also entails additional data charges for the tablet’s SIM card, an important consideration when so many of the devices are heading into the hands of kids and students.
Gift-buyers will need to be particularly careful of contract tablet deals. These can be an easy way of picking up a pricey iPad for a relatively small initial outlay but they involve an ongoing commitment which can last as long as two years.
“Mobile broadband is a useful addition to any tablet, but also another drain on monthly outgoings,” says Broadband Genie editor Matt Powell. “Cash-strapped students in particular may find it hard to justify paying for both a tablet and mobile phone contract.”
“As an alternative, parents can consider a pay-as-you-go or 30- day SIM deal. While this will be more expensive up-front it means a tablet comes without the burden of a contract and makes it far easier for those on a tight budget to manage the data charges.”
Tablets can also be purchased without mobile broadband support of course, and provided it’s permitted by your network it is simple to use a smartphone as a Wi-Fi hotspot so you only need to pay for one mobile contract to get multiple devices online.
Broadband Genie