T-Mo UK offers prepay wireless web update from September 2008

UK mobile operator T-Mobile launched a handful of prepay wireless broadband products on Friday, allowing users to get on the web without signing up to a contract.

There are three tariffs available starting at £2 for one day’s access, £10 for seven days or £20 for 30 days.

The data allowance is ‘unlimited’ but of course a fair use policy applies. Users will also need to pick up a USB stick at £49.99 to get onto the service.

The phrase “wireless broadband” has caught a lot of flack recently, with some professing it to be a fixed line replacement. But to T-Mo’s credit, the company does say it’s targeted at customers “that want to complement an existing landline connection with the flexibility of mobile broadband”.

An online poll of telecoms.com readers found that 35 per cent of respondents think mobile broadband should be pitched as a complementary offering to fixed. There was a tie between the proponents and the nay sayers, with 26 per cent a piece saying it ‘will not replace fixed broadband’ and ‘it is a clear threat to fixed broadband’.

A further 9 per cent say there’s ‘no such thing’.

Nevertheless, Richard Warmsley, head of internet and entertainment at T-Mobile UK, said: “We’ve seen massive demand for mobile broadband from a range of people, so we’re creating ways for customers to only pay for days they actually need. T-Mobile intends to make it as easy as possible for new customers to join the mobile broadband craze that is sweeping the country and to help with this we will soon be stocking our range of packages in a variety of new outlets such as supermarkets and popular high-street stores.”