It’s not just phones you get free with contracts – laptops are also being offered with no initial outlay as part of mobile broadband deals. For business people, or if you want to watch films while on the move, accessing mobile broadband through your laptop is much more practical than a phone.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch however, so before you sign up to the next great offer that catches your eye, here’s the basic things you need to consider.

Which network?

Choosing your broadband network is pretty much the same as choosing your phone network. The main providers are the usual suspects from the phone world – O2, 3 Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone, to name a few. If you don’t get a good signal on your mobile from one particular provider, you won’t receive the internet well either. Speed is not great on mobile broadband when compared with fixed-line options, so make sure you have the best signal possible.

Which contract?

Consider what you will be using your laptop for – if it’s just checking emails and viewing websites then you won’t need access to a huge amount of data. However if you want to download the latest movie, then choose a contract that accommodates this – if you exceed your monthly limits, this can prove expensive.

Check the small print – some laptop contracts will tie you in for 24 months – that’s a long-time to be unhappy with the deal you’ve chosen.

If you don’t want to be tied into a contract, but still want broadband on the move, pay as you go mobile broadband can be accessed via a dongle, which is plugged into your machine through the USB. You won’t get a free laptop this way, but if you’ve got one already, it’s a great way to get more usage out of your existing bit of kit. Free laptop deals are always more a month than simply paying for broadband, so if there’s nothing wrong with what you’ve got already, don’t get bamboozled by a seemingly great offer.

Still confused? For help choosing the best deal to suit your needs, it’s worth using a broadband comparison site, such as Broadband Genie (http://www.broadbandgenie.co.uk/)