O2 UK today added a USB modem to its Mobile Broadband offering, giving users more convenient access to its mobile network. The plug-n-play modem gives O2 customers laptop web access using either the 7,500 Wi-Fi hotspots available through its partnership with The Cloud, or connecting to the fastest O2 mobile service available.

This could be through general packet radio service (GPRS), enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE), 3G or the fastest so far available on O2's network, high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA).

Customers can take the 18-month contract for £20 a month with the USB Modem bundled free, or pay £20 a month for a rolling one-month package, and be charged a one-off cost of £119.99 for the modem.

Both contracts give customers Wi-Fi access, with data downloads subject to an excessive usage policy. Downloading data through O2's UK mobile network is capped at 3GB per month. Customers breaching their UK download limit will be charged at £0.20 per megabyte including VAT and £0.15 per megabyte for business customers.