My prediction is that prepaid mobile broadband USB sticks will be given away for free sometime in 2010. Either Optus, Vodafone or 3 Mobile will give their USB stick sway for nothing. This will be the ultimate in this market share tussle that is going on that the moment and has driven prices to extraordinary levels in just a few weeks. Each time I check they are dropping by $10 or $20. Optus o/night reduced their prepaid USB modem price from $79 to $69, this is the lowest it has ever been and it is still February.

Its a grab for market share as each provider is trying to get their USB in your hands so as you begin to contemplate mobile broadband as an option or a supplement to your fixed line internet, you will use them.

The funny thing is that there are several providers like Exetel for instance that resell the Optus range so, even if you buy an Optus USB for $69 you can (after paying your lockout fee) move to another provider.

Compare the latest prepaid mobile broadband prices here.