Wireless broadband prices are falling across the board and mobile broadband is becoming ever more popular, despite criticisms levelled at download speeds and levels of 3G network coverage. The news that Mac owners are having issues with compatibility has therefore come as a something of a shock to the industry.

Last week it was revealed that Mac owners who had upgraded to the Snow Leopard operating system were experiencing serious issues if they tried to use their mobile broadband dongles with the new software. In most cases this rendered their mobile broadband connection inaccessible. The networks responded with various levels of concern to these issues.

In the event that your mobile broadband service ceases to work because of a software issue, the Office of Fair Trading has come out in support of Mac owners with several useful pieces of advice. It is legally assured that consumers should not only receive products which perform correctly, but more importantly that they perform in the way in which they were advertised.

Mac owners with Snow Leopard whose mobile broadband dongle does not work are entitled to an explanation and assistance from the network and are advised to contact the Citizen’s Advice Bureau if this is not forthcoming. If your mobile broadband dongle was explicitly advertised as Mac-compatible then you have even more weight behind your complaint.

Most networks have now released fixes for the issue, although some are considered to be more difficult to perform than others and networks offering mobile broadband continue to advertise their dongles as compatible with Macs despite the persistent evidence to the contrary. Low wireless broadband prices may not be enough to quell public anger.

The OFT advises consumers to complain if they are unhappy with any form of broadband connection and problems which place the provider in violation of the terms of a broadband contract could well be grounds enough for you to legally cancel your contract before the minimum term.