A recent study by a price comparison site has disclosed new information suggesting that mobile broadband trends are shifting, with more users choosing pay-as-you-go packages over fixed term contract deals.

The survey of market trends in October 2009 found that 53 per cent of people who picked up a mobile broadband contract online chose to go for a package that they could top up. This is the first time that pay monthly contracts have been less popular than the pay-as-you-go alternatives.

It is believed that wireless broadband prices for pay monthly mobile broadband contracts are not necessarily at the heart of the statistics, but rather that the move to pay-as-you-go deals is being influenced by the shorter commitment period offered by the deals.

Broadband expert Rob Webber indicated that the popularity of pay-as-you-go mobile broadband had been steadily increasing for the last 12 months, with a sharp rise occurring in the second half of 2009.

Mr Webber explained that the trend looks set to continue throughout the run up to Christmas as mobile broadband would be picked up by many as a gift for a family member. The flexibility of pay-as-you-go mobile and the one-off up-front price for the services is likely to make it the gift of choice for the foreseeable future.

Mobile broadband is commonly purchased as an addition to an existing home broadband connection, used by those who want to access the internet when they are away from home. For sporadic or occasional use, pay-as-you-go mobile broadband has obvious benefits over fixed term contracts, although the best wireless broadband prices per megabyte are still to be found on pay monthly contracts. The need for correct comparison and careful consideration of individual requirements is highlighted by the market shift.