If you live in a rural area, where DSL and cable are not an option for high speed internet, and dial-up is just too slow, a broadband card makes it possible to connect to the internet at a decent speed, as long as you can get a cell signal.  Also, mobile broadband cards are useful for people who travel to places with unreliable internet access.  You can even use one while riding in a car.

What is a 3G Broadband Card?

For the most part, all broadband cards receive 3G now.  Not all cell signals are equal in quality.  Some towers broadcast and receive 3G signals and some still use older technology.  Most broadband cards will work with 3G or older signals.  3G stands for third generation.  It is basically the latest generation of wireless phone signal.  It is considered a high speed signal.  However, there is now 4G technology, but at the time of this writing, it is only available in a few large cities like Baltimore and Kansas City.

How does a Broadband Card work with My Computer?

There are many different card designs but most either fit into a card slot or can be plugged into a USB port on your laptop or desktop.  They work with both Macs and PCs.  Currently, most come with software pre-installed on the card, but some include a CD that allows you to install the software on your computer.  Additionally, laptops and netbooks can be purchased with a built-in broadband card.

In short, a broadband card is a piece of hardware that allows you to have high-speed internet from anywhere with a cell tower signal.