If you use a mobile broadband (sometimes known as an air card, or a Mifi), you know and love the convenience of having the internet with you wherever you go. Even if you have a smart phone with internet access, there are many times when you really need to be connected with your laptop when you are on the run.

Fast on the heels of 4G cell phone devices, mobile broadband has also introduced faster service for your computer.  If you already have a plan and are approaching the date where you are eligible for an upgrade, you can probably now get a 4G for free. The unit costs about $100, but these incentive plans offer a $50 discount, and a $50 mail in rebate, with a net cost of zero.  Of course, you will have to sign up for a new two year contract, but that is the whole idea.  Providers make more money from the plans than they do from the sale of equipment.

The new 4th generation of mobile broadband is up to ten times faster than 3G, but they are able to work on both 3G and 4G networks, so that if you are not in a 4G network area, you can still use your 4G phone on the older networks as they are being switched.  Verizon, for example, has 4G networks in 165 major cities and 111 airports, with plans to have the entire nationwide 3G network replaced by 4G by the end of 2013.

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If you have an iPhone, managing your finances has never been easier. There are tons of great apps to help you keep track of your budget and make sure you never miss a bill payment again. Here are some of the best apps to help you manage your finances from your iPhone.

BillMinder for iPhone

$1.99

BillMinder will help you never miss another bill payment again. It will keep all of your bills organized in one place and let you know exactly how much you owe and when. There is a bill pay calendar, and it’s very easy to manage your payments. View detailed information on each bill including how much you’ve paid, and you can even pay directly from the app. It will keep track of your account histories, and it will help you see where your money goes each month with expense reports. You can set multiple automatic reminders per bill, and all your data is protected in cloud storage. It’s even password-protected for added security.

Ace Budget 2

$1.99

This is one of the best budgeting apps available. It will help you easily create and stick to a budget. It’s completely customizable to your particular needs. Set your budget for unlimited categories, and then track your spending in each category with transaction histories as time progresses. You can quickly view how much of your budget you’ve spent and how much you have left. Create recurring budgets, and budgets can be set in many different time periods such as monthly, weekly or yearly. Colorful reports will help you visualize your budget and view summaries of your spending. It will also remind you when your bills are due.

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