Vodafone has expanded its range of High-Speed 7.2 USB modems with the new "Stick" design.

The USB Modem Stick is Vodafone’s smallest and slimmest yet.

It plugs directly into a laptop without the need for a cable and supports both Windows (Vista and XP) and Mac OSX.

The modem is compatible with Vodafone UK’s recently upgraded mobile broadband network, which now supports download speeds of up to 7.2Mbps (for receiving files) and 1.44Mbps uplink (for sending files).

The speeds available are respectively fourteen and 22x faster than the original 3G service launched in 2004.

The "Stick" is available on the £25 Mobile Broadband flat rate and prices for the device itself start from £49 with an 18 month contract.

Mobile Broadband customers signing up to a 24 month contract will receive three months free of charge.

The upgraded 7.2 network is currently available in parts of central London, with coverage shortly to be extended to E1, E1W, E14, EC1, EC2, EC3, EC4, NW1, SW1, W1, W2, W8, W9, W10, W11, W14, WC1 and WC2 postcodes.

Airports that have coverage (now) include Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, London City, Southampton, East Midlands, Liverpool, Manchester, Belfast City and Belfast International. Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham, Stansted and Norwich will be completed shortly.

>> Link - Vodafone - The Stick dedicated site