Saturday, March 17, 2012

The BlackBerry Torch 9850 VS The BlackBerry 9810

RIM, the makers of the BlackBerry handset that we have all come to know and love, have recently released the Torch 9810 that promises to be so much faster than its predecessor the 9800, giving the handset a lot more memory and a faster processing speed which can make your experience of using one of our favorite handsets so much more pleasurable.

Here's a bit about the 9850 and what it can do:

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· 8GB of local storage

The BlackBerry Torch 9850 VS The BlackBerry 9810

· The memory is upgradable to 32 GB if you use an SD card

· 768 Mega-bytes of RAM

· 1.2 GHz processor

· 4G - which is the latest network to be released on the market and is something that all new phones are aiming to be working on

· 3.2 inch touch screen

· 800 x 480 screen

· 640 x 480 screen resolution

· Runs on the new BlackBerry OS 7 software

· Wi-Fi enabled plus you can now make calls over Wi-Fi if your carrier will allow it

· 5 Mega-pixel camera

· Easier typing with a 'virtual key design'

The Torch 9850 is definitely a fast phone and it makes for an easier life, but it does seem that the makers of the BlackBerry are releasing a lot of handsets and although they are all very good, are they are very different from each other and if so, how?

The 9810 which is what we may call the 'Younger' version of this 9850 looks and acts pretty much the same as its older Brother even with regards to speed and the amount of memory it has (exactly the same), and although it is in its own right a very good phone it is not always compatible with certain apps due to the size of its screen and the method of input which can be a bit of a nuisance.

The 9900 has the same amount of storage as well as being roughly about the same size but it does not run on the faster operating system as the 9850, which means that it is slightly slower and although it is not considerably slower, there is a noticeable difference which has been one of the downsides to BlackBerry phones up until the 9850 was released.

If we think about the 9830 we can see that again it is not much different to the 9850, it has 8 GB of local storage and the opportunity for you to have up to 32 GB of memory should you use a micro SD card and it also has the same speed processor (1.2 GHz) but like the 9900 this model is still slightly slower thanks to its operating system.

When it comes to finding a service provider for your phone there are three main companies for you to choose from: Verizon, T-mobile and of course Sprint. Speed wise these providers are not very different although Verizon is slightly faster than the others especially when it comes to browsing, but it is not a significant difference that should worry you if you happen to go with Sprint or T-mobile. The choice is ultimately yours, but whatever provider you choose, they cannot take away the fact that the BlackBerry Torch 9850 is a faster and smoother handset that stands out from the crowd.

The BlackBerry Torch 9850 VS The BlackBerry 9810

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Cell Phone Plans That Make Sense For Seniors

For many seniors, the typical cell phone plans available via major US cellular providers are ill suited to their needs. This is particularly true for those who no longer work and have adult children who are no longer in their household. As calling plans have matured and consumers have begun to increasingly rely on their cell phones, the typical plan includes hundreds of minutes of talk time that some seniors simply won't use.

For these individuals there are options however. The first and most obvious option are any of the plans offered by Jitterbug, maker of the uncomplicated senior friendly cell phone. Jitterbug offers a variety of cell phone plans which are certainly less complicated and perhaps more appropriate for those needing fewer minutes of talk time. All of the Jitterbug plans eliminate the complexity of varied billing that is dependent upon time of day and location, as all calls are billed the same. Minutes rollover for at least 90 days and there is no contract to bind users if they choose to opt out at any time. One of the plans offers users a pay-as-you-go option at 35 cents/minute; a fairly high per minute rate but one that can still save money for those that have limited calling needs. There are also a number of monthly plans. For instance, a user can select a 150 minute plan for only /month or if they dislike monthly bills they can choose an annual plan. In fact, a user is able to select add-on-minutes only which roll over for an entire year and can cost as little as 15 cents/minute.

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Another option for seniors who have more restricted calling needs is the AT&T Senior Nation 200 Plan. By committing to a two year agreement, users can get 200 anytime minutes, 500 night and weekend minutes, and unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling. The fact that there are no roaming or long distance charges does make the plan a bit simpler and the .99/month fee is certainly more affordable than the typical plan. Calls beyond the plan limit do however incur a higher rate; at 45 cents/minute.

Cell Phone Plans That Make Sense For Seniors

Verizon Wireless offers an equivalent plan through their Americas Choice 65 Plus Single Line Plan. It too provides 200 anytime minutes, 500 night & weekend minutes, and unlimited in network calling. Like its AT&T competition, this plan is available for .99/month for users who agree to a 2 year contract. For senior couples there is also an appropriate option; the Americas Choice 65 Plus Two Line Plan. This plan provides 450 shared anytime minutes, 1,000 shared night & weekend minutes and costs .99. Just as the Jitterbug plans require users to use a Jitterbug cell phone, these Verizon Senior plans require the use of Verizon's Coupe cell phone which is designed with larger buttons and an easy view screen.

Certainly, pay-as-you-go phones are another option for avoiding cell phone plans that commit the user to large bundles of minutes. However, for seniors who want a predictable bill, the consistency of a plan, and a phone that is for general use versus "emergency only", the above options are the primary choices at this time.

Cell Phone Plans That Make Sense For Seniors

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Straight Talk Vs Boost Mobile Unlimited Prepaid Plans

Prepaid cell phone plans have become quite popular recently, as people have tried to cut back on expenses in more interesting ways. People who are trying to save money on household expenses inevitably turn to their cell phone bill as an area where they can cut some of the excess spending. As a result, people start to look at prepaid as a viable option because it often leads to savings.

Two plans are at the forefront of the prepaid marketplace: Straight Talk by TracFone and Boost Mobile Monthly Unlimited. Both companies have released very affordable Unlimited prepaid plans. Unlimited prepaid plans provide just what the title suggests--limitless talk time and text messages.

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Here's how these two plans stack cup against each other.

Straight Talk Vs Boost Mobile Unlimited Prepaid Plans

The Straight Talk prepaid plan costs for unlimited talk time, text messaging, and 30 MB of data usage. There are a variety of phones available on the plan ranging in price from to 0. Straight Talk runs on the Verizon network, which gives it good coverage.

Boost Mobile Monthly Unlimited costs for all the talk time and text messages the subscriber may want to use. In addition, it includes unlimited wireless web use, nationwide walkie-talkie features between Boost Mobile users, and free mobile-to-mobile.

Straight Talk runs on the Verizon network, which is a big plus since Verizon has one of the strongest networks in America. There is also ample data usage available. The Straight Talk unlimited plan is five dollars cheaper than the Boost Mobile plan, which may factor into your buying decision as well.

The Boost Mobile Monthly prepaid plan may not boast a network like that of Straight Talk, but it has a sufficient one. Consider also that you get limitless wireless web for web surfing, so if you use your cell phone to access the Internet quite frequently, this could be a good thing for you. The walkie-talkie option is another free option that comes with this cheap Boost Mobile plan.

One good way to delineate which prepaid cell phone plan may be the better option is to find which wireless provider gets better service in your immediate area. This is a very important concern because nothing is more annoying than getting spotty service in your area of residence, where you will presumably use your phone the most.

Between the TracFone Straight Talk plan and the Boost Mobile, it really is difficult to choose a winner. They are very similar in price and in what they offer, although both plans have different strengths as noted earlier. Other ways to reach a decision on which plan to choose would be to check out phone selection and also figure out which elements of each phone plan better suit your particular needs.

Straight Talk Vs Boost Mobile Unlimited Prepaid Plans

Friday, March 9, 2012

How To Download Music From Computer To Cell Phone

Downloading music from your PC's music collection is pretty easy. All you have to do is drag and drop songs from your PC onto a memory card that's then installed in the phone.All the phones connect to PC USB cable. However only Sprint / Nextel and Amp'd phones appear as a lettered drive onto which you can drag and drop music files.

Not everything on your PC will necessarily play on the phones. Sprint phones will play MP3's and AAC's ( the default format for Apple's iTunes software and Music Store) but not music purchased form other music stores even PC downloads from the Sprint service, oddly enough. With Amp'd you can play MP3's and WMA's but not songs downloaded from online music stores. AMP'd Live does allow you to order songs, ringtones and other content from your PC and have them automatically pushed to you phone.

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Verizon is the most "Apple unfriendly". It's phones don't play MP3's or AAC's the only formats used by iPod owners just WMA's. The only good news is that Verizon phones will play copy-protected WMA songs bought from other online stores (which of course rules out Apple iTunes content). I hope this helps you in terms of what cell phone you have now or are contemplating on purchasing. Below is a place that I found to be helpful in this process. Check it out.

How To Download Music From Computer To Cell Phone
How To Download Music From Computer To Cell Phone

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Activation Instructions For Verizon Cell Phones

We are providing this guide for both new and existing customers of Verizon Wireless. The following instructions are specific for those who use Verizon Wireless.

Step 1: Remove the battery out of your Verizon cell phone and locate the ESN number, which is on the sticker under the battery. The number you are looking for is either noted as an ESN number or a HEX number and is located in the back of the phone under the battery.

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Step 2: Once the ESN or HEX number has been located, simply call the Verizon Wireless phone number below. A customer service rep shoud be able to get your phone up and running in 10 minutes or less.

Activation Instructions For Verizon Cell Phones

Verizon Wireless Customer Service Phone Number - 1-800-922-0204

NOTE - If you purchase the phone from the internet, we do no recommend going to the actual Verizon Wireless store. A sales persons main intention once you walk in the door is to either upgrade your current phone or sell you a new contract and may make up a variety of reasons why your phone can not be activated. Additionally, most store workers are only trained on the few models that are on hand in the store and may not be familiar enough with the phone to activate it. The best trained people are found when you call in your phone via Verizon customer support.

Tip - If you can not locate the ESN or HEX number on a Blackberry or Palm Treo cell phone, you can find these necessary number for activation by entering *#06# on a Blackberry and on a Palm Treo you can enter ##786 or #*#786 followed by the center button. This will show you the internal ESN number / HEX number of the cell phone. *#06# works on some other phone models we have tried as well.

Activation Instructions For Verizon Cell Phones

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Wireless Internet Providers - Who is Best?

So you want to get wireless internet for your laptop, but you're not sure what you're options are huh? This short article will help you to choose the best mobile internet provider based on your circumstances. There a few criteria you should consider when choosing a mobile internet provider to receive wireless internet for laptops. They are:

Monthly Rate: Wireless internet for laptops is generally a little more expensive than internet for your home. A mobile internet provider generally charges -80 a month for their service with a month being average.

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-Lowest Cost Provider: CLEAR Wireless 4G, Cricket Wireless 3G (/month)
-Highest Cost Provider: Sprint Wireless 3G/4G, CLEAR Wireless 3G/4G, Qwest Wireless (/month)

Wireless Internet Providers - Who is Best?

Contract: Wireless internet providers generally require a 2 year contract. There are some however that do not require 2 year contracts and offer a month-to-month agreement option. Generally the cell phone companies will require 2 year contracts.

-Companies that Offer Monthly Agreements: CLEAR Wireless and Cricket Wireless
-Companies that Require 2 Year Contracts: Verizon, Qwest, AT&T, and Sprint

Download Speed: There is a large variance in download speeds amongst mobile internet providers. The slowest provider, Cricket Wireless, provides download speeds of 0.5-1.5 Mbps. The cell phone companies (Verizon, Qwest, Sprint 3G, and T-Mobile) offer wireless internet speeds of 0.5-2.0 Mbps. CLEAR Wireless offers mobile internet speeds of 2.5-10 Mbps. The reason for the great difference in download speeds is that CLEAR and Sprint operate a 4G wireless broadband network, whereas Cricket and the other cell phone providers use a 3G network.

-Slowest Download Speeds: Cricket Wireless, Qwest Wireless
-Fastest Download Speeds: CLEAR Wireless and Sprint Wireless (4G)

Coverage: There are differences in mobile internet coverage amongst the wireless internet providers also. 4G wireless networks have not been built nationwide yet so its coverage is somewhat limited. Currently 4G is available in over 25+ metropolitan areas nationwide (as of Jan 2010). Some of the larger city areas with coverage include Las Vegas, Portland, Seattle, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Dallas, Baltimore and Chicago. Because of this limited coverage, 4G coverage with CLEAR and Sprint are only offered in certain areas. By the end of 2010 however, 4G will be available in 80+ cities. 3G on the other hand is available pretty much nationwide, although it is somewhat limited for rural coverage.

-3G Coverage Only: Verizon, Qwest, T-Mobile
-4G Only Option: CLEAR Wireless
-Both 3G and 4G: CLEAR Wireless and Sprint Wireless

As you have probably now gathered, you have lots of options when it comes to mobile internet for laptops. What wireless internet provider you decide on will probably depend on the preceding criteria I have discussed. I hope that this article helps you to make an informed decision in choosing your wireless internet provider. If you require further assistance, please check out my resource box and website below.

Wireless Internet Providers - Who is Best?