Dead Zones

Wow Oovoo Has 75M Users & Growing Fast

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:58:19 PDT

How many people have heard of Oovoo? Not me until I met the team at CTIA in Las Vegas today. Impressive story and growth for the company providing one to many video chat. Apparently, there are much better alternatives FaceTime, Skype and Google Chat. Oovoo's primary user base is in the US and their customers are using the service on 3G, 4G and WiFi. This is not an alternative to voice so the carriers are beginning to look at Oovoo as an obvious data bundling partner to sell additional data plans.

Oovoo's secret sauce is their cloud based video service vs. competitors like Skype which uses peer to peer. P2P can run into quality issues managing bandwidth where Oovoo's video service in the cloud does a better job of managing bandwidth amongst the various users. The service is advertising based and free to the users.

Key questions I still have are how much data does this service use?

What are the tools to help measure and manage usage for users to avoid the huge data bill?

Thanks again for the ride to the CTIA convention center on the bus.

Where is AT&T Expanding 4G?

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:25:13 PDT

AT&T now covers nearly 200 million people across 224 markets with its high-speed wireless network. AT&T covers more than 300 million people when including its HSPA+ network in its “4G” figures. By the end of 2013, AT&T expects to provide LTE coverage to all major U.S. metro areas.

AT&T customers have access to 2 of the nation’s largest 4G networks (LTE & HSPA+) working together for customers: LTE and HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. AT&T will continue to have access to fast HSPA+ speeds outside of an LTE area. With some other carriers, when you travel outside of their LTE coverage, you’re on a much slower 3G network. Learn what LTE is below in this video.

Related and recent AT&T city upgrade articles:
Detroit, MI
Honolulu, HI
Seattle, WA
Pittsburgh, PA
Portland, OR
Sacramento, CA
Birmingham, AL
Memphis, TN
Albany, NY
Rochester, NY

Buffalo, NY

Burlington, NC

Corpus Christi, TX

Gainesville, FL

Greensboro-Winston-Salem, NC

Wichita, KS

Charlotte, NC

Cleveland, OH
Waco TX
Fayetteville, AR
Gaineville, FL
NYC expansion (Nassau & Suffolk Counties)
Devner expansion (Westminster)
Boise expansion (Nampa)
Elizabethtown, KY
Laramie, WY
NYC, North Shore Long Island, Oyster Bay

4 Phones To Look Into Before Upgrading

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:07:53 PDT

Are you in the market for a new phone? Or maybe you are looking to switch carriers and want to know your options. Either way, upgrading to a new phone can be a big decision, especially for those of you who aren't necessarily unhappy with your current model. Here we have compiled a list of the best phones out right now:

iPhone 5: Too many reasons to list, iPhone is the only way to go. The 5th generation of the beloved iPhone, it is arguably the model in which all others try to beat. Operating this phone is quite simple, and with the amount of quality apps available, it is easy to see why the iPhone 5 tops the list. This model is obviously thinner than the previous 4-S model, but it also contains a 4 inch retina screen. The iPhone 5 is available through AT&T, Spring and Verizon
Samsung Galaxy S4: In close competition with the iPhone 5, Samsung has created a phone that has taken some attention away from Apple. With 4G LTE it is clearly the best model of Galaxy to date. This model is available in white or gray and has a similar appearance as the S III. One of the biggest differences is the new model is thinner and lighter. It also has a 5 inch HD screen that takes viewing to a much more high tech level. Fingerprints are annoying on your phone; with this model, you are able to simple hover over the screen vs actually touch it. Another fun feature is the ability to tilt up or down in order to scroll. Available through Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon.
HTC One: Using the latest Android operating system, Jelly Bean, with this model you will experience a similar home screen to the Windows Phone 8. Allowing you to customize your home screen with the social networks and news feeds that are important to you. Currently it is popular for those who produce such devices to add megapixels to your phones camera. This concept actually goes in the opposite direction. There are less megapixels, however they incorporated a bigger sensor, which is beneficial to those who like to snap shots in low light or in the darker hours. With a screen that measures 4.7 inches, viewing in zoom is not a problem with this model. Available through AT&T, Spring and T-Mobile.
Google Nexus 4: A great phone, with the only downfall of being available only through T-Mobile. If you are currently a part of this network or looking to switch providers, then this may be a phone that will peak your interest. With a 4.7 inch screen the display has a similar pixel density to the retina screen of the iPhone 5. This phone that is made by LG arguably has the best android hardware to date. But perhaps the best feature on this phone is the battery life that easily lasts all day; much longer than any other phone on the market.

Regardless of what you are looking for in a phone, the ability to connect to the internet at a faster rate without losing your connection is vital. Whether at home, school, work or out on a weekend getaway with family and friends, wirelessinternet.net/broadband or a similarly reliable connection is essential in communication. Don't pick a phone, or carrier based on the sleekest look. Make sure you have the capability to do everything you need to keep your life up and running.

Best and Worst Mobile Reception

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:46:50 PDT

We are living in an era where instant communication is everything. Having a decent cell reception has become an important criterion for people selecting an area to live in. The general expectation is that we would get cellular reception in all areas, but this isn’t the case as a recent study has conducted by SmartPlanet has identified top 10 worst cities for signal reception in U.S.

The Best Reception Areas

In terms of the best signal reception, New York tops the list. The reason is that adequate numbers of cellular towers are in place to match the growing population. New York is followed closely by Chicago and then Los Angeles. The correlation over here is that cities which have developed in terms of technology and other indicators have decent signal reception. Other top reception areas include Memphis, Houston, Philadelphia, San Diego and Phoenix.

Worst Areas

In terms of worst areas for signal reception, we have Bakersfield, Colorado Spring, Oklahoma City, Lincoln, Toledo, Tucson and Milwaukee among the main ones. Detroit also falls in the top ten lists and may come as a surprise for some, but the thing is that the overall building architecture in the city is such that signals drop easily, especially with a lot of skyscrapers that come in the way of signals.

Bakersfield and Signal Reception

Bakersfield, California tops the list of worst signal reception in the U.S. Most of this can be attributed to the increase in the population and inadequate signal towers. The increase in population is identified as a major factor since Bakersfield has one of the highest population blooms in the U.S. Its population increased by forty percent during the 2000-2011 time periods.

Another slightly related issue is that of bill recovery in Bakersfield that discourages carriers from expanding more. Our mobile phone bills are usually billed on a monthly account and with the recession hit reduced income that could pose a problem. The bill also includes those for home phone and internet services as well. Your debt may keep piling up in this regard, and then there is the obligation to save too. So you are left with the question of should I save money or pay off debt?

There is no single answer to this. It depends on the individual's preferences as the area doesn't seem to be getting good reception any time soon as fiscal recovery is the top priority for now . It's also tied into the issue of settling credit card debt.

The best carrier that has been identified in the area is Sprint whereas the worst is AT&T. Majority of the population is using AT&T preferably because of the cost effective nature, but this had a heavy toll on the overall signal reception in the area.

How to overcome

The best bet for an immediate measure would be to revert to the best carrier in the area. There’s also the possibility of using boosters as is being done in the case of Wi-Fi signals. Things are going to improve for Bakersfield in the coming few years since there has been oil drilling activity initiated this year. This would bode well for the economy in terms of job creation. Furthermore, a hidden benefit in this case would be better facilities like signal reception.

There has also been talk of microcells being used to boost signals. They are available by the name of Femtocell and are being provided by some cellular carriers. This particular device can be said to be a minirouter and can be installed in your home/apartment/office. It would boost your cell phone reception. People who have used it along with AT&T have found the results to be good. This can be used as a relevant tool for solving the issue of poor reception.

How Many iPhone Users Does China Mobile Have?

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:06:51 PDT

iPhone 6 for China Mobile?

Is a low cost iPhone 6 coming later this year to open up the China market? China Mobile has more than 700 million customers and is plowing $7 billion this year into building a new 4G network to retain supremacy. China Mobile already had 15M iPhone 5 subscribers without directly selling Apple's handset last year. How many subscribers will they have if they launched a lower cost version?

On Apple's conference call, Tim Cook said the following:

Revenue came in at $8.8B up 18% in China.
iPads grew at 130% YOY.
Greater china revenue was up approximately 18%.
iPhone 5 just launched in December
iPhone 4 shows significant as it is more affordable.
Samsung is a tough competitor in hardware
Google is a tough competitor on the operating system side.

Measure Power Line & Cell Phone Radiation

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:47:07 PDT

Do you ever wonder home much radiation is coming up the power lines near year? Have you ever wondered how much radiation you are getting by holding the cell phone up to your ear for long periods of time? Do you sleep near an alarm clock, TV or circuit breaker? This device detects cell phone radiation and extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields from power lines. The gauss meter will often reveal surprises, such as the high EMF emissions from electric toothbrushes, shavers, microwave ovens, photocopy machines, cordless phones, and high-intensity electrical wiring.

Amazon.com Widgets

Studies have delivered warnings about long-term exposure to cell phone radiation and certain electromagnetic fields. But since these dangers can’t be seen by the naked eye, how can you protect yourself and your family? The CellSensor EMF Detection Meter measures both of these hazards with an easy-to-read gauge that also beeps and glows when high readings are detected.

Think twice before you do all these things and buy yourself a low cost Cell Sensor to measure the radiation that you are being exposed to in your life. You don't need an expensive EMF consultant. Do it yourself for less than $50. It works and I own one!

Free or Low Cost $300 iPhone 6 in 2013?

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:31:12 PDT

Is This the iPhone 6 for $300?

Will Apple launch an iPhone 6 later this fall for $300 or free with a 2 year cell phone contract? The low-cost iPhone would look similar to the iPod classic, with a flat back and curved edges along with a shift to elongated volume buttons on the left side.

AOL Patch is Trying to Copy Our Business

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:39:54 PDT

AOL Patch is trying to copy our DeadZones.com trademark and map business.

AOL patch has copied our crowdsourced dead zones map and is using our trademarked term in their articles. We have prior art usage of "Dead Zones" and "Dead Cell Zones" for last 13 years. We have worked diligently to protect and grow this brand over the last 13 years.

We have made a simple request to AOL Patch's publishers and legal / trademark team to stop using the term "Dead Zones" as it relates to cell phone coverage problem areas. We have made a simple request without using lawyers to AOL Patch. We requested that use any other term that is not currently trademarked for a business like Dead Zones or Dead Cell Zones for our mapping business. They could use terms like "bad cell phone coverage", "dead spots", "bad coverage areas", "poor coverage", "poor reception" and "bad patch". CellReception.com, OpenSignal.com and RootMetrics.com all have their own unique trademarks as competitors and should be respected as well.

AOL Patch has created a local map for the following cities so far. Fremont, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Campbell, Rockridge, Lamorinda, Alameda, Santee, Piedmont, Coronado and Glendoar.

Should All Wireless Devices Be Securely Registered To A Person or Business?

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:57:08 PDT

Triangulation of Cell Phone For Identification

Today's bombing at the Boston Marathon makes you wonder . . . Were the device(s) used to trigger the bomb done by a wireless device or cell phone? If a wireless devices was used to trigger the explosion, this device would have need to talk to a WiFi or cellular network in the area. Every devices has an IP address but is every IP address tied to an individual or busienss? This raises the question should all wireless devices have identification tied to them? Surely, police should be able to obtain all of the cell phone records and track all of the devices being using by AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile or Sprint in the area and narrow down the suspects? This raises the question once again should our privacy take priority over our safety?

<a href="http://www.sodahead.com/fun/should-all-wireless-devices-be-securely-registered-to-a-person-or-business/question-3639329/" title="Should All Wireless Devices Be Securely Registered To A Person or Business?">Should All Wireless Devices Be Securely Registered To A Person or Business?</a>

Public Opinion Poll Results

Don't Give Up Your Unlimited Mobile Data Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 10:49:07 PST

Consumers and service providers alike, are thrilled about the future, most notably in the exciting implications of a ‘connected world’. Consequently, reasoning amongst the two groups will most certainly vary. Mobile users, listen to my words - DO NOT GIVE UP YOUR UNLIMITED DATA PLAN. Sure T-Mobile and others still offer it, but the cellular savvy know that other companies like Verizon and AT&T are essentially ‘where it’s at’. For starters, carefully scrutinize all ‘new offers’, weighing your decision before taking an attractive subsidy on a free phone, rendering your hard-earned unlimited data plan moot by being forced into a tiered/family plan. There are a number of paths to go here, and in this case, I’d recommend the one less traveled for the purposes of saving money and long-term entrapment.

By all means, continue to enjoy HD video, rich media, and robust offerings – with discretion and planning of course. Naturally, all of these great things consume exorbitant amounts of data, and it's especially difficult to keep track of such usage since these numbers are not as cut and dry as minutes. Though companies like AT&T and Verizon offer online data calculators to give ballpark figures for data use, it is hardly an exact science. Alas, you may quickly find yourself speeding towards or exceeding your cap, racking up an exorbitant bill in the process (Note: AT&T and Verizon charge $10 per GB in overages) All things considered, it’s simply impossible to keep track of usage progressively, with apps running in the background and data spikes incurred from streaming high definition video or audio – so what’s the problem if I’m holding onto my unlimited data plan, you ask?

Well, big providers have mulled this over for a long time, and are truly never losing on the infinite media playground. In fact, both AT&T and Verizon were found to have throttled the top 5 percent of data users. One you’ve been marked as a heavy data user, your access will be slowed during congested network times to free up bandwidth. What does this mean? It means you should definitely use Wi-Fi hotspots wherever possible to bypass the provider network. In the event you need to upgrade in the future, make sure your phone supports 4G LTE (with more becoming available as the technology matures). The reasoning for this? In short, unlimited users will not have to deal with that limit as both Verizon and AT&T have noted a handling of less than half their mobile data traffic on the 4G LTE network last year – this equates to less network strain, higher efficiency in data streaming, and zero governance over the enjoyment of a right you’ve earned - unlimited data.

Still, the number of unlimited data customers is beginning to dwindle – while usage is predicted to grow 13-fold over the next half decade, according to Cisco. In the report, the networking giant predicted that mobile data traffic will expand to about 46 times the total amount of mobile IP traffic since 2010, with more than 10 billion connected devices by 2017. In the meantime, service providers will continue to throw out lines with attractive offers attached to lure consumers into abandoning their boundless access which will cost them and not you in due time [better yet, cost them less while costing you the same].

For now, companies are trapped into continuing to offer unlimited data to existing customers by abiding to the original terms of contract, or face legal backlash. The catch-22 is that these long-time, loyal subscribers won’t be able to fully enjoy new rollouts with an outdated phone that struggles to run them. I offer this advice: for the avid user of advanced features (who still have an unlimited data plan), it simply makes sense to hold on tight to that infinite data allowance by purchasing new devices on eBay (or comparable online marketplace) for a one-time fee, and selling old ones to mitigate total cost. For the rest of us, high expectations are going to naturally come with likewise prices. Without vigilance, the term pay now or pay later comes to mind in more than a literal sense. Whatever your circumstances, I wish you the best.

This article was written by Michael Roden, a VoIP Enthusiast & writer at GetVoIP.com, a VoIP Provider directory and service comparison guide.

Fewer Dropped Calls or Faster Speeds? (Poll)

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:51:02 PST

<a href="http://www.sodahead.com/living/if-you-had-to-choose-a-new-wireless-carrier-which-new-carrier-would-you-choose/question-3508849/" title="If you had to choose a new wireless carrier. Which new carrier would you choose.">If you had to choose a new wireless carrier. Which new carrier would you choose.</a>

Public Opinion Poll Results

If you had to choose between a wireless carrier that had fewer dropped calls or a wireless carrier that had faster download speeds which would you choose?

iOS 6.1 Upgrade Fixes iPad WiFi Problems

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 07:50:06 PST

iOS 6.1 Fixes WiFi Connectivity Problems

Do you have multiple iPads in your house connecting to the same WiFi router? Many people have experienced problems with iPads losing a connection or clicks not working while browsing the internet or playing a game. It appears that the latest iOS 6.1 software upgrade has drastically improved the dropped signal rate. The only fix prior to this upgrade was to frequently renew lease on the WiFi settings.

Verizon FiOS Mobile iPad App WiFi Streaming

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:22:57 PST

Verizon FiOS Mobile App

FiOS finally has streaming on the iPad. Download the FiOS Mobile App from the App store. It only took a decade but its finally here. If you have FiOS in your home, you can now stream your content directly to your iPad anywhere within your WiFi network. Watch shows out by the pool or out on the deck away from your main TV. Its pretty cool.

10 Cheap Android Phones On Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 12:47:49 PST

Amazon Wireless has a number of cheap Android phones for sale that will work on AT&T, Verizon, Sprint- T-Mobile, Net10, MetroPCS and Tracfone. HTC, Samsung, Motorola. LG and Dell all have older modeled phones that are now on sale. Some of these may be used but most are likely brand new.

How Will Super Bowl Cell Phone Reception Be in New Orleans?

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:37:45 PST

New Orleans Cell Phone Reception Locations

I attended the Super Bowl in Indianapolis last year and was shocked how poor the cell phone reception was inside the stadium. Its 2013 and no matter how much added network capacity it seams that Verizon, AT&T, Sprint & T-Mobile add around the stadium they still can't keep up with demand. I would be shocked if service will be any better in New Orleans at the Superdome this year. With all the DAS, WiFi and mobile cell phone towers available you would think that the NFL and team owners would invest in providing adequate coverage so the pictures and video can be shared.

<a href="http://www.sodahead.com/entertainment/how-will-cell-phone-reception-be-at-the-super-bowl/question-3487761/" title="How Will Cell Phone Reception Be at the Super Bowl?">How Will Cell Phone Reception Be at the Super Bowl?</a>

Public Opinion Poll Results

Poll: Are Oversized Cell Phones A New Trend?

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 17:49:29 PST

Featured Samsung Phones at CES 2013

Are oversized cell phones the new thing? Tablets seem to be getting smaller like the iPad Mini and cell phones seem to be getting larger. Cell phones are also getting faster with 4G LTE. Are male mobile phone users willing to tolerate not being about to put their phone in their jeans pocket? However, if you are a woman and carry a purse maybe a larger phone isn't such an issue. Let us know what you think in this poll.

<a href="http://www.sodahead.com/living/are-oversized-cell-phones-a-new-trend/question-3472337/" title="Are Oversized Cell Phones A New Trend?">Are Oversized Cell Phones A New Trend?</a>

Public Opinion Poll Results

Survey: Has Your Cell Reception Improved Since 4G / LTE Launched?

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:35:20 PST

Please fill out our survey below on whether your cell phone reception has improved since 4G / LTE has launched. Many of our web site contributors have complained at DeadCellZones.com that their Verizon, AT&T and Sprint reception at home is now worse (dropped calls, dead zones, data congestion) but their download and upload speeds are faster when they have a reliable connection. Please share with us under comments specific areas that your cell phone reception is now worse in the last few years.

<a href="http://www.sodahead.com/fun/has-your-cell-reception-improved-since-4g-lte-launched/question-3456439/" title="Has Your Cell Reception Improved Since 4G / LTE Launched?">Has Your Cell Reception Improved Since 4G / LTE Launched?</a>

Public Opinion Poll Results

Unlimited Mobile to Mobile Calling Plans?

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 10:14:10 PST

Bait & Switch Unlimited Calling Plans . . .

Every carrier now has unlimited calling plans. However, we are doing some research on which wireless carriers claim to provide unlimited calling plans but then charge a fee something else. The old "bait and switch" billing method without full disclosure. Cell phone calling plans have always been complicated and somewhat confusing as they are now being blended with unlimited data plans. Most people expect a flat fee every month but then see charges that they don't recognize or understand.

Please tell us below under comments below which carriers trick you into paying for an unlimited plan and then charge you for something else without fulling disclosing.

iPad Mini Charger is Not Working

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 09:20:54 PST

Has anyone else noticed a problem charging their iPad Mini or iPhone 5? I have had several problems charging my iPad Mini while connected to an outlet. The iPad Mini and iPhone 5 connectors connectors are smaller. My solution to resolve the problem has been to remove this piece below and flip it over. Sometimes cleaning it to remove any debris can make a difference as well.

Fix WiFi Reception With Multiple iPads on the Same Network

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 22:22:28 PST

If your home has multiple iPads in your home or office running on the same network you should be aware of this problem. My home has 3 iPads: iPad 1, iPad 2 and an iPad Mini and our reception was getting worse and worse. I noticed over time that each iPad was dropping the WiFi network more and more. Each iPad would drop reception while searching from the Safari and Chrome browser and also while downloading from the App Store.

This first thing I did was to change the WiFi DNS settings to Google at 8.8.8.8. This improved speeds a little bit but the connections kept dropping.

I took me a while to figure it out but I realized each iPad had the same name. By simply changing the name of each iPad the reception problems improved drastically.

Verizon Fios apparently views devices with the same name on the network as the same device and thus each of the iPads were competing for the same IP address from the router.

Smartphones that are More Fragile than Others

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 13:00:32 PDT

While most smartphones are very useful, all of them are fragile. Carrying a smartphone can be fun and convenient but it also requires that you handle it with care. Smartphones generally have larger screens, so a drop, crash or hit can affect it more severely than on any other type of cell phone. Even so, there are a few smartphones that are even more fragile than others and especially older more durable phones.

The iPhone 4 Recent studies made by FourSquare have shown the iPhone 4 to be the most fragile of all iPhones. This is because of the larger glass screen size. The functionality of this iPhone 4 is outstanding, with features like the ability to easily take credit cards for businesses; its physical design requires a great deal of care.

To compensate for this issue, you can use some inexpensive options from Apple like a vinyl skin or protector to keep the iPhone from becoming damaged should it fall. There are many cases available to fit the needs of every consumer today, providing more functionality from a phone.

The Samsung Intercept While the Samsung Intercept doesn’t necessarily have broken screen issues (although it can happen), this phone does have some very noticeable issues. The voice quality seems to be decent, but it takes a long time to press buttons and the phone tends to freeze often. The interface is very slow, which in turn causes the phone to turn off. The smartphone applications are difficult to install because of the slow operating system.

Samsung SGH-D807 Although this is a great phone with great smartphone capabilities and outstanding sound quality, it does have a slippery keypad and can easily slip out of your hand. Again the solution is to use a special skin or protector.

Because all smartphones have large screens they are more prone to breakage. Some of the newer smartphones are compensating for issues such as this by manufacturing the phone with rubber backings. This gives the phone a slight bounce effect before it hits the floor or hard surface and protects it a little better. Still just as a laptop is more fragile than a desktop, so is a smartphone than a regular mobile.

Most smartphones are well made with operating systems that are reliable and applications that are easily installed. Still the use of a smartphone should be reserved for people that need important business applications like mobile credit card processing, mobile cloud computing capabilities and sharing features allowed through Bluetooth and wireless technology.

Smartphones are all about making life and business processes more convenient, and easy to use from any location, but they do require special accessories to keep them safe from damage.

Top Most Expensive Cell Phones

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 15:35:17 PDT

Cell phones are an absolute necessity nowadays and although the majority of the sets sold are branded as 'entry-level' phones, there is considerable demand for premium phones. Vertu, a division of Nokia, had a monopoly in the luxury phone market till recently but it seems that its days of reign are over as more and more companies are now manufacturing uber-luxury phones which are targeted towards the richer sections of the society. Let's have a look at some of the most expensive cell phones in the world. The following list does not follow any particular order.

1. Goldvish "Le million" ($1,000,000)

The "Le million" by Goldvish is widely regarded as the world's most expensive mobile phone. The phone features 120 carat of diamonds (VVS-1 grade) and it has been designed by eminent designer, Emmanuel Gueit. Goldvish is a Geneva based company and it has many other diamond-encrusted models which are a bit reasonably priced than this one.

2. Vertu Signature Cobra ($310,000)

This is a limited edition phone and only 8 pieces are available in the market worldwide. It features a pear-cut diamond, a white diamond which is round in shape and more than 400 rubies. There is also a cheaper version of this phone available which does not have any rubies encrusted on it. It is being offered at an attractive price of $115,000.

3. Goldstriker iPhone 3GS Supreme ($320,000)

In 2009 this phone, designed by Stuart Hughes, was declared as the world's most expensive phone. The phone is made from 271gm of pure gold and there are more than 200 diamonds on the cell phone. There is an Apple logo on the back of the phone which has a large number of gems. The home button is made from a single piece of diamond (7.1 carats). This is easily one of the most beautiful looking luxury phones available in the market today.

4. Diamond Crypto Smartphone ($130,000)

This beautiful looking phone has been designed by peter Aloisson, a luxury accessories designer. The phone has been encased in a platinum base and it has more than 50 diamonds. The USP of this phone is that there are as many 8 rare blue diamonds. Even the navigation key of this phone has been encrusted in 18Carat rose gold. It is very interesting note that this cell phone, originally worked on Windows CE.

4. VIPN Black Diamond Smartphone ($300,000)

The body of this cell phone has been made from polycarbonate and it features a cutting edge mirror that has been adorned with diamonds. The cell phone has a 400 MHz processor, a 4MP camera and a 256 TFT screen.

5. Vertu Diamond ($88,000)

The Diamond is part of the many high-range premium mobile phones by Vertu. The handsets are made from platinum and they are fully diamond encrusted. Only 200 such handsets are available in the market today and the most expensive one is priced more than $90,000.

6. Motorola V220 Special Edition ($51,800)

This special edition Motorola phone is studded with 1,200 diamonds and the keyboard is made from 18 carat gold. The phone is priced at $51,800. Media reports suggest that this phone has caught the fancy of football stars and film stars but the general rich class has stayed away from this model. The price that some of these phones command is a gentle reminder to us that all of them are beyond our reach but it is surprising to know that people are actually eager to pay such amounts for a cell phone!

About The Author: Kelly is a writer. She loves writing, travelling and playing. These days she is working on technology used in cell phones.

Schools Blocking Cell Phone Reception

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 07:57:15 PDT

Is It Right For Schools to Block Cell Phone Reception?

Schools are increasingly becoming more aggressive about blocking cell phone signals in their classrooms. Are they doing this because a few select students are abusing the rules of no cell phone? There will always be students who break the rules and disrupt others but aren't there other ways to solve the problem using phones in the classroom? How about turn your phones off when you enter the classroom? Turn them on vibrate? No texting during class? Confiscation of phones used during class?

Am I in the minority of people who want to be able to reach my child in a moments notice in case of an emergency? Should parents be concerned about schools that decide to block signals by jamming signals? Are schools overlooking safety implications of removing communication between a parent and child? What happens in an emergency and parents cannot reach their child quickly?

Please post pins in our map if your school has a cell phone signal jammer in the school. Lets hear from you if this poses a safety concern below in our comments.

Will The iPhone 5 Have Battery Drain Problems?

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 09:04:12 PDT

Expected Battery Life of iPhone 5 LTE

Early entrants of LTE Motorola and Samsung phones have impressed users of smartphones, but one big issue has held back its growth: horrible battery life. This is the biggest question overhanging the rapid adoption that Wall Street analysts are forecasting. If the iPhone 5 proves to drain battery power too quickly as it searches for an LTE signal it can't find this could be the black swan to hurt adoption. The faster the download speeds historically on the phones the more power a phone will use. The further away your iPhone gets from a cell phone tower the more power it requires to search for and/or use a weak signal.

Apple explained some information about how the iPhone 5 battery will handle normal day-to-day functions performed by its users. While the iPhone 4S featured 200 hours of standby, the iPhone 5 will feature an improved 225 hours of standby time. Wifi is the same as the 4S with 10 hours. LTE browsing is said to be 8 hours which I have a very hard time believing. The question becomes how much testing was done in a real world environment?

Related Articles:
Why Does My iPhone 4S Battery Drain Fast?
Why Does The iPhone Battery Replacement Cost $79?
Are LTE Phone Batteries Ready for Primetime?
Apple iOS 5.0.1 Brings Life Back to 4S Battery

iPhone 5 Models By Carrier & Country

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Cohn) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:42:19 PDT

AT&T, Bell, Rogers, Virgin, Fido, Koodo, Telus

USA & Canada
GSM model A1428
UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 4 and 17)

Verizon, Sprint, KDDI

USA & Japan
CDMA model A1429
CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900, 2100 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5, 13, 25)

Deutsche Telekom, Orange, T-Mobile, Optus, Telstra, Softbank, SK Telecom, KT, SmarTone, M1, SingTel

Germany, UK, Australia, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore
GSM model A1429
UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5)