Wireless Resolutions

Samsung Galaxy S3 vs. the iPhone 5

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 17:02:00 +0000

Samsung Galaxy S3 vs. the iPhone 5

Samsung Galaxy S3 New iPhone 5

Now that the dust is settling, it's time to start the comparisons! I am a pretty big Android fan, but let's talk about how the iPhone 5 compares to the Samsung Galaxy S3. I own the new Samsung Galaxy S3 and can honestly say there is no other phone like it on the market today. It has already sold more than 10 million units for the month of July and another 12 million in August, which makes it the top selling Android right now. I'm NOT going to try to sway anyone either direction (I think having a choice is great), I just want to lay out all the data so you can compare.

The Screen

The biggest thing to take away here is the new 4" screen on the iPhone 5. It's bigger, but more importantly it's now a 16:9 resolution, matching the Galaxy S3 with a 4.8" screen. This is important for two reasons. It means you can watch video at native resolution without "black bars" and that there's now another screen size for Apple iOS developers to contend with. We're not sure exactly what tools Apple has in place to help developers, but we're sure that apps will work well on the new iPhone. The screen itself still looks to be beautiful, and was just stretched a little in height to get the 4-inch size.

We already know how nice the screen is on the Galaxy S3...Its absolutely gorgeous, and while some will favor the Apple LCD screen over the Samsung AMOLED screen (and vice versa), I will call this comparison a wash.

CPU and RAM

Of course, Apple doesn't care to get pumped about CPU or RAM specifications. They simply try to make sure their product has enough horsepower to perform. I can't fault them for that, it is an important spec after all. However, I know that the Qualcomm S4 in the Galaxy S3 is a beast. It brings great performance, great battery life, and when coupled with all that RAM makes things pretty darn future-proof. I have to give it to Samsung on this one.

Storage

This is an easy one. The iPhone comes in a 64GB version for $399.99 and you can't add more storage. The Galaxy S3 comes in a 32GB version for $299.9 but can hold a 64GB microSD card for 96GB of storage space. Samsung wins this round.

Connectivity

Bluetooth 4.0, aGPS and GLONASS, Wifi b/g/n at both 2.4 and 5GHz is standard on both phones. Both have LTE and HSPA+ models for fast mobile data anywhere on the planet, anda full range of motion and light sensors. Things are looking good here, on both sides.

But there is no NFC in the new iPhone 5. Maybe you use NFC, maybe you don't, but I think everyone can agree that having the choice is better than not having it.

There's also the matter of proprietary methods to share content. Both Apple and Samsung use proprietary tools, but Samsung supports DLNA and HDMI. Let's face it, not everyone has (or wants) an Apple TV or an iMac, and almost nobody wants to use iTunes. I have to call Samsung the clear winner here.

Size and weight

This is pretty subjective. Some of us don't want or need "bigger phones" but on the other hand some of us just love them. The Galaxy S3 is bigger, but packs a much larger screen. Try them both, pick the one that feels better and give it a point here. I call it a draw.
To see the size difference to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWcNK1daDSA

Camera

The hardware here is pretty comparable. Both Samsung and Apple are using very high-quality components, and have delivered the specs needed to take a good picture. I've seen some sample images from Apple, and the camera looks quite nice. I own the Galaxy 3 and the pictures I take are phenomenal to say the least. Improvements also include the ability to grab still images while recording video, a tools that's been on Android devices (including the Galaxy S III) for a while. I call it a draw.

Software

Both operating systems are fun, flashy, and feature-rich. They also both are starting to move closer and closer in features, with things like social network sharing, "do-not-disturb" modes, and browser syncing. I think it's great that Apple has finally built these options into the OS, even if it took a bit longer than it should have. But on the surface, the new iOS (Apple software) looks and acts just like the old iOS. Page after page of static icons in a grid, with none of that new screen real estate being used for things like widgets or other tools to enhance the user experience. Android does it, Windows Phone does it, even BlackBerry does it. Some users want more than a colorful square icon on their home screen, and Apple doesn't allow that. Maybe you only want a grid of icons, but you can't deny that choice and the freedom to do your own thing is good. Samsung Galaxy S3 wins in the software category. Give your users what they want, Apple.

The "Ecosystem"

Content is king. That's where Apple has the leg up on everyone else out there. The Appstore and iTunes is chocked full of things people want, and provides a really easy way to get it. Android is catching up, RIM and Microsoft are trying hard, but today, right now, Apple has the content people want.

But this comes at a cost, and that's Apple's closed policies. Nothing makes it into the Appstore or iTunes without someone at a desk in Cupertino saying it can go there, and users that want content Apple doesn't approve of are forced to void their warranty to get it. That's the main reason I am a fan of Android. The best content in the world is no good if it's not allowed on your phone.

To add insult to injury, the content you have on your iPhone is still hampered by the methods Apple uses to view and share it. Drag and drop, and open intents where third party apps are allowed access to documents and media makes the Android experience a bit more complicated, but to me, it's the only way I would ever want it done. The sheer volume of great apps, movies, and music Apple offers is offset by the controlling way they allow you to use it, and I think Android clearly has the upper hand here.

Wait....there is one major change in the new iPhone 5 that you may need to consider...

The iPhone 5 has a new and different dock connector which makes thousands of Apple accessories obsolete unless you buy Applies dock adapter. And of course Apple was recently granted a new patent entitlement that describes a smaller charging and sync port. In other words you will need an adapter to be able to use your old porting and charging devices with your new iPhone 5 and you will have no other options but to purchase it at Apple for whatever they decide to sell it for.

So it all boils down to this: iPhone 5 users will no longer be able to use the same docking devices now that Apple has changed the 30 pin connector. The change of the pin means it will no longer be compatible with current iPhone docking products, which gives Apple the opportunity to create and sell new docking products for the 19-pin connector. With the new model, Apple is ditching the connection port it’s used for iPods, iPhones and iPads for nearly a decade in favor of a smaller, narrower one.

There will be adapters available so that the new phone will be able to connect to sound docks and other accessories designed for the old phones but Apple will sell the adaptors for $59 and up.

Conclusion

Clearly, you should use the Smart Phone that fits your needs the best. Specs and bullet points are just a paper tiger, and can't be the deciding factor. But when I break it all down, I really think the Galaxy S3 has the edge over Apple's new offering.

There's not much in it, and Apple's faithful fans will likely see nothing that will make them change their ways, but my impression of the iPhone 5 is that Apple will really have a fight on their hands this time around. A great camera, superb screen and innovative software features proves that Samsung really pushed the boat out with the Galaxy S3.

As a fashion statement, the iPhone 5 still looks the business, but it is pricey and offers scant few features over it's less expensive Samsung Galaxy S3 rival.

Millions will buy the new iPhone, even lining up around the block for it, but for consumers that value choices (like I do) it's hard to top what Android and the Samsung Galaxy S3 offer.

Marty Taylor

Wireless Resolutions Inc

1-877-679-1206

Battery maintenance

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 14:36:00 +0000

Want To Stretch Your Battery Life In Your Smart Phone?

Here are some tips to give you longer battery life....

Charge your phone frequently

Charge your battery before it has completely drained. Waiting to recharge your phone when it is almost dead will make the battery do more work and lower its life expectancy. Charge when your phone is 40 percent full, not 10 percent.

Take your phone off vibrate

Whenever possible make sure you take your phone off silent or vibrate mode. It takes far more energy for a phone to vibrate than to ring.

Kill Unnecessary Apps

Apps running in the background of your phone will make it run out of juice a whole lot faster. Shut down all the apps you don't need to keep it going a lot longer.

Turn Off Wi-Fi

If you don't need to download big files, and you aren't performing some crucial task online, turning off WiFi will let the battery rest and give you a longer life between charges.

Disable Location Services

Apps that use location are constantly communicating with cell towers to pinpoint where you are. While they're doing it, your battery is dying. Turn them off in settings when you need to get that last bit of life.

Dim The Screen

SmartPhones today come with colorful, bright, and vibrant screens, however they can really drain your battery quickly. Dim the brightness of your screens to give battery life a boost. Lowering the default brightness will ensure that the phone uses less charge over time.

Turn off push mail

Push less. Perhaps the most popular Smart Phone application is push e-mail, which requires your device to check for messages nearly constantly. That guzzles juice, but settings are available on the phone that enable your phone to check for messages, say, only every 10 minutes or half hour. Admittedly, this will require an adjustment for those who are used to constant communications, but it's worth it in terms of battery savings.

Turn Off BlueTooth

Bluetooth is a huge drain on your battery. Turn it off when you're not using it.

Buy battery accessories

While some people already tote around chargers in the dire case that their phone might die, an easier way to prepare is to outfit your phone with a "battery extender case" that packs a spare battery within its skin. When your phone's battery runs out, it will draw power from the case battery. They come in different colors and the price is affordable at only $15.00. Click on this line to find one for your phone....

http://www.amazon.com/Chromo-iPHONE-Battery-1900mAh-Protector/dp/B008OZRBHS/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1344693909&sr=8-7&keywords=battery+extender+case

Perform regular software updates

Always make sure your Smart Phone has the latest software, as engineers may find new ways to optimize battery performance.

Talk more....email and text less

Cellular data connections use between two and four times as much battery power as voice connections. For simple communications, call and talk or leave a message instead of e-mailing and texting.

May be time to get a new battery

After about 18 months, depending on your usage, there's a good chance your battery is running on its last legs. At this point, it might be better to replace it in order to get the full battery life you once had. The typical cell phone battery will take 385 charges.

Put The Phone In Airplane Mode

Even when you're not up in the air, putting your phone in Airplane Mode will keep the battery from dying, as it prevents the phone from receiving and sending signals. Of course, when it's in Airplane Mode you won't be able to call, text, or get online, so this may be a last resort.

Keep Your cell phone and battery Cool

Overheating can damage your phone's battery cells and make it die faster after a charge. Keep your phone out of the sun and other hot places. A phone that gets too hot while in use could be experiencing some kind of charge malfunction and should be checked out. Keep it cool and out of pocket. If you're outside, don't leave your phone facing the direct sunlight. Don't leave it the glove box or in the car facing the hot sun. Keep it out of your pocket and away from close quarters with your body heat.

Turn Off Push Notifications

The function that allows your phone to automatically download new email, and notifications from third-party apps, also makes your battery run out faster. If your phone's almost dead, go to settings to turn off this feature and you will gain more time before your battery completely dies.

Install a battery saver app that will do it all for you

These apps on iTunes and Android Market are specifically designed to extend battery life and optimize using habit. They save your battery by intelligently dealing with phone’s network connectivity, screen time out and screen brightness.

For more tips and updates, visit our facebook page and hit LIKE or click on the Facebook icon below.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wireless-Resolutions-Inc/153374435075

While visiting our page, please click on the LIKE button

to receive regular updates and news.

Sprint Announces Their LTE Network Will Arrive In Baltimore By The End Of August. Your City Might Be Next ....

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 17:30:00 +0000

Once you go 4G LTE, we can imagine how hard it is to go back to anything less. The good news is that Sprint is bringing its 4G LTE coverage to Baltimore and 4 other cities by the end of this month.

If you live in the following cities, expect to see the ubiquitous 4G signal on your LTE device before Labor Day. So far Sprint has already lauched LTE in 15 other major cites across the US. The four cities launching in August will be Baltimore, Gainesville Georgia, Sherman-Denison Texas, and Manhattan-Junction City Kansas.

For HTC EVO 4G LTE owners in Baltimore: Rejoice!

You may have felt left out after the first round of LTE markets officially lit up, but now you can rest assured that your LTE devices will enjoy better coverage and faster mobile data speeds by the end of August.

Sprint LTE and Vision Network is ahead of schedule

Map of Maryland: Red flags specify scheduled sites for LTE. Blue flags: specify sites that are ready to launch this month.

Sprint is also well ahead of schedule in shutting down old Nextel towers, with the shutdown of 9,600 sites already complete.

In fact, Sprint just announced a firm date for shutting down the entire Nextel network: June 30, 2013. That means that in less than a year, Sprint will have lots of extra room that it can use to continue improving it's current 3G and 4G networks. And not to worry: customers who will no longer be able to use the old Nextel platform will get recaptured on Sprint’s new platform, so it’s not like Sprint is losing a ton of customers because of this.

Sprint's LTE and 3G Plans

Sprint executives laid out their plans for a better 3G network, wider push-to-talk capabilities, and a solid LTE 4G experience.

What Sprint is focusing on is what the customers are really going to get in the network, and that's why they are really confident that this network will be really competitive. Sprint isn't ignoring its current 3G network, which will still be the workhorse for the next few years. Sprint's Network Vision plan will dramatically improve 3G coverage in several different ways.

Shifting voice calls to the new 1x-Advanced technology lets Sprint carry more calls in less spectrum, opening up airwaves for more 3G data on devices like Apple's iPhone. Faster, Ethernet-based back haul dramatically increases the number of megabits each cell site can carry.

Moving voice calls to abandoned Nextel 800-MHz spectrum opens up even more 1900-MHz data bandwidth for hungry Smart Phone like the iphone... without the iPhone having to include another radio band.

Sprint's 1900MHz Network Vision Is Nice, But The 800MHz Rollout Will Be Jaw Dropping.....

As I wrote back in October, Sprint currently has major network issues but things are changing as the new Network Vision continues to rollout in 2012 and 2013. Network Vision is a project to improve existing cell towers and roll out LTE across the U.S., and it's already underway in the existing CDMA 1900MHz range. Now 1900MHz is nice, but just wait till you see what the 2nd stage of Network Vision has in store when it starts rolling out in the 800MHz range in place of the current NEXTEL iDEN network.

These Sprint maps show what is expected to happen when all is complete. You are going to want to sit down for this one, especially if you're an existing Sprint customer. Here is a sample of Atlanta what Network Vision to the 1900MHz towers is projected to do to your current signal strength...the first map of course is before the roll out with red showing weak coverage. The second map showing mostly green for strong coverage, is after the launch of Sprint Network Vision1900 MGZ towers:

Sprint is also working on background apps that will automatically connect its phones to Wi-Fi networks, further improving the apparent data performance of 3G phones. It'll be a headless client that will prompt the customer with the ability to identify when there's a Wi-Fi network in the area, and permanently put that into the settings so that the next time you see that hotspot you'll be able to connect to it.

A Focus on Voice Calling

Sprint users should see a dramatic improvement in voice coverage as the new Vision Network comes online. In about 80 percent of Sprint's markets, They will initially deploy a single CDMA voice carrier on 800Mhz.

For Nextel customers, Sprint's CDMA-based Direct Connect will continue to get better and the company continues to move customers off the old Nextel network to the new Sprint push to talk network. The next Sprint move will be to turn push-to-talk into a downloadable Android app called "Direct Connect Now" that will work on a variety of phones and allow users to connect to any phone, anywhere, regardless of the device or the provider they use.

Stay tuned for more news and information about changes coming to Sprint.

If you're a Facebook member, simply click on the icon below and "LIKE" our Wireless Resolutions Facebook page. You'll find more money saving tips, news and information.

Wireless Resolutions Inc.

As always, we are here for you....

Marty Taylor
Wireless Resolutions, Inc.
1-877-679-1206
Visit our website at www.wirelessresolutions.com

What Is Sprint Network Vision And How Will It Affect Your Business?

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 03:41:00 +0000

What Is Sprint Network Vision And How Will It Affect Your Business?

You are going to want to sit down for this one, especially if you're an existing Sprint customer.

Sprint Network Vision is a project to improve existing cell towers and roll out LTE across the U.S. Phase one of the project is already underway in the existing CDMA 1900MHz range. In phase two, Sprint intends to augment its 1.9GHz footprint with 800MHz for 3G service, thereby enhancing coverage, particularly the in-building experience for customers. This augmentation will dramatically improve coverage and signal strength throughout the country. Sprint customers will soon see better signal strength for improved wireless access in more places.

While this first 1900MHz stage is nice, just wait till you see what the 2nd stage of Network Vision has in store when it starts rolling out in the 800MHz range in place of the current iDEN network!

LTE for speed, 800MHz for range - Now that's a winning recipe.

Sprint's plans currently include starting the 800MHz range in late 2012-early 2013, although it has already starting rolling it out in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Today Sprint coverage and Nextel's Push to talk coverage in Dallas is only at 40% for indoor coverage. With Sprint's new Network Vision it is expected to increase to 80%. With the 800MHz, coverage will increase 95%!

These next projected slides of new Sprint coverage maps of Atlanta will show you an example of what you can expect when Sprint replaces the current Nextel IDEN push to talk network with the 1900MHz in the first phase and with the 800MHz range in phase 2.

Signal strength (green - great, yellow - good, red - mediocre, blue - very poor)

Map of Atlanta today on the Nextel IDen push to talk network

Map of Atlanta in the first phase (1900 MHz) of the new Sprint Vision network

Here is what will happen with the roll out of the 800MHz Sprint Network Vision in phase 2:

You won't need your glasses to see the difference here. Lower frequency means longer wavelength, which in turns means better signal propagation and building penetration. The improvement will be this significant.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

The new Sprint Network Vision entails dramatically improving their network coverage, call quality, push to talk services, and data speeds for customers. It includes phasing out Nextel IDEN push to talk completely, and bringing in Sprint Direct Connect. The roll-out has already begun in many areas and the scraping of the old IDEN Nextel towers has already begun. They have already completed 10,251 upgrades from August through October and another 22,000 cell sites are now underway.

Sprint Direct Connect Coverage

Though some Nextel iDEN users have begun to balk at the change, Sprint is pledging to completely shut down its Nextel iDEN cell sites by 2013. The provider also stresses that using the new Sprint Direct Connect technology will dramatically increase Push to talk coverage over what it is today- nearly 2.7 million square miles or 309 million people. It will also strongly boost in-building coverage.

Sprint Direct Connect service will continue to evolve. In early 2012, the Sprint Direct push-to-talk coverage area is expected to grow to match the Sprint CDMA voice coverage area – expected to be almost three times the square miles covered by Nextel iDEN today. Additionally, in 2012, international push-to-talk calling to select countries will also begin rolling out to help support our current customers with international push-to-talk needs. And Sprint will continue enhancements to Sprint Direct Connect in 2012 by offering a downloadable push-to-talk app that will enable any Android-powered device to support Sprint Direct Connect.

The New Sprint Direct Connect Devices

Sprint is already offering three new Sprint Direct Connect devices. The new Kyrocera DuraMax is the workhorse of the new Sprint Direct Connect portfolio much like the i580 once was with Nextel . It has a rugged exterior and non-slip Dura-Grip surface, a 2.0-inch display, 3.2 MP camera with flash and camcorder, and is designed to meet Military Standard 810G for dust, shock, vibration, extreme temperatures, blowing rain and water immersion (up to 30 minutes in one meter of water). If you would prefer to have the same phone but without a camera, you may want to go with the Kyrocera DuraCore.

Motorola has joined the new line up with the Admiral, a rugged Android SmartPhone that has Sprint direct connect. Discouraged Blackberry users everywhere are already starting to resolve their issues with this new SmartPhone with push to talk.

What's to come for the business who need direct connect?

So how will Sprint's new Push to talk network function? First Sprint will begin rolling out new devices with Sprint Direct Connect to attract new customers and encourage existing Nextel push to talk users to transition to Sprint Direct Connect. Both Nextel towers are taken down.

Sprint plans to launch up to 15 new devices in 2012, including new handsets, tablets and data cards, and these devices will be able to run on its new LTE network and its 3G CDMA network if LTE is out of range. LTE networks promise speeds that can be as much as 10 times faster than 3G service, with theoretical peaks of 300 megabytes per second for downloads and 75 megabytes per second for uploads.

So what does this really mean for Sprint customers?

In a word: Everything. It means faster data speeds and fewer dropped calls, and keeping pace with the ever-increasing demand for data. If everything goes as planned, 2013 will be definitely be the year to get on the new and exciting Sprint Vision Network.

For more information on the new Sprint Vision Network and the new push to talk devices, call us at: 1-877-679-1206.

Is Your Cell Phone's Battery Effecting Your Reception?

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:30:00 +0000

To get the most out of your cell phone you need to get the most out of your battery.

Did you know that a low cell phone battery is the leading cause of poor reception? Did you know that your battery alone can greatly increase your quality of reception?

A cell phone battery’s life is determined by a combination of the number of times it can be charged and by time itself. Batteries age from the day they're manufactured. Even if you're not using the battery, it still ages. Most lithium-ion batteries today will last for only 300-350 charges. And if you let the battery run all the way down before charging it, you will hurt it's life span.

If you allow your battery to completely drain each time before you charge it, you'll get fewer cycles than if it only discharged a little before you charge again. So, if you're at home and near the phone’s charger, plug it in whether it needs a charge or not. Keep in mind that you cannot overcharge lithium-ion batteries.

Your cell phone reception will always increase with a fresh new battery. But make sure you always buy a "new" battery. Most resellers are selling used batteries and calling them OEM (original equipment manufacturer). The battery you receive may be wrapped in bubble wrap or paper. Make sure your battery comes in an original unopened retail blister package. You don't want to replace a used battery with someone else's used battery.

Tips to prolong battery life

To help prolong the life of your cell phone battery, consider these recommendations:

Heat – especially in the car — is not your cell phone battery’s friend. It’s one of the elements that can shorten battery life the most, so don't leave a cell phone on the dash or put it in the glove box.
Turn off the Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi and 3G radios in your phone when you're not using them, and dim the backlight on the phone’s screen, says Burden of ABI Research.
Turn off “push e-mail,” that is delivered to you as it is sent, and instead manually check for new e-mail. “The more frequently e-mail or other data is fetched, the quicker your battery may drain,” Apple says on its iPhone Web site.
And here’s one for people who keep their phones on while they're in the air: When you get further and further away from a cell tower, the faster your battery life goes down. When you're 30,000 feet in the air, you can't get a signal, because all the signals are near the ground. But you're phone is trying so hard to pull in a signal, that it drains the battery a lot faster.
Your cell phone uses a lot more power when connecting a call than when it is just sitting idle. Your battery can be strong enough to attempt a call, but not strong enough to find a signal. If you find you are having signal problems, try to always keep your battery charged to 2 bars or higher.

Here are some other tips to get the most of your cell phone battery.

1. Turn the phone off when you are not using it. This is probably the most effective and most simple way of conserving your battery’s power. If you don't plan on answering the phone while you're sleeping or after business hours, just turn it off. Do the same if you are in an area with no reception (such as a subway or remote area, since constantly searching for service depletes the battery fairly quickly.

2. Stop searching for a signal. When you are in an area with poor or no signal, your phone will constantly look for a better connection, and will use up all your power doing so. This is easily understood if you have ever forgotten to turn off your phone on a flight. The best way to ensure longer battery life is to make sure you have a great signal where you use your phone

3. Switch off the vibrate function on your phone, and use just the ring tone instead. The vibrate function uses up a huge amount of battery power. Also, keep the ring tone volume as low as possible.

4. Turn off your phone's back light. The back light is what makes the phone easier to read in bright light or outside. However, the light also uses a lot of battery power. If you can get by without it being on for too long, your battery will last a lot longer. If you have to use the back light, many phones will let you set the amount of time to leave the back light on. Shorten that amount of time to the lowest setting of 5 seconds or less. Usually, one or two seconds will be sufficient. Some phones have an ambient light sensor, which can turn off the back light in bright conditions and enable it in darker ones. Most phones now days NEED the backlight to view the screen so it might not be wise to turn the backlight OFF.

5. Avoid using unnecessary features. If you know it will be a while before your phone’s next charge, don’t use the camera or connect to the Internet. Flash photography can drain your battery especially quickly.

6. Turn off Bluetooth when you are not using it. It will drain your battery very quickly. Same goes for WIFI, GPS, and infrared capabilities, if your phone has these features built in, keep them off; save more power.

7. Use GSM - Using your phone in 3G / Dual Mode will drain the battery quicker than if you just use GSM mode - have a look at your phones spec and you'll see it will quote two different battery life times - normally 50% more for pure GSM use.

Prolong the Life of Your Battery

• Initialize a new battery. New batteries should be fully charged for 24 hours before their first use to obtain maximum capacity. They should run through 2-4 full charge/full discharge cycles. Ignore the phone telling you that the battery is full--this is normal but is not accurate if the battery is not initialized. Do not only use a car charger to charge the battery. This will give you false readings and cause the battery to develop a short memory. It is important that you charge your phone using your wall charger. Use your car charger only when necessary.

• Your battery has a limited amount of charges. Most are only 300-350 total charges per battery. Never fully discharge a lithium-ion battery! Unlike Ni-Cd batteries, lithium-ion batteries' life is shortened every time you fully discharge them. Instead, charge them when the battery meter shows one bar left.

• Keep the battery cool. Your battery will last longest if used near room temperature, and nothing wears on a battery like extended exposure to high temperatures. While you can’t control the weather, you can avoid leaving your phone in a hot car or in direct sunlight, and you don’t have to carry your phone in your pocket, where your body heat will raise its temperature. In addition, check the battery while it’s charging. If it seems excessively hot, your charger may be malfunctioning.

• Store batteries properly. If your battery will be out of use for a while, disconnect it from the phone and store it in a cool place (the refrigerator is good, but freezing temperatures do not slow oxidation) and away from metal objects. Ensure that the battery is not exposed to moisture; try putting the battery in an airtight container or bag. Lithium ion batteries are not rated to operate at refrigerated temperatures, so let the battery sit outside the refrigerator for at least an hour before using it again. Lithium ion batteries oxidize least when they are stored at 40% charge. Never store a lithium battery at low voltage. Recharge batteries after storage.

• Clean the battery contacts on the battery and on the phone. Over time, contacts may accumulate dirt. This will cause the phone to power off unexpectedly or discharge without warning. It is important to keep the phone fully connected to the battery by cleaning them regualarly. Clean them with a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol to maximize the efficiency of energy transfer. Be careful: these solvent dissolve plastic, so use a Q-Tip to avoid damaging the battery housing or the phone. If you are having issues with your phone not taking a charge or holding a charge, always look at the battery as the issue. Don't assume your phone is defective.

• Check to see if your phone has a "Battery Save" option. If so, you can turn this on to increase the life of your battery.

• You should not have to turn off your phone to charge it. Most battery chargers deliver more than enough current to power your phone and charge it at the same time. Doing so will not lengthen the charge time, and leaving a phone on allows the user to be aware of its fuel gauge, so that you can remove it when the battery is full.

• When using a car charger, do not charge the battery when the inside temperature of your car is hot. Wait until the car has cooled before you plug in the phone.

Warning: Car Chargers and the effect they have on your cell phone

It is interesting that some cell phone owners will take a phone worth hundreds of dollars and then charge it with a cheap, poor quality charger. They usually find out the hard way that the results from using a cheap aftermarket car charger can be very expensive. Avoid cheap, knockoff chargers as they may cause excessive battery heating and actually destroy your battery and in some cases even your cell phone. Because of this fact, you will find that cell phone manufacturer warranties are voided if a cell phone is damaged because of using an aftermarket charger. As a result, you should always make sure any charger you buy protects your phone and is authentic in the case of OEM units.

What to watch out for when buying a cell phone Charger?

Cell phone chargers come in a broad range of prices and quality. A good quality aftermarket charger should come with at least a 1 year warranty. You should also make sure the company who manufactured the charger guarantees it will not damage your phone and it comes with a promise of replacement of the phone if it is damaged. There are hundreds of inexpensive, very poor quality chargers on the market with no protection to the user in the event of damage.

In the last year or so a number of companies out of Hong Kong have started offering product on the internet shipped direct from China. This can often be determined by looking at the companies return policy and address. If a charger from a company based overseas damages your phone, it is unlikely you will have any protection. When you see OEM items on these websites, they are almost always counterfeit OEM items.

Keeping your phone powered up with the right charger is important. All too often we hear stories of people saving a couple of dollars on a poor quality charger only to have it damage their phone. Don't chance your expensive phone with a cheap charger with no guarantees.

Keeping your phone powered up with the right charger is important. No one wants to be stuck with a dead battery when they need to use their cell phone. Having a charger available and ready to use when your phone needs it can be a lifesaver.

So what kind of Charger should you purchase?

A number of considerations should go into the type of cell phone charger that will best suit your needs as well as some strong cautions regarding some chargers currently on the market.

• Standard Car Chargers - Standard cell phone chargers generally require 4-6 hours to fully charge a battery. These types of chargers are commonly referred to as overnight chargers.

• Rapid Car Chargers - Rapid cell phone chargers should fully charge a battery within 1-2 hours. A rapid charger requires technology that reduces the charge rate to a trickle once the battery has reached around 90 percent of capacity to keep from damaging the battery.

• Travel Chargers - Travel chargers are commonly included in the box with a new phone. These types of chargers plug into a wall AC electrical outlet. Some cell phone travel chargers have folding blades allowing the charger to be packed in luggage without fear of damage due to the protruding blades.

• Desktop Chargers - Desktop cell phone chargers are a base unit that sits on a desk, counter, etc. and plugs into the wall using a travel charger. The base may hold only the phone, only a battery, or both the phone and battery. Generally any case on the phone will have to be removed for the phone to fit in these types of chargers.

• All-in-One Chargers - All in one cell phone chargers such are are combo travel and car charger. These types of chargers are very convenient when traveling as you can carry one unit for both applications. These are almost always rapid cell phone chargers.

What do terms like IC Chip and OEM mean?

• IC Chip - Any good charger will have overcharge protection embedded in the form of an IC Chip or similar technology. This protects the phone and battery from damage due to overcharging or overheating. A charger without overcharge protection should never be used.

• OEM (original equipment manufacturer) cell phone chargers are made by the company that makes your cell phone. For instance, a Motorola brand charger is the OEM charger for Motorola phones. Some phone manufacturers will not honor the phones warranty if you use a charger other than the OEM unit and the phone or battery is damaged.

Can You Trust Your Cell Phone Provider?

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:27:00 +0000

Talk to a random sampling of businesses about their wireless phone service and you are sure to find one thing: dissatisfaction with their provider. Seemingly everyone has a horror story or two about “how bad Verizon is” or “what terrible signal they have with Nextel” or how "AT&T has the worst customer service ever.” In fact, it would be tough to visit anywhere in the U.S. and fail to dredge up similar stories from anyone you meet.

Why are people are so universally unhappy about their wireless providers?

Here are some of the reasons

A growing number of companies are reporting suspicious and unauthorized charges to their monthly phone bills. According to ClassActionConnect.com, the charges in question were “never authorized and were for services and subscriptions they had they never heard of, or even knew existed, and for products they never wanted nor ever even received.” Making matters worse, studies show that wireless providers are generally unhelpful when you call them to investigate the charges.

A team of class action lawyers has launched an investigation into the billing practices of AT&T, in order to determine whether they have been improperly charging and billing cell phone customers for third party mobile content services (i.e., ring tones, premium text messaging services, joke of the day recordings, wallpaper, screen savers, etc.) that were allegedly never ordered AT&T customers. Potential violations of existing laws include the failure to make required disclosures about cell phone charges ("cramming," i.e., charging for products and services never authorized by AT&T cell phone users.

Another team of class action attorneys are investigating the marketing practices of Verizon for sending unsolicited and unwanted text messages to consumers' cell phones and charging them for it! Mobile phone spam is directed at the text messaging service of a wireless phone or device. It is often difficult to stop or cancel and can be an invasion of privacy, a nuisance and can be costly.

A team of attorneys are also investigating the marketing practices of Verizon Wireless, that make unsolicited phone calls to former customers' in an effort to win back their business. Their customers are being charged for those calls.

According to PC WORLD, several wireless providers “mark up the cost of text messages by at least 7,314% when compared to their rates for data services.” Assuming a max text size of 160 characters and a transmission of 7 bits per character, that’s 140 bytes. Without a text messaging plan in place, you will find yourself paying .20 cents for that text message. Conversely, the very same phone can transmit 1,024 bytes for just 1.5 cents via its data plan. That equates to an eye-popping 7,314% markup!

Amazingly, wireless providers have begun pulling credit reports and demanding security deposits prior to handing out new service contracts to applicants. AT&T, in particular, charges iPhone users with less than good credit up to $800 as a security deposit! Needless to say, requiring security deposits and pulling credit scores for services that impose no risk on the other party is incomprehensible. Making matters worse is how strict the phone companies are about giving back your deposit. Being late even a single day on a single payment is reportedly grounds for them to keep your deposit forever.

Wireless companies lure people in time after time with “free upgrade” offers that promise newer phones in exchange for re-upping on their service contracts. But according to MSNBC, this often comes with strings attached, in the form of mysterious fees. You decide to stay with your mobile provider, upgrade to a new phone and think you got a good deal, but up to three or four months later a $36 fee is slipped onto your bill in a very inconspicuous place without your knowledge. The size of the fee varies depending on your provider, but it goes without saying that any fee you discover on your bill after the fact rather than up front has deceit written all over it.

The number one complaint remains poor or spotty signal strength. Even companies like Verizon that claim to have the best coverage with fewer dropped calls are suspect, according to a Boston.com study analyzing these claims. The study points out that AT&T, Verizon and Sprint do not offer any backup in its ads that claim to have the top network reliability and lower dropped calls. In fact, it is often unclear exactly what these companies are even claiming – are they claiming fewer dropped calls “by a wide margin or a tiny margin? These questions remain unanswered amidst a sea of poor signal strength complaints from customers of every provider, depending on the area you are in.

A particularly sneaky tactic some wireless providers use is to turn on features or services by default, whether or not you authorize them or even know about them. For instance, an individual who visits a local store to buy a new phone may be told that some features are “standard” with the new service when in fact they are optional. Enabling these features will increase the monthly costs. Features commonly “stuck under the rug” in this manner include early night and weekend times (say 7PM instead of 9PM), extra texting capacity and mobile to mobile calling. For this reason, you should ask any sales rep you encounter to go down the list of features one by one, verifying which are truly standard and which cost extra and make sure they are listed on your contract.

What is being done about these practices?

The Federal Communications Commission is currently proposing new rules to prevent the Wireless providers from charging businesses unauthorized fees. This is its latest attempt to defend the public against telecommunications companies' billing policies. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said the agency is discussing a plan to protect businesses from wireless companies charging "cramming" and other mystery fees. Cramming is a hidden fee between $2 and $20 per month that is often overlooked on a customer's bill for services they didn't request.

"The FCC will not tolerate cramming, and we are turning up the heat on providers that rip off business customers with unauthorized fees," said Genachowski in a statement. "We want to send a clear message: if you charge consumers unauthorized fees, you will be discovered and you will be punished."

The FCC is already cracking down on wireless companies who slip in unauthorized charges into monthly bills.

Last year Verizon was hit with a $90 million dollar fine after it was revealed that over 15 million of their customers were inaccurately billed small amounts of between $2 to $6 for false data charges. Those small amounts totaled over $9 million in erroneous data charges.

More recently there has been an AT&T lawsuit that alleges that the carrier's bills "systematically overstate the amount of data used on each data transaction involving an iPhone or iPad account," and charge consumers for "phantom data traffic" that never existed in the first place. The suit alleges that AT&T charges consumers and businesses for data transactions even if they disable their phones entirely. It compares the billing system to a "rigged gas pump that charges you when you never even pulled your car into the station."

In October, the FCC proposed new rules requiring that ALL wireless providers alert customers by voice or text message before they run out of minutes to prevent them from being charged additional overage fees, preventing "bill shock." Under the current FCC rules, carriers are forced to notify customers who travel overseas if they will be charged extra to use their phones outside the U.S.

We are Wireless Expense Management Consultants who see these things happening to our customers no matter who their provider is. We are advocates for change in the wireless industry. Can we safely say that change is on the horizon?

Marty Taylor
Wireless Resolutions, Inc.

1-877-679-1206

IS YOUR COMPANY AT RISK?

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 01:22:00 +0000

NO CELL PHONE POLICY = THE POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS DISASTER

Any company that issues cell phones to their employees should have a clear and understandable company cell phone policy. Without one, your company is at serious risk. It has become increasingly important for employers to establish a firm policy on cell phones in the workplace. Litigation in this area is on the rise and will continue to increase as more news gets out about how employees are taking advantage of the situation and turning their company's into "Cash Cows."

"A Cell Phone Policy...Really?"

FACT: Cell phone litigation is one of the newest types of litigation springing up all around the country. Whenever there is an accident or harassment, wage disputes, or other privacy violations, and a cell phone is involved you can bet a law suit may not be far away.

As a Wireless Management Consultant who has written numerous cell phone policies in the past, I am always amazed when companies tell me they do not have an active and up to date cell phone policy. Some business owners find the average Attorney's price of $2,500 for a company cell phone policy a little too steep for their budget. Others try to write one themselves, which can be a daunting and overwhelming task. Still others are just unaware of how vulnerable their company is without one.

Why would you want to create a cell phone policy for every employee in your company sign? Other than the fact that we live in the most litigious nation on the Earth, you also need to protect your business in other areas as well.

Traffic and Safety Laws

Employers that have employees driving company owned vehicles during the course of business are very much at risk at being held liable if the employee is involved in an accident while using a company cell-phone.

FACT: Employers can incur liability whether or not the call is personal or business related if it is made on a company cell phone.

FACT: Employer liability in cases involving a third party is based on a legal principal called vicarious liability. It provides that an employer is responsible for the harm caused by its employee if that employee, using a company cell phone, was acting within the course and scope of his or her employment at the time that the accident occurred.

FACT: Plaintiffs often claim that their employer is directly negligent for its own conduct in encouraging or permitting employees to use cell phones for business without adequate cell phone policies and training of those policies.

FACT: It doesn't matter if the call is being made during regular office hours or not; what matters is that the call is somehow work related and the device they are using belongs to YOU! Employers can be found liable for any damages caused by an employee acting within the scope of his or her employment. Employers can now be found negligent if they fail to provide an adequate cell phone use policy and proper training.

Recently, in the state of Virginia, a sales rep returning home from work, was talking on her cell phone with a customer. She accidentally struck and killed a teenage girl. The family of the girl filed a $30 million lawsuit against the employer, claiming the company was negligent in providing cell phones to their employees without providing a company cell phone policy or a safety policy. The family won that suit.
In Arkansas, a jury found a lumber company liable after one of their employees struck another car, gravely injuring the passenger. At the time of the accident the employee driving the vehicle was using the cell phone for a business call. This particular case ended up being settled for $16 million. They had no cell phone policy.
The large investment firm of Salomon Smith Barney paid a $500,000 settlement to the family of a motorcyclist killed by one of its employees making a work-related call after hours on his company cell phone. No policy in place.

FACT: Employers can be liable for problems or accidents created by an employee's use of cell phones while driving if a company provides the phones, or if cell phone use is a necessary or an encouraged option as part of their job.

IRS Regulations

FACT: IRS guidelines require company issued cell phones and wireless data devices be used only for business purposes; otherwise, personal use of these devices must be claimed as a taxable benefit. Your company could be penalized and audited for non-compliance of this rule. The IRS can declare that all undocumented use of a cell phone in your company is personal and can treat the monthly cell phone charges as wages even if the calls were for business purposes.

FACT: The IRS and state auditors have become very aggressive in their requirements regarding personal cell phones being used in the workplace. Companies are being audited more often and as a result they are paying serious penalties and fines for non-compliance. You need a policy in place not only to guide company employees regarding the use of cell phones but also to protect your company from these audits. If you have set policies in place that your employees have signed, then you are protecting your business.

A company was audited by the IRS for cell phone compliance and fined over $19,000 for not have a clear enough policy about employees making personal cell phone calls on their company phones and for making business calls on their personal phones.

Federal and State Labor and Wage Laws

FACT: Deducting the cost of a cell phone or wireless device from an employee's final paycheck violates most state and federal wage laws. Federal and State law restrict and prohibit an employer from making pay deductions for damaged cell phones or mobile devices or for failing to return company issued cell phones or for damaging equipment. In most states if you are found at fault for deducting money from an employees paycheck for a lost or damaged phone, and unless your policy is worded correctly, you can be sued for triple damages.

The FLSA

FACT: The Fair Labor Standards Act requires that non-exempt employees must be paid for all hours worked. If, for example, a non-exempt employee checks work email from home or takes calls from a customer on his company cell phone, the time must be counted as hours worked.

Monitoring and Tracking YOUR Cell Phones

Do you have your employee's consent to track the whereabouts of your company's cell phones? Without consent you walk a fine line concerning privacy rights. You need a policy that is very clear and specific about tracking the whereabouts of your cell phones so that you are not infringing on any one's privacy.

A Florida Roofing company was sued by an employee when he discovered his company cell phone was still being tracked after hours without his knowledge. He had visited a friend the night before at a drug rehab center and the next day his employer questioned him about his own drug usage. This was considered an invasion of privacy because the company had no policy in place that informed the employee that his cell phone could be tracked at anytime. The employee was awarded $500,000 in a civil suit.

Other issues

FACT: Employers are now facing increasing claims by employees for health problems allegedly associated with cell phone use. This is happening even though the science appears inconclusive and contradictory. Workers who use cell phones while on the job have now begun to file workers compensation claims and lawsuits based on the theory that radio frequency radiation from cell phones may lead to various forms of brain cancer or other maladies.

Employers should protect themselves with a Cell phone policy that informs employees of the potential health risks associated with the use of a cell phone, and even suggests or requires using a hands-free device. The policy should state that employees will not hold their employers liable for any suspected health issues that may result from using a company-issued cell phone or mobile device is critical.

Privacy Concerns

Are you concerned about privacy? Do you have a policy in place that addresses the misuse of cell phones in your company? Does it address confidentiality, security, privacy and harassment? Are you concerned about privileged or confidential material such as trade secrets or information about your customers? Do you have a policy that includes a provision governing camera phones, which present an increasing risk to companies? Intellectual property, trade secrets, personal customer information, or other confidential data can be captured and used easily with a camera phone.

FACT: Employees may have their picture taken in private areas, and can file suit against your company for invasion of privacy or harassment. Do your employees have cell phones with cameras and video features or Smart Phones with scanners? Do you have a policy in place that covers ownership of images taken with your company-issued cell phone or mobile devices? Do your employees have broadband or Internet cards? Do you have a policy in place that prohibits your employees from connecting their personal cell phones to USB ports on their computer?

An employee of a Delaware company decided it might be fun to play a joke on a fellow employee and take a picture of him relieving himself at a urinal. He snapped the photo on his company cell phone and showed to others back at the office. When that got a few laughs he posted it on the Internet. The company is out of business today after losing a $1.4 million dollar lawsuit for negligence. The employee said there was no written policy in place on cell phone misconduct in the workplace. The Judge had no other recourse.

Can you afford to be without a policy?

The answer is NO. You can't afford the risk!

FACT: We charge such a small price for a document that could possibly save your company from an expensive lawsuit. It's really a small price to pay for such a powerful defense, should you need it. So why put your company in a vulnerable state by not having one?

Wouldn't you rather have a signed document in hand when an employee decides he wants to sue you? A signed document that says he has given his permission on the very thing he is trying to sue you for? Sure you would. Without a sound policy in place.... you are a sitting duck!

Let us design a cell phone policy for your company at a fraction of the cost.

There is no doubt that a cell phone policy is a critical tool that can lessen liabilities and protect your business. But they can be costly. Attorneys typically charge upwards of $200 per hour to design one for your. We offer a comprehensive cell phone policy that fits your company's needs for a fraction of that cost. We can lessen those liabilities and help protect your company by designing a policy that works for you. Call us today for more information on how you can protect your business with a cell phone policy designed specifically for your business.

Wireless Resolutions

1-877-679-1206

Are You Unhappy With Your Cell Phone Company?

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 22:42:00 +0000

Why are people are so universally unhappy about their wireless providers?

Here are some of the reasons

A growing number of companies are reporting suspicious and unauthorized charges to their monthly phone bills. According to ClassActionConnect.com, the charges in question were “never authorized and were for services and subscriptions they had they never heard of, or even knew existed, and for products they never wanted nor ever even received.” Making matters worse, studies show that wireless providers are generally unhelpful when you call them to investigate the charges.

The number one complaint remains poor or spotty signal strength. Even companies like Verizon that claim to have the best coverage with fewer dropped calls are suspect, according to a Boston.com study analyzing these claims. The study points out that AT&T, Verizon and Sprint do not offer any backup in its ads that claim to have the top network reliability and lower dropped calls. In fact, it is often unclear exactly what these companies are even claiming – are they claiming fewer dropped calls “by a wide margin or a tiny margin? These questions remain unanswered amidst a sea of poor signal strength complaints from customers of every provider, depending on the area you are in.

What is being done about these practices?

The FCC is already cracking down on wireless companies who slip in unauthorized charges into monthly bills.

"This new FCC proposal is about making sure businesses aren't getting ripped off and also about fostering trust in communication services," said Genachowski. "Practices that hurt the trust and confidence customers have in communication services are bad for our economy." This is the latest attempt by the FCC at protecting U.S. companies against the wireless industry.

In October, the FCC proposed new rules requiring that ALL wireless providers alert customers by voice or text message before they run out of minutes to prevent them from being charged additional overage fees, preventing "bill shock." Under the current FCC rules, carriers are forced to notify customers who travel overseas if they will be charged extra to use their phones outside the U.S.

We are Wireless Expense Management Consultants who see these things happening to our customers no matter who their provider is. We are advocates for change in the wireless industry. Can we safely say that change is on the horizon?

Marty Taylor

Wireless Resolutions, Inc.

1-877-679-1206

Can Businesses Effectively Manage Their Own Wireless Expenses In-House?

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 19:49:00 +0000

Why It Makes Sense to Leave It To The Experts

Industry experts indicate that most businesses can actually trim their wireless expenses, if they have key players in-house who can dedicate the time and knowledge needed to manage these expenses.

So why does it take a team of wireless experts to significantly lower your costs?

Keeping control over wireless inventory and costs takes time you should be devoting to your business. The 21st century has brought about a revolution in wireless communications for both voice and data applications. For today’s businesses, wireless expenses have grown to comprise a sizable portion of overall spending. The convenience and proliferation of wireless devices, including broadband connection cards, wireless-enabled laptops and tablets, and Smart Phones makes it almost certain that wireless costs will be the fastest-growing segment of telecom expenditures for companies.

The ability to control these escalating wireless costs within the corporate environment can prove to be a real challenge. Although some companies attempt to reign in wireless spending through in-house cost management programs, most experts estimate that up to 65% of all businesses have no significant programs in place.

The ability to master and implement basic wireless management fundamentals is what separates the pros from the amateurs. Most companies agree that they have lost control over wireless costs because they do not have the in-house expertise that it takes to implement these fundamentals and to manage these complex expenses.

Experts agree that the key to managing wireless expenses and dramatically bringing down wireless costs, is to outsource this task to the true experts in the field of wireless expense management.

Wireless Cost Management Experts

If your company currently has a wireless cost management program in place, you may simply need to fine tune it. If not, consider consulting with a wireless cost management expert to complete the task for you. The cost-savings will be far more than what you pay for retaining their services, and the long term savings will be substantial. Outsourcing your entire wireless management can be very cost-effective and free up staff to focus on core business activities.

Unfortunately, because of the high demand for this service, true wireless expense experts are not easy to find. However, there are still a few out there that can help you efficiently deploy, manage, and support your enterprise wireless solutions and end user mobile devices, saving you both time and money.

Most of these experts are either overbooked and not taking new clients, or only managing accounts with 500+ lines. If you are lucky enough to find the right one for your business, it is wise to hang on to them and treat them as an intricate part of your organization's team. You will then undoubtedly see a considerable reduction in overall wireless expenses.

For companies that have no wireless cost management programs in place, the thought of mastering the following concepts can seem a bit overwhelming. They sound great in theory, but actually putting these fundamentals into practice can be another story. It takes a trained wireless expert who is familiar with integrating the following wireless cost management fundamentals across your organization.

What are the fundamentals?

Fundamental #1 - Knowing Your Wireless Inventory

To effectively manage this seemingly endless flow of wireless devices, it is essential that you know which ones are in use and what is actually being paid for.

The first step in gaining control is to compile an inventory of every wireless device currently in use. This comprehensive list should include both enterprise-owned devices as well as employee-owned devices that are billed back to the company via monthly expense reports. Create a spreadsheet to track all wireless devices currently in use. This simple action will invariably turn up devices that are not being used and therefore can be eliminated. Be sure to also list wireless contracts currently in place for each device that is in service.

Fundamental #2 - Know Your Wireless Usage

Wireless usage can be personal in nature. When choosing a wireless plan for employees, it is important to select plans that give you the most effective cost-saving option. Once you have completed an up-to-date inventory of all wireless devices, it is then time to dig deeper and determine the most cost-effective plans for each wireless device in service.

Gaining complete control over wireless usage can be easier said than done. To fully optimize wireless plans company-wide, gather and analyze wireless bills for the previous 12 months, then group into categories based on average monthly usage. You may find that a small percentage of employees are extremely high end users (e.g. traveling salespeople), another percentage average users and then another group whose usage is small in comparison. Once this data is compiled, it becomes much easier to assign the appropriate plans (and handsets) to individuals based on average usage.

Fundamental #3 - Determine Ownership of Inventory

Wireless devices become part of the corporate landscape in one of two ways: through “official” corporate channels or through employee ownership.

To command complete control over wireless expenses it is best if the company owns each and every device in service. However, there will almost always be instances where employees have wireless contracts in their names. Typically, these charges end up on monthly expense reports in miscellaneous categories - often times not under “telecom” expenses.

Determining ownership is critical to managing wireless expenses. Your initial inventory should include contract ownership information and the dates when contracts expire. Contract expiration is the optimal time for transferring ownership back to the company. (Plan on a certain amount of resistance from employees when this occurs.)

Fundamental #4 - Establish a Written Wireless Policy

The previous fundamentals of wireless cost management lead to one thing - establishing and distributing a company-wide written wireless policy. Having a written policy serves not only as the impetus and pivotal document for keeping wireless costs under control, but it also sends a clear message to employees that the corporation is serious about how wireless devices should be used and what usage will be paid for by the company.

Keep this in mind when constructing your policy and determining “out-of-policy consumption” - it is virtually impossible to quantify and understand each and every wireless cost (i.e. call or use) when scattered among dozens or even hundreds of expense reports. This is the reason fundamental #4 is so important - get those contracts into the company name as soon as possible.

Your written wireless policy should include specifics on how and when wireless devices can and should be used - including any penalties for “out-of-policy” usage.

http://www.wireless-resolutions.com/

Are The Cell Phone Providers Getting Greedier?

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 01:00:00 +0000

Greedy providers. The wireless industry is all about squeezing as much money from the customer as it can. We know how it works: as the providers continue raking in the profits, customers are being forced to pay more for less, as usual.

Customers get so caught-up in the whiz-bang of owning a good looking phone and buying into new phone technology not realizing that all the while the wireless carriers are generating extraordinary profits. Most people don't do the math and have no idea what it will cost to own a cell phone today.

Did you know the average cell phone bill, with data and text and voice is about $70 per line? Multiply that figure by your two year contract and you get a whopping $1,680.00! Pretty steep price for the use of a cell phone.

Criticism of U.S. wireless carriers has reached an all time peak with complaints that they are charging far too much for voice, data and text messaging. The outcry against wireless carriers follows recent plans by government agencies, including the Federal Communications Commission and Congress, to investigate excessive wireless costs.

Last month, Verizon Wireless revealed that over 15 million of their customers were inaccurately billed small amounts of between $2 to $6 for false data charges. Those small amounts totaled about $9 million in erroneous data charges.

A few months ago, Verizon doubled the early-termination fee for SmartPhones. That means, if you have a Blackberry, Android or similar phone from Verizon, and you decide to cancel service with Verizon before your two-year contract is up, you'll now get hit with a $350 penalty instead of the old $175 fee. This move did nothing to help Verizon’s reputation for steep pricing and aggressive gouging.

There is a lot of concern over wireless costs, not just that they are too high, but there is evidence that as the wireless carriers' revenues are rising, while their wireless capital investments are decreasing. In other words, wireless carriers are charging more, but not improving the quality of network service with network build outs and coverage.

Texting

Ten years ago, text messaging was rarely used and no one in the country even knew about SMS Text messaging (Short Message Service). This year, people in this country will send and receive over 1.2 trillion of them according to IDC Marketing Intelligence.

The average teenager today sends or receives an average of 2,899 text messages per month, according to Nielsen Mobile. With teens, the act of picking up a phone and calling someone is going away.

What's most amazing about the text craze is just how little it costs the Wireless companies to provide this service. The truth is that it costs the cell phone companies no more than 0.3 cent, and yet three years ago the providers doubled the cost of a text message from .10 cents to .20 cents per text.

You don't have to be a Wall Street analyst to do the quick math here: with a carrier cost of one-third of a penny, when a customer pays 20 cents to send a message, 98% of that .20 cents is pure profit. Text messaging is a major contributor to the industry's profitability. It brings in an average of $8 per month per customer in revenue and generates about 25% of raw profit. Raw Greed

The unlimited text plans that carriers offer might seem more fair to customers, however unlimited text plans tend to make customers purchase more text than they really need only to avoid the "artificially inflated" 20-cent cost per text.

Erroneous Data Charges

Almost every bill we review each month has a couple of erroneous data charges at $1.99 each—yet customers complain that they do not download any data. We have come to know this erroneous data charge well.

Here’s how it works:

The phone manufacturer configures the phone to have multiple easy hit keystrokes to launch ‘Get it now’ or ‘Mobile Web’—usually a single key like an arrow key. Often we have no idea what key we hit, but up pops one of these screens. The instant you call the function, they charge you the data fee. A customer can cancel these unintended requests as fast as they hit the End key, but it doesn't matter; ANY data–even one kilobyte–is billed as 1MB at a cost of $1.99. The damage is done.

If one account has 1 to 3 bogus $1.99 charges per month for unintended data, how much is the provider profiting from that mistake? For example every month, 87 million Verizon customers will accidentally hit that key a few times a month! That’s over $300 million per month in data revenue off a simple mistake! All because they simply set your account up to bill a full MB when even a few bits have moved.

Most phones are designed in such a way that you can almost never avoid getting $1.99 charge on the bill. Around the OK button on a typical flip phone are the up, down, left, right arrows. If you open the flip and accidentally press the up arrow key, you see that the phone starts to connect to the web. So you hit END right away. Well, too late. You will be charged $1.99 for that 0.02 kilobytes of data.

Can you have this feature blocked? Yes, but even then, if you hit one of those buttons by accident, your phone transmits data; you get a message that says "you cannot use the service because data is blocked" and that message just used 0.06 kilobytes of data so you are now charged $1.99 again!

Do the carriers know about these erroneous charges? Of course they do. Their marketing, billing, and technical departments are all aware of this, but have failed to do anything about it— why? Because if you get 87 million customers to pay $1.99, and very few call in to complain or get credit for the charge, why would they want to stop this revenue? Greed

Voice Mail Prompts

Did you know that your minutes count while listening to someone’s voice mail prompts. Did you know that when you dial a number and connect to someone’s voice mail and then you hear all the prompts telling you what to do next…..you are using your minutes? You may think that this few seconds is no big deal…..it brought in an extra $13 million last year to the providers.

Third Party Data Charges

Cell phone companies have been engaging in a practice that’s currently being investigated. The industry is making huge money doing 3rd-party billing for companies who claim they have sold you “services” — services such as ring tones, games, horoscopes, videos, joke-of-the-day texts, etc. Here is why your cell phone company doesn't bring it to your attention. Your provider gets such a large commission for doing this kind of billing, that they've been purposely deceptive about the practice. More greed.

Ethics and simple honesty are the building blocks upon which our whole society is based, and business is a part of our society. It's integral to the practice of being able to conduct business, that you have a set of honest standards. It's much easier to do business with someone when you can look them in the eye and hear them say, "This is what we're going to do for you," and there is a clear understanding of what each of you mean, and it gets done. In this case I just don't see how things will get better without government regulation, which sometimes seems like a remote possibility.

New Gadgets And Applications That Will Help Your Employees Drive Safely And Abide By The New Hands-Free Law....

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 21:02:00 +0000

One of these will even pay you to drive hands-free!

It is now a well known fact that distracted driving is a really bad idea. Now that the new hands-free laws are in place, it can also result in hefty fines in places where it's against the law. It's not just teenagers who can't put down their cell phones -- employees of your company are facing the constant temptation to tap out a quick message to someone or answer the phone when someone calls. There are now ways to make it less tempting. Here are the newest ways to make sure your employees are abiding my the hands-free laws when you're not looking. Some are designed to even lock down phones during driving.

LifeSaver....a blackberry application

This is a Blackberry application that automatically starts up when you're driving. It uses the Blackberry's GPS chip inside the phone to detect motion. If the chip detects that the phone is moving faster than walking speed, it flashes a message urging the user to leave the phone alone. If the blocking feature is on it will not accept calls or text messages until the car comes to a stop.

This application is great for parents who worry about their kids being distracted while driving and for employers who want to keep an eye on their drivers. It has other safety features, like an alarm to warn when the car exceeds a preset speed. It won't just warn the driver; it will send an email to the parents or employer letting them know how fast the car is moving. Don't worry about anyone disabling the software. It’s password protected.

The application is at the Blackberry App Store at www.blackberry.com and it sells for $9.99.

SAFECELL

This one is even slicker and it can make you money! It doesn't automatically start up when you're driving, unlike LifeSaver, you have to turn it on yourself, whereupon it locks down the phone. So why turn it on? To get paid! The Android app has software that counts the number of miles you drive without using the phone and then rewards you for being hands-free!

The app is very straightforward in design. It automatically activates when your phone is traveling in excess of 5 miles per hour. While activated, it tracks local laws and lets you know if there is a hands-free law in that area, and then monitors outgoing text, phone, or email activities from your phone.

You will actually lose points for not obeying the law, thus creating more of an incentive to try and behave. Additionally, a great option for parents, or even companies that require work-related driving, is that reports of phone usage can be downloaded from the SAFECELL website. Employers with company issued phones can also monitor their employees’ adherence to company driving policies, especially in high-liability scenarios.

For every 500 miles, you're eligible to receive a $5 gift card. If you drive, say, 12,000 miles a year, you could ring up $120 in gift cards accepted by such retailers as Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Outback Steakhouse, Macy's, and many others. Don't expect to get rich through this program, but receiving a little incentive for doing nothing more than driving safely is a pretty cool idea.

This one is only $11.99 a year and can be found at your Android Market or on iTunes if you have an iPhone. This application that can be seamlessly deployed to an enterprise level business. Contact 1-888-910-7910 for more information.

Google Actions

Tell your phone what to do! Voice Action's intelligent voice applications turn your words into action. Simply speak to your phone to get just about anything done while on the go. This application is amazing! You can simply keep your phone in your pocket and tell it to call any business. This business doesn't even have to be in your contact list...it can be ANY business. You can set a reminder alarm for appointments or something else you don't want to forget. You can ask for driving directions. You can search for music on the web by saying what song you want to hear. You can dictate email messages and text messages and you can hear them read out loud when you receive a text or email. All this is done by voice and completely hands-free!

The new Motorola H17txt hands-free Bluetooth headset with MotSpeak!

Keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road with Motorola H17txt Bluetooth with MotoSpeak.

What sets this new headset apart from the competition is its ability to read your messages, emails and incoming caller ID to you, out loud and through the headset! The headset does this through a SmartPhone application that can be installed on Android and Blackberry devices.

The H17txt is a dual microphone Bluetooth headset with everything you'd expect from a top notch headset - multipoint pairing (allows you to connect to two phones at the same time), automatic volume adjustment and long battery life.

Once you have it on, you'll be alerted when you receive a message, and if enabled, the headset will actually read the message to you. The same speech system is used to announce incoming calls and other features on your phone. The quality of the speech is very impressive, and makes it possible to drive without reaching for your phone to check on your latest email. The H17 txt will also read out turn-by-turn directions, and include battery level prompts and mute notifications.

The headset hooks onto your ear with a relatively small form factor, and has a little boom that opens outwards from being folded in, which effectively turns the device on and off. It’s lightweight and pretty comfortable, in so far as when you have it in your ear, its easy to forget about it and leave it in as you exit your car. One very special feature, however, makes this headset pretty unique– not only does it have the ability to read out incoming texts to you, when programmed correctly, it can respond to senders with an auto-reply that lets them know (via text) that you're driving but will get back to them when you finish.

The headset has MotoSpeak, or text-to-speech technology. Once you install a free Motorola app to your Blackberry or Android phone, the device will read text messages to you so you never have to take your eyes off the road. Usually when receiving a text alert while your hands are on the wheel, your natural instinct is to immediately grab your phone and read the text. That's what's so impressive about this headset.......this one chimes first and then the text comes in....“Text message from Mary: Just got home, took 40 minutes longer because of traffic jam on i95.” for example.

This one is sold at retailers like BestBuy and Amazon for $89.99

For more information on any of these new products and services, call us. For more articles like this one, visit our blog and join for free at
www.wirelessresolutionsblog.com

1-877-679-1206
www.wireless-resolutions.com

"We can hear you now."

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:48:00 +0000

Today, the Federal Communications Commission wants all cell phone customers to know:

"We can hear you now."

Today the Federal Communications Commission will propose new legislation requiring that all mobile phone companies "warn subscribers" if their bills are about to go through the roof. Thousands of complaints have poured into the FCC about unexpected high wireless bills and now the FCC has promised to act. Apparently all these complaints are enough to warrant federal attention. While this is a step in the right direction, customer advocacy groups, like us here at Wireless Resolutions, know that the FCC has barely begun to address the massive problems in this industry.

The FCC will now begin the process of forcing cell phone companies to let customers know when monthly minutes for phone services are about to be exceeded, long before bills are sent. The new requirement will be part of heightened scrutiny by the agency to address many cell phone customer issues. The FCC's role here is to be a cop on the beat protecting and representing American customers, giving them a voice in the process. Last year, the FCC looked into so-called "truth-in-billing" rules, which require cell phone companies to clearly describe charges on customer bills.

Recently, they investigated complaints that Verizon had charged their customers without data plans a fee when they inadvertently pressed the Web access button on their phones. The inquiry resulted in Verizon issuing $90 million dollars in credits and refunds to over 15 million customers who were improperly billed. The FCC is continuing to investigate Verizon and their billing practices to uncover other issues. Verizon has declined to comment on the FCC's ongoing investigation into its billing practices.

A recent FCC survey found that as many as one 30 million Americans - had experienced 'bill shock' where they received a bill higher than they expected. None were ever alerted before or after the arrival of the bill that they would have overage charges. There have been cases where bill came in with overcharges of thousands of dollars. These new proposals presented today, will force the cell phone providers to send a voice mail or a text alert to all wireless customers to let them know if they are about to exceed their monthly usage limits on their service plans, and then another alert when they have reached their allotted minutes.

The FCC is seeking rules that require the mobile carriers to provide usage alerts and related information that will assist customers in avoiding unexpected charges on their bills. What might those new rules say?

Free message alerts to smart phone users tipping them to the fact that they've used 80 percent of their plan’s included voice minutes, data, or text messages.
Another alert if they've exceeded their minutes.
Automatic updates on the costs they'll incur if they roam onto another provider’s network.
Clear and prominent disclosure of any overage charges for exceeding a plan’s allotted voice minutes, text messages, data usage and roaming fees in advertisements, at the point of sale and on monthly bills.

Needless to say, the carriers are not big fans of these new rules. They all say “The FCC should not prescribe – and ultimately limit – their ability to provide effective consumer account management tools." They say, "We agree with the FCC that the goal is to keep all customers happy, but we are concerned that prescriptive and costly rules that limit the creative offerings and competitive nature of the industry may threaten to offset these positive trends." Now what exactly does that mean?

Verizon has expressed concern regarding prescriptive rules in this area and says they already do plenty to keep consumers updated on their bills. This is an odd thing to say just after they admitted that they are going to send refunds to millions of subscribers who were "accidentally" charged when firing up their Verizon-networked Mobile Web Browsers.

Personally, I have been waiting for 20 years to see an abrupt change in this greedy, sloppy, unregulated industry. I think these investigations and new rules are long overdue and the FCC is finally doing it's job to bring about more regulation to protect wireless customers.

This rule should not even be controversial....I mean why should it be a problem at all for these cell phone companies to provide a little head’s up as a courtesy to the customer... especially for these companies who specialize in communications?

Is The New Hands-free law Really a Secondary Offense?

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 18:38:00 +0000

Dozens of new road signs that read "State law: No texting, No hand-held cell phone," will be posted along Maryland state highways to inform in state and out-of-state drivers of the new law. While the new law says you will be charged only $40 for breaking the law....you might be in for a bigger shock if you get caught without hands-free.

Under the new hands-free law, police can issue a ticket to drivers caught using handheld cell phones. Under the law, drivers can be fined $40 for first violations and $100 for subsequent ones. Maryland will allow the courts to waive a penalty for a driver's first offense, if a driver can provide proof that he or she has purchased a hands-free accessory or device for the cell phone.

The hands-free violation is supposedly a secondary offense, so drivers can only be pulled over if they are committing another offense, such as speeding. By setting up the new law as a “secondary offense,” technically the police can't pull you over for just using the phone. BUT....if you're pulled over for speeding, negligent driving or other moving violations, then they can tack the cell phone use on to your list of tickets.

It’s interesting that “negligent driving” shows up on the Maryland state government’s web site as a “primary offense.” See below. That means the police can actually use the fact that you were using your cell phone to make a case for negligent driving! That means they can give you two tickets. A negligent or reckless driving ticket can add points to your driving record and earn you a hefty fine.

Hands-free law as defined on Maryland state government’s web site:

"The new hands-free law is a secondary offense, meaning that a driver must first be detained for another offense, such as speeding or reckless driving or "negligent driving," before he or she can be ticketed for a cell phone offense. However, be advised that "negligent driving" is a primary offense in Maryland and can be used as a precursor to citing violators of the new cell phone law."

Reckless Driving Fine—$500 and 6 points

Negligent Driving Fine—$140 and 1 point

What will you be stopped for?

Drivers are mistaken if they think they can get away with having a cell phone pressed to their ear. Don't let this "secondary offense language fool you. Police can pull you over for lots of traffic offenses, such as tailgating, erratic driving and faulty equipment on the vehicle. According to a spokesperson at the Maryland State Police, "It's easy for police officers to be proactive. There are tons of violations that we can pull you over for." The other violation could be almost anything,” said one office of the Maryland State Police, listing seatbelt violations, weaving across the center line and illegal window tinting as a few examples.

“If I really wanted to stop you for something, it would be very easy to do,” another officer agreed. “Everybody commits a violation at some point. Either they don't use a turn signal when they're making a turn, or they don't make a stop before they make the right hand turn. There are just so many things they could be stopped for. So, if I see you using a cell phone or think you might be, I can pull you over for something else I see."

Here are some violations that can be considered negligent and/or reckless driving which will prompt an officer to pull you over and issue you a hefty fine and points on your driving record....

-- passing a stopped school bus

-- passing a moving emergency vehicle

-- failure to wear a seatbelt
-- failure to maintain control of a vehicle: weaving

-- driving with faulty brakes

-- make a stop before they make the right hand turn

-- driving too fast for conditions, regardless of posted limit

-- passing on a curve or at the crest of a grade

-- driving with a load that obstructs front or side visibility

-- passing at a railroad crossing

-- failure to use adequate and timely turn signals

-- failure to stop before entering a highway unless a yield sign is present

-- failure to yield when entering a highway when a yield sign is present

Still want to take your chances?

So what should you do if you need to make a call while driving and you don't have a hands-free device? Police advise against pulling off to the shoulder of an interstate highway to make or take a call. “Keep in mind, you're sitting on the shoulder, maybe only a foot or two away from a steady stream of vehicles — cars, trucks and tractor trailers — that are doing 60, 65, 70 mph. “One little slip from someone and they can drift off to the shoulder and hit you when you're stopped on the side of the highway.” Instead, they recommend taking the nearest exit or pulling into a rest area if the call can't wait until you reach your destination.

Maryland State police have already issued nearly 1,000 tickets to i95 drivers for using cell phones without hands-free devices during a four-day enforcement blitz.

The question is...what were those drivers really pulled over for?

How to Get the Most Out of Your Cell phone Battery and Even Improve Reception

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:38:00 +0000

A mobile phone is only as portable as its power source. So, to get the most out of your phone you need to get the most out of your battery. When it comes to battery life, there are two considerations: how to make the battery last longer between charges, and how to prolong the overall life of the battery while keeping your phone safe.

First off, if you need a new battery, make sure you always buy a new battery. Most resellers are selling used batteries and calling them OEM. The battery you will receive will be wrapped in bubble wrap or paper. Make sure your battery comes in a retail package. You don't want to replace a used battery with someone else's used battery.

Did you know that your cell phone’s battery greatly effects your reception?

Poor reception is not something that your service provider will fix just because you want them to. It must be justifiably cost effective for them to put up new towers, which will ultimately be criticized and sometimes rejected by cities, home owners associations, etc. Most cell phone users think there is nothing they can do to improve their cell phone reception by themselves.

Your battery alone can greatly increase your quality of reception. Your cell phone uses a lot more power when connecting a call than when it is just sitting idle. Your battery can be strong enough to attempt a call, but not strong enough to find a signal. If you find you are having signal problems, try to always keep your battery charged to 2 bars or higher.

Here are some other tips to get the most of your cell phone battery.

1. Increase Time between Charges. Turn the phone off when you are not using it. This is probably the most effective and most simple way of conserving your battery’s power. If you don't plan on answering the phone while you're sleeping or after business hours, just turn it off. Do the same if you are in an area with no reception (such as a subway or remote area, since constantly searching for service depletes the battery fairly quickly.

• Your battery has a limited amount of charges. Most are only 300 total charges per battery. Do not charge your phone unnecessarily and never fully discharge a lithium-ion battery! Unlike Ni-Cd batteries, lithium-ion batteries' life is shortened every time you fully discharge them. Instead, charge them when the battery meter shows one bar left.

Warning: Car Chargers and the effect they have on your cell phone

What to watch out for when buying a cell phone Charger?

So what kind of Charger should you purchase?

A number of considerations should go into the type of cell phone charger that will best suit your needs as well as some strong cautions regarding some chargers currently on the market.

• Desktop Chargers - Desktop cell phone chargers are a base unit that sits on a desk, counter, etc. and plugs into the wall using a travel charger. The base may hold only the phone, only a battery, or both the phone and battery. Generally any case on the phone will have to be removed for the phone to fit in these types of chargers.

• All-in-One Chargers - All in one cell phone chargers such are are combo travel and car charger. These types of chargers are very convenient when traveling as you can carry one unit for both applications. These are almost always rapid cell phone chargers.

What do terms like IC Chip and OEM mean?

• IC Chip - Any good charger will have overcharge protection embedded in the form of an IC Chip or similar technology. This protects the phone and battery from damage due to overcharging or overheating. A charger without overcharge protection should never be used.

• OEM - OEM (original equipment manufacturer) cell phone chargers are made by the company that makes your cell phone. For instance, a Motorola brand charger is the OEM charger for Motorola phones. Some phone manufacturers will not honor the phones warranty if you use a charger other than the OEM unit and the phone or battery is damaged.

Are You Still Over-Paying Your Wireless Provider?

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:23:00 +0000

A recent survey was conducted by Communications Convergence Magazine in which a questionnaire was sent out to over 5,000 businesses nationwide. Over 97% of those businesses responded to that survey and some very interesting data was gathered.

The survey revealed that only 35% of all companies said their cell phone bills are audited periodically for billing errors. The remaining 65% said they simply pay the amount the wireless provider says is due each month without auditing or contesting the charges.

Surprisingly, over 75% of those businesses said their cell phone provider did the actual audit for them! And only 25% of respondents said they use the services of a third party wireless expense auditing firm.

NOTE: There is no other area of a business enterprise that will allow vendors to audit themselves.

In the same survey, 73% of companies said they trust and believe that their cell phone bills were accurate with few or no incorrect charges. However, the Federal Communications Commission, the Better Business Bureau, and several other independent analysts have determined that over 80% of all cell phone bills contain significant errors and that 85% of all businesses over-pay their bills each month without contesting or auditing the charges.

Businesses tend to give the cell phone providers the benefit of the doubt, when overwhelming evidence shows that the phone companies are guilty of making significant errors on their customer’s bills on a regular basis. What’s more surprising is that businesses are fully aware that their wireless providers do not recommend wireless audits or proactively offer one. Nor do they offer packages or services that can reduce costs unless a customer calls in specifically to ask.

Companies waste millions of dollars each year because they attempt to manage their accounts in house or they allow a sales representative who works for their provider to look at their account and make suggestions. It is not uncommon for companies to continue sending money down the drain on wireless services because they have lost control. And without having visibility and control over wireless spending, a company can lose a lot of money simply by not having the time or resources to manage their account. This is a vulnerability that can be very costly.

This is why more and more businesses, both large and small, are now choosing to outsource the process to a professional wireless management firm. Successful Wireless Expense Management is very complex and can be very costly if you do not have the in-house expertise it takes to manage it well.

An independent Wireless Consultant can dedicate the right amount of time and knowledge it takes to manage your Wireless account on a monthly basis. Most companies just pass on their bills to their Accounts Payable department without doing a thorough audit.

When a company provides their employees with cell phones for business use, the cell phone bills can sometimes end up being enormous. Cell phone over-charges are so common, a company can save thousands… even tens of thousands of dollars on their cell phone bill and then further reduce their costs with a thorough analysis of their cell phone services bill by a reputable third party with experience.

Let's take a look at what a professionals and detailed cell phone bill audit can do for your company:

• They can provide a thorough and methodical analysis of your company's cell phone usage, including detailing extraneous usage, including usage against company policies.

• They can act as a liaison between your company and the cell phone services provider to obtain refunds, credits and to implement plan recommendations and optimizations that will benefit your business and not your provider.

• They can pinpoint non-active phones that your cell phone provider may still be charging you for and many times get rid of those costly lines.

• They can identify poor rate plan that are not conducive to the user’s needs and make recommendations for rate plan improvement.

• They can identify poor plan minute/rate ratios.

• They can recommend a usage policy for all employees, to reduce usage for non company related reasons.

• They can manage and review your cell phone contracts with your provider.

• They can offer rate plan optimization for further reducing monthly costs and overage fees.

• They can do a plan feature analysis and recommendations for additional features that can save you money.

• They can make recommendations for upgrading cell phones, to newer, more efficient technology and features.

• They can keep you informed about the newest and latest equipment and plans that will save you money.

• They can make sure you are getting corporate discounts and other incentives that you probably do not know about or have access to.

• They can provide an overall report to measure your return on investment with your cell phone services pertaining to your business.

• They can vastly improve your relationship with your current provider and when that is not possible, they can make recommendations to move to another provider and then make that transition go smoothly without the typical chaos that can happen when you try to make a switch like this yourself.

A company who chooses to have their cell phone usage audited by a third party can see an average of 35% to 50% cost savings. Some company's may obtain up to 60% cost savings with a cell phone audit depending on how neglected their accounts are.

A proper cell phone services audit can greatly benefit your company in overall cost savings as well as better usage and implementation of your cell phones across your organization. In most cases, a cell phone audit company will not even charge you until savings have been obtained; therefore they work on a contingency basis. For any company, of any size, that uses cell phones on a daily basis, the advantages of having a cell phone audit are many and the cost, are very small.

Things You Need to Know if you want Manage your own Cell Phone Account....

AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile Business wireless accounts are not easy to manage. Here are a few tips on wireless expense management from an expert.

• Every carrier claims to be the best in their space; AT&T pumps up their worldwide footprint boasting coverage. Verizon has you covered with their “It’s the Network” campaign and Sprint can get you there faster with “Sprint Speed.” The bottom line is that the Big 3 (Sprint, Verizon, AT&T) all have comparable solutions. The biggest difference in the Big 3 is simply the way they’re marketed to the YOU, the end user. So throw out your brand loyalty and make a decision based on what fits the needs of your business.

• In a perfect world your wireless carrier would always make sure that you were on the best offering available, but in a cellular world your offer is only as good as what you signed up for. Plans change frequently and if you are committed to managing your company’s wireless account the "right way" it's necessary to review the account on a monthly basis and then reference your plan with the existing carrier offerings to ensure you are getting the best plan for your money.

• End user plan compatibility; the only thing that can hurt your company’s wallet more than a bad plan is a plan that doesn’t meet the needs of an end user. It's important that every plan is selected for the person that's using it. For example an unlimited text messaging plan is a complete waste of money for a person not using the feature, but for the person using text messaging it can save hundreds of dollars in unnecessary per message charges. The more users you have, the more complicated it can become to juggle this recurring task, but neglecting it won’t make it go away; instead it will surely produce an astronomical invoice. Make sure you don’t throw in the towel too quickly and hand this task over to a sales rep who represents your wireless provider. Don’t count on them looking out for your best interests when their jobs are to keep the profit margins high for their company.

• Feature Blocking; all the carriers have the ability to block unwanted features such as text messaging, web, voice calls, etc., but few advertise it to their customer base as it reduces revenue and hurts the carriers bottom line. It is always recommended to block the cellular features you don’t want an employee to access but be prepared to spend some time on the phone with your wireless provider’s customer care department to get this done. Then keep your fingers crossed that the job gets done.

• Billing: The providers use the old excuse, “nobody is perfect”… They take this phrase straight to the bank. Cellular billing errors can occur on a monthly basis. They can stem from so many different places. For example you called that rep at AT&T and told them to add data to your bosses new Blackberry, but little did you know it wasn’t added correctly. Your next bill arrives and he's been charged $600 in data charges (i.e. many unhappy iPHONE customers). Or maybe the rep didn’t set it to take effect until the beginning of your next billing cycle, but your boss started using it right away and the charges started piling up. Billing errors like this are common at cellular companies as are their empty promises of making sure that they won’t happen again.

• Carrier reps; have you ever been promised the world by your representative only to have that person disappear when his offer didn’t work out as promised? Remember, they represent the carrier. When it comes to solutions and saving you money, they may promise to have the best of the best but the statistics of unhappy customers show that in many cases the promises aren’t being kept. Remember the easy part is making the decision on what to buy – the hard part is getting support after the rep that closed your deal has been paid a big commission!

• Customer care; This is almost an oxymoron in cellular. If you need to resolve an issue you call an 800 number, you then pray that the person is competent…oh wait they’re not... call again. After a few hours on the phone and countless transfers your issue is finally resolved only to get your next bill and find out that the charge that rep said was reversed – wasn’t. TRY AGAIN… and so the game goes

• The carrier transition; this process has become easier over the past couple of years now that you can keep your existing phone numbers when swapping carriers. But, depending on the size of your account transitioning cellular companies can be a logistical nightmare. Make sure that you are working with someone that has a proven track record of executing this process seamlessly. Ask for referrals of past customers comparable to your size that have transitioned through them and call them for feedback.

• Procurement; naturally your implementation of mobile solutions has made your business more productive. Now you need to order new devices and grow your account. Make sure that you order from a consistent non-commissioned source that has your best interests in mind. Make sure that you are ordering from someone that is not paid by the wireless provider and someone that can actually look at what you need and make recommendations accordingly. The best way to ensure that this is happening is to do a monthly bill audit, look for how many minutes you are paying for vs. how many you actually used. Look for features end users aren’t using. Look for new plans that can lower your overall costs. This can be a painstaking process, but it is an essential piece to any well managed cellular account.

How do you avoid these headaches? Luckily there are companies out there that bridge the gap of the customer’s needs and the carrier inability to meet them through cellular managed services programs. In the long run it makes sense to pay a nominal fee and ensure that your problems are fixed by an expert. With a the right Wireless Expense Management company you will see instant results, immediate savings and an improved relationship with your wireless provider.

We are one of those companies and we offer a free account review to show you just how much you are over-paying your wireless provider and how we can get that money back for you. Call us today at (877) 679-1206 for your free cost reduction analysis.

Is Your Business Ready For The New Hands-Free Law?

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:15:00 +0000

What are your options?

If you or your employees are going to use your cell phones on the road, your time is running out. As of October 1st, the new hands-fee law will go into effect and more and more businesses are going to need a product with blue tooth technology.

The decision to purchase these hands-free devices can be complicated. Do you go the cheaper route and purchase inexpensive headsets which end up costing you more in the long run? Or do you go with portable or more expensive installed hands free kits that should never have to be replaced? When considering cost, you may need to consider these factors:

Headsets are easily lost or stolen or broken and expensive to replace.
Nearly all bluetooth headsets have an internal battery that cannot be removed. The batteries have a short life of approximately 300 charges so you will more than likely have to replace headsets each year at a cost that averages around $50.
A headset cannot be used while it is charging.
Earpieces do not fit everyone comfortably. One size definitely doesn't fit all and you cannot try them out first before you buy them.
Headsets can be uncomfortable for those who wear glasses or sunglasses.
For reasons of hygiene, the ear buds should not be shared.
Bluetooth headset batteries on average, last just 26 hours when not in use and only 2-3 hours when talking.
Most users purchase several headsets and then finally give up and buy an installed hands free car kit.
Most employees find headsets ugly and uncomfortable and will not wear them.

Wired Headsets: The inexpensive Hands Free Option.....$10.00- $15.00

Wired headsets are an economical way to become handsfree. Although the wired headsets are not as trendy and convenient as the bluetooth wireless headsets, sometimes the sound quality on both ends can be clearer with a wired connection. however, you do not have the ease of wireless technology. You are going to be attached wherever you go, and getting tangled in wires while trying to work can be a hassle.

Wireless Bluetooth Headsets: Your cost $25.00-$125.00

Bluetooth clearly has an advantage in the hands-free race: It uses wireless technology with no tangles and a clean installation. Keep these things in mind when choosing a bluetooth:

Comfort is equally as important as sound quality-look for headsets that are reversible and can be switched between ears during long periods of use.
Noise cancellation is an important factor for many commuters since cars can be noisy.
Easy to use volume controls should be easy to access and commands should be simple to remember.
Price: cost does not always determine quality but sometimes you may get additional accessories such as a cell phone holder with more expensive models.
Compatibility: Bluetooth products are compatible with most cell phones, but make sure that your cell phone is bluetooth capable. You can check by going through the options in your cell phones settings.
Designing: choose a design will mesh with your general style because you may end up wearing it as an accessory if you use it frequently.
Distinguishing factor: Headsets and earpieces are completely portable so they can be used in the home as well.

Visor Bluetooth Devices....Your cost $79.99

Not everyone wants to wear a headset. They can be irritating and unattractive and hard to hear over the ambient noise in a car. Some are also difficult to use. A good alternate is a portable hands-free device for your phones, which allows your drivers to keep their hands on the wheel using voice recognition technology.

Pictured above is Motorola's T305 portable bluetooth kit that offers users a simple and inexpensive wireless hands-free solution rather than installing an expensive bluetooth kit inside your car. The portable offers much of the same functionality, but can be moved from one vehicle to another. A small clip that attaches to the back of the device allows you to mount the T305 on your sun visor, which allows for easy access. The T305 also has a mini-USB port at the base of the unit for charging in home as well as a vehicle power adapter that plugs into the vehicles cigarette lighter for in-car charging. However, the 12 hours of talk time and 200 hours of standby should more than adequate for most trips. One of the major benefits of the device is that you do not have to wear an annoying headset for handsfree conversation.

High-End Portable Hands-Free Car Kit....Your cost $139.00-$189.00

Car kits come in two flavors: Installed and portable. Installed car kits are usually installed by a professional, while portable are typically installed by you. Car kits are a great way to conform with hands-free laws in your state and offer flexibility that wired hands-free options don't. These car kits include advanced control options including muting options for your radio when receiving a call and a routing of the voice signal through your vehicles stereo speakers. This option may be more expensive however, it is a clean installation with more flexibility than any of the other hands-free options. Portable car kits are bluetooth enabled (wireless) and they require a phone that is bluetooth enabled. One of the advantages to the portable car kit is the ability to move the kit from one vehicle to another.

Recharging: They are automatically charged when you are driving
Sound quality: The call is played over the vehicle speaker and as a result it is much easier to hear the person that is calling.
Distinguishing factor: Car stereos with bluetooth functionality integrate right into your car.

Car Kits: Installed Bluetooth Technology....Your cost $250.00-$325.00 which includes installation.

For the ultimate in quality and convenience, you may want to have a hard-wired and permanently installed hands-free system in your vehicles. These are professionally installed devices that integrate with the vehicles stereo system. Because they are integrated, when a call comes in, it is heard through the radio. The advantage of an installed system is that they provide more than adequate volume even at highway speeds and it is always in your vehicle so you won't forget to take it along.

Call us for more information on the new laws in your state and your options. We have access to all the above options including professional installation of car kits at discounted pricing specifically for our clients.

TWO NEW ANDROIDS FROM SPRINT

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:37:00 +0000

What's stopping you from getting an exciting new Android phone?

Could it be that you really want one, but you prefer the Qwerty Keyboard over Touch Screen Swype?

Could it be that you really want one of these exciting new devices but you don't want to give up your two-way radio?

Could it be that you want one but you don't want to go to the end of the long wait list to get it?

Now Sprint has the answers you've been waiting for with two new Android phones. Featuring the new Motorola i1 with a push to talk radio and the new, soon to be released Samsung Epic 4G with a qwerty keyboard.

The New Samsung EPIC ...Sprint's Second 4G phone
Available around August 20th! Price unknown at this time.

This one has the Slide-out QWERTY Keypad plus the Virtual Swype!

Be entertained 24/7

• 4-inch Super AMOLED capacitive display for an HDTV-quality viewing experience, plus pinch-to-zoomRecords and plays back DRM-free content at 720p 30fps HD.
• Android™ 2.1, with access to more than 65,000 apps.

• Future access to the Samsung Media Hub, a full library of video and literary
content powered by some of the biggest names in entertainment.
• It's a book reader! Instantly download eBooks from Skiff, Amazon, Barnes &
Noble and Kobo.
• Six-axis motion sensor for the ultimate gaming experience.
• Dual cameras: 5-megapixel camera/camcorder with autofocus, Power LED flash
and 3x digital zoom for HD video (720p) recording for capture and playback on
an HD television, and front-facing VGA camera for video chat and more.
• Qik® video application for video chat service and live video sharing.

• 3G/4G capability — the latest arrival
to the first wireless 4G network from
a national carrier
• 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability —
connects up to five Wi-Fi enabled
devices
• Digital compass, proximity sensor,
light sensor and GPS Navigation
• Samsung 1GHz Cortex A8
Hummingbird Application Processor
• Standard removable 1500mAh
Lithium (Li-on) battery
• Expandable memory: 16 GB microSD™ card included; supports up to 32 GB

Also Featuring America's First Android with Push To Talk Radio!
Available now through Wireless Resolutions at only $149.99!

Featuring military spec ruggedness with the latest in SmartPhone technology, industry-leading push-to-talk, Wi-Fi and a sleek full touch screen design.

Solid body construction that meets military specifications for protection against dust, shock, vibration and blowing rain, Motorola i1 is designed for those who work and play hard.

The Moto i1 is the first Google Android device to support push-to-talk capabilities, specifically Nextel's Direct Connect services, so you can instantly chat with your contacts. Direct Connect also includes Group Connect, International Direct Connect, Direct Talk, Direct Send, Group Messaging, and Next Mail.

It offers the Android 1.5 operating system, and automatically syncs and integrates office and personal information such as emails, calendar appointments and contacts.

Built-In Wi-Fi: For connection to the Internet. Stereo Bluetooth-compatible for hands-free conversation on a Bluetooth-enabled device.

Opera Mini 5 Web browser and Android 1.5 operating system: Allows you to stay connected and productive on the go.
3.1″ HVGA touch-screen display: For clear viewing of your text messages, photos and videos.
SWYPE technology: For blazing-fast messaging.
Store contacts, photos and more with the microSD memory card slot (2GB microSD card included). Supports up to 16GB microSD cards.
Built-in 5.0MP camera with autofocus, flash and zoom: For taking still photos and short videos.
Nationwide Walkie-Talkie: Offers flexible communication.
Multimedia, instant messaging and text messaging: Let you easily communicate with friends and family. Supports Google Talk, MSN, Yahoo! and more.
Customizable ringtones: Allow you to personalize the sound of your phone.
Vibrate mode: Notifies you discreetly of incoming calls and messages.
Voice activation: For hands-free dialing.
Google Talk, photo and video sharing and more.
Up to 210 minutes talk time and up to 100 hours standby with included rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

BIG NEWS for EVO FANS: Android 2.2 for the EVO 4G is Officially Coming August 3rd

Sprint’s officially announced that they’ll be the first carrier to offer Android 2.2 for any carrier-specific device starting August 3rd (HTC EVO 4G). We’ve heard before that Sprint wanted to make sure they were the first carrier to launch FroYo for any of the currently available Android handsets, but we didn’t think they were working this hard to get the upgrade ready. If anyone ever has any doubt that HTC can’t deliver the goods in a timely fashion, then those doubts can be thrown out of the window.

Don't let long wait lists stop you from getting the phone you want.

Ignore the wait lists! We can get ANY phone you want.... including the hard to find EVO 4G...without a long wait!

Call us at 1-877-679-1206 to order the phone you want.

Has the first “iPhone killer” arrived?

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:53:00 +0000

One of the most overused epithets in the tech industry has to be “iPhone killer.” It’s about the only recognized measure for a mobile phone’s greatness. But in almost every circumstance, the moniker falls short when comparing to the ubiquitous Apple phone.

That is, until now. The perfect match of software and hardware has finally come together in the form of the HTC Evo 4G, a $199 smartphone for Sprint released earlier this month. The Evo is the best example of an iPhone killer thus far — and that’s even with the release of the newest iPhone 4 later this week.

The Apple iPhone 4 is cool, but it's no EVO 4G

Possibly the biggest iPhone challenger to surface since the industry started seeking a true iPhone killer is the HTC EVO 4G, the first commercially available 4G smartphone, which runs on Sprint WiMax network. The comparisons are bound to happen, but the iPhone 4, for all of its luster, still lacks a little of the flare of the Google Android HTC EVO 4G, which ties in a better camera and larger screen.

The EVO also has support for Google Voice, free navigation and unlimited multitasking. The comparisons are sure to continue, but as the critics everywhere have pointed out: "The new iPhone 4 doesn't mean it is a 4G phone. The only 4G phone as of the moment is the HTC EVO 4G. It is being powered by Sprint Mobile that uses WiMax, the only network provider that offers 4G." Only time will tell which one is the true victor, but so far, the HTC EVO 4G is off to a strong start.

I personally like the EVO better because:

Screen » It’s got a gorgeous 4.3-inch screen that dwarfs the iPhone’s 3.5-inch screen. It’s crystal clear, with a higher resolution than the iPhone 3GS. Viewing movies on it is a dream, and it even has a kickstand.

Storage » It’s got a removable battery and removable storage. You can take out the microSD card to replace it with another one, or to upload photos and video more easily to your computer. You can't remove the battery with the iPhone and if you want more memory you had to pay an extra $100 in the beginning.

Tethering » The Evo can be turned into a WiFi hotspot. Really, no other phone can do this. You can simply flick a switch and connect up to 8 other devices to the Internet. Or you can use it instead of your wireless connection card. Up to 5 users can get onto the Internet with your EVO just laying on your desk.

Open system » The Evo is not bound by the same nasty Apple-imposed restrictions that have held back the iPhone, such as tethering or applications that don’t meet Apple’s approval. If a developer can make it for Android, they can start selling the application without company approval.

Faster network » The Evo supports Sprint’s new 4G cellular network with incredible speed. That in comparison to the iPhone, which only runs on AT&T’s slower 3G network. Also coverage with the iPhone has been less than satisfactory with so much data overload. People continue to complain about not getting signals and dropping calls. See more about ATT coverage below.

Customizable » The interface is fully customizable: You can arrange your homepage anyway you want with animated wallpaper and widgets for weather, stocks and other information available right when you turn it on.

Bummers About Apple iPhone

While I did get Apple tunnel vision after seeing the new features that the iPhone will offer, I immediately snapped back to reality after noticing some things that really make it hard to justify the monthly costs of getting the iPhone 4. After comparing both the monthly costs and the available features between the iPhone 4 & Sprint HTC EVO 4G, I decided to opt for Sprint's EVO 4G instead.

Here's why:

The new Apple iPhone 4 certainly packs a punch. It's 24 percent thinner than its predecessor and runs Apple's self-made ARM-based A4 central processor, the same chip that powers the Apple iPad touch-screen tablet. It's the first device to tie in iPhone OS 4 and adds a 5-megapixel camera that takes stills and 720p HD video. The camera is front-facing, making video chat available. The hardware also features a three-axis gyroscope for gaming accuracy; a 3.5-inch scratch-resistant glass display, that offers 326 pixels per inch for a clearer picture; and new iPhone software that adds reader functionality similar to the iPad. But there are some things that are missing:

FaceTime video calling works only over Wi-Fi and only iPhone 4 to iPhone 4: One of the biggest coups for the Apple iPhone 4 is the ability to make video calls using the new FaceTime offering. But FaceTime only works over Wi-Fi. The new iPhone has built in support for video calls, and I have to admit that the idea of using Facetime really made me want to buy the iPhone 4. When I really thought about it, though, how often will I be able to actually use this neat feature? Due to the limitations of AT&T's network, you won't be able to use Facetime via AT&T 3G. Instead you'll have to be connected to a WiFi hotspot, and the person that you are calling will also have need to have an iPhone 4 that is connected via WiFi. What are the odds that this will happen very often unless you make plans in advance to do a video call?

There are third party applications such as Qik that allow EVO 4G users to place video calls via 3G, 4G, or WiFi! Qik has also said that they plan on developing an application that will allow desktop users to make video calls to mobile users.

The iPhone is still AT&T only: There was a collective sigh of disappointment when, after Steve Jobs showcased the Apple iPhone 4, there was no mention of the device hitting other carrier networks. The world had hoped and prayed that Sprint or Verizon would get the iPhone 4 and rip the exclusivity away from AT&T and their issues with network coverage. That wasn't the case. For the time being, iPhone users will continue to suffer poor signals and dropped calls.

Coverage & Network Performance - It's no secret that AT&T's 3G network coverage and performance pales in comparison to Sprint's CDMA network. In fact, many Apple fans are already aware of just how bad AT&T's network is, as iPhone users are constantly complaining about dropped calls and spotty 3G coverage (even folks who are in AT&T 3G areas have problems with the performance, since AT&T's towers are so overloaded!) This is why AT&T killed their unlimited 3G data plans in the first place - their network simply could not handle the demand, so they had to place limits on users or their network would come to a screeching halt!

Not only does Sprint offer better 3G coverage than AT&T (check out the maps below), but they also have 4G coverage in about 30 cities (with more launching each quarter) that provides even faster connection speeds of up to 7mbit/sec download! That's faster than standard DSL/Cable services! Despite the 4 in the "iPhone 4" name, the latest iPhone isn't capable of using 4G networks - it simply indicates that its the fourth-generation iPhone.

Comparison of AT&T & Sprint 3G Coverage

AT&T data plans: AT&T last week deep-sixed its $30 unlimited wireless data plans for the iPhone and replaced them with limited plans that are more expensive. Now they offer a measely 200-MB-per-month plan for $15 or a 2-GB-per-month plan for $25, with $10 for each additional GB. AT&T claims the new plans will save most consumers money, but iPhone loyalists, especially those who use their devices for bandwidth-intensive apps (many more of which are sure to surface with the new iPhone 4 capabilities), the first AT&T bill under the new plans will be a rude awakening. The disappearance of AT&T's unlimited data plans are another reason Apple should start looking elsewhere -- ahem, Sprint, TMobile and Verizon Wireless -- for its iPhone. Sprint still has the best offering with the $99 Simply Everything plan that includes EVERYTHING you need for a Smart phone.

If you plan on tethering (using your phone as a modem to provide internet access to your computer), then you also have to add an additional $20/month feature, and you still only get 2GB of data per month (and if you go over your limit, each additional GB that you use will cost another $10.00/mo!). Even current AT&T customers who are "grandfathered" in with the unlimited data plan on their phone will be forced to switch to the 2GB "DataPro" plan to use the tethering feature. Which brings me to the next reason why it makes more sense for me to get an EVO 4G...

Tethering & The iPad - The iPhone 4 will allow you to use your phone as a modem for a fee of $20/month. This is something that iPhone users have been desiring for years, but the actual usability is pretty limited. In order to use the iPhone 4 as a modem, you have to connect it via USB directly to your computer - you can't use it with a router to create a WiFi hotspot. If you have a device like the iPad that doesn't have USB capabilities, being able to tether the iPhone doesn't do you any good! As an iPad user, if I want to have data connectivity on my iPad too, I'd have to have the 3G version of the iPad with ANOTHER $25/mo data plan just for the iPad (which only provides 2GB/mo of usage). So in order to be able to have AT&T 3G connectivity on the iPhone, iPad, and a laptop, I'd have to pay $70 per month for the different data plans with a total limit of 4GB data transfer per month!

On the other hand, the EVO offers a 3G/4G hotspot feature for just $29.99/month. With the hotspot feature, you can use the EVO as a WiFi hotspot for up to 8 WiFi-connected devices, and both 3G and 4G usage is UNLIMITED.

So what's all the Hype about 4G?

4G as Ultimate Tethering

The new Evo 4G includes MiFi-like mobile hotspot capabilities for up to eight simultaneous users. Shockingly, Sprint isn't charging extra for hotspot usage; you just have to sign-up for the carrier's Premium Data service. I have to assume Verizon and AT&T when they finally get 4G next year, won't be so altruistic, especially since they'll lose their modem-card business. You can count on getting charged extra for that feature as everything they offer is ala carte. Sprint makes it worth it to not have to carry around both a phone and a wireless card on trips.

Sharing Your Phone's Connection Will Become Common

With 4G, we'll all become walking hotspots. If you have 4G connectivity, so can anyone around you. Sharing your 4G signal will be the next cool thing, especially as iPads and other tablets proliferate.

4G Will Make Your Home Connection Redundant

But tethering won't only happen on the road. Right now, we pay for cable or DSL Internet connectivity for home and 3G for mobile Web connectivity. 4G is 10 times faster than 3G, with average throughput of anywhere from 3 to 10 Mbps (compared to 3G's 600 kbps-1.4 Mbps). That's nearly as fast as most home broadband connections and, for a lot of folks, reason enough to sever one suddenly redundant $40/month bill.

The Emergence of Telehealth

Remember this term: telehealth. Along with 4G networks, all manner of new sensors are coming to help monitor your body. Everything that a doctor needs you to come to the office to check will be able to be monitored remotely and transmitted via 4G to your doctor. Sensors can be built into stuff you already wear — glasses, belt buckles, watches, jewelry — to send constant body signals to your doctor (or, more likely, some kind of medical computer). Such a system would not only monitor your ongoing condition but also anticipate and react to problems ("You've fallen and we're sending someone to help you up") — sort of a personal OnStar system.

Video Chatting

The big new feature of iPhone 4 is FaceTime, Apple's version of mobile video chatting. iPhone 4 users will be able to use it only on Wi-Fi to start, and the reason for that is obvious: the feature would quickly choke 3G networks. Not so with Sprint's 4G. Evo's already got a 1.3 MP front-facing camera and video chatting over 4G is now a reality. Besides video chatting, the killer app may be virtual-reality gaming, raising narcissistic self-absorption to new heights.

What other life-changing apps will 4G enable? Who knows?

Sprint vs Verizon &AT&T monthly fee comparison

Sprint ends up being less expensive than Verizon and AT&T while offering more services. Let’s take a look at the lowest individual calling plan with data and unlimited text messaging as a comparison and here is what we see:

AT&T: $39.99 for 450 minutes, 2GB data plan for $25, unlimited text for $20, and AT&T Navigator for $6.99.

Total of $91.98 before taxes

Sprint: $69.99 for 450 minutes with UNLIMITED data, unlimited text, included Sprint Navigation, Unlimited mobile to mobile calling to ANY cell phone with any provider, NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile, Sprint TV and more.

Total of $79.99 before taxes

Verizon Wireless: $59.99 for 450 minutes and unlimited text, $29.99 for UNLIMITED data, $9.99 per month for VZ Navigator.

Total of $99.97 before taxes

Summary: Sprint plans will include all and save you up $500 over the life of your contract.

Conclusion:

As someone who uses a lot of data each month and I need to have Internet connectivity on multiple devices such as my laptop. It doesn't make sense for me to pay extra each month for all the features that I need only to have small data allowances each month compared to an unlimited 3G/4G service that the EVO 4G offers with more features & flexibility.

I am crowing the Sprint EVO 4G as the WINNER!

New Wireless Technology For Your Business

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:50:00 +0000

Big Payback: Get Paid Faster With New Mobile Technology

With the economic crunch bearing down on large and small businesses alike, getting paid in a timely fashion has turned into a new challenge. You send invoices, dodge late payments and try to get to the cash flow finish in time to cover the bills for the month, sound familiar?

One of the top tips for getting paid faster is to provide as many options as possible for your customers to pay you. That has meant offering to take checks and credit cards. Now it can also mean bringing mobile into the mix. Check out these two mobile payment tools that can help you help your customers pay up on time.

"SQUARE" MOBILE CREDIT CARD PROCESSING

The system is called "Square." Basically, you fire up the app, attach the small device, punch in the amount of the sale, and then have the buyer swipe their credit card through the adapter. No personal information is stored, and the buyer has to sign the phone with their finger. Once that happens, a receipt is sent to the buyer via text or email confirming the purchase. It's just that simple: The small plastic cube plugs into the audio jack of a mobile device. Swipe a credit card through it, and it takes care of the payment and sends a receipt by email to the customer. Read more: http://hothardware.com/News/Square-Mobile-Payment-System-Goes-Live/#ixzz0owmrfPR1

Intuit GoPayment

Being away from the office or store doesn't have to mean billing later or collecting credit card numbers to run when you finally get back to home base. Intuit's GoPayment system works with any phone that can access the mobile Web. A downloadable application is also available for a variety of supported phones. Either way, the simple interface gets you paid quickly. Just fill in the blanks with the amount, credit card number and other pertinent information. If you want to get really snazzy, check out the optional Bluetooth card swiper or card swiper and receipt printer combo. http://mobilepayment.intuit.com/features_benefits.php

New Laws on Texting, and Talking on the Cell While Driving: What You Need to Know

If you run a business where employees drive company vehicles, or have kids who get behind the wheel of the family car, and have wondered if they ever text or cell talk while driving, here's what you need to know.

The safety issue: Whether you disagree with it or not, it's a law enacted for good reason. Nationwide Insurance has collected some great statistics on why you shouldn't drive with a cell phone -- driving while using a cell phone, for instance, reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent. And drivers who use cell phones, even those that don't require you to hold them, can delay a driver's reaction as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent.

The penalty if you're caught breaking the law: In California, you can get a $20 fine for your first violation and $50 for every offense afterwards. But some courts can charge you even more. In Los Angeles, your first ticket will cost you $93, and $201 after that. It varies around the country, of course. In Utah, if you're caught texting and driving, you could wind up in jail for three months. If you text, crash into someone and cause a death, you risk 15 years imprisonment.

States that have a law against texting while driving: California, Washington, Minnesota, Utah, Colorado, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut -- and it's also illegal in Washington, D.C. Some of the aforementioned states' laws haven't kicked in yet, but they will, and several other states -- like Nebraska -- have rules in place for younger drivers. If you really want to see how the new laws work in your state, click on this link for more information: http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html

So what's the solution? Hands-free Headsets.

Bluetooth headsets are slowly becoming a must-have accessory. Not only do they allow for hands-free chatting, they also free you from dealing with tangled wires as you would with a regular headset. Here's a list of the Bluetooth headsets I like best.

Aliph Jawbone Icon (Ace)

Not only is the Aliph Jawbone Icon attractive and affordable with great call quality, but it is also highly customizable with advanced features that makes it the most innovative Bluetooth headset I have seen to date. Cost: $99-$109.00 4.0 stars / Excellent

Plantronics Voyager Pro

The Plantronics Voyager Pro might not look like much, but it has the best sound quality of any Bluetooth headset we've ever tried. Price: $79.99 4.0 stars / Excellent

BlueAnt Q1

Despite a few minor issues, the BlueAnt Q1's voice controls and good audio quality sets this apart from other headsets.
Price: $73.99 4.0 stars / Excellent

Motorola Endeavor HX1

Though the call quality isn't perfect, the combination of bone conduction, CrystalTalk, and other features make the Motorola Endeavor HX1 a fantastic headset.

Price: $79.99 4.0 stars /Excellent

Cell Phone Spyware: I Spy on Your Phone

We're all used to dealing with the spyware threat on our desktops and laptops. We have firewalls, run anti-virus software and checks for malware. But we don't think twice about our cell phones. Business owners chat about critical projects, access financial data through apps, communicate with customers over text messaging and keep all sorts of valuable information on these relatively vulnerable devices.

Threat Level

Yes, there are infectious spyware applications out there that can be loaded onto a phone without you knowing. These dangerous applications can potentially intercept e-mails, access contacts, view text messages, track GPS locations or listen in on your conversations. Smartphones like Blackberries, PDA phones, Droid phones and the iPhone, are the biggest targets for this.

The growing popularity of the devices means we're in for an ongoing ramp up in security threats. This doesn't mean you should cower in fear, lock your Smartphone up in a dark safe and go back to land-line phone calls and letters on paper. Awareness is a big part of the battle right now. A recent study by market research company ABI, Inc. estimates that the number of Smartphones with advanced security protection will increase fivefold over the next five years. Since small businesses are known for being nimble, entrepreneurs have an opportunity to get in early on this trend.

Protect Yourself

- Keep an eye on your cell phone bill. Look out for unusual data activity that could indicate your phone is sending information off to someone it isn't supposed to.

- Treat your phone like a laptop. Don't let it out of your sight in public.

- Use the same e-mail and attachment rules that you do for your regular computer. Don't open suspicious or spam e-mails, don't open mystery links in your e-mails or text messages and don't crack open attachments if you don't know what they are.

- Use a strong password on your phone. This can at least discourage someone from logging onto your phone and trying to load up malware while you're in the break room getting coffee.

- Watch your wireless headset. Turn off Bluetooth headset when you're not using it and don't connect to Wi-Fi networks that aren't trusted.

- Think twice about storing supersensitive information on your cell phone. If it's a truly mission critical business conversation, you might not want to have 20 text messages about it sitting in your inbox.

- Consider mobile security software. The cell phone malware arena is turning into the same foot race as for regular computers. Anti-virus companies are working to keep up with the threats as they arrive. Well-known security companies like Symantec, McAfee and Kaspersky all offer mobile anti-virus and anti-malware packages.

- Talk to your employees. Take steps to protect your entire business by putting mobile security policies into place. A little training goes a long way.

Marty Taylor . Wireless Resolutions, Inc . 1-877-679-1206

America's First 4G Phone arrives on June 4th!

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:43:00 +0000

Introducing America's first 4G phone where you can experience speeds up to 10x faster than what you have now with 3G!

* Two cameras and video chat so you can see the person you're talking to!

* Simultaneous data and voice, so when you’re calling to order take-out, you can look at the menu via the Internet right on your phone!

* A built-in mobile hotspot functionality allowing up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices to share the 4G experience on the go with a laptop, camera, music player, game unit, video player, or any other Wi-Fi enabled device

Did you ever imagine living in a time where you could come home, plug your phone into your HDTV and let your children finish watching the movie they started in the backseat of the car? What about a huge screen for watching the videos you download in seconds – not minutes – with the fastest wireless data speeds available in America today?

HTC EVO 4G will arrive in stores Friday, June 4. The sleek, speedy smart phone will cost $199.99 after a mail-in rebate.

Despite whispers of an iPhone 4G, the EVO will be the first truly next-generation phone from a major American carrier. Sprint has poured millions of dollars into developing a cellular network that's faster than the 3G available on most smart phones today. It boasts a 4.3-inch touch screen, 8-megapixel camera, and an extra 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video chat.

The EVO sports the increasingly impressive Android operating system, plus all of the apps that come with it. With integrated HD video capture and 4G speeds, HTC EVO 4G makes slow uploads and grainy video a thing of the past. Now, it is possible to post high-quality video to YouTube or Facebook, or share moments in real time over the Internet live, via Qik. After these videos have been captured, it is easy to share them on an HDTV via an HDMI cable.

It's a device beyond compare

A wireless phone that's as fast and powerful as most basic DSL and cable-wired connections.

There are 30,0000 applications you can only find with an Android-Powered phone. It has a big 4.3 inch screen with "Leap" thumbnail view to easily switch between home screen panels.

• Two cameras including an 8.0 megapixel in the back and a front-facing camera used for video conferencing.

• Mobile hotspot capability connects up to 8 WIFI enabled devices. Users can easily share an Internet connection on the go with a laptop, camera, music player, game unit, video player, or any other Wi-Fi enabled device. For a phone.... that's not just unprecedented. That's almost unbelievable.

• Text messaging and email composition feature built-in voice-to-text technology. By simply pressing a microphone button on the screen, messages can be composed by just speaking, making keeping in touch faster and easier than ever.

• Connects to your HDTV so you watch HD movies. Shoot and upload video instantly on the web.

• Download music, pictures, files, or videos in seconds – not minutes – and watch streaming video on the go with one of the largest pinch-to-zoom displays in the wireless industry.

• Friend Stream, which aggregates multiple social communication channels including Facebook and Twitter.

• "Polite" ringer, which quiets the ringing phone once lifted up.

• 1GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processor ensuring a smooth and quick user experience.

• Post high-quality video to YouTube™ or Facebook, or share moments in real time over the Internet live. After these videos have been captured, it is easy to share them on an HDTV via an HDMI cable (sold separately). With integrated HD video capture and 4G speeds, HTC EVO 4G makes slow uploads and grainy video a thing of the past.

HTC EVO 4G from Sprint absolutely crushes. Let's just say it: HTC's Evo 4G is the best Android phone out there. It's not just one killer feature that puts the EVO over the top; the spec sheet reads like a wish list for anyone who's owned a touch screen Smartphone. It may even be the best phone, period. Its combination of speed, size, and power means that everyone else is officially playing catch-up.

Would you like to be notified by email when it is available? Pre-registration begins today at www.sprint.com/evo

New Application Can Help You Find Your Lost or Stolen Phone

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:59:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered..... what would happen if you lost your BlackBerry or other PDA phone with all your photos, contacts and other data?

Have you ever wondered.....who took your phone and what they did with your personal information?

Most of us have suffered that clammy feeling when a phone is lost or stolen, realizing you're not just out of pocket for an expensive phone, but also gone are precious contacts, photos, messages and possibly sensitive information such as security passwords. So considering the fact that your mobile may contain half your life, what are you doing to protect it?

Losing one's mobile phone is a painful experience. Just trying to regenerate your old contacts in the phone book or retrieving all important messages and content is an impossible task. Above all, compromising one's security and privacy with all this important information in a strangers hand is a huge nightmare.

New Application Tracks And Finds Missing Phones

WaveSecure addresses this problem by offering a simple-to-use service that manages the risk of losing a phone.

It’s a surprisingly powerful service. WaveSecure lets you remotely back up the contents of your phone to the secure server and then wipe all of your data from the device. So even if the phone falls into the hands of a thief, none of your personal information will be at risk. Even if a thief tries to replace the SIM card in your phone, the phone will lock up and become useless.

The application runs in memory, so if someone who stumbles on your phone decides to put their SIM into it, WaveSecure will even lock the phone and prevent further use, making it worthless to the person who picked it up. If your phone is lost or stolen, you can immediately go online and remotely lock it and wipe the data you have stored.

Warning to the thief that stole your cell phone

This new application can track you down. When you discover that someone has taken your phone, you can also send a loud alarm that will display a “return to me” message on the screen. You can then track down your phone on a Google Map and see exactly where it is. The application will monitor your phone's call log to see what calls are going out and coming in. In the event that your phone is lost or stolen, you will quickly have a pretty clear idea of where it is and what it's up to.

This application actually enhances the possibility of recovering the phone. If you decide that the phone is lost forever, you can then send a remote command to wipe the phone, erasing all of your contacts, messages, photos, and other data. WaveSecure will help you back up your phone and all of its data, so if your phone is lost, you can use the app to quickly restore to a new phone.

The beauty of WaveSecure is that it supports so many different popular SmartPhones. It works with Blackberries, Droid phones and many of the newer PDA phones.

Don't wait until it's too late, your phone contains too much priceless data to leave it lying around unprotected.

WaveSecure costs only $20.00 a year, which is a small price to pay for this sort of hand-held security.

Click on this link to see the video of breaking news about this new App: http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kokh_vid_1339.shtml

Does this Look Like an iPhone? Look closer....It's better!

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:48:00 +0000

Introducing America's first 4G phone where you can experience speeds up to 10x faster than what you have now with 3G!

A wireless phone that's as fast and powerful as most basic DSL and cable-wired connections.

It's Sprint's new 4G Super high-speed "HTC Evo" due out this summer!

It's a device beyond compare

Like the fact that it has 30,0000 applications you can only find with an Android-Powered phone. It has a big 4.3 inch screen with "Leap" thumbnail view to easily switch between home screen panels.
Two cameras including an 8.0 megapixel in the back and a front-facing camera used for video conferencing.
Mobile hotspot capability connects up to 8 WIFI enabled devices. Users can easily share an Internet connection on the go with a laptop, camera, music player, game unit, video player, or any other Wi-Fi enabled device. For a phone.... that's not just unprecedented. That's almost unbelievable.
Text messaging and email composition feature built-in voice-to-text technology. By simply pressing a microphone button on the screen, messages can be composed by just speaking, making keeping in touch faster and easier than ever.
Connects to your HDTV so you watch HD movies. Shoot and upload video instantly on the web.
Download music, pictures, files, or videos in seconds – not minutes – and watch streaming video on the go with one of the largest pinch-to-zoom displays in the wireless industry.
Friend Stream, which aggregates multiple social communication channels including Facebook and Twitter.
"Polite" ringer, which quiets the ringing phone once lifted up.
1GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processor ensuring a smooth and quick user experience.
Post high-quality video to YouTube™ or Facebook, or share moments in real time over the Internet live. After these videos have been captured, it is easy to share them on an HDTV via an HDMI cable (sold separately). With integrated HD video capture and 4G speeds, HTC EVO 4G makes slow uploads and grainy video a thing of the past.

Let's just say it: HTC's Evo 4G is the best Android phone out there. It may even be the best phone, period. Its combination of speed, size, and power means that everyone else is officially playing catch-up.

So what do we have with the HTC Evo 4G?

The best hardware.
The best Android OS with the best custom UI.
The best camera.
The most robust multimedia on a wireless phone today.
The fastest download speeds
The largest touch-screen displays
World's First 3G/4G Android Phone

It's a historic moment for Sprint, in a couple of ways.

First and foremost, the Evo is the first 4G phone in the US . While WiMax currently only reaches 34 million people. Sprint's partner Clearwire, hopes to expand coverage to up to 120 million people by the end of the year

The announcement of the Evo, in combination with the recent addition of the Nexus One to their network, also puts Sprint in an unusual position of hardware leadership. In just a few weeks they've gone from a middling smart phone line-up to having arguably the two best Android phones on the market.

Sprint 4G offers a faster wireless experience than any other U.S. national wireless carrier, and Sprint is the only national carrier offering wireless 4G service today in 27 markets. Sprint 4G delivers download speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G1, giving HTC EVO 4G the fastest data speeds of any U.S. wireless device available today.

Customers will be able to purchase HTC EVO this summer. Pricing will be announced at a later date.

Would you like to be notified by email when it is available? Pre-registration begins today at www.sprint.com/evo

DWT: Driving Under the Influence of Texting

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:18:00 +0000

Text messaging while driving has now become a crime. Nineteen states have now made the practice illegal. In January, the federal government banned text messaging while driving for truckers and bus drivers. It now has it's very own acronym: "DWT," Driving While Texting.

Mobile phones are critical to modern business productivity. However, used while driving, mobile phones pose a serious danger to employees and an expensive liability to companies. It's this sharp doubled-edged truth that has motivated nearly 20% of US corporations to implement policies to prohibit employees from using mobile phones while driving. Cell phone users have been found to be 5.36 times more likely to get in an accident than undistracted drivers. Other studies have shown the risk is about the same as for drivers with a 0.08 blood-alcohol level.

As difficult as it may be to talk on the phone and drive, it's even trickier to have your thumbs flying over the keypad while you check your spelling, put together sentences and keep an eye on the screen. A recent research study done at the University of Utah found that the rate of collisions went up by six when drivers were texting during a simulation. Other studies have equated the danger to that of driving while intoxicated.

Laws are all well and good, but stand at a busy intersection in any city that has a cell phone driving ban and count the number of drivers still yakking away while holding a phone up to their ears or glancing below the wheel as they tap out a text. Parents can talk at their teens all they want. Business owners can try to lay down the law with employees. But the only way to completely intervene is to make it physically impossible to text while driving.

Unfortunately, without management tools to ensure compliance, these companies depend entirely on employee self-enforcement. And while documenting a corporate policy is a terrific first step toward managing risks -- by itself a paper policy is not enough to reduce crashes and minimize liability. In order to truly protect your employees and your company, you need the active ability to help drivers make better choices so they are less distracted and more focused.

There is a simple and inexpensive way to ensure safe and legal use of mobile phones while driving so your company can reduce crashes, minimize liability, save money – and still maintain hands-free mobile productivity.

That's where this new application comes into play.

It's called Key2SafeDriving and it is a new and inexpensive product that empowers company fleet managers, parents and individuals, with the tools that can promote safe driving by redirecting phone calls and messaging events, and blocking other outbound events (such as texting or dialing). The product is profile driven and can be customized on a per-individual basis.

Want to stop your employees (or your kids) from texting while driving? I strongly suggest you look at this product. This small hardware device plugs into the diagnostic port of any car made after 1996. Turn on the car and the device starts up as well. Software is installed on each phone by way of a text message. The administrator can set options that can lock down texting while driving. There are options to even freeze incoming and outgoing calls while the car is moving. If a worker tries to unplug or disable the device, the administrator receives a text message alert telling him that the device is being tampered with.

To watch an amazing video of how this little device works, go to their website at safedrivingsystems.com or click on this direct link and watch it in action:

http://www.clickorlando.com/video/21101893/index.html

This inexpensive device is now available for about $60. However, Wireless Resolutions will soon be offering this product to our customers at a discounted price.

New Technology for Improving Mobile Phone Battery Power

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:04:00 +0000

One of the biggest challenges facing cell phone makers today is how to extend the lifetime of batteries on mobile phones. Mobile phones today require a lot of power to stay charged since people are using them for all-day activities like text messaging, Internet surfing, and picture mail. Cell phone companies are now trying to find ways to develope devices that will have a longer-lasting battery while keeping the phone light in weight.

Companies are exploring a number of different methods of making this happen. They are looking at developing new phone display technology and new chip technology that will make a phone use less battery power. They are also looking at options for new battery chargers that charge a cell phone in seconds.

New Display Methods for Improved Mobile Battery Power

One of the options that is being explored for extending battery life in mobile phones is the option of improving the actual display on cell phones that have large screens. On most PDA or Smartphones the display alone uses over half of the phone’s available battery life. Right now they are trying to make phones that use less power for the actual display on phones so that there is less drainage on the battery.

The most recent advance in this area of technology comes from a company called Genoa Color Technologies which utilizes a technology called Pixcale to reduce the power drainage of LCD screens. This company has actually been around for nearly ten years and has been very successful in reducing screen power consumption for televisions. Until recently, they haven’t had much success at breaking into the cell phone market because display screens have always been too small for their technology to work effectively. However, today’s smartphone screens are larger and can make use of the technology. The company says use of its technology can reduce a phone display’s power consumption by approximately 40% which would significantly extend the life of today’s cell phone batteries.

Mobile Phone Chips as Power Supplies

Display screens are not the only part of mobile phones that are getting attention. Something else being is chip technology for mobile phones. One example of this came at the end of last year when a company created new silicon chip that uses micromagnetics to improve mobile phone power supply by up to 90% percent. Chip technology has been successful in improving battery life of some mobile computers so it’s certainly an area of interest for people who want to extend battery life on mobile phones.

New Mobile Phone Charger Technology

Some manufacturers are focusing less on how to create long-lasting batteries and more on how to create faster-acting chargers. Some companies are focused on developing phone chargers that would rapidly charge cell phones within seconds. This would mean that it wouldn’t really matter how quickly your mobile phone battery was drained as long as you had your phone charger with you and could charge it instantly.

The most recent advance in this area of mobile phone power technology is an invention created by MIT researchers. They have developed a phone charger that can charge mobile phones at a speed 100 times faster than the chargers we are currently using. In other words, it would take only seconds to recharge your phone’s battery using this device. The creators say that the technology would be fairly easy to mass produce and could be easily adopted by the cell phone industry.

So Which Technology Is Going to Work?

At this point it’s hard to tell which of these emerging technologies is going to end up becoming popular with handset makers. Reducing the power consumption of phone display screens is certainly an area of major development that would significantly improve cell phone battery life. It’s realistic to think that this technology could be adapted for mobile phones in the relatively near future.

In the meantime...You can end your tangled cord hassles with Powermat wireless charging

It's a pain to keep track of the chargers that go with cell phones, media players and other small electronics. It's even more annoying to stuff multiple power cords and adapters in your bag when you go out of town. What if you could charge things without plugging them in?

Introducing the newest gadget called the PowerMat. This revolutionary new wireless charging technology allows users to wirelessly charge multiple devices simultaneously and eliminate the tangle of wires that accumulate in the home and behind work stations. It is a two part system pairing a sleek, ultra-thin mat with receivers that attach to your device, enabling you to harge by simply placing those devices on the mat.

How It Works:

Powermat uses induction to charge all your electronics, including Blackberries, iPhones, iPods, cameras, portable gaming devices, and other small electronics. Basically, when you drop a Powermat-enabled device on the mat, it identifies the device, determines how much power it needs, then starts transferring energy to it. Once a device is fully charged, Powermat will stop the electricity from flowing. It charges gadgets pretty quickly. It takes only a 90 minutes to completely charge an iPod, an iPhone, and an HTC Touch Smart phone.

Smartphone customers use their devices so much, they often need to charge it more than once a day. Powermat gives them an easy charging solution to maximize their time and how they use their smartphone. Not only does Powermat provide the freedom to charge a Blackberry or any other Smartphone without the constant plugging and unplugging, but they can also charge the rest of their handheld gear without the hassle and tangle of cords.”

Advantages

• No tangled wires -- Powermat is a revolutionary way to charge all your favorite devices from one power source without the tangled mess of wires. It is fast, efficient, and safe solution, using a combination of radio frequency identification (RFID) and magnetic induction.

• One charger for multiple devices - Powermat delivers real-time, wireless charging to multiple electronics including mobile phones, music players, handheld games, electronic readers, GPS devices, Bluetooth headsets, netbooks and laptops.

• Saving Energy – Powermat draws less power in standby mode than the vast majority of chargers for handheld electronic devices.

Where can you buy it?

Quite a few retailers carry the Powermat. You will find it at Best Buy, Target, Staples, and Walmart just to name a few. They range in price from $19.99 for the single Powermat for one device to $99.99 for the Powermat for multiple devices.

Verizon Wireless-ATT 'Price War' Is Designed to Boost Their Own Revenues

noreply@blogger.com (Marty Taylor) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:35:00 +0000

Don't be fooled by the latest round of price cuts by Verizon Wireless and ATT Wireless. The two biggest U.S. mobile-phone companies said on Jan. 15 they'll cut monthly prices on unlimited voice calling packages by $30. What they are not telling you is that they will now charge you more for other features you will want for your phone.

Verizon Wireless is now forcing their subscribers to pay for data. Verizon Wireless customers who buy certain phones must now buy a data plan, ranging from $10 to $20 a month. Previously, owners of all but two of the carrier's non-smartphone devices could forgo data plans. Smartphone users at both carriers are required to pay mandatory data charges already. But now the provider is forcing their customers to add data to other phones as well.

Many of the new data plan requirements apply to so-called feature phones, which can access the Web but aren't technically smartphones, and are among the most popular mobile devices sold today. It is estimated that fewer than 10% of users of these phones buy data plans. There's a significant number of consumers out there who like the idea of a cutting-edge handset but not of paying for all these extra services.

While the decreases make voice calling cheaper, they and other price moves are designed to get subscribers to opt for data plans that typically carry higher price tags and fatter margins for mobile-phone service providers. So the net effect may be increased revenue for Verizon through increased pricing for their subscribers.

ATT Wireless has also introduced policies designed to encourage customers to sign up for non-voice services from the get-go. ATT customers who buy certain non-smartphone devices, for instance, will now be required to spend at least $20 a month on unlimited text or data plans. Those customers weren't required to buy data plans before.

Verizon and ATT Price Cuts Still Can't Catch up with Sprint's Value

Don’t let the recent buzz about their decreased prices prices distract you from the facts.

Wireless customers today are interested in more than just voice pricing. They also want the best value for all the other things they rely on their wireless phone for, such as text messaging, e-mailing, Web browsing, social networking, GPS navigation and more. The Everything Data plans from Sprint deliver big savings and for one low price they include unlimited messaging and data features that customers want, including services that will cost extra with Verizon and ATT Wireless.

For unlimited calling with any U.S. wireless user and unlimited text and data, Sprint saves customers $50 per month with its Everything Data 450 plan with Any Mobile, Anytime, vs. Verizon’s unlimited talk and text plan plus unlimited data.

Sprint also makes it simple: all the text, e-mail, Web, social networking and GPS navigation customers want on any Sprint phone for one low price. And they deliver more value for the price, with Any Mobile, Anytime for unlimited calling while on the Sprint network to and from any U.S. wireless user, annual phone upgrades through their Sprint Premier loyalty program and unlimited GPS navigation included at no extra charge. Customers have to pay an extra $10 every month for GPS navigation with AT&T and Verizon.

Sprint Simply Everything vs. Verizon Nationwide Unlimited plan

You may have seen all the new Verizon and ATT ads talking about their $69.99 unlimited voice plan. But when customers add up all the things they want to do with their phones – text, e-mail, Web browsing, social networking, etc – they’ll find the true cost is actually much higher.

Once you add the same features that are already included with Sprint's Simply Everything Plan for only $99.99, you will end up spending nearly $145.00 a month with Verizon!

Sprint delivers more value for the price too, with yearly phone upgrades through the Sprint Premier loyalty program and unlimited GPS navigation included at no extra charge. Customers are charged an extra $10 per month for GPS navigation with AT&T and Verizon and can only receive upgrade discounts after two years.

Price comparisons for Voice + Text + Unlimited Data for all three carriers:

Minutes Verizon ATT Sprint

450 $89.99 $89.99 $69.99

900 $109.99 $109.99 $89.99

Unlimited $139.99 $139.99 $99.99

Sprint also wins on nights and weekends (theirs start at 7 pm instead of 9 pm) and mobile-to-mobile too (Sprint offers calling to all cell phones while Verizon and ATT are in-network only).

Sprint also tends to be the cheapest of the three for family plans, as well.