Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Prepaid Mobile Phones

I find prepaid phones to be one of the most common and most annoying of all of the gizmos out there nowadays. Almost every bad driver that you see out there on the road, narrowly swerving to miss a pedestrian at a cross walk is busy talking on a prepaid cell phone. Whenever you hear people walking down the street, talking loudly to themselves, they are not crazy, but in all likelihood, talking to their friends on prepaid mobile phones. The guy who is crashing your small, intimate get together and bringing all of his annoying friends to your party? He is getting in touch with them over his prepaid mobile phone. Lets face it, the prepaid mobile phone may have done some good things, but all in all it has made our society suck more than ever before. And that says a lot.

Now, I am not a Luddite, and I do see some of the advantages of owning and using a prepaid mobile phone. It is so convenient. You can get in touch with anyone, anywhere, and at any time, provided that they own a prepaid mobile phone as well. But all of this convenience does come with a very hefty price tag attached, if you are to ask me. It means, first of all, that you can never be on your own without someone out there disturbing you on your prepaid mobile phone. And if you do not feel like talking to them at that very moment, they will think that you are being rude and intentionally ignoring them. What happened to solitude, to meditation, to contemplating the world around you? I will tell you what happened to all of these things: the prepaid mobile phone happened.

And that is to say nothing about what the prepaid mobile phone does to intimate occasions. Who here does not know what I am talking about? Who has not been to dinner with a close friend or romantic interest whose prepaid mobile phone has gone off in the middle of the meal. Rather than ignoring the distraction and getting back on with the conversation, many of these people will actually take the prepaid mobile phone call, ignoring their friend at dinner. Can you think of anything more rude? It is one step away from picking up a book and refusing to converse for the rest of the meal. In some ways it is worse, because the person across from you has to hear your conversation.

Pay As You Go Mobile Phones

Are you a cell phone nut? Well, if you are, you've probably already acquired brain cancer or some horrific tumor on your ear. Okay, so that's probably just an urban legend. Regardless, I'm here to tell you to stop using those darn cell phones so much. We all know you're not truly talking about anything that matters anyways. Half of the time people are just talking because they can. That's bizarre! You're wasting your hard-earned cash. These days we have the option of pay as you go mobile phones. These things are the bomb! I can't believe I waited so long to get one.

What do you know about pay as you go mobile phones? A month ago I couldn't have told you much, but recently I purchased a "Go" phone. Now days I no longer pay for an entire cell phone plan. Yeah, you know exactly what I mean by that. Those monthly cell phone bills can really kick you in the butt. Suddenly you realize that you went over your minutes and now owe some ridiculous amount of cash. Well, with the pay as you go mobile phones you completely know what you're getting into. However much you use it, you pay. There's no standard monthly bill. You simply buy the phone and keep it, then you pay as you go. Now, I have to say that this is ideal for folks like myself. I for one hardly ever use my cell phone. This is why pay as you go mobile phones are perfect. I was sick and tired of paying a monthly bill that didn't equal how much I actually used my phone.

If you are looking for some pay as you go mobile phones for you and your loved ones, you can check out all there is to offer online. The World-Wide-Web will expose you to all there is to know about pay as you go mobile phones and virtually any other cell phones for that matter. Compare prices and rates before you make a final decision. That is the only way to shop these days. The Internet makes it all happen. Furthermore, with pay as you go mobile phones, there are a number of models to choose from. While this contemporary service may be ideal for some of us, many will still prefer a monthly wireless plan due to how much they use their cell phones. Fortunately there is something out there for all of us.

Monday, March 31, 2008

Cell phone car charger

It seems as if our lives are getting busier and busier. There are so many things going on that I often have trouble remember little details including the necessity of charging my cell phone on a regular basis. Of course, I remember this important detail whenever the battery dies. Anyone like me can benefit from a good cell phone car charger.

Finding the right piece of equipment for your particular needs might not be as simple as it seems. Ideally, you want to purchase your cell phone car charger right when you buy your phone. This is a good way to make sure that the products work well together. Some universal chargers work with a number of different brands but the number is limited.

I opted for the emergency cell phone car charger because I liked the sense of safety that goes along with the product. This device can be used just about anywhere but it can’t be used with every brand. The emergency cell phone charger that I purchased suits my needs but you would need to double check to make sure that it will work with your brand of phone.

The emergency unit is great for those forgetful moments but you shouldn’t expect a fully charged battery after you use it. I usually get a good 20 to 30 minutes out of a charge. This allows me to make a few calls and get home to fully charge the battery from my regular unit.

Granted, the 20 to 30 minutes is from a completely dead battery. Others may find that they have a lot more talk time if they charge the phone with the emergency cell phone car charger. This is especially true if the battery isn’t completely dead when you plug it into the system.

I really love this product because I don’t need an outlet. This cell phone car charger actually works on AAA batteries while most others plug into the cigarette lighter. I also love that the item fits conveniently into my purse and take up little room at all. This device is ideal for my needs.

However, the really, really forgetful individual might want to consider a cell phone car charger that uses the cigarette lighter as a power source. I can imagine that there will be a day that I forget to replace the AAA batteries in my unit. I guess that I’ll need a new cell phone car charger once I get to be that absent-minded.

Cell Phone Case

Cell Phone Case

Many people have cell phones now, and they are getting more and more common. It used to be that seeing people with a cell phone case on their hip was uncommon, but now that is the norm rather than the exception. The problem I have is that I don’t like to have mine on my hip. I just don’t think it’s a good idea. That might be the easiest way to get it lost or broken. I normally carry mine in my purse or even in my front pocket, but that has its perils as well, and is not always convenient.

I have to find a cell phone case that is durable, but doesn’t have to be clipped on to the band of my jeans. My husband has one of these, and that works fine for him, but I don’t like it and I won’t buy another one. I had one when I first got my phone, but it was cheap and it kept turning the volume on my phone down so I had to mess with it whenever I had to remove it from the cell phone case. I only used it for a few days before I tossed it aside and stuffed my phone in my purse.

I have seen some that look like a tiny purse, but are made just to be a cell phone case. It’s a great idea in concept, but I am going to lose that very fast if I were to go with one of them. Something that small is never a good idea. There are times I forget my large purse. It would only be a matter of days before I lost a cell phone case that was that small and meant to be carried somewhat like a purse.

What I do like for a cell phone case is not really a case at all. In my purse, there is a small compartment on the side that is just the perfect size for my phone. I would guess that was what it was intended for. It works great, and when my phone rings, I just have to reach in and grab it. I don’t have to search though everything in my purse to find it either. Though it’s not technically a cell phone case, it is what has worked best for me so far. There are still times when I don’t want to take my purse with me, and I guess my front pocket will just have to do.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Caller Identification In Cell Phones

Do you get numbers showing up on your caller-id and you have no idea who they are coming from? The beauty of caller-id is it allows us to screen calls without actually answering the phone. The down side is that there isn't always a name associated with the number or vice versa.

The way people solved this problem in the past was to use a reverse phone number phone book or call information. Unfortunately there is no such option for cellular numbers so we are all left doing what is called a reverse cell phone number search.

There are several ways to do this, 6 of which are listed below. The first two aren't really reverse searches per say but they do get right to the point in answering the question of who belongs to that number in your caller-id.

1. Answer the phone - Way back when before cell phone, before cordless phones, before caller-id when the phone rang you answered it. Of course way back when you didn't get as many calls and many of us are tired of being bombarded with unwanted phone calls that we all get these days.

2. Call them back - This is an easy way to find out who keeps calling, but people have many reasons for not doing just this. If you want to find out who it is using this method but don't want them to know it is you returning their call use s different phone. Find a public phone, or use a phone from a place of business and when they pick up ask who it is you are talking to.

3. Google it - The major search engines can be used to hunt down unknown cell phone numbers. Simply type the number into the search box and see what you get. People leave all sorts of personal information lying around the internet, from classified ads, to MySpace pages; if the number has been made public the search engines will index it.

4. Try a free cell phone directory - These free directories have been around for several years and can garner results, but are more miss then hit. They are free because the users (you) are the people who supply the name, number, and address on a volunteer basis. Because the information is given voluntarily these sites are not well populated with cell numbers and their owners.

5. Hire a private investigator - A P.I. can run a reverse search for you but it there will be a cost associated with this. Most of the time a private investigator will not charge you if their search is not successful. You will usually end up spending anywhere from $50 to $200 dollars for this type of service.

6. Join a national cellular directory website - These are the modern day cell phone phone books. Unlike the big yellow books from days past these sites are accessed online and provide access to hundreds of millions of cell phone numbers, along with other information about the owner of said phone. The good ones offer a money back guarantee and a one time fee for a lifetime of access.

So if you're trying to find out who owns a particular number there are 6 good suggestions for doing a reverse cell phone number search. Which you choose to use is up to you but your best bet is probably going to be spending a little money and joining one of the large national cellular directories.

Free Reverse Cell Phone Services

Is it really possible to run a free reverse cell phone lookup on the internet? Many of us have become disillusioned and frustrated in the past with websites which appear to offer free products or services online but in fact do not. Is this the case with cell phone lookups?

Firstly let us examine exactly what we mean by a phone number lookup. If you have in your possession a residential phone number but no idea who the number belongs to or what address it relates to you can use a "reverse lookup" service to find out those details. This can obviously be very useful in situations where you have lost contact with someone but still have a record of their phone number, or simply wish to verify who owns the number before mistakenly phoning the wrong number. There are many places you can perform such residential and business phone lookups online for free, including toll-free numbers.

However a problem arises when you need to run a reverse lookup on a cellular phone as the free directories do not contain any such numbers. Similarly they do not contain fax numbers as this information is only held by the carriers and telecommunications companies. Do these records exist, and are they free?

The good news is there are websites which claim to offer large numbers of cell phone numbers, but they are not free. These websites naturally have to pay for access to some of this information, and go to the considerable trouble of pulling all the various resources together in one place, and as a result you will be charged a small fee before you can access the lookup databases. However the fee is a one-off payment and you can run as many searches as you like once you have access. The records they claim to offer include cell owner details, address history, carrier details, and the phone connection status. The databases include cell phones plus residential, business, toll-free, even pagers, and these websites say your searches are guaranteed legal and confidential.

In addition you will gain access to much more than just cell lookups for your one-off fee. In addition to reverse lookups you will be able to access information such as background checks and background reports, people finder databases, bankruptcies, liens, public records databases including births, deaths, marriages, divorces and adoptions, sex offender records, police records, and much more.

I have seen websites claiming to offer free cell lookups, but they always lead eventually to the paid sites in the end, even allowing people to search for free and then charging to view the results. It is the sad truth that the only place where you are likely to find detailed reverse cell records is within the legitimate paid directories. In conclusion, the answer is no, free cell phone lookups do not currently exist. However if you really want to access such records then I believe paying a small fee is a price worth paying.

Monday, February 25, 2008

The Right Cell Phone Deals And Service

Looking for the right cell phone and the right service plan can be confusing if you don’t know what you want. There are many places to look, and many places to buy, but that doesn’t mean you are getting the best deal, or the features you are looking for in a phone. In my own personal experience, Verizon cell phone deals are always a great idea. Not only can you find great phones, the network offered by Verizon is vast and reliable.

If you have friends who have found Verizon cell phone deals, ask them about their service and if they are happy with what they chose. In many cases, they will be happy to help you, and may even have suggestions for you. When it comes to phones, minutes, service area, features, and other aspects, you can become easily confused. Sometimes it takes a friend to explain it to you in terms you can understand.

You can begin your search for Verizon cell phone deals by looking online. This way you can narrow down what kind of phone you want, what features you are looking for, and possibly what type of contract you want. Don’t forget about prepaid cell service. There are Verizon cell phone deals for this type of service as well. Prepaid is great if you don’t use your phone a lot, but still need something to use.

After you have looked online, go ahead and visit a store. Ask for Verizon cell phone deals and see what they have to offer. You may find a great deal in the store that you cannot find anywhere else. Because competition is so fierce, companies like Verizon will offer you the best deal they can muster to have you sign up with them as a customer. Don’t be afraid to decline if you don’t like what you hear. There may be better Verizon cell phone deals to come, and they may pop up in a few days.

No matter what phone you choose, remember you haven’t gotten a deal if your coverage area is small, extremely limited, or won’t extend to where you will use it the most. Verizon cell phone deals won’t make sense for you if they don’t have what you want, or can’t provide the coverage area you need. Ask to see a map of their coverage area, and make sure they explain your minutes, the terms of your contract, and any hidden costs like roaming fees.

Used Cell Phones For Sales

With the wars going on overseas right now and American soldiers being deployed all over the Middle East for extended amounts of time, it is even more important that families stay in touch with one another. One organization called "Cell Phones for Soldiers" has taken to collecting used cell phones that people are willing to donate. These used cell phones then get recycled and sold for parts. The money that the organization receives from the recycling is used towards purchasing prepaid calling calls to send to our overseas soldiers. Those calling cards provide many minutes of phone calls home to their cherished loved ones who are more than happy to hear a familiar voice. Many, many families can testify to the fact that their phone bills have skyrocketed since a loved one has gone overseas. In fact, some people spend only a few moments every few days speaking to their spouse or family member and find themselves paying hundreds of extra dollars each month. Those donated used cell phones can make the lives of many families much easier. People who want to donate their used cell phones can do so through the Cell Phones for Soldiers website. On the site, you can find a list of drop-off sites that collect the used cell phones and will take care of the shipping and details for you. If you don't find any local drop-off sites, you can personally send your used cell phones to them. It truly is a wonderful way to utilize used cell phones instead of simply throwing them away.

Used cell phones are also readily accepted as donations for many shelters. Shelters for abused women use the used cell phones as emergency phones for the residents. Many of those women are incredibly grateful to have those used cell phones as they could very well end up being what saves their lives. You can also donate your no longer needed used cell phones to organizations that will in turn, provide them to the handicapped citizens. There are so many organizations and people in need that will find a wonderful new use for used cell phones.

For those who want to see a profit from their used cell phones instead of donating, some cell phone companies will allow people to trade in used cell phones for discounts on new cell phones. Sometimes they will not give you too much of a trade but every little amount helps. On ebay, many sellers have used cell phones for sale. Most of those used cell phones sell very quickly. So, when you upgrade your used cell phones in the future, don't throw the old ones away. As you can see, you just may be able to put the used cell phones to some good use. You never know what kind of impact you could just be making.