Joe Kramer - Director of Wireless Services

Cellular industry going "Green"?

With over 1 billion cell phones sold last year alone the impact on the environment has inspired some new ideas that are so simple it seems almost unbelievable that no one has thought of them before. First up we have a “Green Cell Battery” which has won third place in the “Greener Gadgets Competition” by offering a solution to the overwhelming problem of millions upon millions of old batteries ending up in landfills and leaching their...

Alltel offers 500 free minutes for a limited time

Riding on the heels of Ryan Newman’s recent win at this year’s Daytona 500, Alltel is offering 500 free minutes to new customers and existing customers who wish add-a-line of service. The offer applies to rate plans of $39.99 and higher for new service and $9.99 for secondary lines. All bonus minutes must be used within the first 30 days after activation. Stop by your local retail store, call 1-800-ALLTEL -1 or shop online starting February...

Go Unlimited for $99?

It all started with Helio’s announcement of a $99 unlimited plan and now somewhat surprisingly all of the major carriers have begun to offer similar plans albeit not as inclusive, but it’s a start. T-Mobile being the latest to join the unlimited calling rates war has decided to up the ante amongst the national carries by including text messaging as part of their $99 package. Verizon’s $99 plan does not include text messaging, but for another $40...

AOL to launch its own “Open Mobile Platform”

AOL recently announced they want to throw their hat in the mix by getting into the open source mobile arena with the rest of the big boys. AOL plans on having the platform ready for developers to start tinkering with new apps by this summer. The platform is an XML-based markup language, a mobile device and an application server. Developers will be able to monetize their applications through a number of different advertising methods; clickable...

Verizon updates family share plan account features

Verizon recently made it easier to stay connected by offering family share customers the ability to add friends, relatives and employees to their account regardless of where they live. No longer are customers required to have the same area code when participating in one of the family share plans. The new feature will allow both consumers and businesses to consolidate their billing and add more subscribers at a much lower cost. You could...

Helio lowers unlimited plan – Now just $99

This one comes as a pleasant surprise: Helio has lowered the cost of its unlimited plan from $145 to just $99/month. The plan includes unlimited voice, text/video messaging, GPS services with Google Maps, and 3G data speeds (no laptop tethering option) for surfing the net or checking your emails. With most carriers steering away from unlimited data plans, Helio's offer seems like a great alternative, but be sure you review chapter 10 of...

Roses, Chocolates and Cell phones this Valentines Day?

It’s that time of the year again when we all try to find that perfect gift for that special someone. With all of the major carriers offering either a new red or pink version of their most popular models a new cell phone may just be a good alternative (or addition) to the standard heart shaped chocolates and two dozen roses that we’ve all come to expect. Below is a list of the latest cell phone releases geared towards the Valentines Day...

T-Mobile heading to court over text messaging service

With the latest wave of marketing heading towards mobile advertising it was only a matter of time before customers would start receiving unsolicited text messages. As you can imagine not having the ability to stop these unwanted text messages can both be annoying and quite costly. The Plaintiffs in the case argue T-Mobile charges its customers for text messages they receive even if they don’t want the feature. There is no word on how much...

How to fix your iPhone SMS issues

Since the release of the latest firmware version 1.1.3 iPhone users have had to deal with their SMS messages being displayed out of order. This obviously is a major issue considering how many text messages are sent and received through out the day, but today Apple posted an easy fix to the problem – simply Choose General > Date & Time and turn Set Automatically to ON.  The website also states "(Note that in some locations,...

SkyFire web browser for Windows Mobile 6

SkyFire has announced the availability of a private beta version of their new web browser designed for WM6 compatible smartphones (Symbian OS to follow). SkyFire is the first mobile browser that provides a “real Web” experience and fully supports dynamic Flash, Java, Ajax and more all while doing it at speeds similar to a desktop PC. Users will also be able to bookmark certain areas of webpages for quicker access at a later time along with...

What does the term "upgrade" mean?

Each Carrier will allow customers to “upgrade” their phones (handset) at some point during their agreement.  If you qualify for a carrier upgrade, you’ll likely receive a discount off the normal retail price of the phone if you agree to extend/renew your contract for an additional one or two-year term.  Each carrier has different upgrade policies, but most will require that you are at least 12 months into your contract term before...

What if I don't qualify for a Carrier upgrade?

You can still purchase a phone at normal retail rates, or through one of the many vendors who sell Phones without having to renew your contract.  Switching phones is quite easy with every carrier, please see the “Phone Only” Q&A section for more information.

Which carriers offer discounts for Phone Only upgrades and when are they available?

If you are looking to just upgrade your phone with your current carrier, you may qualify for a discount when purchasing a new phone.  You will need to re-new your contract for an additional one or two-year term if you accept the discounted upgrade price  Cingular - 18 months into your current contract for each phone you want to upgrade Verizon - 18 months T-Mobile

How do I know which phones will work with my service provider (carrier)?

For most people, the easiest way to determine which phone will work with their carrier is by using our Phone Finder tool and selecting your carrier from the filter list and choosing the “unlocked phones” option.  If you really want to learn more and fully understand, you’ll need to read Chapters 2, 3, 5, 9, and 10 of the Buyers Guide.

Why are the phones in this section more expensive?

If you’re not switching carriers and don’t qualify for a Carrier Upgrade, you can expect to pay near retail price to switch phones.  Carriers offer the best deals to new customers, or handset upgrades for those who have had service for a substantial period of time.  Carriers make their money by providing you with monthly service plans, and little or no revenue from selling a phone by itself.  Most consumers are accustomed to...

Once I purchase a new phone only, how do I activate it with my carrier?

It depends on which carrier you have service with.  With GSM carriers, such as AT&T, T-Mobile, SunCom, and Cellular One, you only need to remove your SIM card out of the back of the phone and put it in your new phone.  CDMA carriers such as Verizon and Sprint require you to call in the phones serial number to their customer service department.  For more information on GSM and CDMA carriers, see Chapters 5 and 10 of our Buyers...

How do I save my contacts when switching phones?

It depends on whether you have a GSM or CDMA phone.&nbsp; With a GSM phone, just make sure you save all your contact to your SIM CARD, not your phones internal memory.&nbsp; Then just place the SIM card in your <A title="Find a new phone today" href="/cell-phone-shopping/default.aspx">new phone</A>.&nbsp; CDMA phones require you to re-type your contacts manually, purchase the appropriate data cable and software, or for a...

How do I know the phone will work with my current carrier?

For most people, the easiest way to determine which phone will work with their carrier is by using our Phone Finder tool and selecting your carrier from the filter list and choosing the “unlocked phones” option.  If you really want to learn more and fully understand, you’ll need to read Chapters 2, 3, 5, 9, and 10 of the Buyers Guide. Every  Online Store and most ebay sellers  will clearly provide carrier compatibility...

What does “unlocked” GSM phone mean?

“Unlocked” simply means that the phone is not locked with any particular service provider.  This means that the phone will work with any carrier that supports the band/frequencies specified for the device.  Some features such as picture messaging may not work until the phone is properly configured.  Please contact your service provider if you are not sure about the frequencies they carry or if certain features of your new...

Can I purchase a CDMA phone for use with Verizon or Sprint?

Yes, but just make sure the phone is compatible with your carrier.  Both companies use CDMA technology, but each phone is specifically configure via serial number to only work with Sprint or Verizon, not both.  If the phone comes with a box, the box will specifically be labeled with the Sprint, Verizon, or appropriate carriers logo.

Re: Authorized dealer?

An authorized online dealer can ship new wireless devices at a discounted price.  We compare authorized online dealers approved by carriers to sell wireless devices online in addition to the carriers' own websites.  While you may see hundreds of websites claiming to sell handsets at the lowest prices, in fact they are going through one of these authorized online dealers to fulfill your order. To compare all of the current cellular...

Re: How do I pair my Bluetooth headset to my phone?

It sounds like the headset is not fully charged or simply not in pairing mode. If it is then you more than likely have a defective headset :( Have your local dealer check it out for you ;0

Re: Poor night sleep caused by cell phone radiation

Hi Mike The phone does not emit any radiation when turned off. Because I use my phone all day and don't have a landline I need to keep my phone on at night while charging just in case of emergencies. Sorry for the confusion :)

Re: How do I pair my Bluetooth headset to my phone?

Make sure the device is fully charged and is in "pairing mode" before having your phone perform a search. If you are still having trouble simply take it to your nearest dealer and have a rep try to pair it for you (they shouldn't charge you anything). You may have a defective headset. Good luck

Re: Make free local and long distance calls with MagicJack?

I recently ordered three of them to give as gifts this year....saving one for myself ;^). I will do a follow up article once I have tested the device. I feel confident that the product is legit, especially with all of the media attention it has recently received.

Re: Is paying for name brand accessories really worth it?

Hi Erin An Echo is usually caused when the microphone is receiving part of the signal from the earpiece. This can be caused by a faulty design that allows the sound to travel inside the unit, like when a boom microphone is used. More than likely the wires inside the unit are either frayed or the insulation is so thin that part of the signal is able to jump from the earpiece wire to the microphone creating the echo. There are a few instances...

Re: Why does my cell phone drop calls?

Stacey- All you have to do is contact customer service and they will walk you through the steps to update the database. Depending on the carrier you may be required to enter a code and press send. That being said you may want to call customer service from a landline, or a friends cell phone.