Archive for September, 2011

An Anticipated Used Cell Phone

Motorolla’s Droid Bionic was recently released, but reviews suggest that it’s a phone you’d rather buy used. Cell phones released from carriers often come pre-loaded with junk, and to get a good price the carrier will lock you into a contract (and Verizon, the Bionic’s carrier, doesn’t always have the best prices or reception).

So, wait until it’s an unlocked, used cell phone. It will be jailbroke of unwanted crap, and you will likely get a better price (or similar price sans contract & fees!).

Why else wait for used cell phones? Although it’s got a sleeker body with faster hardware, it’s not scoring high in reviews. The screen is a bit much, and it got a bit thrown together as the release date approached (including an up-to-date pic not being available).

If you wait for it to hit the used cell phones market, you might change your mind, even. Other used cell phones, like the well reviewed Samsung phones, will also be available, making it a good time to upgrade to 4G in a few months (plus, when Apple’s iPhone 5 comes out, prices will likely fall on non-Apple 4G phone in the used cell phones market).

What do you think of the new Droid Bionic?

2011
09/29
CATEGORY
Android
Motorola
Verizon
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More Schools Move To Include Cell Phones In Classrooms

Computers are now used in most jobs, most homes, and, frankly most pockets. Cell phones can do what computers 30 years ago couldn’t, and many school districts are learning to use this tool to their advantage.

Teaching basic computer skills is already essential, and the most sucessful school districts are moving to teach more advanced lessons (besides the fact the computers are now a more efficient way for students to take tests and have them graded!). Affording computers, on the other hand, is far more of a challenge. But students have used cell phones for years by the time they reach high school, and teachers are taking advantage.

Want to help education, or support the education of your child? Donate used cell phones to a school district. Or, make having your kid own a cell phone affordable by buying used cell phones, and purchasing them pre-paid minutes (make it an allowance, reward, or responsibility lesson to add to learning).

Used cell phones are also often unlocked cell phones, so you they can be used on any network, which is useful both when donating and when helping your child choose a phone.

It could also be the start of a great recycling program: teaching students responsibility for e-waste, and understanding the consequences of the mumerous gadgets in our lives. Encourage your local district to start an e-waste recycling program, using used cell phones as a jumping off point. They can even sell them, and use the profits for computer education!

2011
09/21
CATEGORY
Functions
Kids
News
Save Money
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Are Used SmartPhones Best?

Sure, you’re smartphone can recommend a restaurant, give directions, and help you leave feedback…but how many people take advantage of it?

If you’re someone who doesn’t use their smartphone’s capabilities, it may be a wiser option to choose used cell phones:

  1. Used cell phones are cheaper up front, so you can get a cool smartphone without paying for the latest features you won’t be using.
  2. Some of those new features involve more intense GPS use, which can drain batteries. Older models available as used cell phones might not rely as heavily on GPS.
  3. Refurbished cell phones are often given new batteries, so your used cell phone might have more life to it then you’d expect!

Indeed, a Pew research poll showed that less than 50% of the nations smartphone users (about 1/3 of the population) actually use the GPS option for directions, while a few others may use it for social media,

Of course, maybe you don’t have need to use directions, in which case keeping GPS turned off can save battery life. If you do though, it may also be useful to visit a used cell phones store and pick up an extra battery for long car trips. Then you can have the best of both worlds.

2011
09/14
CATEGORY
Cell Phones
Functions
TAGS

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T-Mobile/AT&T Head To Court Over Cell Phone Merger

Stick together...if the DOJ lets you!

Now that the DOJ has sued AT&T over its planned merger with T-Mobile, they’ll head to court later this month to try and prove why the merger would be good for cell phone users.

Will it?

If you use unlocked cell phones, the merger matters a bit. One of the joys of unlocked cell phones is switching between GSM networks (networks with a sim card) to find the right data, text, and minutes plan.

With fewer US carriers on GSM networks, then the merger would be a bad thing. While competition between the two companies may be colored by other things (apps like skype, google or facebook chat, and free wifi in many places) the bottom line is that unless you want to go pre-pay, or wifi only your unlocked cell phones need to be on some sort of a plan.

There are other concerns besides the merger. Many manufacturers and carriers are choosing to sell “unlocked cell phones” directly to consumers, in an attempt to keep them in-network. Of course, unlocked cell phones mean many things, and being able to add third party software is one of them. Not all cell phones sold by companies as unlocked cell phones meet this definition, and may still need to be jailbroken.

In any case, keep an eye on the T-Mobile merger, because it could affect not just your unlocked cell phone usage, but your wallet!

2011
09/07
CATEGORY
AT&T
News
T-Mobile
Unlocked
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