A blog all about cell phones!

You’ve probably participated in a drive for used cell phones before. You may have donated them so that the underpriviledged could dial 911, or you may have given your used cell phones to a battered women’s shelter, school drive, or drive for soldiers.

But besides the fundamental need to call 911, used cell phones offer the disadvantaged other free services. Many states offer subsidized plans to activate cell phones, and increasingly there are many health services that send free information to cell phones for those who sign up.

When you donate used cell phones to a battered women’s or to another similar charity, one of the services that becomes available is text4baby, a program that offers preganant mothers and mothers of young children free advice, tips, and encouragement to help keep them and their baby healthy.

Whether it helps educate them so they can take better advantage of the care available to them, or helps those who can’t make doctors visits as often as they should, text4baby is a sucessful program that should be available to all women: which is why donating your used cell phones is important.

Despite being a first world country, (and spending more money then anyone on child birth), the US has a horrible infant mortality rate, and even the maternal death rate has increased in recent years. Although some of that has to do with wealthy older women having babies past their body’s abilities, some of it comes from poorer women, especially imigrant women, who don’t have the resources to support a healthy pregnancy.

Used cell phones coupled with free services like text4baby are an easy way to reach these women, and a first step at decreasing mortality rates associated with birth.

Text4Baby is a helpful tool for all moms; to sign up just text BABY for english or BEBE for spanish to 511411.

Have you used text4baby? Let us know about it in the comments.

Despite Apple’s reputation for being a control freak—keeping their app store behind an ivory gate, limiting what computer languages can be used on their devices—but they may some day through the American cell phone industry into a dynamic beyond unlocked cell phones.

There are many reasons to love unlocked cell phones: having no contract so you can get the best deal, being able to mod the software and delete the carrier junk apps (and then scratching off the corresponding branding), and just being able to say f-you to the companies.

Well, Apple may do all that for you. They’ve already told the carriers a big NO to branding and preloaded add-apps—but they were also recently awarded a patent that would extend those unlocked cell phone like services, AND do the work for you.

Basically, Apple would become a middle-man between the user and the phone companies, leveraging their iPhone popularity for the lowest rates, switching between or mixing and matching different companies without a user ever seeing a dip or change in service. They could even take payments, making the branding, contracts, and other junk associated with all the carriers obsolete.

Of course, unlocked cell phones would still have a place, since not everyone would want an iPhone, so you have to assume that a dual system of some sort would have to emerge, but it’s an interesting future to think about. You’d never have to risk bricking your phone to unlock it again!

Available for Sprint.

Hidden cell phone costs are rising. If you don’t have an unlimited plan, it’s time to look for one. A used cell phone is an affordable way to change plans, if your current service has fees for cancelling.

Why are costs rising? HR 3035 could soon pass, and companies, debt collectors (fake debt collectors), and other nefarious businesses will soon be able to robocall your cell phone, text you, junk fax you (if you still have one), and ignore the fact that you signed up with the do not call registry, or that your state has laws against such things.

Make sure to contact your representatives and tell them you don’t want to see HR 3035 passed.

If you lack faith they’ll do the right thing, start saving money now by shopping used cell phones. If you pick a used cell phone that’s unlocked, you can easily take it to a carrier that has a better rate. That way when you get unsolicited calls and texts, the price won’t be so high.

Sprint and some local, smaller carriers still have unlimited phone plans. Then all you have to do is ignore the unwanted calls, not pay for them. Just bring in your used cell phone and have them help you put in the new SIM card (unless you’re going to Sprint, in which case you need a Sprint used cell phone), and transfer your phone book, photos, and more.

Remember, used cell phones are great gifts for kids and younger family members. Share in the comments how you saved money with used cell phones.

Black Friday is bigger every year, with more stores participating in sales, more people lining up earlier—and this year, with Black Friday shifting into Turkey Day.

In an effort to extract consumer information from mall shoppers that’s comparable to Google Analytics—Google’s service that allows web site owners to see how much traffic they get, from where, and which content’s most popular—marketers will begin testing devices this holiday season that tracks any cell phone used at the mall.

This will tell malls which stores (and parts of the mall) get the most traffic, and will tell stores which departments are the most popular. These new metrics may mean using cell phones will not only help retailers, but enhance consumer shopping experiences.

If you don’t use cell phones in the mall, however, you can opt out of being tracked. The service is supposed to be anonymous (meaning they aren’t getting private information off your cell phone) but you should never assume that any data on your cell phone is private!

A future may soon be arriving where as you shop, services use cell phones to deliver adds straight to tragetted consumers (example: have kid-targetted apps? here’s a coupon for Gap Baby!). But that day’s not here yet.

Remember, with Black Friday coming up you’ll be able to score great deals on refurbished cell phones! Great as gifts, used cell phones are often unlocked, so the recepient will be able to use them on any GSM service.

Browse used cell phone selection early, because demand is expected to be high this holiday season! Make sure you get your top pick!

10 years ago, Nokia phones were one of the most common sights, and they still are world wide despite fancier smart phones from Samsung and Apple being more popular in the US.

In terms of used cell phones, Nokia phones last forever. You’ll have to update to have your phone work on the next generation broadband before it will die, although it may not have the pizzazz of other phones, and it’s economical, before and after it become a used cell phone.

Now though, Nokia has found a way to spice up their ringtone to appeal to younger kids/teens (Nokia phones are a great first cell phone, whether a new or used cell phone, because of their price, and because they rack up a smaller bill that smart phones with tons of data use).

Introducing the new Nokia ring tone…the dubstep version. Dub step is both a musical style as well as dance style that has become popular over the last two years. The new ring tone was chosen through a competition.

I for one, love the new ringtone. It’s melodic, modern, and shows that Nokia still has tons of vitality.

Already have a used cell phone? You can download the ringtone if you like it.

Do you love or hate the new Nokia ring tone? If you love it, are you adding it to your used cell phone?