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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...

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...

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Super Bowl Pics?

Giants 27 Patriots 24 [;)]

Re: Whats the best phone for Verizon???

Yup it works with Verizon :) http://www.phonedog.com/c...  

SPRINT EVDO Outage in the San Francisco Market !!!! as of 12/5/07 4:10pm PT

I have a Sprint HTC Mogul and have not been able to access all day (12/5/07 since 9:00am) any POP 3 email accounts or the Internet (Extremely Slow Internet Connection leading to blank page or system error). I contacted Sprints Tech Support and they have a system alert for EVDO in the San Francisco Market as of 8:00am Pacific Time with no estimated time of correction. I am not certain if this a nationwide problem (anybody else east of the...

Re: Sidekick LX VS Helio Ocean

The Helio Ocean is a far better phone, but you have to make sure the service is available in your area. Helio is known for having poor customer service (long hold times).  Here is the link to Noah's review of the Ocean -> http://www.phonedog.com/c... Click on the link below to compare them side to side :) http://www.phonedog.com/c... Good luck  

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 when the problem can initiate from combination of the phone and the headset. If the microphone has the wrong impedance, this can sometimes cause the phone to double the signal.

Again, the best way to avoid these problems is to buy name brand accessories. Name brand accessories are a lot easier to return or exchange if problem occurs. I would have to recommend any of the Jabra line of headsets as my first choice.

 Thanks for your question : )