Articles from March 2011

Prepaid Cell Phones: Monthly or Pay As You Go

If you are in the market for a prepaid cell phone plan, the tremendous assortment of plans could be completely confusing. Prepaid cellular phones offer a few obvious benefits over traditional contract programs. Prepaid wireless plans don’t require credit checks, you do not need to sign a contract, plus they are be significantly cheaper than standard cell phone plans. Unfortunately, because just about every prepaid cell phone company structures its rates in a different way, looking at prepaid cell phone plans is difficult.

When reviewing prepaid cell phones you’ll need to check at one thing – the activation period. The activation period is the amount of time that the minutes you get are useable. Your minutes end at the end of the service period.

If you take a step back from the specifics of all of these plans and look at the big picture, you’ll find that just about all prepaid cell phone plans fall into either of a couple of general groups: Pay As You Go plans, or Monthly plans. Pay as you go plans have ranging activation periods, while monthly plans end after a 30 day time period. When ever you read the reviews of prepaid cellular plans keep these two rate structures in mind.

Pay as you go plans offer you varying service periods. These could be the most flexible type plans, however unfortunately pay as you go plans might also be the most confusing for consumers. The basic principle is that a person purchase a phone card and you get to utilize the airtime for the amount of time associated to that card. The average activation period is 3 months, but it is possible to buy cards which have much more or less time. Minutes expire at the end of the activation period. If you use up the minutes before the activation period ends, you can just buy more minutes and your service period begins again. Many providers provide longer service periods if you purchase a large number of minutes.

The standard activation period is Ninety days, however quite a few providers provide more or even less time periods. Nearly all providers offer activation periods of thirty, sixty, ninety or one hundred and eighty days. A few providers even offer a daily plan, while a few providers provide a yearly activation period. TracFone offers a separate card (with out any minutes connected) which will extend your service period out 1 full calendar year.

Monthly is the easiest of alternatives. With monthly plans your minutes expire at the end of 1 month. You purchase a set amount of minutes and they expire thirty days from the moment you activate them. Needless to say you’re not locked into that 30 day period. If you use up your airtime just before the time period, simply charge your cellphone with another card. For example, if you purchased a monthly card that had A THOUSAND minutes, yet you used those minutes up in 20 days, simply just buy another card and charge your cell phone with those minutes. Your 1 month activation period resets when you charge your account with the fresh card.

Just like the pay as you go plans, you can buy minutes in varying quantities. Plans are typically offered in TWO HUNDRED, 500, and 1000 minute selections. A good number of providers also offer an unlimited monthly plan which typically provides you with unlimited text, unlimited talk, and unlimited web access. These kinds of unlimited plans are considerably cheaper in comparison with a contract plan.

Whether you choose a pay as you go option or a monthly plan, prepaid cellular phones offer you the versatility to tailor you cell phone spending budget to the quantity of minutes you utilize. It is possible to increase or decrease the amount of minutes you purchase depending on the number of minutes you really use.

So just what are the benefits of a pay as you go plan vs. a monthly plan? Both types of plans provide varying amounts of airtime from 60 up to 1000 minutes. The major distinction though is the time element – the service period. Monthly plans have a 30 day service period while pay as you go plans have activation periods anywhere from 30 to 365 days. So, knowing that, here are the benefits of each type of plan:

Pay As You Go: If you are an infrequent cellphone user, you can use the extended service periods of pay as you go plans to your benefit. Pay as you go plans make sense for people that use their mobile phones occasionally. When you require a cellphone for emergency use only, or if you go very long periods of time without using your cellphone, say a month or more, then pay as you go plans might make sense for you. By using a longer activation period, you’ll be able to keep your mobile phone activated between the times that you make use of it. You could theoretically use a monthly plan for the same purpose, but many cellphone companies will drop your phone number if you don’t keep your phone activated.

If you happen to use your cellular phone consistently month in and month out, then select a monthly plan. Even if you just use a small amount of minutes a month, if you are certain you’re going to use your cell phone, go with the monthly plan. Monthly plans are offered in varying minute packages so you can customize your budget to your usage. Also, if you use a great deal of minutes every month, then you will want to opt for an unlimited monthly plan. The unlimited plans offered by prepaid mobile phone companies are considerably cheaper than almost any contract plan.

Looking to find the best deal on a pay as you go phone, then visit this website to find the best advice on prepaid cell phones.

Using Prepaid Cell Phones for Emergencies

One of the primary reasons individuals buy a cell phone is so that they may have one meant for emergency circumstances. Some folk do not need a full time cell phone. They might just need a cell phone to stick inside the glove box in case there is a break down or an emergency circumstance. Maybe a senior citizen may need a low priced cellphone for disaster use. Perhaps a father or mother might want to give a cellphone to their kid designed for short-term usage. Cellular phones are generally great for these short lived, unanticipated occasions.

Regrettably, virtually all cellular phone plans through the major companies are very pricey and require lengthy agreements. Who wants to pay $60 or even more per month in order to have a cellular phone inside their glove compartment exclusively for disasters?

Luckily for us, pre-paid cellphone programs exist for this special scenario. Pre pay cellphone programs allow you to customize your use in order to meet your particular requirements. That a great many plans offer low-priced, per minute choices in which you are only charged for those minutes you make use of. Just one caveat is so you have to re-fill your minutes to keep your program active, usually each 90 days.

One other benefit of prepaid cellphone programs is so many providers provide low cost phones. You do not require a expensive cell phone with a bunch of features used only for an emergency scenario. All you need is a cellular phone that will make calls and perhaps text. That lots of prepay cellular phone companies offer basic, low-priced cell phone models quite often as low cost as $15.

Some plans offer low cost phone cards with small amount of minutes. As an example, TracFone sells a low-priced 50 minute card that expires in Ninety days. Some other providers charge a per minute fee, commonly 10 cents per minute, which you could charge your current balance containing a small amount of cash. Often times, if you maintain the cellular phone active (by purchasing additional minutes) the minutes will roll over to the next activation period.

Looking to find the best deal on prepaid emergency cell phones, then visit emergencycellphones.blogspot.com to find the best advice on picking a prepaid cell phone.

Different Cases for the HTC Inspire

Upon purchasing this smart phone, one of the first accessories that a consumer would get is a case to protect their expensive gadget as well as add to its aesthetics. There are thousands of different cases that provide many different benefits. Each user has their own style and requirements for cases, so keep reading to find a basic rundown of each of the major case types available on the market.

The first cases we will discuss are hard cases. There are also small cases that will help decorate this device, meanwhile hard cases are perfect for protection. Most hard cases are smooth and provide easy access to the phone if stored in the user’s pocket. However, there are some other hard cases that are covered in rubber molding. This added padding on the case helps reduce any shock or impact if the phone were dropped. Without a doubt, these are the sturdiest cases for the phone and keep it in the safest condition. The consumer just has to make sure that these cases are not too bulky for them and that they provide access to the charger port. Some hard cases obstruct this port, requiring users to remove the case when charging.

Rubber cases also offer consumers another option when it comes to cases. These cases are thin yet sturdy enough to provide a decent amount of padding and protection for this smart phone. Unlike the thick, hard cases, these take up the least amount of room for the phone when it’s in someone’s pocket or bag. This is one of the more popular cases because of the style and price.

Then there are other cases that are purely for looks. Although many stylish cases are not as protective they show off the user’s personality. Usually, these cases are easily applicable and removable materials that act like stickers on the phone. There even cases that will make your phone look like the old school Nintendo model. When choosing a case there is no limit to the amount of choices that you will be able to pick from.

Some may want total protection of their phone and don’t mind bulkiness, so that’s where the hard plastic or hard rubber covered cases come into play. If you do not want a bulky case then a thin plastic and silicone case are the choices for you.

You can find HTC Inspire accessories at Think Mobile Solutions. We offer many types of accessories including HTC Inspire screen protectors and other accessories. Shipping is free within the U.S.

Smart Phones and Batteries

No one would sit next to a wall outlet just to wait for their phone to charge up. And if you’re one of those people who tend to use their phone a lot (for calling, gaming, Internet, etc.), then you know that you’re phone runs out of battery pretty quickly. This is why, out of the many accessories available to cell phone users, chargers are some of the most important. In fact, without the right charger, you wouldn’t even be able to turn your phone on. So out of all the HTC Inspire accessories, HTC Thunderbolt accessories, and Motorola Atrix accessories available, chargers may actually be the most important to have.

To always keep yourself prepared, it’s important to have several different kinds of chargers on hand. The most commonly used charger is the wall charger (or home charger). These chargers are plugged into an electrical outlet, as well as a person’s phone, to deliver a quick charge. Some of these wall chargers are so efficient that they can even charge some completely dead batteries in about less than an hour or two. Some are even equipped with microchips that tell them when a phone is fully charged. This helps to save electricity and keeps the battery from being overcharged.

Yet, most people don’t spend their entire day in front of an outlet. Many people spend a great deal of time at work, shopping, spending time with friends, and running errands. If you are halfway to the store when you notice your phone is dying, a wall charger won’t do much good. This is where a car charger can be useful. This way, no matter where a person is headed, they can always make sure that their phone is fully charged.

Of course, if a person isn’t traveling by car, a car charger will be useless. Fortunately for people that need another charging option, external batteries are also available. An external battery is an additional battery that plugs right into a cellphone. If your phone starts to lose power, you can just plug in the external battery and recharge it. After your phone is fully charged, you can unplug the battery and go about your daily business. Once you get home, you can recharge the external battery the same way you would charge your phone. These devices are extremely convenient for people that are always on the move.

There are so many different charging options that cell phone users have. While some of the newest smart phones may not have the best battery life, the variety of chargers more than makes up for that. To keep your phone charged at all times, it’s important to take advantage of the variety of chargers available and choose those that best meet your needs.

Want to learn more about HTC Thunderbolt accessories, please visit Think Mobile Solutions. We have hundreds of HTC Thunderbolt cases and accessories. We offer free shipping within the U.S.

Methods of Protecting the Motorola Xoom

When consumers think smart phones, they think accessories, especially when it comes to protection. Most people wouldn’t ever consider using their smart phone without a proper case and screen protector. But we can’t say the same for Android tablets, such as the Motorola Zoom. Despite a selection of accessories comparable to any smart phone, most consumers simply do not approach them with the same regard. They may purchase an additional battery and perhaps a portable charger but not much beyond that. That’s a shame. A screen protector and a case are essential accessories for any smart phone.

The large 10.1 inch capacitive touch screen primarily serves as the focal point. Most people look at it and just assume it’s already protected by screen protectors. In fact, when you think about it, the screen is nothing more than a really big version of any of the touch screens that Motorola includes with their smart phones. Knowing that it’s not as good as the iPhone 4, you wouldn’t think about not protecting your Motorola Droid right? So why would you take that risk on a device that costs so much more?

Someone buying a tablet for the first time may not realize how much we abuse our tablets. We use and abuse them just as we do our smart phones except everything is magnified. Consider the shell; the back and sides are just like a smart phone but much larger. Unless you plan to use it in one location, there’s a high chance you’ll expose it to wear and tear damage. So just as we buy a case, skin or glove for our Droid, we should probably buy one for our tablet as well.

When it comes to accessories like cases and screen protectors, the most important factors are the convenience and cost. The accessories have to be convenient or we just aren’t going to use them to maximum effectiveness. The accessories also have to be affordable. After spending a lot of money buying this device, you might not have a lot of money remaining in your budget. The good news is that despite the size increase, cases and screen protectors for the Motorola Xoom are little more expensive than they are for smart phones.

In conclusion, take a moment to consider how you’ll use your device. Compare that to how you use your smart phone now. Do you use a case and screen protector on your tablet? It’s most likely ideal to combine a case and a screen protector to protect it. Keep in mind that some accessory makers will spend a great deal of resources trying to convince you to try some innovative new accessory. But there’s a good reason why cases and screen protectors have been consistent in the protective accessory market. They get the job done, and they’re affordable.

You can find Motorola Xoom accessories at Think Mobile Solutions. We offer many types of accessories including Motorola Xoom screen protectors and other accessories. Shipping is free within the U.S.

Top HTC Thunderbolt Food Apps

Once the HTC Thunderbolt is put to use, it is a great tool for locating local shops and restaurants. There are numerous apps that help users find local restaurants and shops that are in their vicinity. These applications provide many reviews of the business and some might even offer discounts. The following list highlights some of the best apps that are helpful in locating local shops and restaurants.

Yelp for Android is one of the leading apps for locating restaurants, shops, services, and other businesses. Yelp’s strongest feature is the user review section that allows others to share their comments about a restaurant or business, ratings, and photos. Yelp uses the phone’s GPS and Google maps to provide live directions to establishment. Yelp is combined with social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to get things rolling. Bookmarks of favorite places can also be maintained on the smart phone.

Urbanspoon for the Android is a popular app for locating restaurants in the local area. The most interesting way to find a restaurant on Urbanspoon is selecting via a slot machine-like wheel that when the phone is shaken gives users a choice of restaurants based on location, cuisine, or price range. Other ways of selecting restaurants is by direct browsing, choosing what’s nearby, or from using recommendations from other Urbanspoon users.

Zagat for Android gives users access to one of the leading providers of restaurant and leisure travel reviews. The application’s one-touch feature allows the user to locate restaurants and nearby places. Reviews can be made directly upon completion of the meal. In addition to its premium ratings and reviews, the app also incorporates food photos from Foodspotting. For users needing meal recommendations, Foursquare can also be accessed from the app with recommendations from diners with similar tastes.

Before a user ventures off to find the ideal restaurant or shop, should acquire some of the accessories that will help keep their smart phone in ideal condition. A screen protector is an inexpensive way to guard against smudges, scratches, and dust on the touch screen. To keep the overall phone protected, a case can do the job. There are already many great looking cases available for the phone. Finally, a battery will ensure that the phone has power to take the user on their journey in locating local shops and restaurants.

Learn more about HTC Thunderbolt accessories and the different types of accessories available at Think Mobile Solutions. We stock hundreds of HTC Thunderbolt screen protectors, chargers, cases and other accessories.

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