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How to Place a Cell Phone Warranty Claim

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:00:15 +0000

A one year cell phone warranty is included with every mobile phone you purchase new. If you purchased the cell phone used directly from the cell phone company or received it through warranty exchange or the insurance replacement program it has a 30-90 day warranty dependent on your cell phone company.

Your cell phone warranty covers manufacturer defect. So what exactly is considered 'manufacturer defect'? A phone that is less than 1 year old and was purchased new from the direct cell phone company i.e. ATT Wireless, T-Mobile or an Authorized Dealer or Retailer, that displays one or more of the following problems:

* The speaker is not working or the microphone is not working (I can't hear the caller or the caller can't hear me)

* The phone will not charge because the charging port is loose from daily wear and tear and is not physically broken because you jammed your charger repeatedly into the charging slot 'upside down'

* The battery dies quickly (within 1 hour of a full charge) or constantly reads low battery no matter how long you have had it on the charger.

* The phone screen is faint or blank (usually you would notice this as soon as you open your new phone). Otherwise it is generally a result of water damage.

* The internal antenna is broken therefore even after you activated your phone it still receives no service even though you are in a service area

*Charger doesn't work, meaning there is no indicator.

* If you have a phone with a manufacturer defect and the problem occurs within the cell phone warranty period the cell phone company will replace the cell phone through the warranty program at no charge.

In order to start a warranty exchange request the first thing you will need to is contact customer care to get the process started.

How to Make A Warranty Exchange Request:

1. You call the company and tell them you are having a problem with your phone and believe that it is a cell phone warranty issue

2. The representative will walk you through a series of pre qualifying questions and manual phone tests.

3. If the problem is deemed a warranty issue they will transfer you to their warranty exchange department

4. The representative will repeat many of the questions from the initial customer care representative and walk you through a series of pre qualifying questions and manual phone tests.

5. They will have you read some numbers off the back of your phone or battery, as this is how they determine that (1) The equipment you are calling about is what is shown in their system (2) Your issue is under the cell phone warranty which can be determined by the number and letter sequence on your serial number

6. After determining that your phone qualifies under the warranty exchange program they will mail you a replacement phone first with a mailer (may or may not be pre-paid dependent on your carrier).

7. You will have about 5-7 days to get the defective cell phone back without having your bill charged for it (they will provide you with the actual time period before they ship out the device.

8. You will receive what they call a 'transceiver only' which is the phone with no battery.

9. If the carrier gets the device back and it is physically damaged or something is wrong with it other than what you stated, they will charge your bill a fee that is equivalent of buying a refurbished phone. Either way you always keep the device they sent you and they will always keep the device you sent them, repair it and often recycle back into their own warranty replacement or insurance pool dependent on the age of the device and the problem.

Note: The carrier direct (i.e. ATT Wireless, Verizon Wireless) handles warranty exchanges for phones and hardware.

The manufacturer (i.e. Motorola, Nokia, Plantronics) handles warranty exchanges for accessories, such as bluetooth headsets, wall chargers and batteries.

By: Shonika Proctor

Cell Phone Location Tracking Information

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:40:42 +0000

Cell phone location tracking is a controversial subject for many people. Everyone that calls 911 for emergency assistance is certainly in favor of having the emergency dispatcher know exactly where to send help. However most of us feel uneasy not knowing who is monitoring our location and for what purposes. It is generally accepted that you have the right to monitor the location of any cell phone you own either as an individual or as a business. Beyond this point gathering cell phone location tracking information enters a gray area.

Law enforcement agencies do routinely seek warrants for the purpose of tracking the location of cell phones. These warrants are supposed to be supported by sound probable cause sworn before a magistrate or judge. However it appears that up to recently the constitutional protections of the 4th amendment have been abused by many law enforcement agencies. When properly used, cell phone location tracking is a powerful tool for law enforcement.

New technology allows 911 emergency dispatchers and cell phone companies to locate just about any phone to within 200 to 300 feet. In accordance with FCC E911 regulations all new cell phones must have GPS technology built into the phone. These GPS chip sets greatly enhance the cell phone location tracking accuracy. It is not uncommon to expect location accuracy to be less than 30 feet in an outdoor environment. Infrastructure in terms of building and bridges as well as some natural terrain features will degrade this accuracy to some extent. Never the less you can be relatively sure that the location of just about any cell phone with the new GPS chip set can be found.

Recently several companies have emerged that will for a fee locate just about any cell phone. This service is used by bail bondsmen, parents, spouses looking for a cheating partner and private investigators. This has many privacy advocates crying foul. In addition some phone companies are also offering cell phone location tracking to their subscribers for a reasonable monthly fee. You simply log on to the service with your computer and download the location and mapping information.

Privacy policies of most phone carriers limit access to cell phone location tracking information to the individuals and business that own the phones. If you are using an employer owned phone then that employer has the right to monitor all aspects of the phones use. This includes where the phone is being used and for what purposes. Normally the tracking feature on cell phones is only available when the cell phone is turned on. You can in most cases prevent tracking by simply turning it off and or removing the battery. However to prevent criminals from doing this some cell phones have hidden back batteries that continue to give cell phone tracking information without the battery being installed.

The new tracking requirements of the FCC E911 regulations has already proven to save lives during emergencies. However the use of cell phone location tracking information in non emergency situations has many people worried about the loss of their privacy.

By: Jim Kesel

Cell Phone Plans – A Review of Alltel Offerings

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:50:27 +0000

Alltel is one of several major US wireless companies providing cell phone plans with nationwide coverage. Although well established, names like Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile are better known, if for no other reason than their active television and internet marketing campaigns.

Consumers considering Alltel cell phone plans will have a good selection of phones from which to choose, including a variety of Blackberry, Motorola RAZR, Moto Q, Palm Treo, and poplar LG models. Alltel offers the full range of Individual, Family and Prepaid cell phone plans.

Alltel's individual cell phone plans start as low as $39.99 with a basic National Freedom plan, which allows 500 anytime minutes, unlimited nights and weekends, unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling, the My Circle feature, and free nationwide long distance in available areas. Alltel's My Circle feature gives users free calling for 10 numbers which can be on any network, anywhere in the US, at any time. Such calls do not subtract from the available anytime minutes in the plan.

Although the coverage area is broad, coverage appears to be best in the southeast and very sparse in Alaska, Maine and in small areas throughout the western US. In addition, nationwide roaming charges of 59 cents per minute are incurred in certain pockets of the country, so verifying coverage before committing to a plan is wise.

Alltel's cell phone plans also include choices with greater long distance options however. For instance, their North American Freedom plans offer no roaming for calls in Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, and calls to those countries are toll-free.

Alltel's family cell phone plans allow users to pick up additional lines for as low as $9.99 per month. Again, the family cell phone plans start as low as $39.99 with a single line and move upwards to $199.99. Plans such as the My Circle Family Premier Plan offer a free second line, in addition to 2200 anytime minutes and unlimited nights and weekends, mobile-to-mobile calling, and unlimited texting for $139.99.

Their Prepaid cell phone plans run either pay-per-day, pay-per-month, or pay-per-minute. The pay-per-day plans feature anytime minutes at 10 cents per minute, text messaging at 10 cents per minute, picture messaging at 25 cents per minute, and nationwide roaming at 59 cents per minute. Users get 2 features at 75 cents per day, 3 features for $1.00 a day, or 4 features for $1.25 per day.

The pay-per-month prepaid plans are a bit more straightforward. They offer 2oo anytime minutes and 1000 night and weekend minutes for $29.99 per month, 400 anytime minutes and 2000 night and weekend minutes for $39.99 per month, or 700 anytime minutes, unlimited night and weekend, mobile to mobile calling, and text messaging all for $69.99 per month.

For pure simplicity, the pay per minute plan charges 15 cents per minute on all calls. All prepaid cell phone plans at Alltel can be paid by credit card via the phone or online or through a replenishment card which can be purchased at a variety of locations including Wal-Mart.

As anyone with a cell phone plan knows, tracking usage can be important to avoid the expense of using out of plan minutes. Tracking the usage of minutes and text messaging is simple via phone, text message, or online. The Alltel site provides easy-to-understand instructions on everything from how to block unwanted calls to how to activate the No Answer Transfer feature to roll unanswered call to another number. Certainly, Alltel offers the full range of features for wireless customers. Text messaging, TV, Radio, video, and other services are all available.

A final consideration for many consumers is customer service. JDPower.com offers customer satisfaction survey results from recent surveys for public viewing on their website. In looking at their published results it appears that Alltel generally falls in the "about average" category for prepaid and more traditional cell phone plans although they took top honors in the southeast for call quality, billing, and service options.

By: Christine Peppler

Cell Phones in Great Britain – Will Your Cell Phone Work?

admin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 06:34:23 +0000

As the international business world continues to become smaller, many people are traveling to various countries much more often than they have in the past. If you are planning to visit Great Britain and wish to have the use of your cellular phone, there are a few factors that may determine if it will work or not.

Like most other European countries, Great Britain's cellular phone system operates under the Global System for Media Communications, also known as GMS. This system is the second generation of cellular technology. Unfortunately, most cellular phones that are purchased in the United States operate under the Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), which is third generation cellular phone technology. So if your cell phone is not a GMS model, it will not be compatible with the British operating system.

If you do have a GMS style cell phone, this factor may not guarantee that it will work in Great Britain. As well as the difference in the cellular technology, European cellular phones also operate on frequencies that are different than those found in North America. While our cell phones operate at frequencies of 850 and 1900, European devices operate at 900 and 1800 frequencies. If you do have a GMS phone, you will need to check with your service provider to discover if it will function with the European frequencies.

Once you have found a GMS cellular phone with the proper frequency capabilities, you may still have problems with it once you arrive in Great Britain. While your phone may work in urban areas such as London and Edinburgh, you may have trouble finding a signal in the more rural areas of the country. In actuality, no cellular phones will work in the most remote areas of Great Britain. So if you are planning to travel into these regions, you may have to depend on using landline phones anyway.

The best way to ensure that you will have a cellular phone that will work while you are in the country is to purchase an unlocked GMS phone with compatible frequencies and an SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card. The cellular phones themselves are much more expensive if they are purchased in Great Britain so you will probably want to buy one of these devices here. The cost of a SIM card runs about

History Of Cell Phones – How This Omnipresent Device Progressed To Where It Is Today

admin — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:12:55 +0000

What began as two-way communications with taxi cabs and police cruisers has grown into one of the most popular, as well as one of the most dependent, means of Communication available today, regardless of the brief history of cellular phones in the United States.

From the very first mobile phones that were installed in cars to the micro devices that are smaller than the palm of a person's hand, cellular-phone history tracks the technology of radio wave communications.

At first mobile phones were installed into cars and only those who had the financial means were able to afford to get them installed. Later, the next-generation models were equipped with a plug that can be inserted into a car's cigarette lighter and were dubbed as "bag phones" and could be transported from vehicle to vehicle. This beginning step in the history of cell phones pushed the industry to transform cellular phones into devices that could be carried in your shirt pocket.

At Bell labs and engineer first thought of the idea of making available towers that would carry the singles from each respective telephone in the squares in which they were placed, called cells, required the user of the cell phone to stay within the particular cell from which the call originated or they would lose single strengthened and consequently the call would end abruptly. It was not until the year 1970 that the next step in the history of cell phones took place with the advent of the call hand off system giving a call the ability to be transferred from cell to cell without any loss of signal strength.

FCC Designated Frequencies

Back in 1982 the history of cell phones took another large step when the Federal Communications Commission assigned a frequency range for the exclusive utilization of cell phones. At this point in time the generation of cell phones were analog technology and were very bulky and large. They were compared to holding a brick up to your ear, however their progress to smaller more manageable units was not made until the beginning of the 1990s, when digital cellular service frequencies were earmarked.

As early as 1954 part of the history of cell phones was highlighted when Humphrey Bogart made a call in the back of his limousine in the movie Sabrina as businessmen Linus Larrabee. Phones are used together with ham radio for wireless calls around the world during the 1960s and 1970s, however because of security reasons, business was never conducted on these calls.

The newer generation of cell phones have advanced a history of cellular phones by giving them the ability to receive streaming audio and video as well as having reduced sized electronic components giving them the ability to be utilized as miniature computers enable with voice transmissions as well as text applications.

By: Korbin Newlyn

A Review of Bluetooth Enabled Cell Phones

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 06:07:38 +0000

With the rate that technology is evolving nowadays, it's quite easy to be left behind in the current market of electronic products. I experienced this myself when I decided to buy a cell phone. My friend told me that I would be better off if I spend more money for a Bluetooth enabled cell phone instead of the generic model that I was planning to buy.

I couldn't decide which model I would purchase because I had no idea how different Bluetooth enabled cell phones are from the generic models. A friendly salesclerk at the mall patiently explained to me why they were so special. I found out that the features on a blue tooth enable cell phones would allow me to do a variety of things that would be impossible with standard mobile phones.

Bluetooth enabled cell phones makes it possible to wirelessly transfer e-mails, contact information, and other basic content to someone who have a similar device. If you have special car kit you, can even make and receive hands-free, wireless calls while driving. Doing these this manually with a standard cell phone would be dangerous. Many recent car models already come with the necessary equipment to accommodate blue tooth enabled cell phones and more automobile companies are planning to follow the trend in the following years.

You might think that with these state of the art features, Bluetooth enabled cell phones would be considerably more expensive than the older generic models. If you're not after very high-end models, you can find that they are actually quite affordable. With the number of cell-phone manufacturer competing for customers, you can be sure that prices of blue tooth enabled cell phones will remain reasonable. Since they are manufactured by world-class companies like Motorola, Sony, and Nokia you also can be sure of getting a high quality product.

Don't be left behind. You don't know what you're missing if you don't avail of the exciting features that affordable and user-friendly blue tooth enabled cell phones can offer.

By: Morgan Hamilton

Pre Paid Cell Phone Service – Cheaper Than Post Paid Cellular Plans?

admin — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 23:12:13 +0000

Sometimes cellular service gets a bit confusing when it comes to choosing the right wireless plan. Did you know pre paid and pay as you go cell phone plans are totally different cellular plan options? Did you know there are pre pay cell phone plans very similar to post paid? Knowing the difference can save you money on your cell phone bill.

Many times people confuse pre paid cell phone plans with pay as you go cellular service. The big difference here is pre paid cellular plans usually have a monthly bill and include such luxuries as free nights and weekends and free mobile to mobile, yet it's a set spending limit. Pay as you go only allows you to use minutes you pay for in advance.

Benefits of pre paid cell phone plans are that anyone can take advantage of the service. There is no credit check, and you can make good use of the free calling features and unlimited minutes. The drawback to pre paid is you won't be able to go over your monthly minutes, else you'll lose all service until the next billing cycle.

Going with a pay as you go cellular plan has its advantages in the fact that you only pay for minutes you use. For people who need a cell phone for mostly emergencies and won't be using the cell phone to make many calls, pay as you go is the best option. There is no monthly fee, but there may be a set amount of time when you'll need to refill minutes.

Unlike pre paid or pay as you go cell phone plans, post paid cellular service usually involves a one to two year contract, and you'll need to have good credit to avoid a sometimes very hefty deposit. Advantages to post paid are numerous, including free cell phones, insane amounts of anytime minutes additional family lines and more.

Is pre paid cell phone service cheaper than post paid cellular plans? Time to think outside the box. Forget about the cent per minute rate. Forget about free nights and weekends, and forget about free mobile to mobile minutes. Do you have a good credit rating? Ask yourself how much you'll be using the cell phone service on a daily basis.

For those rarely using the cell phone, you'll benefit from pay as you go since in many cases you'll only need to add around 20 dollars every three months or so. Pre pay is great if you need to have the security of being able to make or receive a call only when you need it, and don't want to rely on a pay phone being nearby as with calling cards.

Moderate to occasionally extensive cell phone usage warrants a good pre paid cell phone plan. If you sometimes need to make calls during peak hours but can wait until the off hours to gab, you could save around 10 to 20 dollars a month by using a pre paid cell phone plan. Why pay extra for something you may not use or can limit?

For the excessive conversationalist, there is not going to be anything cheaper than a good post paid cell phone plan. Many times even if you go over your monthly spending limit, the charge for calls can be minimal depending on your cellular carrier. Always check for roaming fee's and additional long distance charges when selecting a cellular carrier.

There you have it. No one cell phone plan can really be any cheaper than the other in general. What really matters is how you'll use the service and what your calling habits are. Pay as you go for moderate, pre paid for moderate to extensive, and of course post paid for excessive, if you have good credit. Happy cell phone shopping!

By: Daymon Hoag

Cell Phone Technological Features Explained

admin — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 12:26:49 +0000

In today`s world, the number of people using cellular phones run into millions; and it is no wonder, since it is such a wonderful gadget - with a cellular phone, you can easily talk to anyone on this planet, from just about anywhere !

In earlier times, people would install radio telephones in their cars if they needed mobile communications badly. In this system, there would be a single central antenna tower in each city, and about 25 channels would be available. So not many people could use radio telephones, as the number of channels available were so few.

With the present day cellular system, a city has been divided into small cells. So extensive frequency reuse is possible across the city, making it possible for millions of people to use their cellular phones at the same time.

This small device, tiny enough to be carried within one`s fist, has become the craze of the age. No other single electronic device has acquired as much popularity within such a short span of time. The phenomenal development in cellular phone technology and its unprecedented demand has led to a continuous supply of new cellular phones. The leading phone manufacturers are continuously providing new phone models to mobile crazy groups, with petite looks, cute shapes and dazzling colors, and these have been enriched with fashionable designs and multiple functionalities. For some people, carrying the latest cellular phone handset has become a fashion statement.

The other striking thing about cellular phones is their easy availability. While there are costly high-end cellular phones for the rich, medium range and cheap cellular phones have also become widely available.

The array of functions the cellular phone provides today is astonishing, and more and more new ones are being added all the time. Depending on the model of cell phone you are using, you can: store contact information; make to-do lists; set reminders and track appointments; do simple math on the calculator; send or receive email; get news, stock quotes, entertainment from the Internet; watch TV, play games, take pictures, send text messages; integrate devices like MP3 players.

Camera phones have become hugely popular, and these days it has almost become a standard feature in the latest models. With a camera phone, you can take and share high quality pictures. Indeed, camera phones are now driving the cellular phone market. Camera phones are becoming the favorites of people interested in photography; these are not only user friendly, they are also more handy for capturing unanticipated moments of surprise. Along with a camera, there are features like the ability to email or send pictures, store a large number of pictures in the memory, set them as wallpaper and many more.

Since cell phones are around us all the time, and so many people are absorbed in private conversations in every possible place, cell phone users should follow some basic rules and good manners. So it is in order to remind users to always put their cellular phone on mute during meetings, public performances and in public places like elevators, libraries, museums, restaurants, theaters etc.

The ring tone should be pleasing to the ears and not jangle on the nerves of the people around. One should always speak softly and never talk loudly on the cell phone, and always excuse oneself before taking a call. Do not interrupt a face to face conversation to take a call, unless you are anticipating an emergency. Use the hands free device while you are driving.

Also, respect the personal space of other people and keep at least ten feet of space away from people when you are speaking on your cell phone.

By: Roberto Sedycias

Find Someones Cell Phone Number Quickly And Easily

admin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 12:31:47 +0000

So you're looking to find someone's cell phone number online? Well it can be tricky business with all the sites offering reverse phone call services. There are actually quite a few ways you can go about finding someone's cell phone number online. I'm going to give you a method or two that you can try.

Use Google as a phonebook

Yes that's right, search engines are great places to search for cell phone numbers. The chance is very slim, but you could find the number your looking for. You see when anyone types in their number it is indexed by Google. Yes thats right, you need to be careful what you put on the internet, it may come back to haunt you. Heres the simple steps to finding someone's number through a search engine.

-First you need to open up any search engine, try them all for this because some of them index faster than others. Next you need to type in the number with area code included; you also need to make sure you type in any variation of the phone numbers format. I suggest that you go at least a few pages deep in each search engine to see if you can find the person number you're looking for. You need to make sure you type the number perfectly; any missed number can alter the search results.

No Luck with the search engines?

Well you need to realize it can be tough to locate the number your looking for, but you can check out my site in my bio box below to find the number your looking for. I hope this method has helped you, and remember its not impossible to find someones cell phone number online. Good Luck!

By: John J Thompson

How To Trace A Cell Phone Location – Without Them Knowing

admin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 07:38:21 +0000

Have you ever wanted to trace a cell phone and find out the location of the caller. There are services available that will let you preform discreet searches. The cell phone owner will never know they have been tracked down.

A decent reverse cell phone trace will reveal the callers full name and address, date of birth, address history, and some services will provide any criminal or other very personal records on that person. The first time I used a reverse call search I was pretty shocked at what info was available on me.

One of the benefits of becoming a member of a paid service is that you can request your info to be removed from their system! There are free services but I found them a complete waste of time. Almost all of them share a public info data base that is worthless. You might get back the state or city the call is from.

Joining a paid service is worth the one time fee but I found the best option is to go for the yearly membership. I learned this the hard way by paying a one time search fee thinking I would never need the service again and then having to pay again a month later when I needed to trace down a prank cell phone caller.

Cell phones are a little harder to trace then regular land line phones. The over the counter cell phones that you pre pay and do not have to give out any info on are almost impossible to trace. You can do a preliminary search for free to see if anything is returned. If you get back the city and state you can be sure there is a lot more info available once you join. I even found out my prank callers neighbors.

The information you can now get was once only available to private investigators and law enforcement. But now with a click of your mouse you can have the same access to private information that they do ready to print out for your viewing pleasure.

With more cell phones using a tracking GPS chip you can now almost pinpoint a cell phone location. This is a great service if you want to track your kids, husband or employees. Want to find out where that bimbo your husband has been seeing behind your back? Get her phone number off of his cell phone and do a reverse call search on it. You will know more about her that he does. This could make some really interesting conversation or aid in your divorce.

The service also comes in handy for those pesky telemarketers that think they are untraceable. These days unlisted will not mean untraceable. An unlisted number might not be available to the public but that does not mean you can not trace it with a reverse call look up service. I discover that prank callers think because they are on a cell phone they are safe are pretty shocked when you call them back and rattle off their home and work address along with some other juicy info about them. The prank or unknown calls almost always stop immediately after that.

By: Mike D Tucker