iCellPhonePlans.com » Tips

How To Avoid Expensive Data Plans

Tom — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:45:51 +0000

Are data plans expensive? How do you avoid these data plans you still want to have a smartphone? Well, they are certainly more expensive than what they used to be and are required for steep discount on smartphones and some full-featured phones. To say that all data plans are expensive is quite unfair. They cost from $15 to $40 depending on how much data you will be using on your phone. If you don’t think it is worthing getting a data plan then there 2 ways you can completely avoid them. First, choose a simple phone that’s pretty much for talking only. The phone won’t have features like full HTML browser or video calling. But some phones do offer basic text messaging. You will able to get them free out of pocket with new service plan. Although these phones have limited ability to check emails or access to social networking sites they do allow you to go to mobile sites. However you will be charged a price per MB. This can be a perfect solution for those who check emails only a few times a week. The second way to avoid paying expensive data plans are buying smartphones at retail price. This can be every costly initially since advanced mobile devices usually priced at $400 or more. By not signing up the $30 data plan for 2 year you will end up saving $720. Don’t forget that you can still access the Internet wherever Wi-Fi is available.

What’s the best smartphone for web browsing?

Tom — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:40:21 +0000

Which smartphone has the best web browser? What’s the best smartphone for web browsing? These are one of the many questions that bother many consumers before they can decide which phone to buy. Thanks to advanced technology, there are only 3 choices now. The first is the iPhone, which comes with a Safari browser. All these web browser for smartphones are capable of displaying full HTML and let you zoom in and out of the web pages to view the contents. However only Android smartphones support Flash at this time. That mean you won’t be able to view every site fully with Safari and Windows Phone 7 browser. Many web sites actually update to use HTML5 standard so the videos can be played on all platforms. YouTube is one example that has adapted the new technology standard.

The browser on the iPhone is very easy to operate and tapping to zoom in and out is very smooth. Well, the only drawback is not play Flash. And Windows Phone 7 will be able to support Flash later this year with a software update. So, the best smartphone for web browsing battle really comes down to Android and Windows Phone 7. Which one is the best for browsing web? Android! Whether you want a compact or large touchscreen Android phone you can always find one that fits your needs. As for Windows Phone 7, There are limited choices and now and viewing web pages are not as smooth as on Android’s Chrome browser.

What Phones Should I Upgrade To?

Tom — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:21:16 +0000

Not every phone is created equal. What type of cell phones should you upgrade to every year? Some basic flip phones cost $100 or less at contract-free price. So, if you are upgrading to these free phones, you only save a $100. However, these types of phones generally don’t require text messaging and data plans. On the other hand, carrier offer steep discount on smartphones. You can typically save $200 to $300 per phone. That’s a huge saving compared to a basic phone. However, you would have to pay $30 or more for data and texting. That extra $100 saving can be offset in just a couple of months. Is it worth it? Well, it really comes down to what you want to do with the phone. Just talking – basic flip phones. Email, web browsing, and multimedia messaging – go with a big screen smartphone. And you are somewhere in between – go with a full-featured phone, it’s cheaper than you think.

When Should I Upgrade to a New Phone?

Tom — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:18:57 +0000

Many of you wonder when is the right time to upgrade to a new phone. It really depends on what you need the current offers. And of course, you need to be eligible for an upgrade too. You might also ask – my phone still works, why spend money to upgrade to a new phone? Don’t worry about the cost. Typically, people upgrade when their 24 month contract is almost up and carriers usually offer you free phones to keep you as a customer. However, if you feel your phone is out of style or would like to have the coolest and latest device you can upgrade annually. Keep in mind that you won’t get as much discount as in very 2 year upgrade. And not everyone is eligible (depending on account status). Be sure to check with our current wireless provider for upgrade eligibility before selling your old phone at eBay .

What’s on Sale on Memorial Day 2010?

Tom — Fri, 28 May 2010 15:27:50 +0000

If you are thinking to upgrade your phone or open a new wireless account you might as well do it during Memorial Day 2010. Depending on the phones of your choice, you can get discount that you don’t normally see until Christmas shopping season. Here are some of the hottest phones on sale on Memorial Day 2010 from 4 major carriers in the U.S.

AT&T – Motorola BACKFLIP, Blackberry Bold 9700
Verizon – HTC Incredible (very limited supplies get it right away if you can find one), LG Chocolate Touch
T-Mobile – Nokia Nuron, Motorola CLIQ XT
Sprint – LG Rumor Touch, Blackberry 8530

To find out what else is on sale this Memorial Day Weekend, head to your local wireless stores.

How to Get Better Reception with Verizon Wireless

Tom — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 14:46:41 +0000

Have bad reception with your Verizon cell phones? Here are some general tips to get better reception with Verizon Wireless or other carriers. Do you have an old phone? If the answer is yes, then you need to upgrade to a new phone to take advantage of the new and improvement wireless technology. Newer phones use the latest CDMA chips. They have faster processors and can maintain steady wireless signals. Another way to get better reception is to talk in an open area like a plaza or street. But don’t walk around too much (yeah, what good is a mobile phone if you can’t get mobile). OK, last tip, some people buy signal boosters – they don’t work on new phones anymore. My suggestion is to get a brand new phone (they are free or cost very little with a contract).

Does Bad Weather Affect Wireless Signals & Cell Phone Reception

Tom — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:25:15 +0000

Do you know that bad weather affect wireless signals? I have personally experience a consistent drop in bars for both voice and data reception during cloudy or stormy days. It happens every time. Bad weather does have negative effect on your cell phone signals. There is basically nothing you can do about it exception hoping the sky will be clear sooner. Your phone reception strength largely depends on how close you are relative to cell towers. The cell towers’ signals can be interfered by clouds, rains, snow, mountains, and high-rise buildings. That’s why you don’t get good cell phone receptions on days with too much cloud and rain.

Buying Used Cell Phones

Tom — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:12:39 +0000

Is it a good idea to buy used cell phones so that you can save a bit of money? Sure, used phones are cheaper than new ones, but there are some costs you should be aware of. First, as the term implies, the wireless device have been used before. But how was they used, we don’t know. Were they ever damaged and got fixed later? We don’t know. Second, most of the used cell phones will not be covered by warranty. Either the warranty is expired or not transferable. In the cases that the phone breaks down you will have to pay for the repair cost. Third, buying used cell phones is not as cheap as you think, especially smart phones in high demand. They can cost as much as 90% of the original retail value depending on the condition. So, do you still want to buy used cell phones?

How to Extend and Maximize Battery Life on Cell Phone

Tom — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:44:45 +0000

So, how do you to get more battery life on your cell phone? Nowadays, people use their phones not just for talking. Text messages, pictures, videos, email, and web surfing make up most usage on a cell phone, especially smartphone. Here are some tips to maximize your cell phone battery life.

First, adjust the screen brightness. Don’t make the it too bright – that sucks up a lot of battery juice. Second, turn off the device if you know you won’t get any reception for a while. Chances are your cell phone will constantly search for signals – that alone can lose some battery life. The first 2 are probably the easier to extend cell phone battery life if you remember to do them. Third, avoid checking emails too often. Some people check their emails every 5 or 10 minutes. So, this one might be difficult to master. If you set up the email app correctly, it will automatically alert you for new messages. With that being said, make sure to set up auto check for emails at short intervals only if you need it. Lastly, to maximize battery life on cell phone, you need to know whether your phone (especially smartphone) can handle multitasks. Running more than one apps at the same time and theoretically use up twice the battery juice compared to running a single app. Good luck.