Saturday, May 23, 2009

What Are Prepaid Cell Phones?

If you are contemplating getting a new cell phone, or new cell phone plan, you should honestly consider prepaid cell phones. There are many benefits to you as the consumer with a prepaid cell phone, especially if you are concerned with have enough money in your budget to cover your monthly phone usages. These prepaid cell phones allow you to purchase all of your minutes and extra services ahead of time. Prepaid cell phones allow you to have the use of a cell phone, and the flexibility of purchasing services dependent on your budget. This option of prepaid cell phones may be the best choice for you.

There is some excellent news that accompanies the idea of prepaid cell phones. With a prepaid cell phone you have many of the same features that are available to you with standard cell phone plans. Many prepaid phones offer those features such as text and picture messaging, voice dialing, and call waiting which all come standard on cell phone plans. The idea behind prepaid cell phones is that you consider how much air time, messaging, and other optional features you need, and then apply as much of that as possible with your budgeted amount.

Not only are prepaid cell phones great if you are on a budget, but they are also a convenient option because you don’t have to give up the great services of the cell phone providers. All of your favorite cell phone plan providers offer a prepaid cell phone option. It doesn’t matter whether the phone company you are with is small or large; almost all of them have the option of prepaid cell phones. With this bonus comes the excellent customer service and reliability of larger cell companies at a price within your budget. Basically, you do not have to sacrifice great service to take advantage of prepaid cell phones.

It is important to take the time to investigate all of your options before selecting a prepaid phone service. Prepaid may not be the best option for your budget, but it is an option worth looking into. There are plenty of prepaid plan options and they offer you all the coverage and options of non-prepaid plans, but most of all they offer you complete control over how much you spend on cell phone service.

Getting A Great Deal On Prepaid Cell Phones

If you are looking to purchase a prepaid cell phone, make sure that you consider all of the options that will make you a happy consumer. Of course you are going to want the most updated technology that is available, and affordable, for you. These will include some of the special features that other prepaid handsets may not offer. Everyone wants a really nice cell phone that will offer them the best service and all the added amenities. Remember, not only can you save money on your plan you can save money on the handset. Here are some tips to help you purchase the cell phone you really want, and spend less.

o Make sure to check out your options for purchasing your prepaid cell phone handset. You can oftentimes find cheaper phones than are offered by carriers at department stores, and especially on the web. This is a great way to find some great deals!

o Minute cost matters! Not every carrier provides that same service and price per minute so it is important to shop around. Make sure that their service is worth their price. Make sure you know the per-minute charge because that is the easiest way to compare options.

o Bulk is better. Carriers often offer deals so that if you buy more minutes you end up saving more money. So, if you buy 350 minutes instead of 50 minute increments you can save some extra dough!

o Nights and weekend minutes are available with some providers, and if you purchase minutes to use during this time then you may end up paying an even lower rater per minute.

o By signing up for auto-pay you can usually save money, but it depends on the carrier. If you allow the carrier to charge you a certain amount of minutes each month, usually $20-$30 worth, then you will get a discounted rate.

Finding ways to save money using prepaid cell phones is getting easier and easier. Always remember to search around, and compare prices on both handsets and minutes. By doing this you will more than likely save a vast amount of money.

Understanding The Cost Of Prepaid Cell Phones

The cost of prepaid cell phones is an important consideration when it comes to choosing between prepaid phones and standard phones. With prepaid cell phones you choose how much, or how little, you want to spend on your phone each month, whereas with a monthly rate plan you pay the exact same amount each month. Although, prepaid cell phones may not be the cheapest option for you depending your cell phone usage. Oftentimes, they may be a little bit more expensive for their convenience and hassle-free benefits. Here are some things to consider before choosing to go prepaid with your cell phone.

o Daily access fees may apply. Depending on what prepaid cell phone provider you use they may charge you a daily access fee. As an example, you have to pay an inflated rate for the first minute of the day, and after that the regular rate.

o Expiration is a possibility. If you buy minutes in bulk, and do not use them in time, they can expire. This is also dependent on your provider, but some of the worst case scenarios are 30-day expiration periods. You need to consider this so that you choose the best prepaid plan for you.

o Your phone options may be limited. Not all phones are provided with prepaid capabilities. The latest technology does not usually start with these prepaid capabilities, so if this is an important aspect of cell phones for you prepaid may not be the right choice for you.

Prepaid phone costs are something that you should consider when deciding what kind of phone plan you are going to purchase. Depending on the volume of calls you are making prepaid cell phones may not be the cheaper and more efficient choice for you. You should compare the costs of multiple plans, including standard and prepaid, and determine which plan will best fit your wants and needs. Remember, the best way to compare plans and get the clearest picture of cost is to compare per-minute cost.

Prepaid Cell Phones and Emergency Service

Everybody is familiar with 9-1-1 service, which allows you to easily contact emergency services from your home phone. But what about your cell? Emergencies can happen when you're away from home. And even while you're at home, more households are moving towards a single-line solution, replacing their landline phones with mobile.

The FCC requires all cellular carriers to put through all 9-1-1 calls, even when the phone does not have an active service contract. Individuals who have medical conditions may do well to carry an emergency cell phone, even if they do not use a cell phone on a regular basis. It is also an ideal solution for the elderly, who may be at risk while out and about. Keeping an emergency cell phone in the car's glove compartment, along with a portable charger, can help avert a disaster in case of a breakdown or accident in a remote area.

The so-called E911 (enhanced 911) service, mandated by the FCC, also requires carriers to implement a system that tells emergency dispatchers the location of the caller. This has been a part of landline emergency services for several years, and when you call 9-1-1 from your home phone, the dispatcher automatically knows your callback number and your fixed location. But on a mobile phone, there are some technological challenges. Fortunately, the cell phone companies stepped up to the plate and came up with a solution. In Phase I of the FCC mandate, carriers had to create a system that would tell dispatchers the cell phone number of the caller, as well as the location of the cell tower, which would provide at least an approximate geographic location. More sophisticated location detection technology uses GPS-enabled cell phones to determine the location of the caller in an emergency.

Phase II, scheduled to be fully implemented by the end of 2005, goes a step further by providing Automatic Location Identification (ALI), with precise latitude and longitude of the caller, to the emergency dispatcher. This capability has been incorporated into many newer cell phones, but there are still older cell phones still in use. If you plan to use your cell phone as an emergency backup, make sure you have a newer "location-sensitive" phone that is equipped to handle this service.

There is no charge for calling 9-1-1 from a cell phone; the E911 infrastructure is paid for with a small surcharge on normal cell phone services.

Who Are Prepaid Cell Phones Good For?

Prepaid cell phones are an available option for anyone, and definitely an option that you should consider when deciding what type of cell phone plan you want. There are many benefits to prepaid cell phones, but they are not right for everyone because everyone has different needs. You should investigate both sides of the prepaid cell phone coin in order to determine whether or not is will meet your particular needs.

Plus Side – There are some great benefits to prepaid cell phones and here are a few.

o If cell phones are up until this point a foreign object to you, prepaid phones are a great way to manage the amount of minutes you use, and the amount of money you are spending on cell service. Prepaid cell phones come from the basics with little frills to the exceptionally optimized with many frills; it is all dependent on your personal style.

o Prepaid cell phones can be perfect for senior citizens and young adults. It allows them the ability to contact someone in an emergency, or to inform a parent where they will be going, without paying extremely expensive cell phone bills.

o You can save a lot of money with prepaid cell phones, especially if you do not use your cell phone that much. With standard cell phone service you may be paying for minutes and features that you will never use, whereas with prepaid minutes you only purchase as many minutes as you are planning on using.

o If you are one of those anti-contract signing people, then prepaid is the way for you. Standard cell phone plans include typically a two year contract, with extremely high charges for ending a contract early. With prepaid there is no contract.

Con Side – Here are some reasons why a prepaid cell phone may not be right for you.

o If you have a high call volume and are using vast amounts of minutes per month you can oftentimes find better rate plans with standard phone plans.

o Prepaid phones do not typically have the latest and greatest technology, so if technology is a priority for you then you may also want to consider a standard cell phone plan.

o If you are looking for the lowest possible price per minute rate then you may want to investigate other cell phone options.

With this guide you can begin to understand whether or not prepaid may be right for you. Do not count this completely though, you may want to investigate individual carriers and see what they can offer you.

A Review of Bluetooth Enabled Cell Phones

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.

Prepaid Cell Phones and Emergency Service

Find out the nitty gritty on prepaid cell phones and 911 service. Find out what prepaid cell phone companies are required to do and why.

Everybody is familiar with 9-1-1 service, which allows you to easily contact emergency services from your home phone. But what about your cell? Emergencies can happen when you're away from home. And even while you're at home, more households are moving towards a single-line solution, replacing their landline phones with mobile.

The FCC requires all cellular carriers to put through all 9-1-1 calls, even when the phone does not have an active service contract. Individuals who have medical conditions may do well to carry an emergency cell phone, even if they do not use a cell phone on a regular basis. It is also an ideal solution for the elderly, who may be at risk while out and about. Keeping an emergency cell phone in the car's glove compartment, along with a portable charger, can help avert a disaster in case of a breakdown or accident in a remote area.

The so-called E911 (enhanced 911) service, mandated by the FCC, also requires carriers to implement a system that tells emergency dispatchers the location of the caller. This has been a part of landline emergency services for several years, and when you call 9-1-1 from your home phone, the dispatcher automatically knows your callback number and your fixed location. But on a mobile phone, there are some technological challenges. Fortunately, the cell phone companies stepped up to the plate and came up with a solution. In Phase I of the FCC mandate, carriers had to create a system that would tell dispatchers the cell phone number of the caller, as well as the location of the cell tower, which would provide at least an approximate geographic location. More sophisticated location detection technology uses GPS-enabled cell phones to determine the location of the caller in an emergency.

Phase II, scheduled to be fully implemented by the end of 2005, goes a step further by providing Automatic Location Identification (ALI), with precise latitude and longitude of the caller, to the emergency dispatcher. This capability has been incorporated into many newer cell phones, but there are still older cell phones still in use. If you plan to use your cell phone as an emergency backup, make sure you have a newer "location-sensitive" phone that is equipped to handle this service.

There is no charge for calling 9-1-1 from a cell phone; the E911 infrastructure is paid for with a small surcharge on normal cell phone services.

Interesting Facts About Cell Phones

Cell phone (telefone celular) is a wireless, portable, long-range, electronic telephone, which during travel can seamlessly change antenna connections, from one radio reception cell to another radio reception cell, without dropping or losing the ongoing call.

Besides the standard voice function of a telephone, latest cell phones (telefone celular) have features such as SMS for text messages, MMS for multimedia messages, radio, games, internet connectivity for email, browsing, blogging, music (MP3) playback, memo recording, built-in cameras and camcorders, ringtones, personal organizers, Push-to-Talk (PTT), Bluetooth and infrared connectivity, call registers, streaming video, downloading video, video call, and also serve as wireless modems for PCs that can be connected to the Internet.

The power in a cell phone (telefone celular) is obtained from rechargeable batteries, which can be recharged from the mains, a USB port or a cigarette lighter port in an automobile. Nickel Metal Hydride were the most common types of batteries, which due to the "memory effect" (the user can recharge only when the entire battery is drained off) were replaced by Lithium-Ion batteries, which did not suffer from any memory effect.

Cell phones (telefone celular) came into existence because of the invention of hexagonal cells in 1947, for the base stations by Bell Labs engineers at AT&T. This was further developed during the 1960s by Bell Labs. During a call, the channel frequency could not be changed automatically from one cell (base station coverage area) to another cell (base station coverage area) as the person traveled from the area of one cell to the area of another cell. Amos Joel of Bell Labs invented a breakthrough invention and called it as the `call handoff` by which the channel frequency could be changed automatically from one cell to another cell, during the same call, as the mobile user traveled from one cell to another cell. Due to their heavy construction, these phones were used mainly in automobiles.

The first practical cell phone in a non-vehicle setting, and which could be handheld, was invented by Martin Cooper, the General Manager (Communications Division) of Motorola, who made the world`s first handheld cell phone (telefone celular) call on April 3, 1973.

The technology by which the cell phone (telefone celular) works depends on the mobile phone operator; however, all of them use electromagnetic radio waves, which are in touch with a cell site (base station). The base station is composed of several antennas which are mounted on a pole, tower, or building. Cell sites are spread at a distance of 5 to 8 miles (approx. 8 to 13 km) from each other. The low power transceiver from the cell phone transmits the voice and data to the nearest cell site. During movement, the cell phone will "handoff" the information to other cell site. Mobile phone operators use many technologies to maintain the smooth stream of digitized data from the cell phone to the cell site and vice versa.

The wireless telephone technologies are grouped under heads known as generations, starting from zero generation or 0G. The current generation going on is 4G; however, there are old cell phones (telefone celular) that still operate on 1G, 2G, and 3G technologies. The wireless telephone technologies used in each generation are as given below:

0G: PTT, MTS, IMTS, AMTS, OLT, MTD, Autotel/PALM, ARP

1G: NMT, AMPS/TACS/ETACS, Hicap, CDPD, Mobitex, DataTac

2G: GSM, iDEN, D-AMPS, IS-95/cdmaOne, PDC, CSD, PHS, GPRS, HSCSD, WiDEN, CDMA2000 1xRTT/IS-2000, EDGE (EGPRS)

3G: W-CDMA, UMTS (3GSM), FOMA, TD-CDMA/UMTS-TDD, 1xEV-DO/IS-856, TD-SCDMA, GAN (UMA), HSPA, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, HSOPA

4G : UMB, UMTS Revision 8 (LTE), WiMAX

Frequency bands: SMR, Cellular, PCS

The impact of cell phone (telefone celular) usage on human health has been of considerable worldwide concern. Research studies in Copenhagen, from the Danish Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, the National Cancer Institute, and the Institute of Cancer Research, do not establish any link between cancer and cell phone usage. However, an intergovernmental agency IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) forming part of the World Health Organization of the United Nations, undertook a study of 4,500 users and found a statistically significant link between cell phone usage and tumor frequency. Further research is going on.

Cell phone (telefone celular) usage and driving is a common worldwide phenomenon. Some jurisdictions have banned usage of hand-held phones during driving, but allowed the hands-free fashion of cell phone usage while driving. However, studies have found out that the distraction is caused by the conversation itself; hence, both hand-held and hands-free cell phones contribute towards road traffic accidents. Further studies on cell phone usage and driving are going on.

Nokia Corporation is currently the world`s largest manufacturer of cell phones (telefone celular). Other notable cell phone manufacturers, in alphabetical order, are 3G, Audiovox (now UT Starcom), Benefon, BenQ-Siemens, Fujitsu, High Tech Computer Corporation (HTC), Kyocera, LG Mobile, Motorola, NEC, Panasonic (Matsushita Electric), Pantech Curitel, Philips, Research In Motion, Sagem, Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp, Siemens, Sierra Wireless, SK Teletech, Sony Ericsson, T&A Alcatel, Toshiba, and Verizon.

iPhone, Affording Today’s Cell Phones Is Tough, Solutions Exist

It has been said that “where there is a will, there is a way.” That sentiment is well served by being applied to the purchasing of today’s cell phones and other electronic gadgets. The term techo-geek, short for Technology Geek, no longer applies to just the pocket protector using, braces wearing, non athletic, characters pictured in the TV shows and Movies. Now, this once derogatory term can be applied to the masses at large with no negative connotation whatsoever.

We all love our cell phones and PDAs and that love is only getting stronger as or lives demand our input in events at various locations simultaneously. As new technology provides more and more “stay in touch capacity.” We quickly fill that capacity with a new task that we add to our list. Technology is only feeding the internal human desire to do as much as possible, as fast as possible, while on the move.

This insatiable desire however, does run into a small snag. Living on the cutting edge of technology requires one to occupy a relatively expensive piece of technology real estate. In layman’s terms, it costs a lot of money to have the best technology solutions at your finger tips.

Some would disagree and would point out that the price for hot electronics items drop over time. However, that statement nullifies itself. In the time that one waits for the price to drop other technologies are emerging, and once the price drops it is either inferior technology, technology that has been matched by its competitors or it soon will be inferior technology.

"I think $600 is too high for a phone" says Inez Washington " I was just going to let the price drop then get it, but if I can pay for half of the cost with this toolbar, I will get it sooner."

For those that clamor to have the cutting edge product, it is actually an expensive and futile attempt to capture what can never be caught. Technology is fast moving and it costs money to keep pace with it. The latest phone on the market is the iPhone $600.00 + tax, + monthly service fees worth of sweet enough to eat technology. Just the term iPhone conjures up the picture of walking down the street, listening to music, posting pictures on the internet while making a call to you stock broker concerning the company that you just heard about via an email.

I know many of you missed the most important part of that conjuring example “six hundred dollars?…..+ tax, + monthly service charges. This is the part that is standing in the way of many would-be iPhone owners. The Cell Phone Money Toolbar really helps with this problem.

Many parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts know that this latest launch will have a major impact on the Christmas list and Christmas budget. With the older loved ones asking for a iPhone at $600 and the younger loved one’s expecting such gifts as the Playstation 3 at $600. Budgets can quickly get out of hand. Ladies and gents, this is just the beginning and this pricing structure could soon become the norm. How does one purchase an iPhone for one child and ignore the fact that the other child wants a Playstation 3? That problem only stays at $1200 if there are only 2 children to consider in this round of purchasing.

Some people have actually begun working extra hours and cutting back on other things, so that they can afford one of these sweet devices. Some don’t have the option of working additional hours so they are scrambling to find a way to purchase one without totally throwing their finances in disarray.

Ten random individuals were asked about the iPhone and some interesting information about peoples mentality toward the gadget was discovered. 10 out of 10 wanted one, 7 out of 10 intended to get one, 5 out of 10 knew where the money would come from to get one, and only 2 out of 10 didn’t feel like the $600.00 would be that much of a stretch. When asked why they wanted an iPhone, the most common answer was “because I can do more with it.”

No specifics, no breaking that statement down, just the marketing, programmed answer of “I can do more with it.” That’s good enough for me I guess.

The iPhone is cool and puts all of your current desires at your figure tips. If we could get it to clean the house or mow the lawn, I get the feeling there would be a lot of relationships that break up right about now.

There are online ways to afford these types of products with out breaking the bank. The Cell Phone Money Toolbar provides users the opportunity to earn the extra money they need for that elusive iPhone. This tool puts the iPhone in the reach of millions of people free of charge. Shy of getting a second job, this is the best way to afford the currently unaffordable iPhone.

The Cell Phone Money Toolbar interfaces with TypoBounty dot com. TypoBounty is where companies will pay you to help them find errors on their web properties.

The money gained can be used to purchase the iPhone or anything else one desires.

If your goal is to get an iPhone while they are hot it is imperative to offset the cost. If your off spring want to have the power and cool factor of the iphone at their disposal, you can tell them that they can pay for it themselves and not mean it in a bad way.

Remember, it is often best to wait for prices to drop, but if your situation does not conveniently allow for that, at least try to shop smarter and supplement your budget to offset the cost of the phone and services.

International Calling with Cell Phones Made Affordable

I think we all know the thought process that overwhelms us when it comes to thinking of dialing an international phone number from a cell phone. MONEY. MONEY. MONEY. So much so, we don't dare use our cell phones ever for an international call.

The expensive trend in international calling from a cell phone to date has been unchallenged and allowed to flourish leaving businesses and consumers confined to the land line phones of yesterday to avoid the outrageous cost of cell phone rates.

Dollars a minute can easily add up to thousands per bill with just a few short calls. Additionally with traditional international calling, phone call quality can be diluted by analog equipment overseas causing an overall poor communication experience along with heart ache of saying goodbye to your precious hard earned money..

Finally a solution for the common man and the budget conscious business has come to the rescue of those desiring to do international calling from their cell phones. With advancements in telephony technology a company has pioneered a new way to offer cell phone users an effortless method of making international long distance calls while giving quality digital voice communications over the phone.

Changing a wireless carrier would be what many would think you would have to do, but no, there is no need to change carriers or cell phones with this new international calling solution. The solution comes in the form of an easy software download that automatically installs and handles all dialed international calls for the caller without having to dial multiple numbers like that from a calling card or dial around. The need to be around a wi-fi hot spot has been eliminated as well, giving everyone an effortless experience and saving a lot of money.

What does the software do you might ask? The new software does something very simple, actually so simple, you would swear you had thought of it yourself. When you dial an international phone number from your cell phone this software automatically switches into action and routes your call to a VoIP provider on a digital quality line which then sends the call on through to your destination. You actually enjoy crystal clear clarity on your international calls without having to have gone through any extra steps. The even better part of everything is this service to date works with over 400 different cell phone models so chances are you are in possession of a compatible phone for the service already.

So who is this VoIP provider bringing in the reign of technology into the hands of today's modern cell phone users? The company is 8X8 or also known as Packet8. Packet8 (Nasdaq: EGHT) has been in the telecommunications business for 20 years and is the holder of 68 patents for VoIP technologies.

So basically, thanks to Packet8, we can now all make cell phone calls to international destinations without the worry or quality issues that plagued us all. Some of the pricing you can expect to see in this new service technology is calls to China for .03 cents a minute, the UK for .02 cents per minute, and Mexico for .03 cents per minute.

As of now Packet8 charges about $10.00 per active account a month and the set up cost is about the same so expect a $20.00 bill the first time around, but if you make a lot of international calls and you use your cell phone a lot, you can see what is the future of international cell phone calling.

Are Cell Phones and iPods Perils for Pedestrians?

You see it everywhere and many of us do it ourselves. Whether trying to squeeze the most out of our busy day or out of simple boredom, we talk on the phone or listen to music, news or audio books while we’re walking. The business person trying to get a little work in while going to pick up lunch, the mom or dad having a tense conversation with one of the kids or the teenager listening to her iPod on her way home from school – it’s a normal part of everyday life now.

Most of the controversy around cell phones has been related to driving a car while talking or dialing but they pose a risk to pedestrians, too. Just the other day, I saw a pedestrian almost get hit by a car while walking through the parking lot of the local supermarket – not once, but twice! The first driver saw her at the last minute and thanks to another driver who honked his horn, the driver of the second car stopped moving, too. If you can't already guess, she was talking on her cell phone and was engrossed in her conversation. She kept right on talking - still oblivious, as she walked into the market.

All handheld devices -- cell phones, iPods, Walkmans, and portable CD players -- can pose a safety risk to pedestrians. One of the biggest risks they present is the fact that they are huge distractions for the pedestrian. Often the pedestrian is so engaged in his or her phone conversation, text message or their music that they fail to see what is going on around them. The pedestrian is often focused on other things besides the street or the parking lot.

Another key factor is that cell phones and music players can block the user's hearing so the listener can’t hear what’s going on around them. A critical safety sense is stripped away and it could easily cost someone their life.

Here are some quick reminders to make your walking trips a bit safer.

* Pay attention to what is going on around you! Minimize or remove all distractions that prevent you from staying alert and aware.

* Make yourself as visible as possible and never enter traffic from between parked cars.

* Turn down the volume on your phone, iPod, or other device so you can also hear what’s going on around you.

* Be especially careful in parking lots. Look for back up lights and engine noise to alert you to moving cars.

* Be aware of drivers who may not be paying attention themselves.

* Always be extra cautious at night.

And of course, the gold standards:

* Cross the street in crosswalks only!

* Cross at a corner if there is no crosswalk.

* Look both ways before crossing the street.

* Make sure you are carrying up-to-date emergency contact information as well as identification whenever you leave the house.

Over 5,900 people get killed by cars each year. Thousands more get seriously injured. A little more attention on your part could make a critical difference, so make sure you stay alert to the dangers around you by limiting distractions as much as possible and following the simple safety rules outlined above.

Cell Phones Give You So Many Benefits For Communication

Cell phones give you so many benefits for communication

Cell phones have become a staple in homes and business around the world. Businessmen and women have grown dependant on this form of tele- communication. Whether you are at work or out shopping, it is important that you keep in touch with your family. Having a cell phone means that you are accessible in case of an emergency even if you are out on the road. There are many different cellular phone plans that you can choose from, whether you want a prepaid cell phone or one that has options.

The Cell phone has become a multi-billion dollar industry and it is expanding every day. More and more people are becoming technology minded and choose to purchase a cell phone.

The Use of Cell Phones in Emergencies

Perhaps the greatest benefit to owning a cell phone is the security of knowing that they can call for assistance anytime or anywhere they need too. In past decades, millions of people were stranded on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere because their car broke down. Not being able to get help and having to rely on the kindness of strangers who passed by. It was not only frustrating it was also very dangerous.

There are still people out there who do not want to own a mobile phone. They do not want to pay for a wireless phone plan. For those people, a prepaid cell phone is the perfect gift. They can use the phone in emergencies only. With a prepaid cell phone, you do not receive a monthly bill and you do not have to sign any contracts.

Cellular phones have come a long way since their inception. Constant improvements have brought them into the twenty first century. With today cell phones, GPS systems are a standard accessory. There are even phones that allow you access the Internet to have directions sent right to your phone.

How Do Cell Phones Enhance Business?

You may be asking yourself what is the big deal with a business cell phone? The answer of course is that any type of business that has on the road salesmen, the office knows how difficult it is to contact their salesman. In the past they would have to wait until he or she called into the office. With a cell phone, they can be contacted anytime.

Cell phones not only allow the corporate office to keep in contact with employees, it also allows salespeople to contact their clients at a moments notice if a deal of a lifetime pops up suddenly. Cell phones can also cut down on land line phone bills because most plans allow the callers to make calls to other people who have the same carrier. So a salesman can call the corporate office even if he or she is a thousand miles away and not be charged any long distance charges.

People are fascinated with gadgets, and those who own mobile cell phones are no different. There are many accessories for cell phones, and almost everyone wants to own them. Whether it is a hands free headset or voice messaging, cell phone gadgets are incredible. The prices for each gadget are different, and depending on the accessory, compatible with specific model phones.

Cell phones are most popular with real estate agents. This is because many now advertise their businesses and business listings online. It is here where the real estate agent places a special number on the website for prospective buyers to inquire about specific properties by text messaging the Real Estate Agent.

Wireless Phones and Legal Matters?

Cellular phones have also become useful in legal matters. It is possible to access all cell phone records online, and in doing so, many criminals have been convicted because of the evidence.

Adding Kids Into the Equation

Kids and phones go hand in hand. As parents of teenagers, you know how difficult it can be to get him or her off the phone. This is when a cell phone can become your best friend. By supplying your child with a prepaid cell phone you are taking back the landline. You will not only have access to your own phone; you will not have to listen to the constant babbling of your kids.

Cell phones are not only for communication, they can also teach your child how to be responsible. If your child is pre pubescent, you may be able to instill responsibility in him or her.

The Elderly and Cellular Phones

When cell phones were first developed, they were big and clunky. They were hard to use and calls were often dropped. Today, cell phones are sleek and slender, and you can barely notice them however the features are phenomenal. Some would say that the more advanced the cell phone is, the more complicated it is to use. Small screens and buttons can be maddening to use, especially if you have large hands.

Pushing the Envelope of Entertainment

Mobile phones today come equipped with cameras, and music, ring tones and even Internet access. Camera phones are great because after you take the picture, you can instantly send it to anyone in the world who has a cell phone.

Higher end cell phones also come equipped with video recording software. You can record up to two minutes of video and also send it to anyone in the world. Calendars and day planners can also be found on higher end cell phones.

Cell phones today are extraordinary and they are being upgraded every day. Soon, the cell phones of today will become obsolete and will be replace with new and innovative phones that can do anything.

Cell Phones for Children- 4 Options

There was a time that many parents balked at the idea of buying their child a cell phone. Fortunately, many now see that cell phones are the best way for your busy kids to contact you and for you to keep tabs on them. How do you choose which cell phone to buy them with all of the great options out there?

It is important that you do your research and think about the needs of your child as well as what you want out of the phone. All of the companies claim to have a superior product, but you should do a little digging in order to see beyond the hype. There are several brands to choose from. Some of the most popular include:

Firefly Phones
Kajeet Phones
LG Migo
Leapfrog’s Tic Talk phone.

Firefly Phones

The Firefly cell phone is a great option. It is very simple to use because it actually doesn’t have a camera, MP3 player, or video. This phone doesn’t weigh very much as a direct result of losing those features. This will be a relief for many kids and parents as we are used to having to carry quite a bit for our busy lives.

The Firefly kid’s cell phone has a neat display screen that will show how much battery power is left as well as the signal strength that is available. For those parents who are worried about their children answering from unknown callers, phone number ID is displayed for incoming calls.

Your kids may not care so much about the actually functionality of the phone, but they’ll all want their Firefly mobile phone to look cool. There are some neat color skins that you can purchase for your kids to instantly change the look of their cell phone.

The Firefly kids cell phone is a wonderful option for you if you want to have a lot of control over the phone calls your children make and receive. There is no need to worry that your child will spend hours and hours talking on their phone. Parents can control who can call in. This function offers a great piece of mind.

Despite those great features, there are many people who will not be happy with the Firefly prepaid phone. It is missing many of the “cool” features your children have come to appreciate and enjoy. There is no way to organize the phone or send text messages.

Kajeet Phones

Another phone you may want to consider is from Kajeet phones. This phone is unique in that it was designed by parents and beta tested by kids.

Many parents who’ve tested this phone have been very impressed with all that it offers. It can be very dangerous to just give your child a regular cell phone. With regular phones they can call anyone and receive calls from anyone. Kajeet phones really helps to eliminate this problem.

With this phone you can set whom your kids can call. This is important if you don’t want them wasting away their minutes on calling friends for hours on end. Another neat feature is the ability to set the hours when your children can make phone calls.

There are some children who will try and sneak in calls here and there at school. With Kajeet phones you can allow them to call home and 911, but block all other calls during the school day.

Another great feature is that you can give your children a phone allowance. They may miss the ability to buy ringtones and other “fun” things. With Kajeet phone’s cell phone allowance they will have the ability to buy these things if you want them to. Once they’ve spent their allotment, they cannot spend any more money until you’re ready for them to.

Kajeet phones are neat because they’ve really listened to their target audience and their parents. Even a quick visit to their website show that they really do pay attention to what kids in this day and age need and want.


LG Migo Phone

The LG Migo phone is another option in the world of cell phones for kids. It is a bright green color that will immediately attract children who want a cool looking phone to impress their friends. This phone is geared towards a slightly younger audience, which is something to keep in mind.

The phone has five speed dial buttons that you can program. This is a great option for younger children who are unable to remember phone numbers.

LG Migo also has a Chaperone service that is ideal for parents. The system acts as a kind of GPS device. You set the boundaries that are ok for your child to be in. If they leave that area your phone will be notified with a text message. This is something to keep in mind for safe use of cell phones for children

Leapfrog’s TicTalk Phone

Another entry into the world of cell phones for children is Leapfrog’s Tic Talk phone. The TicTalk phone is probably one of the most unique looking cell phones out there. It looks a bit like a stopwatch and is very durable. This is a good model for parents who are worried that their children will immediately break the phone. Leapfrog’s TicTalk phone should stand up to even the most active of children.

The TicTalk works by scrolling through numbers in a phonebook. There is no dialing involved for the child. This may or may not be easy to get used to, but can actually be quite convenient once they learn the ropes.

Parents set the actual phone up online. This is a great way to add convenience for those who prefer the simplicity of typing online.


Kids will want to scoop Leapfrog’s TicTalk phone up because it has games on it that are pre-installed by Leapfrog. The phone is overall more full featured than some other cell phones for kids that are available today.


How Should I Choose?

There are many different cell phones for children that are on the market today. It is up to you and your child to decide which features are the most valuable to you. Your first priority should be the safe use of cell phones for children. Then, pick the best option for your family.

Free Cell Phones, How can you find the Best Cellphone Deals?

Free Cell Phones, How can you find the Best Cellphone Deals?

Have you had a chance to look at any of the cell phone offers lately? The free cell phone offers that are available today are very imaginable. Some of them you have heard of and some you haven't. Just about every cell phone provider will give you a free cell phone when you sign up for their service such as Samsung, Verizon, Motorola, U.S. Cellular and Sprint just to name a few. Here are some examples of some of the companies that you can choose from to get a honey of a deal:

AT & T

This company has a free pink RAZR cell phone when you open a new account. Free shipping is offered as well as a Bluetooth headset when you arrange to have service with them.

1.) Another free cell phone that you can get when you open a new account with AT & T is a Black Berry pearl red phone.

2.)When you activate a new account with AT & T, you can get a free Motorola V3 RAZR, which is valued at $320.b.

3.)You will also be able to choose a Sony Walkman style phone when you open a cell phone account with AT & T.

T Mobile

This company offers a free Nokia wireless cell phone if you sign up for their service. This offer includes free FedEx shipping.

Sprint

If you activate a new cell phone account with Sprint, they will give you a free Sanyo Katana II pink cell phone that has a value of $199.

1.)When you activate an account with Sprint, you also have the choice of a free Samsung M300 red cell phone which includes a Jabra Bluetooth headset.

2.)You can get a Samsung Upstage M620 that retails for $99.99 but after the activation and mail in rebates, you end up getting this cell phone for free.

Verizon

You can receive an LG Chocolate cell phone, valued at $299, for the price of $49.99. However, after your service is activated with them and you send in your rebates, your will get the cell phone for free.

These carriers are just a few of the best cellphone deals that are available today. If you do a Google search, you will find that the offers are numerous. Your e-mail box is probably full of offers from different cell phone companies that are offering their best free cell phone deals as well as cheap cellular phone deals on a daily basis.

Since so many cell phone companies are competing for your business, cell phones have become much more affordable over the last several years. If you are only concerned about using a cell phone for emergencies there are cell phone plans that are available that have as little as 450 minutes a month at a very reasonable cost. Various agencies have cell phones that only have 911 services if you just want to use one in case of an extreme emergency.


One very good cheap cellular phone deal is a mobile plan where you are able to call others who have the same service as you have for free. This way you do not have to worry about using minutes when you talk to family and friends. Most of these companies will let you rollover any time you have left over. This kind of cell phone would be a great gift for your parents who live in another state. You will also have the peace of mind that they are all right since you will be able to call and check on them especially if they are elderly.

Just about every teenager in today's society thinks that a cell phone is an absolute necessity. It seems that all of their friends have them so they have to join the crowd! You can find affordable plans for your teenagers and even your pre-teens so as to avoid any embarrassment in front of their friends. There are many cell phone deals that offer a service that will allow you to choose so many friends and family that you may call for free. If you have watched TV lately, you will find that these plans have become quite popular.

If you are looking for affordability, then consider getting a family plan. A family plan works this way. You pay one price for a certain amount of minutes that are shared between two or more cell phones for just one price. There are some plans today that offer extra cell phones free when you decide to go with a family or shared plan. These are excellent ways to keep in touch with your spouse or your children especially in these days when everyone is so busy with school, work and all of those extracurricular activities.

If people happen to be traveling, they may be on the lookout for cheap cellular phone deals. This is truly a lifesaver if you happen to get lost or break down. Keeping safety in mind, it would be a good idea to keep a mobile phone in your car at night in case it would break down or if you are in an area that is not well traveled.

It is possible to track someone's whereabouts using their cell phone. For some people this can be seen as an invasion of privacy, but it can serve its purpose in the event there happens to be a kidnapping or an unexplained disappearance. Law enforcement personnel could use this tool wisely with the rising rate of child abductions.

Another good point about this technology would be to locate a relative who has Alzheimer's disease. If you have ever been put in the position of not being able to find your father, mother, grandfather or grandmother then a cell phone could give you peace of mind, which could end up being priceless! People with Alzheimer's disease tend to wander off and get lost. If you make sure that they have a cell phone with them, which could help you find them before any harm could come to them. The benefit that you may be able to find your loved one far outweighs any idea that you may be intruding on someone's privacy.

This feature that comes on your cell phone can be disabled if you wish. As with any technology, there are ways to disable anything you do not wish to have activated on your cell phone. Just give this some careful thought before you do this, as it can really be a valuable tool down the road. There can be abuse with this feature, but that is true with just about anything today.

Free cell phone deals are constantly changing. The best way to find the right deal for you is to decide what you are going to use the cell phone for and how much you are going to need it. Then you can do a comparison of all the different plans that are available and see which one is better suited for your budget. Then that will be the right cell phone for you!

Used Cell Phones Give You Network Freedom

Buying an unlocked cell phone has numerous benefits. Beyond the most obvious (cost savings), one of the best benefits to purchasing a used phone instead of a new one is the fact that you will have more control over the network that you use. When you buy a new phone, you are restricted to either using the network that offers the phone you want or using one of the phones supported on your network. With an unlocked used phone, you get the best of both worlds - the phone you want on the network you want.

Of course, in searching for a used phone, you'll still need to find one that will work on whatever network you want to use. However, used phones are often unlocked, meaning they can work on any of a few networks, which gives you more options. You also are not limited by the limited selection available at your provider's local store as you can purchase any phone made for their network, even if it is no longer commercially available, and still get it activated. Cell phone choice is largely influenced by personal preferences and choosing from a wider selection of used phones will help ensure you get the phone with all the features you want.

If you decide to purchase a used cell phone, take some time to figure out what network you want to use. Consider how you plan to use the phone and look for the best combination of coverage and price. For example, if you plan to do a lot of internet browsing with your new phone, look for the carrier with the current lowest prices on their data plans, assuming they have adequate coverage in your area.

Once you know what network you want to operate on, you need to find out what "kind" of network it is. There are a few different kinds that I'm sure you've heard of even if you don't know what they mean - GSM, CDMA, and TDMA are the most common. The different types of networks have their relative advantages. All will perform well in major cities. However, if you live in or plan to use your phone a lot in rural areas, you amy be better off with a CDMA or TDMA network like Verizon or Sprint-Nextel. On the other hand, people that do a lot of international travel are better with a GSM network as these phones come with SIM cards that can easily be swapped out to allow the phone to work on international networks and avoid roaming charges.

Once you know what kind of network you need, find a phone that works on that type of network and begin comparing the prices of the different providers that operate on that network technology. At this point, it's as simple as going in to the local office or calling customer service to sign up and get your used phone activated.

Used Cell Phones Make Great First Phones For Kids

Cell phones are everywhere you look these days, even in the hands of young children. If you're a parent that has a child that is asking for a phone, you're probably wondering what the best way is to go about getting them a phone. Cell phones are not necessary for kids to have, but as kids get older it can be advantageous for them to have a cell phone for emergencies and so that parents can keep tabs on their kids. They make "checking in" much easier and keep kids from having an excuse to always let parents know where they are.

There are phones on the market that are designed specifically for kids. They are typically the most basic of all phones and some only allow calls to be made to a limited number of pre-programmed numbers. These are great for young children to use for emergencies, but chances are that older children and teens will want a "real" phone - that is to say, one with actual numbers on the keypad and an address book to store phone numbers for their friends.. The bottom line is that even if you opt for a kiddie phone, at some point they will grow out of it and will need a more advanced phone. So, why not begin with a regular phone in the first place?

However, cell phones are not cheap and many parents are apprehensive to buy a nice phone for their kids as children are more likely to lose or break the phone. This is where used cell phones can be provide the functionality they need while not requiring parents to spend a decent chunk of change on a new one. Used phones are available for any network, so no matter what provider your family currently uses, you should be able to find a phone. If you use T-Mobile, there are a number of used T-Mobile phones available.

In fact, getting your kid an "adult" phone can provide additional peace of mind. These phones can be found with GPS which will allow emergency personnel to find your child in the case of an emergency. Older children will appreciate other features, such as text messaging capabilities and cameras.

If you are concerned about your child's ability to use the phone within the limits of your contract, consider a phone that works with a prepaid plan. The other option is to take advantage of the parental controls that many companies offer which allow parents to block features such as internet browsing or downloading ring tones. These features are relatively easy to take advantage of and generally come at no additional cost. They can be canceled at any time, so once you feel like your child can be trusted to use their phone properly, they can have the "real" phone they've always wanted.

So, when looking for a used cell phone for your child, rest assured that you can get the phone with the features that your child wants and that you'll always have the option to turn off features if they are abused.

Solutions For Tracking Stolen Cell Phones

Researchers dealing with mobile phone technology have found out that in every 10 people you meet, at least 8 of them have lost their phones. The same researchers have found out that out those who have lost their phones, close to 90% of them lost their cell phones through theft or mugging. This means that this issue of cell phone theft is quite high. The reason why it is quite easy to steal mobile phone is because they are small and light and can easily be picked without anyone noticing. So what are some of the solutions to this?

One of the ways to solve this is by reporting to the police. You will need to give them information on about your phone, the mobile service provider and a few other details. In liaison with the mobile service provider, they will be able to do investigations on their own and use their satellite tracking systems to get your phone. Some of the information that they require is something the normal human being ignores. This involves things such as the make and model of phone and the serial number. Many people usually ignore the serial numbers of their handsets but it is important to know it.

The other one involves using mobile phone tracking software. Since many cell phone users are not interested in cramming the serial number of their phones, this would be a good solution to recovering your stolen mobile phone. This does not need any external sources to help you in locating your phone. All you have to do is to download the software on to your phone (it best works for 3G phones), fill in certain information including a number of a person you are in constant liaison with and then get the license key to activate. If your phone is stolen and the sim card is removed, a text message is sent immediately to the cell phone number of the person you had registered the number. The text contains the exact location details of your phone. You should then take the necessary legal steps to recovery your cell phone.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

IneSun Wholesale 8 Security IR ccd Camera DVR Systems 8CH Stand-alone HDD DVR

Recommended Applications:

MJPGE 8-Channel Stand-alone DVR, Video Quality: Low 12KBytes; Normal 15KBytes; High 20KBytes, Up to 500G Bytes , IDE or SATA interface HDD, 10 days with 500GB HD 25 fps for continuous recording mode, IR remote control unit and 1/3 inch Sony Chip, 420TV Lines, 24LEDs Infrared Night Vision, Security CCTV Wired Color CCD Camera, Built-in 8mm Lens, 20 Meter Infrared Distance, 45Angle View.

DVR Features:

1. Ture triplex functionality : (Simultaneous Playback/Record/Network)
2. 10 days continuous... View full description

Tags Security Camera DVR Systems Security Camera Systems Stand Alone Complete System

Detailed Selling Lead Description
Recommended Applications:
MJPGE 8-Channel Stand-alone DVR, Video Quality: Low 12KBytes; Normal 15KBytes; High 20KBytes, Up to 500G Bytes , IDE or SATA interface HDD, 10 days with 500GB HD 25 fps for continuous recording mode, IR remote control unit and 1/3 inch Sony Chip, 420TV Lines, 24LEDs Infrared Night Vision, Security CCTV Wired Color CCD Camera, Built-in 8mm Lens, 20 Meter Infrared Distance, 45Angle View.

DVR Features:
1. Ture triplex functionality : (Simultaneous Playback/Record/Network)
2. 10 days continuous recording at 25 fps with 500G byte HDD
3. Recording and video signal compression real time
4. Optional : NTSC and PAL system / VGA function
5. Individual recording frame / video factor adjustment for each channel
6. Motion detection / video loss alarm function
7. High quality color video at 50 or 60 fps recording/playback
8. Display resolution : NTSC 640 x 448 ; PAL 640 x 544
9. Recording resolution : NTSC 640 x 224 (Half D1); PAL 640 x 272 (Half D1)
10. IR remote control unit / PTZ function
11. Power recovery auto-record function
12. Network transmission: Similar MPEG 4 compression (Support TCP/IP: Static IP/ DHCP up to 4 users) IE view only
13. OSD: Support Multi-Language; Audio: Support 8/16/20 KByte/sec; USB port: Support avg. 300KByte/sec for media backup

Item Includes:
1 x MJPEG 8-Channel Stand-alone DVR
8 x 1/3 inch Sony Chip, 420TV Lines, 24LEDs Infrared Night Vision, Security CCTV Wired Color CCD Camera
2 x AC/DC Adapter
4 x 15m Power / Video All in One Cable
4 x 30m Video and Power All one Cable

Saturday, May 16, 2009

BSNL 3G in Agra, Ambala, Jalandhar, Jaipur, Dehradoon, Shimla, Lucknow, Ranchi, Durgapur, Haldia, Patna & Jammu

BSNl has launched 3G (Third generation) mobile services in 11 cities in India. The cities include Agra, Ambala, Jalandhar, Jaipur, Dehradoon, Shimla, Lucknow, Ranchi, Durgapur, Haldia, Patna & Jammu.

BSNL, the 4th ranked cellular operator in India has 74 million subscribers.

It has also announced 10 paise per minute for voice calls in Rs-1,000 plan and video calls for Re 1 a minute in Rs-2,500 plan.

3G provides services which are unknown to the India cellphone user such as video calls, watch live TV, access the high speed internet, receive emails and download music tracks, multimedia, high speed mobile broadband, internet access with the ability to view video footage on your mobile handset, CCTV footage etc.

Tariff plans for 3G under pre-paid and post-paid voice, video and data plans.

Best 3G Phones in India: Top List of 3G Phones in India - Price, Features

BSNl & MTNL has started launching 3G (Third generation) mobile services in various cities in India.

3G networks enable network operators to offer users a wider range of more advanced services while achieving greater network capacity through improved spectral efficiency. 3G provides services which are unknown to the India cellphone user such as video calls, watch live TV, access the high speed internet, receive emails and download music tracks, multimedia, high speed mobile broadband, internet access with the ability to view video footage on your mobile handset, CCTV footage etc.


Thrilled and looking for getting 3G service in your mobile phone? . Well first of all your cell phone should be 3G enabled. Nowadays all top end phones come with 3G. If you dont own one, here is a list of 3G enabled cellphones available in India

AppleiPhone 3G
BlackBerryBold 9000
HPiPAQ 910c
HTCAdvantage X7510
HTCS740
HTCShift
HTCTouch Cruise
HTCTouch Diamond
HTCTouch Pro
HTCTyTN
HTCTyTN II
i-mate810-F
i-mateUltimate 7150
i-mateUltimate 9502
LGCU915 Vu
LGGM730
LGIncite
LGKC910 Renoir
LGKF700
LGKM900 Arena
LGKT770
MotorolaA3100
MotorolaQ 9h
MotorolaRAZR V3i
MotorolaRAZR2 V9
MotorolaRAZR2 V9x
MotorolaTundra VA76r
Nokia3120 classic
Nokia5320 XpressMusic
Nokia5610
Nokia5800 XpressMusic
Nokia6120 classic
Nokia6124 classic
Nokia6210 Navigator
Nokia6500 classic
Nokia6500 slide
Nokia6555
Nokia6600 fold
Nokia6600 slide
Nokia6650
Nokia6720 classic
Nokia7900 Crystal Prism
NokiaE51
NokiaE51 camera-free
NokiaE55
NokiaE63
NokiaE66
NokiaE71
NokiaE75
NokiaN75
NokiaN78
NokiaN85
NokiaN95
NokiaN95 8GB
NokiaN96
PalmTreo Pro
SamsungA867 Eternity
SamsungF480
Samsungi8510 INNOV8
Samsungi900 Omnia
Sony EricssonC510
Sony EricssonC903
Sony EricssonC905
Sony EricssonG705
Sony EricssonK850
Sony EricssonW508
Sony EricssonW760
Sony EricssonW995
Sony EricssonXPERIA X1
Sony EricssonZ750


Still confused?
Have a look at some of the recommended 3g phones of 2008.
Last year 3G.co.uk reviewed over 100 3G phones available in the market and rated the top ten.

Here is the top ten 3g phones of 2008 and their price in Indian Rupees
1. Nokia E 71 Rs. 19,700 (Obviously, the phone I own)
2. Apple iphone 3G Rs. 29800
3. Samsung Pixon Rs.30999
4. Nokia N85 Rs.22,000
5. Blackberry Bold Rs 34990
6. Blackberry Storm Rs 27990 (Only available bundled with Vodafone connection)
7. LG Secret Rs. 22000
8. INQ 1 (Price not available)
9. Sony Ericsson C905 Rs.31,000
10. Samsung Omnia Rs.31,200

Please Note:
1. There are many new models launched after these phones
2. Price of the phones may vary based on location, retailer, time etc

BSNL Blackberry: BSNL to launch Blackberry services

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) will launch its BlackBerry services during April in India.


The BSNL authorities have informed that they have got the required approvals from the government to launch BlackBerry services by next month.

BSNL will provide BlackBerry storm 9000,BlackBerry Curve,BlackBerry pearl 8120,and BlackBerry 8700g clubbed with its 3G service for the users.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Smart phones keep making other devices obsolete

In the space of little over five years mobile phones have progressed from gadgets primarily used for voice calls and texting to an appliance that can be used for a myriad of other purposes including; web browsing, sending and receiving emails, GPS, stills and video camera, and also as a music player.

Advancements in WiFi and 3G data network technologies combined with a significant reduction in call, browsing and text costs has been key to the mobile device development phenomenon. Throw into the mix the fact that growing processor capabilities now allow for more in-device storage at a fraction of the 2003 price, and it is easy to see why mobile phones are now becoming indispensible ‘do-it-all’ devices.

The launch of the iphone 3G in the UK has drawn much attention, mainly due to the fact that it is available only on the O2 network, but the facilities available on the phone have also renewed the public’s interest in smart phones just as many devices are coming to market. 

Indeed, the timing of Apple’s launch couldn’t have been better as most of the major mobile phone manufacturers are also on the verge of launching their own new smart phone products, allowing them to capitalise on that revived interest. Nokia, Motorola, LG and others are all bringing new phones to the market that are guaranteed to give the iphone a run for its money. Indeed, with all the fuss about the iPhone, the public could be forgiven for not realising that Nokia, amongst others, also had a product on the market capable of full internet browsing over high-speed data and WiFi networks, and boasts a 5 megapixel camera to boot.

However, the mobile phone innovations aren’t likely to stop coming as each manufacturer and retailer attempts to outdo their rivals with new ways to package mobile phones and tariff deals. Nokia comes with music is due to be launched in autumn 2008 and is another example of how the worlds of mobile phone communications and music are becoming inextricably linked. Purchasers of the phone will be given unlimited access to over two million tunes in the Nokia music store, and can download them permanently to their device, which can also be transferred to their PC.

It all makes perfect sense; why carry multiple devices such as phone, MP3 player and camera, when one will do? In addition, most allow internet access that also adds the functionality of the phone, making them akin to a small PC. 

It seems certain then that as more and more functions are added to smart phones and the purchase price drops, it seems only a matter of time before we all start using them.

Sell iphone

With technology racing past at an incredible level, it’s hard to keep up. But with CashForIphones.com, you can keep up with the most current communications and portable internet devises easily by using this service to sell Iphones when you convert to a new model!

By using CashForIphones.com, you sell Iphones without risk or cost. If you try to sell Iphones on Ebay or other bidding sites, you could be at risk for negative feedback or for having to refund the money if there is a shipping problem. When you sell Iphones on these types of sites, you will also have to pay shipping charges. Of course, an Iphone is small, so you may think it won’t cost much to ship. However, with the ever rising fuel and shipping costs of today, the shipping costs when you sell iphones may surprise you.

However, when you choose to sell Iphones using CashForIphones.com, the shipping cost is covered for you. In addition, the folks at CashForIphones.com will even remove all your information for you, so you can be sure that if you Iphone is resold, none of your personal information will be available to the next person. You don’t have this guarantee when you sell your Iphone via Ebay. If you make a mistake in erasing your information, someone could have access to valuable information regarding your personal life or finances! Even though you may need to sell Iphones in order to offset the cost of a new phone or an upgrade, you don’t want to loose more money with fraud.

How Do I Sell Iphones with CashForIphones.com?

The first step in the process to sell Iphones on CashForIphone.com is to complete a quick and easy quote form on their website. The quote form will walk you through all necessary steps, including how to find the correct model number for your Iphone if you are not sure what it is. After you complete the Instant Quote, you will be provided with the quoted price the company will pay for your Iphone. 

Once you receive the quote and agree with it, you complete the next step to sell Iphones on the website. You will complete a pre-paid shipping form with your address and information. The company will rush a pre-paid UPS shipping label and a box right to your house. This way, not only do you save on shipping costs, you don’t even have to worry about shipping materials when you sell Iphones!

In order to complete the process to sell Iphones to CashForIphones.com, you will need to return the box with your Iphone inside. You can do this by giving it to your UPS delivery person, or by dropping it off at any UPS shipping location. 

Once CashForIphones.com receives your Iphone, they will assess it to make sure it matches the information you originally provided. Within one business day of processing your Iphone, they will send you a check. Within days, and without ever leaving your home, you would have completed the process to sell Iphones in a convenient and risk free manner! There is no easier way to sell Iphones.

Sell used Iphone - Quick, Convenient Way to Sell Used Iphones

Are you ready to get rid of the Iphones cluttering your business inventory, but are not sure how to sell used Iphones? You can sell used Iphones online by using a website that is easier and more friendly than Ebay, quicker than Craigslist, and will provide absolutely no risk for your business. 

When your business chooses to sell used Iphones through an auction site, someone will have to be in charge of overseeing the auction, answering any questions when trying to sell used Iphones, securing the proper shipping materials, and shipping all of the Iphones. This can be a time consuming task, and can often mean that when you are trying to sell used Iphones to clear a backlog of company inventory, your company may actually end up loosing money!

When using Craigslist, all of the same problems apply. In addition, when using Craigslist, you often have to supply contact information of some type, which can result in constant inquiries to your company even after you have completed your project to sell used Iphones.

However, when you sell used Iphones via CashForIphones.com, you will not experience any of these problems. The only time involved when you sell used Iphones through this website is in completing a very fast, easy quote form. Once the quote form is completed, CashforIphones.com will provide you with the dollar figure they are willing to pay for your Iphone. If your business agrees that the price is fair, then you can go through with the process to sell used Iphones through this website.

Once you confirm that you want to continue the process to sell used Iphones through CashForIphones.com, you will be sent a postage paid label and a box for your Iphones. This is much easier than other methods you may use to sell used Iphones! Not only are the shipping materials sent directly to you, you don’t even have to pay for them.

Once you receive your shipping materials from CashForIphones.com, you simply box up your Iphones and hand the box to your UPS carrier. It is likely that UPS makes regular pick ups at your business location, so when you choose to sell used Iphones in this manner, you don’t even have to make a trip to the post office. However, if UPS does not pick up at your location, you can easily drop the package off at any UPS store or pick up center.

When CashForIphones.com receives your box, they will process all the Iphones you sent them. They will ensure that the phones you sent them match the information you provided in the quote, and then they will cut you a check! The entire process for you to sell used Iphones is a few days, and you don’t have to spend valuable time and company resources on a lengthy process requiring use of staff time. There is no easier way to sell used Iphones, especially if you need to sell several models to clear your business inventory,

Sell old iphone - Fundraise with Old Iphones

Everyone has old cell phones and even Iphones laying around their house somewhere – most likely in a junk drawer. Some people even hand their old cell phones over to their children to play “phone” with! The reason so many people have cell phones laying around their house is because they want to keep up with technology, or they switched carriers. Most cell phone companies provide free or very nearly free phones when new subscribers sign up, so those old cell phones are no longer needed.

Many organizations have turned old cell phones into fundraising, and now with CashforIphones.com, you can sell old Iphones as a fundraiser with convenience and ease! 

In order to sell old Iphones as a fundraiser, you simply have to follow these easy steps:

1. Put out the word that you need old Iphones donated to your organization. Send out flyers, put this information in your organizations newsletter, and start a word of mouth campaign. Contact area businesses to find out if they have old Iphones that can be donated. The more items you have when you sell old Iphones, the more fundraising dollars you can raise!

2. Collect the Iphones by putting out collection boxes or setting up collection times.

3. Once you have secured all the inventory for your project to sell old Iphones, go to CashForIphones.com.

4. For each Iphone, you will have to complete an Instant Quote Form. When you sell old Iphones as part of a fundraiser and have many phones to sell, you may want to complete this step in sections or break up the work among several people.

5. Each time you complete an Instant Quote to sell old Iphones, you will be provided with a price that the website is willing to pay.

6. Once you accept the price for which you are willing to sell old Iphones, you will be sent a postage paid label and a shipping box. Your organization won’t even have to pay for shipping, which will mean more profitability for your fundraiser!

7. As soon as CashForIphones.com receives your shipment, they will process each phone you send them. It is best to be honest about the conditions of the equipment when you sell old Iphones, because the company will compare the items you sent with the information provided in the quote before releasing funds.

8. After processing the phones, CashForIphones.com will send you a payment within a few days!

Without any upfront expense, and very little time, you can have a successful fundraiser when you sell old Iphones! Even if you are only able to collect a handful of Iphones for your fundraiser, you will still have had success when you sell old Iphones, because all the money you receive will be profit! This is very unusual for fundraisers!

So, what are you waiting for! Get started with your school, PTA, church, or other organization, and start the process to sell old Iphones as a fundraiser today.

Repair Iphone - Why You Should Sell and Not Repair Iphone

Before you decide to repair Iphone, think about trading up for a better model. Think you can’t afford it? With the help of CashForIphones.com, you may be able to afford that nice new phone after all! 

When you use CashForIphones.com to sell your phone instead of repair Iphone, you will be utilizing the services of a user-friendly and convenient website. They make it much more feasible to sell instead of repair Iphones, and they have a great reputation. After selling laptops for cash to the satisfaction of many, many online customers, this company has turned its eye toward Iphone. So if you are thinking to repair Iphones that are broken, take a quick look at this website to see if the choice to sell isn’t better.

When you choose to sell Iphones on CashForIphones.com instead of repair Iphones, you make the choice to turn your old Iphone into cash the easy way. You simply go on the website and complete an Instant Quote form. CashForIphones.com will let you know what price they will pay for your Iphone. If you agree, they will send you a prepaid shipping label and a box. This is much easier than trying to repair Iphones or sending them in for warranty repairs. For that, you would have to pay for shipping!

Once CashForIphones.com receives your phone, they will process it. After it is processes – which is done right away – you will be cut a check. Within days from beginning the process, you will have a check in hand that can be used toward the purchase of a new Iphone. 

Selling your Iphone is so much easier than trying to repair Iphones. Not only do you get a much faster turnaround time, you also get some money to purchase a brand new, more up-to-date phone! When you try to repair Iphones through the warranty, you may have to drop the phone off at the store or even mail it in to be serviced. You could be without a phone for weeks! Chances are, if you are like most people, you simply can’t go without a phone this long. You need it for business and personal reasons, and so you may end up buying a phone while you try to repair Iphones.

If you are going to buy a new phone anyway, why repair Iphones at all? Instead, you can turn your old Iphone into easy, quick cash that can be used for a new phone, or for anything else you want. CashForIphones.com is easy, convenient, and guaranteed to give you satisfying results. You don’t have to be a web guru to use this service, either! You simply have to log on to CashForIphones.com, and follow their easy directions to get started today.

Fix Iphone - Reasons to Sell Instead of Fix Iphones

You may be thinking to fix Iphone rather than get a new one, but you should really look at all the options before you fix Iphone. Many times, you may be better off simply getting a new phone and turning your old Iphone into cash. But can you actually sell a broken Iphone? Yes, you can! And it is even easier to sell, rather than fix Iphones!

Some reasons to sell instead of fix Iphones that are broken are included below.

1. CashforIphones.com buys Iphones in any condition. Simply fill out their Instant Quote form to find out how much they will pay for your phone. It may be worth it to you not to fix Iphone!

2. The website pays all shipping costs associated with selling your Iphone. They will send you a prepaid shipping label and a box so that you can send them your Iphone free of charge. If you decide to fix Iphone, you will likely have to pay for shipping and come up with your own shipping materials in order to fix Iphones through a warranty service center.

3. Many times, a warranty is void if you have done certain things with your phone, or if you did not pack it properly when shipping. There are chances that, if the warranty is void or no longer in effect, you will have to pay a good deal of money to fix Iphone. Why not get money by selling your Iphone and then use that to offset the purchase price of a new phone? You may end up spending less money on a new phone than if you choose to fix Iphones!

4. With CashForIphones.com, you will have a check within days of starting the process. When you choose instead to fix Iphones, you may be out a phone for weeks. Can you really afford to be without a phone this long, or are you more likely to buy a phone to use during this time? If you are going to buy a phone anyway, why fix Iphone at all, when you can turn it into fast cash!

5. The ability to turn your Iphone into cash instead of fix Iphones gives you a good excuse to get a new, more technologically up-to-date phone. You may have been eyeing one, and now that you can get cash for your broken phone instead of choosing to fix Iphones, you may not feel so guilty about spending the money.

6. CashForIphones.com will take care of all your personal information by making sure the data within the Iphone is completely erased. When you choose to fix Iphones, you may be handing all your information over to someone who you don’t even know. This can be quite dangerous if you have sensitive personal information on your phone and you get an unscrupulous person to fix Iphone! They could use the information in your phone to sell your identity or conduct fraudulent activity on your banking or credit card accounts!

Selling your Iphone rather than trying to fix Iphones is a much easier option, especially with the quick, convenient services of Cash For Iphones

1800 Your Company Name Here Is The Future

A new marketing angle has put smiles on the dials of companies that have joined up, writes Brad Howarth.

BILL TYS would never have believed the impact a new phone number could have on his business.

However, the owner of Melbourne futon business Back to Bed says that since changing his number to 1800FUTONS he has been overwhelmed by the response.

“If I did a substantial ad campaign with 1800FUTONS - I don’t think I could handle the business,” Mr Tys says.

“Phone names” have been popular in the US for more than a decade but there are far fewer examples in Australia.

Regulatory changes, however, mean we may soon see a flood of new phone names hitting Australia, says Jack Singleton.

The son of ad man John Singleton and a successful advertising executive in his own right, Mr Singleton has launched the company Phone Name Marketing Australia to capitalise on what he sees as a new marketing phenomenon.

Phone Name has gained the rights to about 1000 of Australia’s 1300 and 1800 numbers in perpetuity. These numbers will be leased to other companies.

Singleton became interested in phone names in the mid-’90s while working in the US.

Companies can spend thousands of dollars a year trying to get people to remember their phone numbers, but a phone name uses existing brand knowledge, he says.

Research by US company Michael J. Motto Advertising found that companies using phone names drew 14 times more calls then those with regular numbers. Mr Singleton says his own research has shown phone names also increase response rates in Australia.

“Think of how many radio ads you listen to with phone numbers in them (but) you don’t remember any,” Mr Singleton says. “With phone names, the awareness of your number goes through the roof.”

Mr Tys says he has not measured the change in call rates since the number change, but knows the increase has been significant.

“If you have one of these names, and it’s a good one that describes the industry, you just control it all,” he says.

Several factors have contributed to the slow adoption of phone names in Australia. One reason is that, while the international community standardised letter placement in 1993, Australia took three years to follow suit.

“Between 1993 and 1996, all of the manufacturers who couldn’t sell their handsets in the US or Europe dumped them here,” Mr Singleton says.

“So when I came back to Australia in 1996 it was just a mess. There were six different forms of letter placements on number keys and there were some fixed lines that didn’t have letters at all.”

Most of those old handsets have been phased out. Almost all fixed-line phones and mobile handsets now comply with international alpha-numeric standards.

Also, changes to mobile networks allow phone names of up to 10 letters.

Mr Singleton says developing a phone name marketing company in Australia has involved a lot of effort. In the past, the Australian Communications Authority would release only limited blocks of 1300 and 1800 numbers, rather than allowing a company to request a number.

Years of lobbying by Mr Singleton helped persuade the authority to release all numbers in September last year.

Telstra has since created a phone name marketing service called 1300Australia.

Mr Singleton says his company has chosen the numbers it markets based on popular phrases, such as 1800DINE-IN, or brand names. Companies can lease numbers at a flat rate or for a small payment each time the number is dialled.

Last month, the owners of the Kingsleys Restaurants in Sydney adopted 1300KINGSLEYS for a central reservation system. The events and marketing manager of Kingsleys, Katie Graham, says the number stops clients becoming confused between the venues.

“It is really powerful when you can have an ad in the paper and just put 1300KINGSLEYS at the end of it,” she says.

However, Ms Graham says the system does have faults, as some mobile phones’ directory services cannot directly connect a caller to the 1300KINGSLEYS number.

This fault is expected to be corrected shortly.

Other quirks in the system include the fact that one phone name can spell between 729 and 4096 words, depending on the combination of numbers used. Hence, the combination 1800SPORTING (180077678464) could also spell 1800PROSTITUTE.

Dialling 1300 Pizza Is On Its Way

It’s a land grab not unlike the scurry to secure domain names or mobile-phone spectrum during the dotcom years. It’s attracted the attention of mathematicians, entrepreneurs and corporate giants and could change the way companies market themselves.

It’s called phone names. The technology has been around since the 1940s, but was freed up by the Australian Communications Authority only last July. The result is that soon we may be dialling 1300pizza, taxi or flowers.

Jack Singleton, the son of Sydney ad man John, is one of the main players in this emerging industry, with only Telstra having bought more numbers.

He came across the concept in America, where phone names like 1800callcash (Western Union) and 1800Starbucks are well known, and has been lobbying the ACA to free up the numbers since 1998.

“There’s a very fine line between lobbying and pestering,” he says.

Singleton has spent $2 million during the land grab year, where some big prices were paid.

1300taxi sold for $1 million in September last year, while 1300blinds and 1300tickets each fetched more than $300,000.

Singleton has about 1000 names including 1300Wizard, Brisbane and Westpac, while Telstra has more than 4000 numbers.

A recent study by Singleton in Newcastle and Canberra found that radio ads using a phone name received five times more calls than those using a straight number, while TV ads showed a threefold increase.

But having spent seven years buying up numbers he’s not about to sell them off.

He will be charging clients a monthly rental fee, which is where it gets tricky.

Singleton reckons one of the main advantages of phone names is lowering the cost of each lead (number of phone calls) and so proposes to take a percentage of the saving. For example, if the cost of each lead dropped $10, he might take $1.

The ACA began auctioning the numbers last July, but working out the word each six-digit number spells is not easy - every one has as many as 4096 combinations.

This attracted the mathematicians who devised programs to spit out different word combinations and therefore work out the value of each number. But this didn’t cover many brand names or partial words and led to some phone names going undiscovered.

Singleton didn’t realise he owned 1300findgod, which is also the same as 1300dinein (only the first six digits count).

“Dinein was already taken so we suggested press 1 to order a pizza and 2 to find god, but they didn’t go for it,” he says.

Forget The Number, Just Remember The Name

What’s in a name? Plenty if you are a smaller operator seeking ways to get potential customers to remember who you are and where to find you, writes Mark Fenton-Jones.

In Queensland, Southport car financier Paul Byres attributes the clever use of a phone number to increasing his business fourfold in less than a year.

Last December, Byres, the group marketing manager at Motor Finance Wizard, which offers low-cost finance to used-car purchasers through its network of dealerships in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, signed a lease with Telstra PhoneWord for the telephone number 1300CarLoan (1300 227 562). The number was the central piece in an advertising campaign to boost awareness of its car financing service.

“Prior to adopting 1300CarLoan, most of our sales came from people walking into one of the three dealerships we had open at the time,” Byres says. He pays about $4000 a month for the service.

A strong selling point for a phone word service is that it makes it easier for potential customers to remember the brand name. Since December, call numbers increased from 445 a month to a peak of 10,000 in July, settling at about 7500 a month since October. The use of the 1300 phone word has dramatically changed the enquiry mix, and three-quarters now come via the phone number.

The rate of conversion to sales, Byres says, increased threefold in Brisbane and fourfold in Sydney.

MFW’s reach has extended beyond the distance that people are prepared to drive to local sale yards.

“We have had customers fly down to Brisbane from places like Mount Isa in order to purchase a car through us,” Byres says.

The additional demand led MFW on a path of rapid national expansion. Since the launch of the campaign, the company has opened another three outlets including its first in Melbourne, plus additional ones in Brisbane and Sydney.

Next April MFW plans to float on the Australian Stock Exchange to fund further expansion.

MFW’s success is hardly surprising when marketing surveys regularly show that ads with phone names generate nearly three times more calls than ads with phone numbers.

In 2004, Jack Singleton’s Phone Name Marketing Australia company tested phone names against phone numbers in TV and radio in two Australian markets.

Singleton says the ads with phone names generated nearly three times more calls (290 per cent) than the ads with phone numbers. The same result was shown in a more recent radio test conducted between October 30 and November 12 for Gerry Harvey’s five-star resort at Byron Bay, which has the phone name 1300TheByron.

The phone name received over three times more calls than the phone number.

Singleton says Phone Name Marketing and Telstra PhoneWord have about 80 per cent of this market and provide each other with access to their numbers.

After names were auctioned in 2005, outfits such as Phone Name Marketing act as a licensing agent leasing 1300 and 1800 phone numbers for use as phone names to companies seeking an increased direct response to their advertising and other marketing initiatives.

Kingsleys Steak & Crabhouse has leased its phone name 1300Kingsleys from Phone Name Marketing on a negotiable success-fee basis for about two years.

“People have found it’s easy to remember especially when out in the evening and thinking where they are going to go for dinner,” marketing manager Alice Gruzman says.

Gruzman says reservation calls have risen 56 per cent during the past two years, and attributes the chain’s expansion to its telephone success.

Telstra launched PhoneWords in 2004 but has marketed it aggressively in the past few months as it rolls out a string of products aimed at small businesses.

A typical one-year leasing contract costs about $800 a month; three-year terms are available for almost half that.

The managing director of the entrepreneur division within the new Telstra Business division, Elizabeth Aris, says that the development of products and services by telcos for small-to-medium-sized enterprises is intensifying.

Established in July, Telstra Business has set up eight retail business outlets and eight call centres staffed with 400 sales people trained to meet the needs of SMEs.

The division underscored its tilt at SMEs with the release of a survey into the technology usage habits and attitudes of 10,000 small businesses, including how they use technology to develop their businesses.

Aris says the findings show small businesses are making greater use of technology to advertise their business and handle their mobile workforce.

According to Telstra’s findings, more than 70 per cent of small businesses believe that advertising is critical to their business.

A lesser number, 57 per cent, agree that spending on advertising is critical to their success, although 41 per cent believe they do not use advertising effectively.

Among Telstra’s new offerings are Advertising in a Box, which will be launched next month.

It offers online advertising and inclusion in Sensis search engines with a website for a smaller businesses to drive online customers to their websites.

Already available is Xora technology, a fleet tracking and resourcing technology that costs up to $40 per user per month, while SMS marketing from desktop computers is scheduled for the market in March 2007.

In the mobile-phone world, telcos are also exploiting their inherent flexibility by targeting the SME sector with products that allow them to work outside the office.

In February, Vodafone made a big play for SMEs by appointing more than 200 business consultants to focus exclusively on small office/home office and SMEs.

Vodafone launched Business Caps with Mobile Office on July 17. It delivers functionality to mobiles that is similar to services accessed through office PABX systems.

Founder of Virtual Village, Dorjee Sun, agrees that mobile technology definitely improves productivity and creativity.

“If you have ever worked on a start-up, what you need is just constant stimulation and constant motivation,” Sun says.

“To try to do that in a fixed environment I find is next to impossible.”

Sun employs five people in Sydney and Melbourne to develop virtual villages where participants congregate and collectively build content.

“What it [mobile technology] allows us to do is when we are feeling like we are hitting the wall, we just pick up our lap tops and data cards, walk into the middle of a shopping centre, plonk down and start working.”

Sun used to have an office but saw little point in fighting traffic to get to a fixed point if employees were still motivated wherever they decided to work.

“This allows people to still come together and work together but not necessarily need to book an office,” he says.

Meanwhile, leasing financier Flexirent Capital believes that the recent rate rises have not discouraged SMEs from purchasing equipment. When it comes to cost, its research found only a quarter of SME owners believe the price of the product is more important than having the latest technology.

That Name Rings A Bell

MUCH has been made of the role the phone can play as a marketing tool. From text messaging to special offers delivered by wireless technology, the marketing community has been heralding the coming of age of the phone.

However, the phone’s most powerful application remains that of being a facilitator. In other words, if you need something, pick up the phone, call someone and voila!

The problem lies in the numbers. As I noted a few years ago, humans and numbers don’t mix. Back then, ad agency ResponseBank found that big-name advertisers could not get people to remember their numbers.

At the time, however, the vanity phone number market had yet to take off in Australia, with keypad standardisation only recently completed. Now research from Roy Morgan suggests the time of the vanity number may have arrived.

Research commissioned for the Phone Name Marketing Association in January asked more than 2000 people about phone number recall. In most cases it was dismal. One prime example was the number for the Government’s anti-terrorism campaign, which consumed more than $22million. Barely 0.3 per cent of people could recall the number they were supposed to dial if they spotted Osama and his henchmen plotting evil deeds. Perhaps the feds should have registered the number 1300-terrorism.

The survey has found that 79 per cent of people are aware of phone names as a way of dialling a number. The figure is highest in the 14-24 age bracket, with 97per cent recall of the concept. In the same group, 54 per cent say they have dialled a number using a word or name.

The figures get really interesting when you look at what it is people are recalling. According to the survey, the company with the highest recall of its number is Pizza Hut (16.7 per cent), a company that does not use phone words. However, No.2 is Westpac (14.7 per cent), whose brand name is at the heart of its 1300WESTPAC number. Third is Rams home loans (10.3 per cent and another user of phone names) with Domino’s Pizza No.4 (7.3 per cent).

With their home delivery businesses reliant on phone transactions, Pizza Hut and Dominoes spend millions of dollars on television and radio advertising to promote their numbers. Yet the recall of Westpac’s phone name came on the back of a test campaign lasting just four weeks last October and November.

So how does short campaign costing about $1 million manage to get recall equalling that of companies spending 20 or 30 times the amount? The answer is all in a name and the fact that — as more companies vie for attention across multiple media channels — the most popular way to connect with consumers is through the phone.

Once you get outside the list of the top 11 companies, the remainder have recall levels for their numbers of less than 1 per cent. If people can’t remember your number, how can they talk to you?

Companies invest billions in their brands. Yet it seems that when it comes to the moment when you want to make the connection, the brand investment goes out the window and consumers have to go hunting numbers. It’s a strategy that just doesn’t add up.