A cell phone can be your best friend or your worst enemy. You can use it to stay connected on the go, away from home. On the other hand, you might find yourself getting smacked with huge data bills and headaches from trying to figure out the technology. Be at peace with your cell phone by using the following tips.
Did you know that the battery in your cell phone has some reserved power? If you find that your cell phone battery is dead, and you have no way to charge it, enter the USSD “*3370#”. You will see up to a 50% increase in power. This reserve power will charge the next time you charge your phone.
You don’t have to pay for information. There are alternatives to these high charge services. Try the free service at 1-800-411-FREE. You can get the intel you want for free with just listening to an ad.
Your smartphone will run slower as it gets older. Downloading updates can be hard if your phone is older. In many cases, making a choice becomes necessary. You have the option of keeping things as they are by not accepting updates, or you can upgrade the phone to stay on top of changes.
Debrand your phone if you want to increase the memory that you have. This means that you will remove all of the themes, logos and images of the company that it relates to, which will give you more ability to purchase ringtones and images from other providers of cell phone service.
Always consider both the price of your phone and the price of the plan. Some providers offer great discounts on the phones they sell, but they get you in the end with higher priced plans. This means some savings initially, but more out of pocket expenses in the long run.
Consider cell phone plans that give you a decent amount of data per month. These days, cell phone users use data more than talk minutes. In fact a lot of carriers give away a ton of talk minutes, but charge you a premium on the data you use. Look for the best bang for the buck when it comes to data.
If you have a smartphone it can be tempting to leave it on all of the time so you never miss any social media updates. This is not a good idea because your phone needs to be restarted every day or two. This will keep unused programs from continuing to purge your memory.
Don’t invest in the most expensive cell phone available on the market. There are plenty of great phones for half the price of a more expensive one. When you purchase overpriced phones, you are generally paying for the level of popularity they have and the brand name. More affordable phones can be just as great, but perhaps not as popular as an iPhone.
Your phone will not give you a great zoom. To get a true close-up, you must be near your subject. There are lens that you can get that allow you to zoom in.
Think about how you plan to use a cell phone. Do you plan to only use it for calling and emergencies? Then a simple feature phone will work for you? Do you want to use it to look up stores and restaurant reviews, then you’re going to need a smart phone. Knowing your use patterns will help you decide.
Audit your cell phone plan for a few months to make sure you have the right one for you. If it looks likely you’re almost always going over your data limit or talking minutes, then you likely need to upgrade. If you’re constantly well under your limits, you may be better off saving some money with a lesser plan.
Stay fit and in shape by using the timer and stopwatch on your phone. This feature usually shows your time to the hundredth, which will give you a quality reading on how fast or slow you ran a lap. There are usually archives that you can store your recent finishes in, which can give you a great basis for comparison.
If you need to get a new cellphone, look for one of the latest model smart phones. These phones have nearly the capability of an Ipad or similar device that connects to the internet. This will allow you to check your email, pay bills and access online information away from home.
Practice using the calendar system on your cell phone. You can keep track of all of your engagements on it. You can also go in and set up an alert, so you are always aware of what is happening in advance. This is great for saving paper and for when you need to keep a straight schedule.
You probably do not need to buy an extended warranty or insurance. Surveys indicate that only a small percentage of people buying a new cell phone did so because they broke the old one. Plus, warranties and insurance can be expensive. Instead, simply save your old phone as a backup.
The weaker the signal, the more quickly your battery will drain. Your cell phone has to work harder to receive a weaker signal, which means that your battery will die more quickly. To save battery life, turn your phone off when you are in areas where reception is poor and the signal is weak.
If you don’t send text messages, drop any texting plan you have. Text plans can be expensive and not worth it. You can opt for an app that allows you to text, or if you’ve got an Apple product, you can iMessage other Apple users for free.
As you probably already know from personal experience, a cell phone can be a boon or a bane to your existence. The conveniences are unparalleled, but the costs can be both financial and stressful. Make sure that your cell phone works for you instead of the other way around by using the tips and wisdom you garnered here.
