The Smartphone Society

In these tough economic times, where housing is becoming less affordable and unemployment is rising, people are trying to save as much as they can. Grocery expenses are kept to a bare minimum and overseas travel is a decadent luxury of the all too distant past. However, amidst all this doom and gloom, the recent smartphones launch attracted millions of purchasers around the world in its first week alone. How can this be? How can societies struggling to make ends meet afford to spend hundreds of dollars on what was once considered a luxury? The answer is simple. Smartphones have become a necessity.

A recent study of Korean university students found that an overwhelming 83.8 percent of respondents felt that a smartphone was necessary in modern society; and this trend is reflected globally across various demographics. The fact is that the smartphone has made the difficult transition from a toy of the rich to a necessity of the middle class. This transition can be attributed to one main reason, namely the change in social norms that has risen with the smartphone.

In the past, it was acceptable for a businessperson to reply to correspondence from a client within a few days. Now it is expected that people are always contactable and that correspondence be almost instantaneous. Smartphones are the tools that allow this connectedness, with consistent access to emails, messages and the web. We have become so accustomed to being able to check on our banking affairs, emails and even a weekly weather forecast that we are willing to fork out hundreds of hard-earned dollars for the latest incarnation of the smartphone.

The smartphone has without a doubt revolutionized the way our society works. It has increased productivity, with business being completed over longer distances in shorter times. It has increased social interaction, with permanent access to social networking sites available in your pocket. The smartphone is a symbol of being up to date and being connected. It has gotten to the point where it is almost embarrassing for someone to pull an old traditional cell phone out of their handbag or pocket. That person appears to be disconnected from society, not as able to partake in efficient business as a person equipped with a smartphone.

It is no wonder that so many people worldwide consider the smartphone a necessity. Never before have we been so connected to each other and to society in general. As smartphones become more advanced, we will be willing to pay more for them. It is my bet that smartphones will be weathering the economic storm for many years to come.

Unlimited Data Plan – Who Needs It?

With almost all service providers in the market offering unlimited data plans, many subscribers have opted for them. There has also been a lot of speculation that the unlimited data plans may soon die out. This may be because big names like AT&T and Verizon wireless both turned off their unlimited plans and started charging subscribers for extra data after they use up 2GB. It is hard to tell what the reason behind this could be, but most definitely it could be the economic downturn.

An unlimited data plan that is well priced will always get the attention of subscribers. There are incidences where people had to abandon their service provider for a new service provider just because of a single offer that looked too good to be true. In this case, it is vital for a provider to know its market. If you are planning to beat the competition with an unlimited data plan, you need to know who really needs an unlimited plan so that you can search in the right places.
Who needs an unlimited data plan?

 Online gamers. As you must know, online gaming munches data like nothing else. The reason is that while playing games, there are lots of graphic downloads and uploads which consume a lot of data. For a game addict to manage their Internet connection bills, there is no better news than unlimited plans.

 Video streamers. Another sector which needs an unlimited data plan is that of the video streamer. Video streamers end up using more data than they expect because, with streaming, you don’t have to first download the file before it is played. The video and audio files are played instantly, making the streamers lose count of their data. Thus, those who know that they do a lot of streaming will always go for the unlimited plan.

 App lovers. Everyone’s technological needs keep changing and increasing day by day, so at any time we are wishing that there was an app that could do a particular task to our satisfaction. Thus, developers are always thinking of what to come up with next. So, when the kind of app that we are looking for hits the market, we just cannot do without it. Unfortunately, some of these apps consume a ton of data, so in this case, an unlimited data plan saves money.
Even though there is speculation that the unlimited data plans may go off, it may not be in the near future because of the high competition in the telecommunication industry.

How to Get the Best Cell Phone Deals on the Internet

New cell phones are the daily talk of modern society. They are devices that will enable you to communicate with whoever you want from anywhere and during anytime of the day. In addition to this, modern phones are not just phones in the strict sense of the word, but actually small computers. You can do almost anything that you do on your computer including the composing and sending of emails, text messages, chatting on Facebook, tweeting on Twitter, playing games, taking photos, watching movies and more.

All these features are combined with portability and the reduced size of the phone. You can carry it everywhere you go because it fits perfectly into your pocket. The phone is therefore necessary and a vital component of the life. How do you get the best deals? It is very simple. You just need to visit the Internet and then identify the phone that you need.

The new cell phone models are available for various prices ranging from the cheapest to the most expensive. They also differ in their features and applications. There are sites that offer the latest news about upcoming phone releases. Note, however, that the most recently released phones are typically sold for expensive prices. However, they contain the most exciting and latest features and apps.

You should make up your mind about whether you need a brand new cell phone or a used one. You can get very good phones at the sites that deal with the recycling of used and damaged phones. Be sure to check these sites for the latest phone deals. To make the best purchase decision you should be informed about the pros and cons of the product that you want to purchase. You can access many phone reviews by searching for the model, brand and type that you want to purchase. These reviews will inform you about the good and bad of a particular phone including the price.

Leading auction sites such as eBay and Amazon also offer good phone deals. You can get brand new phones as well as used devices from these sites. At the auction sites, you should ensure that you are aware of the market price of the phones that are being auctioned. This will ensure that you do not bid at a higher price than the market price. You should also search for a site that is offering clearance sales, discounts and coupons in order to earn even greater savings.

How to Choose a Data Plan

There are times when choosing the perfect data plan can be confusing, especially if you are a new user. Data plans come in different packages. The unlimited packages are so that you don’t have any restrictions on the amount of data you can use. There is also the limited package where you are given a preset amount of data to use for a specific period of time. In limited packages, there are various data amounts and periods, which make the charges vary accordingly.

What to consider when choosing a data plan

The first thing one should always consider is the motive, intention and interests of the users. You need to pinpoint exactly what you will need to do with the data. If your main intention is just to have access to your email and maybe post a few comments on your favorite social networking site, a limited data plan is encouraged; but if you know you like playing online games then the unlimited data plan is for you. This is because multimedia apps consume a lot of data.

You also need to consider the duration and periods that you will need an Internet connection. If you are not currently subscribed and probably need an Internet connection to work on a particular project, then you have to estimate how long the project will take. If it won’t take long then you can go for the limited data plan, but you have to make sure the project does not require you to do a lot of downloading because, if it does, you will need an unlimited data plan for 24 hours to a week, according to the estimated duration.

Have the number of users in mind. This may not apply if you are buying data for your personal mobile phone, but if you are buying for an office or home, you need to consider this aspect. This is because it is hard to monitor the data usage of others, so it is always wise to get an unlimited connection in this scenario. In addition to that, the case of an office, you don’t want to run out off data amidst a transaction.

Whether you are purchasing data for your mobile phone, home or office computer, the data plan you choose depends on your needs. Service providers offer different rates, so just do a little research to get the best deal.

Contract Deals Offer Samsung Phones As Free Gifts

If you are one of those people who think there are no true freebies in the world, then you have to read this. You can get Samsung phones, like the Samsung Galaxy S, for free just by signing a contract with a service carrier. You get a free Samsung Galaxy S smartphone just for signing a contract.

If you are skeptical, you have every right to be. It is not often that someone offers you something and they really expect you to do nothing more than what you were already going to do. The service providers are offering Samsung phones, like the Samsung Galaxy S, to people who want phone service for the next 24 months. They are offering this for the same low price that they are charging people who own their phones.

People who sign the contract will receive a Samsung Galaxy S smartphone and they will not pay any more per month than the person who gets no phone. It is impossible to fathom that these companies are able to make phones like the Galaxy S available for absolutely nothing. Samsung phones are reasonably priced, but you cannot expect to make money if you are just giving away the Samsung Galaxy S to every customer that asks for one.

Here is how this offer works. The carrier buys a large number of the Galaxy S smartphones from Samsung Phones. Because they are ordering so many of the Galaxy S, Samsung Phones gives them a cheaper price on the devices than they would pay purchasing only one device at a time.
Now the carrier offers the Galaxy S smartphones to all customers that will agree to remain their customer for 24 consecutive months, at no cost for the device. The carrier does not raise the price of the monthly service because they are gaining a loyal paying customer for the next two years. That means a guaranteed income amount, and more than likely if the customer stays for two years they will remain a loyal customer for life.

The carrier is so confident that by offering a free Galaxy S smartphone they can attract and retain these customer bases, they tell the customer that at the end of the two-year period they will allow them to upgrade their device for free.

What the Samsung Galaxy S Comes With

Whatever anyone desires from a flagship phone, the Samsung Galaxy S has got it all. As it is an Android phone, it has access to a wide range of applications which are available to Android users. It also has many options when it comes to connectivity. The phone has features that assist in making it an efficient and easy to manage gadget. This phone is one of the most advanced phones that Samsung has developed and its impressive and advanced outlook attracts buyers. This phone is bound to turn a lot of buyers to Samsung, if they had intentions of purchasing other brands.

Some of the features that the phone comes with include a touch sensitive screen that is about 4 inches; and is super AMOLED. Its resolution is half-VGA, making the display to appear very sharp and its wide range of colors that reach the heights of 16 million. The Samsung Galaxy S comes with date input technology that is multi-touch, a feature that puts this phone well in to the league of the iPhone, something that has not been achieved thus far.

Its multi-touch capacitive touch sensitive screen ensures that it has swipe text features, features that are not common with many phones on the market. The Samsung Galaxy S has a gravity accelerometer that enables the user to use its auto rotate viewing as well as proximity censoring for the touch screen’s call auto disable function.

This phone is 3G enabled and operates on tri-band UMTS using the United States version for AT&T. In addition, its 2G quad-band GSM gives the user a seamless roaming ability, regardless of where they are in the world within the GSM network. The internet speeds on the phone can go up to 54 Mbps on its Wi-Fi for surfing in hotspots, 7.2 Mbps on the HSDPA and 5.7 Mbps on 3G. This ensures the transfer of data as well as download speeds are much faster and more efficient, compared to other phones. For transferring data without accessing the internet, it has Bluetooth technology at speeds of 24 Mbps and a 2.0 micro USB for the connections that are either wired or wireless.

The Samsung Galaxy has a built-in 5-megapixel camera with a focus that is either touch or automatically manipulated. It has a smile and face detection feature that identifies a face in a crowd while providing very high definition video and picture viewing.

Top Quality Audio From HTC Phones

One of the biggest mountains that need to be overcome by the manufacturers of mobile phones is to be able to deliver a phone that can play high-quality audio through a set of headphones and through the speakers that are actually mounted in the phone. Ever since phones started to include the facility to have an MP3 player included as a part of the phone, more and more people are listening to music through their smartphones rather than opting for the alternative of playing it directly from a dedicated MP3 player.

Trying to develop phones that hit the right note in this field can be particularly difficult, as the phone will have a very limited amount of space within the casing, and getting the right resonance is a big challenge. However, there are many companies that boast phones with superb audio capabilities, and many of the latest HTC phones are among the group of cell phones that can boast a high-quality speaker. It is also very impressive that the playback of audio doesn’t take up too much battery, unless the user has a large set of earphones.

Generally, the role of the smartphones is to be all things to all people. Although they are called smartphones for their flexibility and the wide range of functions that can be applied, in many ways it can still be quite limited. For those people who want to be able to watch a TV show or a movie through their cell phone, they will often have to opt for listening through a set of headphones to get the best experience, and although the standard of audio playback for video content has been improving significantly, there is still work to be done for it to be great.

Looking at the current market for phones that have very good audio playback through their speakers as well as the headphones, one of the best ranges are the HTC phones. The HTC phones can boast some high-quality audio, and they have indeed been working with one of the giants of rap, Dr. Dre, in developing the quality of the sound that they were looking for. The best audio from a phone doesn’t necessarily have to be the loudest, but rather the one that clearly depicts all the layers of the music or film content effectively without blending one level into the other.

Why Choose A No-Contract Cell Phone?

The cell phone market is always privy to advancements and innovations, and is constantly changing with the addition of new technology. Older cell phones have been made obsolete by the newer models and cell phone plans that come with them. This is why it is important to always compare cell phone plans and cell phones that are on the market before you can choose an option that will suit you. Some of the available plans are post paid plans, prepaid plans and no-contract cell phones.

One of the most obvious advantages of a no contract phone is that the user is not required to enter any contracts. The contract option can be a headache as there are many requirements for this. As for the no-contract cell phone, you will not need to go through any hustles, and can get started as soon as possible.

A no-contract phone will be very good for you if you have a poor credit history. This is because most of these plans will not look into your credit history. Pay-as-you –go and prepaid credit plans are some of the options that are available for no-contract cell phones, and can be useful to frequent travelers, businesspersons, students and teenagers among others. No-contract phones only require you to pay for the services that you are using, meaning you never have to worry about high bills at the end of the month.

Prepaid plans mean that you pay for your minutes before you can use them. In this case, you will receive no monthly bills and will not be required to sign any contract or get hidden charges. These are preferred by those on a tight budget. They are very affordable and are very good in the case of an emergency. They are also known to give great benefits in addition to good service, and you will generally be able to get your money’s worth with this service.

There are no contracts that you need to sign before you can begin using these services. The caller will also not be required to have a credit card. This also means that you do not have to divulge sensitive information such as income, residence and ID, among other information that contract options requires you to give away. A no-contract plan is great for anyone who wants to have a great plan that they can use whenever they want.

Unique Features in Samsung Galaxy Smartphones

The Samsung phones run on the Android Operating System (OS). This feature is not commonly found in other kinds of cell phones. This operating system is an advantage to the users due to its interface and power in the opening of Internet pages.

The processor of the Galaxy phones is of high speed. The latest smartphone with Android OS is number one among other phones. These phones have features that make it unique. They have a large AMOLED touch screen, which is a technology that has actually raised the Samsung Galaxy smartphones higher. The phones are slim since the sensors have been put on the screen itself. These sensors are still shortcuts since the operation is fast and easy. The slim phone is very east to handle and is convenient.

Many have preferred this type of cell phone due to its unique features. These unique features are responsible for this cell phone leading among other types of cell phones on the market today. The smartphone is excellent in its physical appearance even before considering the software of the cell phone, its hardware is also amazing. The Android is software which is mostly found in these cell phones.

This software enables the user to download as many types of applications as possible. The applications, such as games, are supported and can be downloaded by use of this software. It is also useful in downloading movies and other stuff for personal use. Another very important feature in the smartphones is the availability of a high-resolution camera. The camera is normally 5 megapixels, and can also record high quality video of any kind of length. The internal memory of most smartphones is not as large as one may expect. However, this does not mean that the quality of the Samsung smartphone is low. There is the availability of a microSD which can increase the memory to 32GB. The memory is improved and one can store as many items as possible.

The Samsung smartphones have Bluetooth connections. This is a way of transferring data from one device to another, this is a wireless method. A microSD is also another method of transferring data wirelessly. These cell phones come equipped with many features and users will be surprised to see what these phones are capable of.

The Capabilities of a Tablet PC

Owning a tablet PC is a great advantage. This lightweight and compact portable device is perfect for individuals who are always traveling. It provides enhancement in terms of versatility, aesthetic quality and price, which continues to decrease with time, similar to the pricing pattern of cell phones. Tablets incorporate the most cutting edge technology to remain ahead of other computing devices.

Since the introduction of this new technology, there are two main types of tablet PCs. These types include the convertible tablets and slate tablets. The convertible models greatly resembled the current laptops, apart from their rotatable screens that can go all the way around. The convertible models can also lie flat when users want to use the keyboard. Unlike these tablets, laptops do not have these additional features. A stylus can be used to easily input important information onto the screen. Even better than laptop models, slate tablet PCs have a screen interface, which can be incorporated with add-on features such as a keyboard and a mouse.

As with cell phones, tablet PCs also have advantages as well as limitations. Tablet PCs are portable, which makes them more useful for individuals who are always on the move. Users can use them anywhere, just like laptops. Tablet PCs allow users to complete their tasks no matter where the location. While attending important meetings, users can freely refer to their tablet without hiding their face; tablet PCs can be placed on top of any surface, just like papers.

Another advantage is that it is easy to refer to material stored online. Using wireless internet, users can swiftly access online databases and refer to them when attending meetings, studies and leisure periods. Wireless Internet connectivity enables users to enjoy complete accessibility from any location.

A stylus pen can be used to ease the transformation of handwritten assignments into typed formats if need be. Tablet PCs enable individuals to save money because the money used to purchase supplies such as pens, notebooks, paper and ink can now be allocated for other things. The user’s notes are easily accessible and are safely stored within the PC, so a physical file will no longer be necessary.

Unlike cell phones, tablet PCs can maintain the functionality of a computer. This is a very important aspect to take into consideration. Tablets operate perfectly, just like computers. A tablet can access wireless Internet as well as host a number of applications, making it a worthy purchase for any user.

Choosing Correctly – Performance is the Key!

High-end features, optical appeal and even the brand can drown what cellular phones were invented for in the first place – making a call. When buying a new cell phone, it is easy to be swayed by a salesperson’s charm so we forget that purpose. True, all those other features – interface, camera, browser, etc. – are only embellishments, but they may render almost useless if the overall performance of the cell phone is poor.

Before even dropping for the actual visit on the cell phone shop, do your own research first. It is not a bad idea to list the features and other necessities that you are looking for in a cell phone. It is also recommended to read online blogs and reviews regarding cell phones that you are considering, and take note of each cell phone’s advantages and disadvantages.

If you know somebody who owns a phone model that you are eyeing, ask permission to try it out for a few moments and test its key features, especially when it comes to making a call. If you are looking for a cell phone with a good camera resolution, try its camera out on bright or dim backgrounds. If you need a phone with a powerful browser, try that one as well.

In addition, ask the owner regarding the cell phone’s battery life. No doubt you are looking for a cell phone that has a reasonable battery life, and that does not suddenly dies out on you in the middle of a call. Ideally, three hours of talk time or five days of standby time is preferable. Manufacturers have their own estimates regarding their phone models; however, real life experience is a better source of information.

If you are a little techie, you may want to check out a cell phone’s operating system (OS). Currently, there are a number of various operating systems for mobile devices - each has its own advantages and performance ups, as well as certain features supported. Looking for the right OS for your new cell phone would also benefit greatly later on when it comes to usage and performance.

Buying a new cell phone is quite complicated, because you are shelling out cash or investing on a device that you will use and have with you for a long-term relationship, and choosing your new partner could spell success or disaster. Planning ahead, researching and getting advice can greatly benefit you when choosing a new cell phone.

The Latest LG Smartphones At Competitive Deals

The Samsung Galaxy deals have no doubt gone a long way in advancing attractive incentives in order to make sales. Some of the popular deals include SIM only and contract offers.

The SIM only offer works if a user is not satisfied with the services of an existing cell phone network, or if they discover a better service provider offering a better cell phone plan, and they could consider migrating to a different service provider. The SIM only offers enhance mobility. This offer also caters for frequent travelers who can easily remove their SIM in order to insert a new SIM while in a different region. This allows users to overcome unnecessary charges by easily switching to different service providers.

The contract offers:
The LG, together with the service providers, is offering the latest LG phones with the best contract offers. The LG contract seeks to offer a model with advanced features to buyers, at competitive rates.
• The LG GM360 Viewty Snap black mobile phone contract offers a combination of advanced features at competitive rates. The handset features a very attractive design. With its body contours and glossy displaying panel, the 5-megapixel camera has the capacity of capturing clear pictures and images. In addition, the smartphone features a 2-inch WQVGA touch screen that offers the display as well as touch-based navigation capability. Moreover, the phone weighs only 87 grams.
• The LG GD880 Mini contract offer features such as Wi-Fi, GPRS, a 5MP camera, document viewer, a GPS, media player and others. The GPS feature can be used to locate important landmarks. The 5-megapixel camera is fitted with autofocus, image stabilization, geotagging and face and smile detection. The Wi-Fi connectivity and GPRS offer web capability. The stereo FM radio, together with the RDS, offer excellent entertainment. Furthermore, the MS Office, as well as the PDF files, can be checked using the document viewer.

A host of network providers seeks to offer discounted prices together with a wide range of incentives and gifts with the purchase of these smartphones. Apart from the excellent features, buyers are expected to benefit from contract deals. Financial benefits, including cash back offers and free connection, are also expected to be received. Moreover, you can receive attractive gifts such as laptops, LCD TV, DVD players, MP3s and much more.

Furthermore, a user can exploit various cell phone plans. When users sign the contract, they obtain network support, offers and free handsets. Users can obtain the latest phone for the duration of 1 year, 18 months or possibly 24 months.

Tips for Finding a Cheap Cell Phone Plan

When acquiring a new phone, one of the major needs to be met is getting a cell phone plan in place. Depending on the user’s lifestyle, he or she should subscribe to a certain plan that is affordable, effective and suitable for his needs. The plan can either be a monthly bill plan, or one that allows the user to pay upfront for the credits. This solely depends on the preferences of the user. Planning for communication may seem easy, but most people find themselves handling more burdens than they planned for. Choosing a cell phone plan requires careful thinking, research and logistics.

When looking at cell phone plans, one of the most important factors a person will need to consider is coverage. There will be no need to pay a service fee every month if the coverage of the service provider is not sufficient. After acquiring a new cell phone, it is necessary to research the mobile coverage of the provider in order to decide whether or not to choose a particular plan. Next, users need to distinguish the difference between their wants and needs to be satisfied. There are basic communication needs that everyone must be entitled to, but there are also those luxury requirements that differ from one individual to the other. Learning these two differences will give a new cell phone user some direction pertaining to cell phone plans.

After putting all this into consideration, users will commonly choose between a basic individual plan and a family plan. The individual plan is split into two categories. There are cell phone plans that offer prepaid services, and there are those that offer postpaid services. Pay-as-you-go is a pre-paid service common to people who do not use their phones very often. They upload credits on their phones whenever they need to. This way they can save on hefty monthly bills. The other is a contract phone system whereby by signing a contract, the user has to use the services offered for some time, say two years, before the contract expires. Depending on the terms of the contract, the individual needs to make a consistent monthly payment in order to continue using the service. Users are also allotted a particular amount of talk time each month. If this is exceeded, there is a fee to pay at the end of the month. The family plan is similar, but it subsidizes the payment for calls made to family members.