Metal Iphone 4 Cover

The iPhone 4's glass backing is remarkably fragile—even moreso than the other iPhone models. If you'd like to keep it protected without making the phone bulky with a case, consider replacing the back with this metal back cover instead.

For a mere $12, you can save your iPhone from accidents by replacing the back cover with this nice, beveled metal one. There are, of course, others floating around the net, but tech blog Unplgged recommends this one for its low price, beveled back, and super easy installation—all it takes is a bit of unscrewing (and it looks pretty darn good too). I still wouldn't be too casual about dropping your iPhone, but if you're prone to accidents and don't like big cases, this is another great way to go.

iPod and iPhone users

How many things do you have on your desk, connecting to your computer? We all have an iPod in our house so at any given time there is an iPod charging, sitting next to my desk chair. Today I saw a really neat keyboard, made especially for iPod and iPhone users - the LifeWorks iConnect Media Keyboard.

The LifeWorks iConnect Media Keyboard works on computers operating with Mac OS X 10.6 or later, Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 operating systems. It has a built in dock that accommodates many models of the iPod and iPhone. When your iPod is in the dock you can control it using the keyboard. When it’s not in the dock the dock has a cover that slides shut. The keyboard has a numeric keypad and two built in USB ports on the right side. What I like best physically about this keyboard is that it has a built in rubberized wrist rest. As far as features go the ones I like the best are that your iPod syncs when placed in the dock and that the keyboard media keys allow for quick and easy navigation of your iPod music and files.

Unlock/Jailbreak iPhone 4/4G Now

What Is the Point Of Owning A Luxurious iPhone 4/4G if you can’t enjoy The Luxuries? Unlock/Jailbreak iPhone 4/4G Now

It is beyond doubts that iPhone 4/4G is the smartest phone in the planet. Loads of new features including multitasking that were just discussed by the competitors are made available in iPhone 4/4G by Apple. Your experience with iPhone 4/4G will be delightful and if you have already used other iPhones, you will feel the surge of excitement if you get your hands on iPhone 4/4G. Nothing really satisfies the ego of techies more than a brand new iPhone 4/4G.

No one likes to have boundaries, but unfortunately, the coolest phone in the planet comes with a lot of boundaries. The foremost restriction is that you can’t use a service provider of your choice. You should probably bid adieu to your existing data plan and switch to the service provider that Apple recommends when you want to use iPhone.

A number of existing apps and games must be tweaked a lot to take advantage of the hardware and software features of iPhone 4/4G. Loads of them are available on third party websites, but they are completely unsupported by iPhone 4/4G.

If you want to break the jail in your iPhone 4/4G and unlock your iPhone 4/4G one to a whole new world, you should use iPhone unlocking software to unlock/jailbreak iPhone 4/4G. A lot of iPhone 4/4G users are already using unlocked iPhone 4/4G with iOS 4 without any problem. The unlocking process takes only a few minutes and you can keep your iPhone 4/4G unlocked for its lifetime without worrying about relocking or bricking with future firmware updates.

Cell Phones: Make Talk Cheaper

You've heard iPhone users gripe about their mammoth monthly charges -- but it's not just those with the fanciest smart phones who are paying a bundle.

"The average consumer overspends by $300 a year," says Schwark Satyavolu of BillShrink.com, which helps consumers save on expenses. Knocking that much off your tab isn't hard, experts say: You can do it by changing your plan, your carrier, or the way you use your phone.

CHANGE YOUR PLAN

Adjusting your current plan is the easiest way to save. You don't even have to extend or terminate your contract.

Downshift Service

"Eight of 10 people don't use what they pay for," says BillShrink's Satyavolu. Ask your carrier for a usage summary going back 12 months to see if you could get by on a cheaper plan.

Go in on Data

While many people get family voice packages, fewer take advantage of family messaging and data plans -- which can save you a lot. AT&T, for example, offers unlimited texts for a family for $30 a month, vs. $20 per person.

Ask About Affiliate Discounts

If you work for a large company, government agency, or university, you probably qualify for a discount -- up to around 25% -- on your personal phone. Get details from HR.

Cancel Coverage

Unless you have a disaster-prone teen, insurance that covers your phone for loss or damage is usually a waste. You'll pay $4 to $6 a month, and the deductible ranges from $50 to $125. You can get a new phone for less, should you need one.

Say You're Leaving

"Carriers don't want to lose customers, so if you tell them you've found a better plan, you could get a break," says Sascha Segan, cell phone analyst at PCMag.com.

CHANGE YOUR CARRIER

You may be able to do better by switching to another carrier, but wait until your contract is up to avoid termination fees.


Check Out the Competition


The four major carriers --AT&T (T, News), Verizon (VZ, News), Sprint (S, News), and T-Mobile -- have roughly 220 plans combined. BillShrink.com and Validas.com will help you wade through them to determine if you could get a better deal from a different carrier, based on your past usage.

Look Beyond the Big Four

Regional carriers such as U.S. Cellular, MetroPCS, and Cricket Wireless offer savings of $20 a month over plans from the big four. You won't get a signal nationwide, so if you travel to a place where there's no coverage, you'll pay roaming charges. "But you can save serious money if you're a homebody," says Segan. BillShrink and Validas don't include these carriers, so compare some of them at wirelessadvisor.com.

Prepay the Piper

It's easy to see why prepaid phone plans are rapidly gaining in popularity: They offer calling, texts, and web access starting at $40 a month -- with no contract or cancellation fees. If you use less than 300 minutes a month, they can be an economical choice. LetsTalk.com helps you compare plans. Also, AARP members can get a no-contract phone with 250 minutes, and service from Consumer Cellular, starting at $19 a month.

CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOR

How you use your phone can have a lot to do with how much you'll pay. These easy behavioral shifts can save big money.

Monitor Your Minutes

For those without unlimited calling plans, charges for going over the monthly allotment of minutes average $36 per line, reports Validas.com. If you tend to approach the danger zone, check your usage weekly-- online or via the dialing code provided by your carrier -- and limit your calls accordingly. Also, get into the habit of using your landline or work phone during business hours, when mobile minutes usually count against your monthly maximum.

Get the 411 for Free

Don't know the number you need to reach? Dialing 411 will cost you at least $1.49 a pop. Use Google's no-cost option instead: Just call 800-GOOG-411.

Dialing Abroad over Wi-Fi

If you often make international calls and have an app-capable smart phone, download the Skype app. Because it operates over Wi-Fi, Skype lets you call landline phones abroad at reduced rates. (On certain Verizon phones, the Skype Mobile app does operate over the cellular network vs. Wi-Fi, but it still isn't billed to your normal minutes.) Plus, you can call other Skype users free. Either way, you'll be saying adieu to a big portion of your bill.

A Cell Tower of Your Very Own

Major Carriers Sell a Personal Device That Improves Signal

Up until a few weeks ago, Mike Gillin was a tough man to get a hold of.

His basement apartment in Smithtown, N.Y. is a virtual black hole for cellular signals. AT&T Inc.'s cellular service is just good enough that Mr. Gillin's iPhone would ring when dialed—but the calls would usually fail to connect. Text messages would arrive hours, or even days, late. Friends trying to reach him would have to switch back and forth between dialing his land line and his cellphone in an effort to get through.

"It was always a process of calling one number, and then the other and hoping I answered one," says Mr. Gillin, 35-year-old email systems manager. "It was always a pain."

So it's no wonder that in May Mr. Gillin jumped at the chance to buy AT&T's 3G Microcell—a textbook-size cellphone gadget known as a femtocell that helps with unreliable cellular service. Think of it as a personal cellphone tower. It operates on the same technological principle, receiving an incoming call signal via the home's DSL or cable Internet connection, and then broadcasting the signal to the user's cellphone.

Never heard of a femtocell? Many other cellphone users haven't, either. Major cellular carriers do virtually no advertising for the devices—a rare example of reticence in an industry that spends heavily on ads. Industry experts say big carriers are reluctant to highlight a product that calls attention to the problem of spotty network coverage.

AT&T has been rolling out the 3G Microcell, which provides a full signal to a surrounding area of up to 5,000 square feet, as an answer for customers in areas with poor reception. The price is $149.99.

Verizon Wireless's femtocell, the "Network Extender," is priced at $99.99; Verizon doesn't sell it in stores. Sprint Nextel Corp. sells its Airave for $99.99 with a mandatory $4.99 monthly charge to customers who ask a service representative. T-Mobile USA doesn't sell the device.

The carriers say they put limited marketing behind the devices because they don't see them as mass-market products, although useful in certain situations. "It is designed largely for customers who—because of architectural issues or location geography—want enhanced calling," a Verizon spokesman says. Sprint says the femtocell "helps enhance" coverage and notes there are situations where reception problems are out of the carrier's control. AT&T says it plans to offer the 3G Microcell in a direct marketing campaign to customers facing unique physical or geographic obstructions.

The carriers have been sensitive to criticism of poor coverage and the propensity for dropped phone calls. AT&T still faces reception issues in New York and San Francisco, largely due to the popularity and data- hungry demands of Apple Inc.'s iPhone. AT&T says it is working on improving coverage in those areas, and expects to have upgrades in both cities later this year. The two cities were among the first to get the 3G Microcell following the April launch. AT&T's device improves signals for both data and voice; those from Verizon and Sprint boost only voice quality.

As for the devices' potential health risks, some experts say they are probably no worse—and may be less—than the still-unproven risks posed by regular cellphone signals. Industry observers note femtocells are no more harmful than the typical Wi-Fi hotspot, and may be less harmful than a cellphone because they aren't held close to the body.

"At this point, there's no conclusive evidence showing all these radio signals are hurting people," says Harry Wong, analyst at research firm Parks Associates.

Film director Barry Sonnenfeld purchased Verizon's Network Extender nearly a year ago for his East Hampton, N.Y., house, which doubles as a home theater where he screens projects. Mr. Sonnenfeld, who uses three major wireless carriers—Verizon Wireless for his BlackBerry Bold, AT&T for his iPhone and Sprint for his Evo 4G—says service is bad in the area. "Verizon is sketchy and AT&T is profoundly bad," says Mr. Sonnenfeld. He says with the Verizon device, the BlackBerry has full bars; he says he is planning to buy AT&T's device, too.

Femtocells can be a pain to set up. Activation can take up to 90 minutes, and Mr. Gillin says he occasionally has to reboot it. And because the device relies on a global positioning system to confirm its location in a service area, it needs a clear line of sight to the sky.

The devices have to be in areas where the carrier already offers service, so they won't work overseas. AT&T, on the first weekend after the launch of the iPhone 4 last month, had a system outage that left some 3G Microcells from activating.

For customers on limited-call plans, the carriers also offer an option to pay an additional monthly fee and get unlimited calls using the femtocell. Some consumers have bristled at paying extra to improve what they believe are the carriers' own coverage problems. The carriers say fees cover the cost of running wireless traffic from the femtocell back to their networks.

Some people who have the devices say the improved service is worth the cost. David Nowicki, a marketing executive for Airvana Inc., which is working on a data femtocell for Sprint, says he personally uses all of his competitors' devices because his North Andover, Mass., home sits between two hills that interfere with cellular signals. "You have a part of the network that's dedicated to you," he says.

AT&T blames Alcatel-Lucent problem for iPhone glitch

AT&T Inc. said a software defect is slowing down the wireless connection for more than one million customers looking to send data from smartphones like the iPhone 4 or laptop modems.

AT&T and supplier Alcatel-Lucent found a problem with Alcatel equipment that is preventing some subscribers from reaching their peak data transmission speed.

The companies said the issue affects less than 2% of AT&T's wireless customers, or about 1.75 million people. Alcatel-Lucent said it was working to fix the software glitch.

The glitch is the latest in a series of hiccups for AT&T, which is struggling with the perception that its network suffers from more dropped calls and coverage problems than rival Verizon Wireless.

Until a fix is completed, AT&T said some customers who previously were able to get a faster version of 3G called HSUPA could only get "normal 3G uplink speeds," which is slower. People affected include those who own a Laptop Connect card, as well as certain smartphones, including the Apple Inc. iPhone 4.

An AT&T spokesman declined to comment on which markets were affected by the network problem. The company had 87 million subscribers at the end of the first quarter.

AT&T has dealt with a number of glitches, including allowing the private email addresses of about 140,000 owners of cellular-connected iPads to be publicly released, as well as problems with customers attempting to preorder iPhone 4s. More recently, Apple has talked about the signal strength and antenna issue of its new iPhone 4, partly laying the blame on its carrier partner's network.

AT&t glitch IPhone4 upload speeds

In the latest snag for the iPhone 4, AT&T Inc. said Wednesday that a software defect in its network is limiting data uploads from the phone in some areas.

That means it takes longer for users to send pictures, video and other content from the phone.

Apple Inc.'s new iPhone 4 went on sale in the U.S. and a few other countries two weeks ago. Last week, Apple acknowledged that holding the phone in a certain way might reduce its wireless performance, and that all iPhones show the wrong signal strength in some situations.

Dallas-based AT&T said Wednesday that a software glitch in network equipment made by Alcatel-Lucent is to blame for limiting the upload speeds of the iPhone 4. AT&T said a fix is in the works.

Alcatel-Lucent spokeswoman Denise Panyik-Dale confirmed that there's a software problem in the company's cellular base station equipment.

Because Alcatel-Lucent isn't the only supplier of base station equipment to AT&T, the problem only affects some areas. AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel said the flaw affects 2 percent of the phone company's customer base.

The iPhone 4 is the first phone designed to take full advantage of an upload-speeding technology that AT&T put in place in 2008. In theory, it's capable of uploads that are 10 times faster than those of the previous iPhone model.

But where the network is affected by the software glitch, some users report the new phone is getting upload speeds limited to 100 kilobits per second, somewhat lower than the speeds usually achieved with the previous iPhone model.

Outdoor Coverage vs. Indoor Coverage

Great coverage outside doesn't always mean great coverage inside. Wireless carriers have done a good job on improving outdoor performance with more cell sites and improving dropped call rates in most major cities. But poor in-building coverage – offices, commercial buildings, condominiums, apartments and homes is an issue that needs to be addressed.

Blame the Building

Our cell phone numbers and email addresses have increasingly become a way of staying connected no matter where we are, so it's expected that our wireless devices should work inside our homes and offices. But building materials like concrete and tinted glass, and building locations in shadowed areas, can frequently stop cellular, 3G, 4G, GSM, CDMA and PCS signals from penetrating into your location, so that phones don't work in meeting rooms, home offices, warehouses – the list goes on.

Wireless Data Applications

Cell phones and other devices like iPhone's, Blackberry's, and G1 Android's are fast becoming a way of mobilizing the workforce. But where you might be willing to put up with two bars of coverage on your cell phone for a voice call, for a wireless data application to work well – a strong signal is required. Improving in-building coverage is a must for ensuring data throughput for wireless devices is maximized, and that those wireless applications that your organization has invested in, work well in the places where they are being used more and more frequently - indoors.

How We Can Help?

Five-Bars Wireless Houston
This site is designed to collect information on building locations with indoor coverage problems to ensure that wireless service providers better understand your in-building wireless requirements, and to help develop and deliver solutions that address your needs for improved indoor coverage. These issues can be addressed by submitting a coverage complaint to our map and then hope that the problem is eventually addressed by the carrier. Or you can take action on your own to solve the coverage problem and purchase a repeater or femtocell to improve the signal in your home or office.

Cell Phone Coverage Problems

Cell phones have great significance in modern society. Cell phones are our lifelines to the world and they allow us to stay connected at all times. Due to the increased prominence of cell phone, wireless providers now offer extensive coverage areas that encompass the majority of the U.S. However, despite the extensive coverage map, there are a variety of factors that impair wireless coverage.

Function
Cell phones communicate with a series of towers or "cell sites" to send and receive voice calls across public telephone networks. Since wireless telephones use radio waves, their coverage is impacted by a variety of factors, including location of cell phone towers, call volume, architecture and topography. These factors can limit wireless coverage within a wireless provider's coverage areas and often result in dropped calls, poor call quality or weakened signals.

Cell Phone Towers
Cell phone towers are essential to the successful transmission of cell phone calls. Despite an abundance of cell phone towers in a given area, callers may experience dropped calls due to their location and the number of callers accessing the network. Traveling between cell phone towers and driving through tunnels causes cell phone calls to drop because they inhibit the successful transition of the call from one tower to another. Additionally, a high volume of cell phone callers accessing a tower at a given time strains the provider's network. A strained cell phone network results in a busy signal and inhibits the ability to place a call.

Architecture
The type of building in which you are located also influences the reliability of cell phone coverage. Buildings are generally constructed with dense materials that impair wireless reception in coverage areas. For example, concrete greatly reduces wireless coverage because its thickness absorbs or blocks the signal. Aluminum siding and stucco also impact wireless coverage because they reflect radio waves and inhibit them from reaching the cell phone. In these instances, installing an antenna on top of the structure or going outside of the building may be necessary to successfully place or receive calls.

Electromagnetic Interference
Electromagnetic interference disrupts the reception of radio waves and prohibits cell phone towers from properly communicating with cell phones. Electrical and battery-operated items that can be found within a home or office can cause cell phone interference. Microwave ovens, blenders and computers can cause interruptions with cell phone service. When placing a call, it is recommended that you move away from these items or unplug them.

Geography
The geography in a given area can greatly impair or disrupt cell phone coverage. Mountains, hills, dense trees and tall buildings interfere with cell phone service because the phone and cell phone tower are blocked from communicating with one another. When the cell phone signal does come through, it is often distorted and unclear. When traveling through areas with hills and trees, it is recommended that you place your phone at an angle when you reach a clearing to help the cell phone tower find your phone. The problem is being curtailed in cities since many buildings now have cell phone towers installed on their roofs.

How to get better cell phone reception in your areas, visit Five-Bars Wireless for more info..

Increase Indoor Cell Phone Signal Strength

Ughhhhh! An important phone call... you walk to the counter to get a pen and paper... THE CALL IS DROPPED!!! You frantically search for an area in your home for cell phone signal... it is just one complete DEAD ZONE!

How many times has this happened to you??? It happens to me all the time... here is why!

Cell phone signals can diminish to nothing when you are indoors causing static or dropped calls. Metal siding and roofs, poor network coverage, and the number of cell phone users in your area contribute to the loss of signal. Unfortunately, the number of cell phone users is expected to climb as land lines become a thing of the past. I doubt the cell phone providers will be able to increase network coverage to meet the demand as quickly as needed. The more add-ons and applications we use on our phones, the more it drains the available network resources. What this means for cell phone users is a decrease in indoor cell phone signal strength.

What to do??? Visit Five-Bars Wireless website and they can help you to increase your indoor cell phone signal strength.

IPhone 4

The new iPhone 4 has been announced today at Apple's WWDC conference. New features includes Retina display which quadruples the pixel count of previous iPhones making images and text sharper.

Multitasking is finally available.

Perhaps the most interesting feature for me is the new 5 megapixel camera. I know a 5 megapixel camera on a phone is not new. But Apple is usually behind in terms of integrating new technology into their devices. What Apple does is they do it better. The new camera has backside illumination that takes better pictures even in low light. The problem with most camera phones is that the sensors are so small, low light quality usually sucks.

I haven't seen how the iPhone 4 camera works yet, but it would be interesting to see if it really does work really well. That means there's no need to bring a point and shoot camera anymore if you have the iPhone.

The iPhone 4 also includes a LED flash and a forward facing camera. The camera also takes 720p HD video capture and editing.

Apple is also coming out with a new iMovie app for the iPhone for $4.99. They have got the best apps and features in any mobile phone to date. And as you know with technology, what's great today is old news tomorrow.

Another feature added is called FaceTime. This is face to face video calling, but it is only available in Wi-Fi for now. Nothing over 3G network yet. You can use both front and rear facing camera for FaceTime.

Apple has also renamed their iPhone OS to just iOS 4. This is perhaps to make it more in line with their future development extending the iOS to other devices.

There are tons of other features, for more details, visit Apple.com.

Know Your Cellphone Can Do

EMERGENCY

The Emergency Number worldwide for **Mobile** is 112

If you find yourself out of coverage area of your mobile network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you. And interestingly, this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. **Try it out.**

Have you locked your keys in the car? Does you car have remote keys?

This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cellphone:If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone.Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock.Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other"remote" for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).

(Try it while at home).

Hidden Battery Power

Imagine your cell battery is very low, you are expecting an important call and you don't have a charger.Nokia instrument comes with a reserve battery. To activate, press the keys *3370#. Your cell will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery.This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell next time AND...

How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?

To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following
digits on your phone: * # 0 6 #

A 15 digit code will appear on the screen.This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe.When your phone gets stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset; so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least, you know that .

Be careful while using your mobile phone

When you try to call someone through mobile phone, don't put your Mobile closer to your ears until the recipient answers. Because directly after dialling, the mobile phone would use it'smaximum signalling power, which is: 2 watts = 33dbi

Pls Be Careful.

Message as received (Save your brain) Please use left ear while using cell (mobile), because if you use the right one it will affect brain directly. This is a true fact from Apollo medical team.

No Signal Inside?

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Boost Your Indoor CellPhone Signal

Five-Bars Wireless can Boost your indoor Cellphone Signal. They have the solution that works with Sprint, T-Mobile, Cingular, Verizon. Solution that also works inside your home, office and vehicle. They can also enable WiFi for your Entire Office or Home! Five Bars Wireless can serve only in Houston surrounding areas.

For more info contact Doak Adams at 936- 228-0400 / 713-834 4107.
You can also visit his company website at http://www.five-bars.com