International Cell Phone Services

If you are one who does a lot of international traveling, then you will want your clients to be able to reach you from wherever you might be in the world. But what are some of the options you have when it comes to maintaining your current level of cell phone services worldwide? Do you have to buy a new plan? Do you have to pay outrageous rates? Just what is available?

First of all, the country where you live is very important when it comes to international cell phone services. Most of the countries have one standard in cellular communications known as Global System for Mobile Communications or GSM. However, the United States did not follow the GSM standard and allowed competing wire carriers to develop their own standards. So, if you are coming from the United States and want to get cell phone coverage in another part of the world with your existing equipment, you probably will not be able to do it.

So let’s get back to our options for international cell phone service. It is important to understand that the key issues to having effective international cell phone service is that you must have a phone that will handle the frequencies plus a service that is compatible within the country you are communicating from. If you have a phone set that handles GSM service, then your phone will be compatible in at least 212 countries worldwide, as far as hardware is concerned. The only other item you will have to be concerned with is the service plan.

The GSM frequencies operate worldwide typically at 900 MHz but more and more the cell phones are operating at 1800 MHz. There are some GSM phone services in the United States and Canada but they work at 1900 and 850 MHz and therefore are incompatible with the rest of the world. That is why more and more we are starting to see tri-band phones being sold that are compatible with both international and North American GSM frequencies. The Nokia 3220 is a good example as it will handle both the 1800 and 1900 MHz frequency bands.

But what about the international cell phone service? If you get one of the tri-band phones you can get a SIM card that can be used in multiple countries. These SIM cards are somewhat like pre-paid phone service. You put the card in your GSM-capable phone and have international roaming coverage from wherever the card is valid.

When choosing an international cell phone SIM card for your GSM phone, there are things you should consider when making a decision on which SIM card to buy. First, what is the initial calling credit (how long before you have to recharge)? Of course you should know the rate structure of both the incoming and outgoing calls. Next you should make sure that your phone and SIM card you are purchasing will be valid for the countries you intend to travel.

Since you are not going to be global roaming with your home cell phone service, you will want to let everyone there know how they can reach you by your new number. You can also change the greeting on the voice mailbox of your regular home cell phone service telling your callers your new access number while you are out of the country.

While you are using SIM cards that will be exchanged or replaced, make sure that you save everything (phone numbers, memos, notes, etc.) into your cell phone handset and not the SIM card. If you save any information on your SIM card, then the information will be unavailable whenever you exchange for a new card in another country.

Cool Internet Phone Features - A VOIP Solution

For those who use VoIP enabled phone (Voice over Internet Protocol) which is one of the newest most innovated technologies out right now. VoIP allows you to call people from around the world from your home computer.

If you have a broad band connection you can order VoIP. This service is not only convenient but its also reliable and affordable. By having VoIP enabled phone services you will save on hundreds of dollars that your paying out to your phone company to have a home phone. Long distance charges that apply when you call outside of your calling area adds up to quite a bit overtime , especially when you have to pay per minute.

The thousands of people that already have VoIP are enjoying some of the coolest Internet phone features available. One of the more unique features is being able to choose your own area code that for the VoIP enabled phone. With VoIP you get most of the features if not more than you do with a cell phone or home phone.

The only difference is that its included in the price you will pay compared to the additional fees required by cell phone companies. You will still have voice mail , caller ID , last number dialed calling, call transfers, call forwarding, call waiting and much more.

These services are very flexible and can be used from any computer by simply logging into any computer with broadband and logging into your account. You can use call forwarding on your VoIP enabled phone to your home phone , mobile phone or even to your work phone guaranteeing you will never miss another important phone call. VoIP companies have the ability to support multiple lines , conferencing and delivers first class audio quality.

You have the ability to block unwanted numbers from calling you. With VoIP you will receive all the same features and more that a land line offers but at a drastically lower rate. Unlike landlines there are no fees to pay per minute and no roaming charges to pay like a mobile phone. You can use your VoIP by connecting through your home phone , through a VoIP enabled phone or through your computer.

Most prefer to connect using their computer so they can work and enjoy chatting at the same time. With VoIP there is no reason to lose out on missing a conversation with your kids because your stuck at work. VoIP has the best features , most affordable prices , and the dependability that everyone needs.

A Quick Guide To Free Cell Phone Promotions

Any person who has looked for a new cell phone service has seen that many of these service providers offer free cell phone promotional give away items. This is, of course, a great way of pulling in new customers who may have not sided with the specific cell phone service if given the choice between competing cell phone services.

Regardless of what a company is selling or offering, providing something for free will surely attract attention and draw in potential customers. Granted, some people will be a bit leery about a free promotional gift and this is understandable.

Of course, there will always be concerns among people that the cell phone will be a sub par item. This is a valid concern and anyone who has such a concern should be commended for thinking outside the box and realizing that just because something is free does not necessarily mean that the item is truly worth anything.

However, if one is dealing with a reliable cell phone service or distributor, then such worries should not be much of a concern. Sure, a little concern is understandable, but the reality is that these companies have far more to lose by offering a cheap phone for free that will not actually work as opposed to offering an expensive phone that will be incredibly reliable.

First, of the company offers a free phone that turns out to be unreliable, it will probably kill any future business that the person who was burned by a free phone that ended up malfunctioning or breaking within a ridiculously short period of time. When the company provides a free phone as a promotional item, they are attempting to reel in a potential lifetime customer in a manner no different from the way cereal companies offer toys at the bottom of the box.

If the company ends up hurting their image by providing a poor quality free give away item, then the company is shooting itself in the foot and defeating the purpose of providing the free item. So, the free phone will more than likely be quality items that the consumer can rely on.

So, it is definitely worth it to give a company that is providing a free cell phone promotion a try. When the opportunity to save money or make money is presented, it should never be ignored. When people shop around for cellular phone service, they usually look for a company that offers competitive rates on minutes and service location.

It should be simply academic that people will also opt to select the services that will provide free gifts as well and a free cell phone is certainly a free gift that would be appreciated.

Buy Your Cell Phone and Save Money!

Do your eyes glaze over by the huge selection of cell phones, cell phone plans, and cell phone services on the market? It can be overwhelming! You are in for a sweet surprise if you’ve never bought a cell phone over the Internet before. It doesn’t have to be difficult, just make sure you take your time and compare the different phones and plans available.

Many are free when you factor in discounts, rebates and cell phone plans. Some are just a cell phone. There are many today with built in cameras. These allow you to send your picture across the network. Remember, it may be cool but that service may not be free. Are you into time management? The Palm Treos and the Smartphones will help you stay on course. Maybe you enjoy listening to music. Well, that is available again but remember those downloads aren’t free. Many of our cell phone plans have free shipping.

Apple is introducing the iPhone. There is a lot of excitement out there regarding this new phone. It is set to work on the AT&T network for now. Remember anytime you buy a phone, make sure it is compatible with your network plan. The iPhone will be able to download music, play videos. Get ready to spend lots of money on the fun extras that you will find yourself using with the iPhone. Will there be bugs with the introduction of the iPhone? Only time will tell. How about security? That could become an issue. Even with these things in mind, the iPhone is a pretty exciting announcement if it truly lives up to the hype.

If you are ready to step up and get a cell phone for yourself or one for everyone in your family, there are plenty to meet every need and plans for every pocketbooks. Always read the fine print. Pay close attention to the initial return period where if you aren’t happy with the service, you can return your phones and cancel your plan without a penalty. Remember, once you past this free return period, you are locked in for usually for 2 years and would have to pay a $200 penalty to get out of your contract.

There are pay as you go phones that allow you to have service without being locked into a plan. Currently the cost of these plans are more that the regular plans but you do have freedom to just throw that phone away if you want to do that. It also will prevent you from having a surprised high bill. The pay as you go can be really great for teenagers. They may not like it but Mom and Dad will.

There are now phones available for children. They will only dial a few numbers that the parents have control over. These phones really meet the need of emergency use. The parent can get in touch with their child and the child can call them if they need to. This is a pretty good use of cell phones.

One of the things to consider in your plan is text messaging. If you have teenagers, then make sure your plan allows you to buy a block of test messages. If it offers unlimited text messaging and you got a teenager, then that may be the best deal you are being offered on a cell phone plan. When I was in Europe, text messaging was used by everyone including adults. Not to be a drag but test messaging can get through when voice services can’t because it uses a different protocol. This was demonstrated during 9/11. Text messaging has a language all of its own. The teenagers have seem to pick it up without any problem.

Cell phones have become part of our lives. They also can become very irritating because people will talk on them in the movies, church, restaurants and anywhere else the phone rings. Why is it they think they have to shout into the phone? Churches and movies have started installing blockers to prevent people being disturbed. If you use one in a public place, be courteous to the people around you. Keep it down.

Cities are passing laws making it illegal to drive and talk on a cell phone. They are requiring hands free operation. It is giving birth to the headset industry. The most popular is the use of bluetooth headsets. They are wireless and hands free. I really enjoy using mine once I got use to it. Driving is much easier if both hands are free.

4 Effective Reverse Cell Phone Lookup Techniques

More than likely at some point in time you’ve had numbers flash across your caller id with no names attached to them. Sure, you may go to Whitepages.com to try to find out the answer to who was calling you, only to find out that the number is unlisted.

The following are some methods that you can use to help you find out more information about an unlisted number; however, it is important that I point out that, though they’re used commonly by investigators, these methods are quite controversial.

You should ONLY use these methods if you consult with legal counsel and find out your rights and the laws in your specific area…

Method #1 - Pretend to Call the Wrong Number - One way to get some information on an unlisted number is to call back the number and pretend as if you accidentally called the wrong number. Give the number a ring and then when it is answered, ask for a random name, such as “Cindy”.

More than likely they will tell you that you have the wrong number and they may even ask you what number you were calling. Here is your opportunity. Ask them what number you’ve called and who they are. They just might slip up and give you the information you ask for.

Method #2 - Pretend to Be Someone Else - In order to get information you could call up the number pretending to be from some kind of agency that needs their information, like a financial institution or a business that needs their information for records. You could tell them you are missing all of their information except their phone number and hope to get the information you want.

BEWARE: Pretending to be someone else (”pretexting”) is in most circumstances, completely illegal. If you want to use this method, please make sure that you discuss it with your lawyer before trying it out. I am not recommending that you use this method to extract information, but rather I’m simply exposing a common, yet controversial practice that is being discussed for educational purposes only.

Method #3 - Ask the Person Who They Are - Another thing you may want to do is give the number a call and simply ask the person who they are. This is a very simple way to get the information that you need, and many times if you just ask they will tell you what you want to know.

This method depends on the nature of your investigation. If it’s simply an unrecognizable number, then this is an obvious approach.

However, if you’re trying to investigate a prank caller or someone who’s been calling your spouse, then obviously this method may not be as relevant.

Method #4 - Pay for Access to a Premium Cell Phone Number Database - If you are looking for a “self-serve” and discreet way to find out the information you need about an unlisted or cell phone number, you may want to pay for access to a premium reverse lookup database.

Playing “detective” on your own may not work and it could actually get you in trouble. A reverse lookup database is usually reasonably priced and is a LEGAL service to use because the records are obtained from public resources.

If you do decide to go with this kind of a service, you should make sure that you pick a service that has a satisfaction guaranteed policy so you are sure to get the information you need or your money back.

I need to re-emphasize the fact that the first three methods listed above are for educational purposes only - do NOT attempt to play “detective” without knowing how to do so in a lawful manner, so consult an attorney or otherwise a certified source of legal counsel.

For what it’s worth, the simplest and fastest option is to try a reputable online cell phone number database with a guarantee policy.

Mobile Phone Safety

It is a sad fact that mobile phone theft is a common occurance in our modern society. Phones are often stolen to be sold on and with ever changing models and special features, the lastest phones are in increasing demand and more likely to be the target of a theft.

What is even sadder is that children of school age are the most likely to be victims of mobile phone theft. However, this does not mean that everyone should not take steps to prevent themselves from being a victim of mobile phone theft. There a few simple precautions that can be taken to decrease your chance of having your phone stolen and they are as follows.

Around a quarter of all mobile thefts occur when the phone is being used or can be seen by others. The statistics are even higher in city centres. Therefore, if you are out in a busy place avoid using your phone, even for text messaging. If you are using your phone then not only are you putting it on display, then you are probably not concentrating on your surroundings and the people around. This makes you more vulnerable to mobile theft.

Also avoid having your phone on display, such as round your neck or on a belt clip. This clearly advertises that you not only have a phone but the model that you have. Phones on a lanyard can be easily snatched and used to pull a victim in the direction a potential thief wants.

In fact, London’s Metropolitan Police advise that you treat your mobile phone like you are holding a 100 pound note in your hand.

Here are some facts about mobile theft that hopefully you can use in order to understand the situations that could make you more vulnerable:

- 90% of offenders are male and 80% of victims are also male

- The majority of robberies are committed by offenders working in groups

- The peak age for offenders is 16

- The peak time for theft of mobiles belonging to people under the age of 18 is between 2pm and 10pm

- For over 18s the peak time for theft is between 10pm and 6am

- A mobile phone is stolen around every three minutes in the UK

In order to protect yourself and your mobile phone, there are steps you can take in case you become victim of a theft. Firstly, by typing *#06# into your phone, you will get what is called the IMEI number (15-digit serial number). Keep a safe note of this number, and should your phone get lost or stolen then it can be blocked by your phone service provider rendering it useless to anyone who finds or steals it.

Also take steps to mark your phone with your postcode and house number using an ultra violet pen. This acts as a deterrent and should your stolen or lost phone be recovered it can easily be traced back to you. Take steps to register your phone with the supplier when you purchase it so that they have your details on record in relation to the actual phone unit. Finally, use your phone’s security lock code or PIN to stop anyone else using it. For more information about activating your PIN, refer to the manual that came with your handset.

If someone tries to take your phone from you by force, it may be best to give it to them. This will help you avoid getting injured. If your phone is stolen then report it to the police and your service provider straight away. By providing them with as much detail as possible about the phone, including the IMEI number, then the handset can be barred on all networks and will be useless to thieves.

Quick Tips When Shopping For Phone Services

Since deregulation of Telecoms, the UK has become a hotpot of bargains for phone services. Also a time of confusion for many, sadly. To navigate the market and nab a bargain; here are some tips on what to take into account:

-the cost of line rental

-the cost of calls

-discount call packages

-how many calls you make

-what types of calls you make (local, national, -non-geographic, international, calls to a dial-up -internet number, calls to mobiles or calls to premium rate services)

-times when you make your calls (during the day, in the evening or at the weekend)

With the above nailed, lets look at Different Types of Service Available.

Cable: provides a phone service via cable which can also supply your TV and internet.

IA: You can use as many different phone companies as you like and decide which IA companies you want to use for different calls.

You must dial a short code (or sometimes a freephone or other phone number) before you dial the number you want. Or, you can have an adaptor plugged in between the socket and your phone and the adaptor will dial the code for you, from calls from that socket.

People choose particular IA companies because they are cheapest for certain kinds of calls, such as dialling international numbers.

CPS: You do not have to dial an access code to make your calls. You will continue to receive a bill from BT for line rental.

999 and 112 calls will still be carried by BT and will appear on your BT bill.

WLP: Your new phone company takes over the line from BT and you will stop being a BT customer for those products.

VOIP: Phone calls made over an internet (usually broadband) connection rather than over the traditional phone network.

Summary of Main Differences

If you choose a phone company offering indirect access or carrier pre-select services, then you will receive two bills.

One from the new phone company for calls you have made through them and the other from BT for the line rental and any calls you have made through them or services provided by them.

However, with a Line and Calls service, you will typically receive all your calls and services from your chosen phone company, and will receive only one bill from them - for both the cost of the line rental and calls you have made.

Now you should be feeling confident and enjoy shopping for phone services that meet your needs and your budget.