HowToDoThings.com Recent Phone & Communications Articles

How To Get Free Virgin Mobile Airtime Minutes

thedave — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:14:37 -0500

Is your Virgin Mobile phone out of minutes? Or maybe you simply want to cut down on your cell phone costs by earning some free airtime minutes. Well your in luck, because Virgin Mobile offers you several ways to get free minutes for your phone. Here's what you'll need to do to start raking in that free airtime:

How To Find the Phone Card that Is Best for You

febe.s — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:51:58 -0500

In the real world, there is no such thing as the best phone card. There are different phone cards in the market today and they vary, especially in the area of calling rates. It is always best to make comparisons and choose the right card for you. Consider the following factors to make an appropriate choice.

Remember what phone to use. There are different modes to make a call using a phone card. The usual is to use your fixed home phone. It is better to check first with your card if it can be used with mobile phone or pay phone without surcharges. If there is, study the total rate that can be consumed based on the length of call and compare it with other phone cards available so you can make the final choice.

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How To Get Out of Your Cell Phone Contract

Treestine — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:43:00 -0500

How To Compare Calling Cards

febe.s — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:26:36 -0500

One of the important steps to get the best deal when purchasing a calling card is to comparison shop. There are a bunch of considerations when you compare the different calling cards available.

Determine the price or rate of the card. Which among the available cards has a cheaper rate per minute? The calling cards usually have access numbers printed on them. A toll free number makes your call more reliable and you are sure that your call will be connected to the other party. Local access numbers give you lower rate when you call, and you will enjoy more calling time in your next calls. Beware of calling cards with hidden charges. A connection fee is charged to your card whenever your call is connected. This fee is generally found in cards with very low rates.

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How To Track a Cell Phone

Mikey — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:02:30 -0500

There are several reasons why you might want to track a cell phone. You may want to keep track of your kids for their own safety. You may want to track your phone if it should be stolen. Or you may have some nefarious reason for tracking someone using his or her phone. Whatever your reason, there are several options now available for tracking a cell phone. Follow these tips and you should be able to actively track a phone in less than an hour.

If your goal wasn't to monitor a cell phone but rather to figure out who's been calling you, trace the cell phone number back to them with Reverse Phone Detective.

Materials:
Cell phone
Computer
Internet connection

How To Unlock a Cell Phone

Mikey — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:56:13 -0500

Most cell phones are purchased from a provider and are part of a service agreement that can tie you down. If you want to change providers, you typically have to change phones. Service providers can lock your phone to their service network. Cell phones can also have a personal lock function. No matter why your phone is locked, it can be unlocked if you follow these steps.

How To Find a Lost Cell Phone

Mikey — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:41:52 -0500

If your cell phone is an appendage in your life, losing it can be traumatic. If you wake up wondering where you left your phone the night before, or if your phone is lost somewhere in your house, probably with your keys, don’t fret. There are ways to find your lost phone. Just follow these simple steps.

How To Get the Right Phone Card

febe.s — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:14:39 -0500

How To Avoid Deceitful Phone Card Companies

febe.s — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:07:53 -0500

Phone card companies are increasing in number as the phone card industry continues to grow. Each company offers different deals for its customers' calling needs. They are seen to be trustworthy and reliable just like the product that they sell. Unfortunately, there are still other companies who are not honest enough to the buyers. They only think of the money that they can get from their profit. As a helpful guide, here are some of the things to remember for you to avoid being deceived by these companies.

Examine if the company gives you the full information disclosure. A phone card company is expected to provide a full disclosure of all information to its customers. Such queries about phone cards should be given attention and answered according to what the company can offer before a customer purchases the product.

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How To Make Phone Cards Last Longer

febe.s — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:10:34 -0500

Prepaid phone cards are available almost anywhere. They can be found in the nearest convenience store, gasoline stations, shopping malls and the Internet. There are a few things you can do to make your phone card worth every penny you spent for it.

Know whether your phone card has reliable rates. Find out whether the actual rate of your phone card matches its advertised rate. You can either ask experienced phone card consumers on what to expect from certain phone card brands or experiment on your own by timing your calls. Either way, you'll know whether or not your phone card delivers the exact minutes that it promises.

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How To Get a Free Cell Phone

thedave — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:09:52 -0500

For many of us, it's hard to imagine a world without cell phones. We rely on our cell phones to keep in touch with family and friends, keep up with the latest news, complete business tasks, capture photos, and much more. Cell phone companies are always looking for an edge to set them apart from the competition, and win you over as a customer. As a result, they are constantly offering new products, services, and most importantly promotions! Many of the major cell phone companies will now give you a free cell phone, because they are confident you will enjoy their service and remain a customer. Below I give you all the information you need to take advantage of some great offers, and get your free cell phone today!

Virgin Mobile Virgin Mobile has a full line of cellular phones, which are sold both at retail stores and online. Several models are offered free of charge to new customers who order the phone online at the company website.

How To Conserve Your Cell Phone Battery

JElliott — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:48:08 -0500

How To Buy a Cell Phone Online

shand0 — Fri, 02 May 2008 18:07:54 -0500

How To Upload Cell Phone Videos to YouTube

thedave — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:16:34 -0500

YouTube users can now share videos taken from cell phones! It is quite simple to do. Just follow these steps.

How To Get Out of a Cell Phone Contract

bronwyn — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:18:15 -0600

Have you ever signed up for a cell phone contract and then later figured out that it just wasn't going to work for you? It's a pretty common scenario which usually ends with the customer paying a huge fee for the "privilege" of breaking the contract. However, there are ways to get out of your contract without losing a pile of money! It may take a little work, but you can usually successfully get out of your cell phone contract.

How To Clean a Cell Phone

shand0 — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:53:29 -0600

You may ask yourself, "Why should I clean my cell phone?" I can answer you with some facts. The first fact is that cleaning your cell phone will prolong its life. The second fact is that, by cleaning your cell phone, you will get it looking much shinier. Consequently, you will not be so inclined to sell it; you can keep your money that you would have spent buying a new cell phone. Personally, I like to preserve all my stuff until they become useless, and then I may think to sell them. Here I will describe some important points to clean your cell phone and to keep it looking good all the time.

Clean your cell phone safely.

How To Be a Good Amateur Radio Operator

rik — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:26:25 -0600

Amateur radio is a fascinating hobby. Contacting friendly fellow 'hams' across the globe means generating RF power, possibly at considerable levels and concentrating it with a directional antenna. This freedom brings with it a responsibility (as included in the UK amateur license) to ensure there is no inconvenience or undue interference to others, and to make the best use of the available spectrum.

How To Make a Good Solder Joint

rik — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:57:05 -0600

WARNING: This work refers to electrical soldering only.

Learning the correct technique means you can ensure trouble free soldered electrical joints which will be reliable over a long time, and progress to make cheap, easy repairs to your electrical equipment if they develop simple circuit joint faults.

How To Use Radio Communication Procedures

Waheedaleko — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:06:18 -0600

Radios are still used as the basic voice communication means in big governmental/non-governmental organizations, fire stations, airports, train/bus stations, shipping, police stations and etc. Radios are considered to be the most cost effective, consistent and failure-proof way of communication compared to the many other options available such as cellular phones, satellite communication, etc. because they transmit signals directly from the radio device to other stations. There are technical variations to this but that is beyond the scope of this article.

There are generally two types of radios used for this purpose:

How To Trace Cell Phone Numbers, Free!

bronwyn — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 16:42:27 -0600

Tracing cell phone numbers can be difficult. Unlike landlines, cell phone numbers are usually not listed in phone books and can't be accessed by dialing Information. Many companies charge to trace cell phone numbers, and until recently, you had to pay the fee or not get much information. However, it is now possible to trace cell phone numbers free of charge.

How To Get Rid of Junk Faxes and Telemarketers

triple1 — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 15:01:32 -0600

Take back your freedom from suppertime telemarketing calls and late night faxes that disturb your sleep! Here is a point-by-point guide that will help you cope with this encroaching plague of the 21st century.

Faxes

How To Back Up Phone Data

ayeo99 — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:25:25 -0600

Pain is losing your cell phone and not having any single back up of your contacts, calendar, etc. Imagine having to look for the contact numbers of all your friends again and keying them in from scratch. And don't forget all those appointments and events on your calendar. Whether your phone has been damaged beyond repair, or you have misplaced the phone, it can be a true nightmare, but you can avoid that nightmare by backing up your phone data.

How To Recover a Wet Cell Phone

ayeo99 — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 16:04:04 -0500

DON'T PRESS THE POWER ON BUTTON! REMOVE THE BATTERY! When your hands are wet, would you touch the mains socket and press the ON switch?

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How To Buy PDA Accessories

Harry255 — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 20:20:00 -0600

If you are like me (and I hope you are not like me), you need every accessory for every electronic device you own. There are a bunch of practical and fun add-ons to pimp out your PDA. Some are must haves, like a car charger. Some are a bit more frivolous, like leopard print skins. Whatever your needs or taste, here's how and where to look for PDA accessories.

Go online and search for PDA accessories. Online stores usually have the best prices on electronic equipment so always start there.
- The pocket solution has a lot of accessories with good prices and lots of pictures of their products.
- PDAparts.com not only has PDA accessories, it also has parts in case you need to build one yourself.
  
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How To Buy and Install PDA Batteries

Harry255 — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 15:48:00 -0600

Most people who own PDAs only have them for a few years before they get themselves a new one. For those who want to hold onto theirs for a while longer or for those who seem to be having battery problems, you could always replace the original battery. This can be quite a production depending on the model of PDA because the rechargeable batteries that are installed are not meant to be changed with any frequency, if at all. The good news is, there are some great resources to help you, not to mention this article you are reading.

How To Buy a V7 Flasher

Harry255 — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:39:00 -0600

The Audiovox Flasher V7 was made for Virgin Mobile for their popular pay as you go phone service. Although the pay per minute phones have traditionally been lower quality phones, the V7 Flasher is different. It has a built-in camera and games, speaker-phone and advanced online data capabilities. Aimed at the younger crowd with its MTV and Comedy Central tie-ins, picture messaging and ringtones, this is a very capable phone. It has become one of the more popular prepaid phones available.

How To Buy a PDA Watch

Harry255 — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 17:28:00 -0600

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), for the most part, come in one size. They are a lot smaller than a computer but bigger than a cell phone. There is, however, a version of the PDA you can wear on your wrist and get some of the same functionality of a full-sized PDA. These devices are small but still capable of running applications such as calendar reminders, calculator, games, Ebook reader, email capabilities, etc. Now there are not many of these devices to choose from so which one to get and where to get them isn't going to be too strenuous

How To Recycle Your Cell Phone

Staff468 — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 09:50:00 -0600

Whether you're just looking to be environmentally friendly, or you're hoping to raise a little money for yourself, your company or your charity, recycling your cell phone or starting a cell phone recycling drive is a great option. The latest technology, which seems to change every few months, is perpetually rendering "older" cell phones obsolete. And a cell phone doesn't even have to be that old; the average life of a cell phone is 18 months. That means that there are millions of old cell phones cluttering up drawers, collecting dust in boxes in the garage, and, worst of all, being dumped in land fills.

How To Download a Shakira Ringtone To Your Phone

The2 — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 10:10:00 -0500

The first thing you need to decide when trying to download a Shakira ringtone is whether you truly want a ringtone, or you want a real version of the song. Ringtone has become synonymous with any music coming for your phone when it's ringing, but most companies differentiate between a ringtone (a muzak version of Hips Don't Lie by Shakira for instance) and a "real tone" (as Verizon calls its real music ringtones-Shakira's voice, music, lyrics and all). You don't want to pay $2.99 per song just to end up with your cell phone's version of Hips Don't Lie instead of Shakira's version (if that's what you're expecting).

How To Improve Your Cell Phone Reception

Harry255 — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 14:20:00 -0500

Poor cell phone reception is the #1 reason people will switch cell providers. Problem is, if you are in the beginning or middle of a contract, you can't simply--or should I say cheaply--change services. If you are unhappy with your cell reception, then you have a few options that may be helpful.

How To Sell a Used Cell Phone

Harry255 — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 12:37:00 -0500

So you are totally excited about your new cell phone. It's got all the bells and whistles, the newest technology on the market. It makes your old cell look like a western union telegraph machine. Now here is your question: what to do with the old phone? You could always give it to someone you know or donate it to a charity, but the best option, as we all know, is getting some cash for it. Here is how...

Know your phone. Make sure you know the make and the model of your phone. If you don't know off the top of your head, look under the battery. If you lift out your battery, there should be a sticker with some info that will include the manufacturer and the model number. It also helps to know what network your phone was using. This you probably will know by heart because you've written them a check every month since you've owned the phone.

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How To Activate a Used Cell Phone

Harry255 — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 10:17:00 -0500

Cell phones are expensive. Sure the first one you get when you sign up for a plan with a cellular service provider is usually affordable but anything you get after that will cost you. The problem is that cell phones do get broken or lost. Now you are stuck paying big bucks for a phone that you might need for only 6 months until your contract is up and you can get another new phone at the cut rate. That is where used cell phones come in.

Now even though this article is about activating used cell phones, I think it's important to review a few things about your cell phone first. Make sure your used cell phone is compatible with your network. This is the most important thing when it comes to the success of your activation.

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How To Download Cell Phone Ringtones

Harry255 — Tue, 23 May 2006 11:33:00 -0500

You know you have been out and about and heard what sounds like the theme to The Godfather on someone's cell phone and wondered where you could get a ringtone like that. Truth is, there are many places you can get cell phone ringtones; you just need to know a few things first.

How To Buy a Cell Phone Without Purchasing a Plan

Harry255 — Sat, 20 May 2006 04:48:00 -0500

So, you want to buy a cell phone without purchasing a plan to go with it. Maybe you're in the middle of a plan and you want a better phone, or perhaps you threw yours out the window of a moving vehicle. These things happen. Regardless of the reason, you need or want a phone and don't want a two-year contract to go along with it.

It's going to be expensive, comparatively speaking, but it is possible to buy a cell phone without buying a plan. I would suggest that you first check with your wireless company and confirm that your warranty doesn't cover whatever happened to your old cell phone. Also, a lot of companies have free upgrades, or at least rebates, after a certain amount of time spent with them. If those tactics are fruitless, consider the following methods of getting a phone without the plan.

How To Compare Prepaid Cell Phone Plans

Simone194 — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 19:34:00 -0500

Prepaid cells phones can be wonderful for the person that doesn't want to be in a long-term contract. They are ideal if you don't use your cell phone much and there is an ease to keeping track of your minutes. With prepaid phones there are no contracts to sign, no monthly bills, no commitments, no credit checks, no age limit and no hidden fees.

Whatever the reason you have for being drawn to a prepaid phone, it can be difficult to know which carrier and what plan is best for you. Every carrier has some good and some bad features. In the end it comes down to your particular usage. Here are some things to consider that will make the process of comparing prepaid plans an easy one:

How To Block Your Cell Phone Number

Simone194 — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 11:43:00 -0500

There might be many reasons why you want to block your cell phone number from showing up on other people's caller IDs. Whatever the reason is, it's very simple to block your cell phone number. You have two options: you can permanently block your phone number or you can block your number on a call by call basis.
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Blocking Your Cell Phone Number Permanently:

The most permanent solution is to request a "line block" from your cell phone carrier.