July 25th, 2010 | Mobile Broadband
For those who like to stay connected on holiday for personal reasons, such as staying contact with family at home and updating them or even for business reasons, because people really can’t do without you, the thought of using your mobile or dongle abroad can sometimes mean the worry of coming home to a high data bill from your network. For many the options that mobile technology has opened up means that we can become reliant on them, for example when lost here in the UK we find ourselves lost we just look at Google map, or if we want to know where to get a takeaway from we can use one of many apps now available, so when abroad it makes sense that we want to use this function we have become accustomed to.
Mobile broadband is accessible anywhere that the mobile operator offering it has mobile phone coverage, so you can use it both in the UK as well as in selected countries overseas. What you need to firstly make sure is that your network provider will be accessible in the country you are holidaying in. if they do your best bet is to ring them before hand to check their pricing structure for roaming charges as this can vary from company to company and country to country. Some providers offer either extra ‘add on’ packages or mobile broadband deals so that when you do use your mobile broadband abroad, you won’t incur excessive charges.
New EU rules come into force next month forcing providers to issue warnings when certain limits have been reached, so if you do find yourself constantly using your mobile broadband, a warning will come in handy and should help you reduce your bill.
July 20th, 2010 | Apple, HTC, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, iPhone
The sun is shining and summer is finally here, so what’s hot on the mobile front now? Unless you have been living under a rock you should now that the big summer release was the highly anticipated iPhone4 from Apple, as well as that HTC, Samsung and Sony Ericsson have also got some great mobiles out that are top this summer.
Firstly looking at the HTC Desire you realise that this is everything you expect from a new smartphone, it’s sleek, fast and powerful with a cutting edge design with state of the art technology inside. This Android 2.1 handset has an amazing 3.7 inch AMOLED display, as well as a fast internet connection with its own pre installed apps to play with. Get great HTC Desire deals.
HTC Desire
Going for good looks the Samsung Galaxy S is a sexy, light, bright and beautiful smartphone that not only looks superb but also works like a dream too, many a time manufacturers put so much effort in the looks they forget to tweak the inside, however this does not disappoint. The Galaxy S supports Android 2.1, with an update to Android 2.2 arriving very soon, it’s also very easy to use whether your an experience smartphone user or not. The 4 inch AMOLED touchscreen is brighter, less reflective and faster than a traditional full touch display on top of that the top processor also makes the phone faster.
Samsung Galaxy S
If you don’t like large chunk smartphones then Sony Ericsson’s Xperia™ X10 mini will be just what you need, it’s a travel sized Android smartphone which is just 16mm wide and weighing only 88 grams, making it one of the most compact mobiles on the market. Also boasting sleek and stylish looks the Xperia™ X10 offers fast Wi-Fi internet, Google services, a Walkman® music player and Sony Ericsson’s exciting new communications app, Timescape™. And if you’re fickle about colour then you will be happy to know that it also comes with three coloured cases that come in its box – pink, silver and black.
Sony Ericsson’s Xperia™ X10 mini
Last but not least there is the iPhone4, no list at the moment would be complete without featuring this mobile, hype about this mobile aside, the iPhone4 is a very sleek and sexy looking mobile, Apple have changed the design from a smooth curved back to a flat regimented shape back with a flat glass front and back. It also offers a much shaper screen which is pretty much the best around and their newest addition which is Apples Face Time which allows you to video call through WiFi to other iPhone4 users. Look out for iPhone 4 deals!
iPhone 4
July 18th, 2010 | BT, Broadband, Broadband news
BT has said it is going to increase the cost cost of landline calls by 10% as well as increase its monthly line rental by 50p from the beginning of October, many people will find that the cost of connecting a call will go up from 9.9p to 10.9p, while the daytime rate rises from 5.9p to 6.4p.
On top of that you will have to pay a landline rental charge of £13.29 a month or £12.04 if you receive your bills by email, so after the 1st October the standard cost of a landline will be £159.48 or £131.88 if you pay the full sum upfront.
BT have said these increases are necessary because the company needs to company to review prices to cover costs and emerge from recession in “good shape”.
July 15th, 2010 | Broadband
Many broadband UK provider have many offers available, some considerable better than others, however when looking for a great deal you need to make sure you get what you need, some of the cheaper offers won’t give you what you need and sometimes some of the more expensive offer will give you more than you need. Finding the right balance can be hard.
Some people choose a provider from a name that they know such as BT, Aol, and Talk Talk, some people choose a provider that they also get other subscriptions from such as Sky, Virgin Media and again BT, however there are a great number of other providers out there that are less known but may provide better value for money.
If you are struggling to find a suitable provider that offers you what you need then it may be useful using a broadband comparison site, here you can enter all the specifications you require from your package and whittle down the providers. Like browsing habits, do you download/upload files frequently, chat, watch movies, email friends and family? Once you know this finding a provider should be much easier.
July 13th, 2010 | Broadband, Broadband news, Business
The Government is set insist that broadband providers collaborate and find innovative low-cost ways to help deliver high-speed internet to every household in Britain to help meet their target of universal and superfast broadband.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “Our broadband network is as fundamental to Britain’s success in the digital era as the railway network was in the industrial age. By the end of this Parliament, this country should boast the best superfast broadband in Europe and be up there with the very best in the world. I will bring together the key industry players who can help deliver this. I now need them to work together on solutions and tell us what we can do to help make this ambition a reality.”
The Governments view is that the market should lead the way in delivering broadband to all, with the Government working with the industry to achieve this, a group set up to deliver the Government’s aims, will be looking at the barriers to providing a basic level of broadband to the mainly rural communities that are not currently connected. The main problem they are facing is cost to set up the infrastructure needed however the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will also publish a discussion document on telecoms companies and other utilities sharing infrastructure to cut the cost of building new networks that are desperately needed.
Mr Hunt added: “There is currently nothing to stop telecoms or utility companies reaching commercial agreements to share their infrastructure, but very few agreements currently exist. Before we embark on legislation or start committing scarce public resources, we need to explore these cost-effective ways of achieving our aims so I want to hear from companies about their proposals and willingness to work towards mutually beneficial commercial arrangements.”
July 10th, 2010 | Apple, iPhone
June heralded the launch of Apples latest iPhone and for many people who had been waiting on bated breath for the past few months was an exciting time, what’s new, what does it offer and is it better than its rival offerings? If you haven’t joined in with the hype yet and are undecided then having a look at the Apple iPhone 4 review below should answer any questions/reservations you may have before you decide whether or not to go for it.
From the get go you can see that Apple have put a bit more thought into this model with its look different from earlier versions, gone is the smooth curved back and instead is more regimented in shape and style. Now has a flat glass front and back as well as a stainless steel band around the outside of the phone which is also the antennae that aims to give improved reception for GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth and also GSM and UMTS signals. This model is also 9.3mm think meaning it is thinner than previous models and according to Apple the thinnest smartphone available today, it also comes in black or white.
With this been Apples 4th generation iPhone many improvements have been made from the original with much better user ability however with newer models comes newer technologies and new problems and this model is not free from them. Notably the biggest problem so far is that some users have found that when the hand set is held in a certain way it loses signal, due to the band around the edge, however Apple say the problem goes away when the iPhone 4 is inside a case or one of Apple’s new ‘bumpers’, however with the ‘bumper’s costing £25 it’s not the cheapest of problems.
Some of the pro’s of this model though include the iPhone 4’s noticeably sharper screen, which blows current completion out of the water, especially when zooming in on web pages and photo’s, they have also added on a 5 mega-pixel camera which although is not as big as other model is quick at taking pics and also comes with a LED flash for night-time shots. Apple have also boosted its video recording and now shoots HD video at 720p resolution and with Apple’s iMovie app, you can string your home movies together with titles and cross-fades, then export them to the device, to then be uploaded to YouTube or shared via email (and even MMS).
Another addition to this model is Apples FaceTime which lunched a few weeks ago, this is a WiFi only form of video calling, and although this has been available on other handsets for years Apples offering through WiFi means you get to enjoy better quality video which is to be the main selling point.
On top of the technical stuff you also get to enjoy Apples applications which there are literally thousands to choose from, they have improved their iBooks offering, and their new iAd advertising platform will allow applications to display advertisements, so some apps will be ad supported rather than paid for.
Currently you can get some good iPhone 4 deals from O2, Orange and Vodafone as well as purchasing sim free versions.
iPhone 4
July 8th, 2010 | Mobile Phone Music, Mobile Phone News
If you’re looking for some new headphones for your mobile so you can listen to music and take calls whilst on the go and want something a little bit different, then why not have a look at the retro-futuristic styled Jaybird Sportsband Bluetooth headphones.
These wireless headphones connect effortlessly to via Bluetooth to your mobile phone and you can use them to both listen to your music and take calls, if you want to use them in the gym whilst exercising they also offer a ‘Lifetime Warranty Against Sweat’.
The Jaybird Sportsband Bluetooth headphones provide you with crystal clear stereo sound quality and come with an integrated microphone with Clear Voice Capture technology for phone calls ensuring your voice comes through crisp and clear. If you are listening to music, this will be paused when you take a call and resumes when you’re done and it also works with VoIP applications like Skype.
On the headphones you will also find full music and call controls such as play, pause, forward & back track, answer/reject/redial call, power, pairing and volume controls, these are fully enclosed to protect from sweat and moisture. Even packed full of these great features the Jaybird Sportsband Bluetooth headphones are surprising light weight and comfortable to wear due to their flexible design features.
Jaybird Sportsband Bluetooth headphones
July 5th, 2010 | Broadband
If you are considering mobile broadband, rather than a home broadband connection, there are a few pros and cons to consider first before you make a decision:
Pros
- Convenience is a major factor with mobile broadband, unlike home broadband you can access internet on the go wherever you may be, as long as there is a 3G signal. So it’s great for personal and business use.
- You don’t have to be fixed up to a monthly direct debit contract as some providers offer pay as you go, which is great for infrequent internet users.
- Because it’s mobile you don’t need a home phone line so you won’t need to pay out for line rental charges.
- Its ideal for students who don’t need internet connections all year round or for people in short term lets.
- You might be also able to get some good mobile broadband deals from your current mobile phone network provider.
Cons
- Because mobile broadband relies on the same technology as your mobile phone if you have no signal you won’t be able to connect, you need to check coverage for where you live or work before purchasing mobile broadband.
- Mobile broadband connections can also be slower than fixed-line broadband and usage caps and fair usage limits are fairly low which can be frustrating especially when watching TV online.
- It can also cost more to use mobile broadband than fixed-line broadband, costs for exceeding usage limits is also more expensive.
July 2nd, 2010 | Mobile Broadband, Mobile Phones
On Thursday more cuts were made to mobile phone roaming charges, as well as new rules that will prevent users accidentally building up huge bills when they use their phones to connect to the internet abroad. Two years ago compulsory maximum roaming rates were imposed on mobile network operators to tackle what was described by EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding called the “roaming rip-off”.
It was understood that before the measure were put in place mobile network operators were making profits of more than 200% for mobile calls made while in another EU country, as well as 300% or 400% for calls received. Earlier this month the networks legal claim that stated Commission was exceeding its powers failed.
The commission is now lowering the maximum permitted charge rates even further they are also introducing measures to stop open-ended billing for “data roaming”. Arlene McCarthy a Labour MEP who has steered the law through the European Parliament, said: “Mobile phone companies were given ample opportunity to act on the cost of using phones in another EU country. In the end it has taken EU action on every issue – calling, texting and now data roaming – to bring prices down. The message is clear: we will take on industry when there is clear evidence of over-charging and we will win a fairer deal for consumers.”
Now the new maximum permitted charge for making a mobile call while abroad fell to 32p a minute and the rate for receiving calls to 12.5p a minute and on top of that operators are obliged to apply an automatic 50 euro (£41.50) cut-off limit on accounts if the customer has not stipulated their own limit. The operating network must also send customers a warning when they reach 80% of their data-roaming billing limit. If the limit is reached, the operator must cut off the mobile internet connection unless the customer has declared in advance a wish to continue data roaming above their normal agreed limit in a particular month.
June 30th, 2010 | HTC, Mobile Phones, Pay As You Go, Pay Monthly Contracts, Samsung
With the summer now officially here, so starts the summer sales, if you’re looking for a new mobile then it might be worth having a look to see what mobile phone deals retailers and providers are offering, from pay as you go, contract to sim free, there are many different offers available to suit your needs. This summer’s hottest phones include the HTC Desire and Legend as well as the Samsung Monte, and there are some great HTC Legend and Samsung Monte deals around.
Many retailers and providers still offer free gifts when you take up a contract, varying from TV’s to iPods and laptops as well as cash back offers, however even with the free gifts you need to make sure you are getting value for money. Sometimes deals that seem too good to be true often are, you can end up paying a high monthly fee that is not very good because you get a free gift, you need to decide which offer suits you best, rock bottom monthly fee but no gifts or free gift high monthly fee. If you compare mobile phones then you will be able to easily see who has the best offers for what you need.