Cell Phone Tips

Cell phones are increasingly popular in the world today. There are many different types of cell phones, such as the standard cell phone, two-way radio cell phone, picture cell phone, video cell phone, PDA cell phone, and touch screen cell phone. Of the many different types of cell phones, one can find useful specialized technology that aid, entertain, and organize the progressive lifestyles of today.



Although cell phones have become complex with evolving technology and improvements, the standard cell phone, which is used to place and receive calls is still the primary function that is used by most persons. As time has progressed and technology has evolved the primary use of phones to be that of more complex features, types of cell phones are more prominent in the marketplace today.



The two-way radio cell phone, one that is comparable to the function of a walkie-talkie, uses Push-to-talk technology, which allows instant communication rather than dialing another cell phone user and waiting for an answer. The use of this type of cell phone has been very popular for employees of substantial sized businesses. Not only does the two-way radio cell phone make instant communication without the need to dial in numbers and wait for another user to answer, but it also makes and received standard calls, as well.

A picture cell phone has become a popular feature since its introduction. A picture cell phone enables one to capture a moment, just as a camera does, and send it to another cell phone or an e-mail address. It allows some basic functions such as, crop, zoom, as well as other morphing features. The picture cell phone’s technology has advanced to provide better picture quality and zoom, like a digital camera.

A video cell phone is very similar to a picture cell phone. In fact, its functions are fundamentally the same, but the video cell phone captures an event just like a camcorder or a home video recorder. However, the amount of time allotted to record is not long. Many of the phones today are only able to record up to 30 seconds of video.

The PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) is a portable electronic device, which can includes some of the functions of a computer, a cell phone, a music player, and a camera. Although these can be pricey tools and toys, they have many useful features. Features include: high quality display and camera function, e-mail, internet capabilities, interactive touch screen used to navigate the use of the phone, a full “qwerty” keyboard, GPS (global positioning system) capabilities, and music storing and playing abilities.

One of the newest introductions in the cell phone market is the new touch screen cell phone. This type of cell phone enables the user to browse the internet with ease, collect and play multimedia files, and use e-mail.

Cell phones are advancing and expanding their use from their initial basic functions. The many exciting and useful functions of cell phones have created a new source of entertainment and helpful tools. We should continue to see cell phones evolve into a more dynamic bundle of features as time progresses.



By: J. Kirby

About the Author:

Barak

Accessory Geeks new Cell Phone Antenna page helps boost signals.

Can you hear me?” “No.” “How about now?” “No” “Okay, what about no –” “… hello? Hello?!”

Everybody now has a cell phone and when talking on a cell phone the words, “Can you hear me?” is a common phrase used by everyday cell phone users and not just by Verizon Wireless. So Accessory Geeks offers the best solutions to get more cell phone reception in more places.

Today Accessory Geeks has revamped its cell phone antenna section. In our brand new cell phone antenna section, shoppers can browse through the different sections which have been specifically created to get them directly to what they want. Our new cell phone antenna section has been split into five different types of shopping sections and each section has their own type of usage like the first one: a cell phone antenna resources section.

The cell phone antenna resources section is an informational section which customers can learn more about a cell phone signal booster, cell phone antenna, amplifiers and how to figure out how much more signal strength increase they want. The Resource section also helps answer some common questions asked about cell phone boosters, antennas, amplifiers and how to read the scientific term of cell phone signals like dB and ‘everyday language’ of cell phone signals like bars.

The next category down, customers can shop by an Application category. The Application category simply makes it easier for cell phone users to decided where it is they want to increase cell phone signals. Users can shop for cell phone signal booster and amplifiers as a signal booster to use in the car or in semis’, RVs, boats, or at home, office and in different kinds of buildings. With these different categories, customers can have these choices of selection which makes it easier to find and getting the right kind of cell phone signal booster for all the different locations available.

Another choice given to customers is by shopping for a certain cell phone signal booster products. These products can range from cell phone antenna adapters, coaxial cables, antennas, amplifier/repeaters, antenna combos, package combos or any other accessories related to cell phone antennas. By splitting the different products related to cell phone antennas, Accessory Geeks believes this will be a major help to customers who just want to find what it is they need. From cell phone antennas to cell phone accessories such as cell phone data cables, memory cards and a lot more. Customers can also get antenna combos created by the company providing the products, or can get a combo which has been created by Accessory Geeks and includes everything needed to boost signals. By providing combo packages prevents customers from buying multi-items needed and can now instead make one purchase with everything needed.

Accessory Geeks has provided customers with another choice by shopping for cell phone antennas by browsing for different manufacturers and brand name products in the cell phone antenna industry. Customers can shop for products by Wilson Electronics who are the most trusted brand name for cell phone amplifiers and cell phone signal booster, shop for Cellphone Mate products who are the second leader in cell phone signal boosters, for Wi-Ex zBoost, Kyocera and Digital antennas. However, if customers are not sure if a certain product will work with their phone, then our next category will help.

Our next category, customers can shop by carriers or whoever is providing them their phone service. Cell phone users can shop by the top six service provider companies’ like AT&T/Cingular, T-mobile, Verizon Wireless, Nextel, Sprint and Alltel. Once reaching the section, users can find their phone model and get the right cell phone antenna for their phone. With all this help, some wonder what a cell phone antenna does.

By getting the necessary items needed and installed correctly, cell phone users can find themselves with stronger signals and a large decrease in dropped calls. Using the entire cell phone antenna system requires an antenna adapter, inside antenna(s), amplifier, and an outside antenna and possible needed coaxial cables and connectors. This cell phone antenna system is the basic requirement for home, car, office and in any other place. By having all of this, cell phone users will find a great increase of cell phone reception in the vicinity of setup.

Accessory Geeks has split the Cell phone antennas page this way because it is one of the easier ways to help shopper find the right antenna they want to there would be less and no more drop calls with stronger signals.



By: Kenneth Ragpala

About the Author:

Chase

Cell phone has evolved to be one of the most important parts of life. Most businesses require their officers to have a cell phone. Even individuals need cell phones in going about their daily lives. This is why acquiring this important gadget require intelligence to avoid inappropriate expense. Finding the most reasonable cell phone plan is one requirement in choosing cell phones intelligently. Because of the very large number of network services in this country, it may help you to research and assess their offers before deciding on a cell phone plan.

Before you decide to buy a cell phone, you may want to decide first whether you want a prepaid cell phone service or a traditional cell phone plan. If you decide on a prepaid cell phone service, then no problem, no credit check, you just need to pay outright and immediately you have your phone. Some cell phone companies even offer free cellular phone unit when you acquire a prepaid cell phone service from them. However, when you want a cell phone plan, you may need to choose from a by minute charging or by the second charging. Both charging process have positive and negative points. You need to assess your usage frequency and requirements before you decide on a cell phone plan. You may research on the performance like if they have enough towers to reach you wherever you are. There are different cell phone plans for family and national use. There are also cell phone plans for regional use. All of these have their own benefits although there are also their disadvantages. For prepaid cell phone plans, there are cell phone units that may not have the capability for this connection.

Other cell phone plans like family plans, this is advantageous for family use and small businesses. There is free access for emergencies. In addition, for family plans, it is cheaper to call the other cell phones included in one billing. There are also discounts for the airtime usage of family members using this cell phone plan. For national plans, this cell phone plan includes free long-distance charges. There are no roaming charges for this cell phone plan and it is another advantage. For regional use, this cell phone plan may require you to pay long-distance charges but the airtime rates may be cheaper.

Cell phone plans may be beneficial is you can acquire the once that have the benefits you need. The manner of usage is an essential requirement, if you do not need it as much and just for emergencies, prepaid cell phone plan could suit you well than traditional plans where you need to sign a contract with the service provider.

Prepaid cell phone plans are often preferred; however, for travellers the traditional plan with no roaming charges and no long-distance charges might be best.

All of this notwithstanding, in order to make full and effective use of your cell phone, you may want to set some guidelines in your usage. If you want your cell phone for your business, you may need to make sure you turn it off when you need privacy. Being available every time may not do well for you. Reserve sometime for yourself and never allow people to disturb you during this time. If your business partners know they could reach you even late at night and on weekends, they will be annoyed if you suddenly change this behaviour. Having a cell phone and being available all the time may not be healthy, thus, you have to be wary not to allow people disturb you when you need to be alone with or without your cell phone.



By: Uchenna Ani-Okoye

About the Author:

Barnie

Cell phones are not an advanced gadget on the scene. It was developed in 1947 in the form of a car mobile phone. The hypothesis of cellular phone was produced by Bell Laboratories with the permission of FCC (Federal Communication Commission), and had everything to do with broadcasting and sending a radio or television message out over the airwaves. There was a scientist who gave a advanced shape to the same accessory. Dr Martin Cooper, a former general manager in Motorola, made the basic call on a portable cell phone in nineteen seventy-three.

The premier ever cell phone was very ample and bulky. It resembled a radio frequency accessory. The weight of Motorola’s introductory cell phone was 2 pounds. Presently, the structure of cell phones has evolved to match the style and comfort of the user. It is uncomplicated to tailor cell phones by choosing its features and functions for one’s comfort. There are phone covers that change the face and design of the contraption. Various accessories are available such as car chargers, belt clips, phone covers, data cables and etc.

Cell phones emerged as a apparatus of luxury, but presently it plays a much bigger and considerable role. One can gather wireless Internet service through your cell phone, with web and email capability. A cell phone with a mini web browser can relief retrieve web emails and chat while you are on the move. A extraordinary kind of browser is used for surfing the net on a small cell phone screen. If internet use is a must, make sure that when buying a cell phone you make the choice for graphic browser capability instead of a text-based browser. In addition, if you think you will browse the wireless Internet often, you may desire to consider buying a cell phone with a larger than average display size.

There are International websites that allow sending mails, without having a computer. All you need is a basic GPRS enabled mobile phone and you can access your mail on your cell phone anytime and anywhere. It seems that cell phones have become a bed-side essential for us today. It is no longer a device of entertainment. From local weather forecast in the morning to your loved ones valuable night messages, it keeps you connected all the time.

With cell phones becoming a gadget with all the modern technology, its theft is growing across the world. In a survey in the UK, a cell phone is stolen every three minutes. In the United States, the statistics are very analogous. By keeping a note on the IMES identification that each phone has, you can trace a phone. This is quite the tedious process. The IMES code is individual to each cell phone and when you lose your phone, you can refer the code to your network provider as well as handset provider and trace back the cell phone, or at least block the applications in the phone. The person who stole the cell phone can’t use it after the IMES code is blocked.

Cell phones have become a very popular consumer electronic product. With the availability of internet connection, cell phone as broaden even deeper its options of uses. You must also note that GPS capability is a life saver for tracking cell phone users who are in emergency situations.

Cell phone usage has become a necessity of life. People cannot live without their cell phone. What was once considered a luxury item in the early days, cell phones are a must have item at every waking moment.



By: Hamza Davis

About the Author:

Ferdinand

The head of a prominent cancer research institute issued an unprecedented warning to his faculty and staff Wednesday: Limit cell phone use because of the possible risk of cancer.

The warning from Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, is contrary to numerous studies that don’t find a link between cancer and cell phone use, and a public lack of worry by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Herberman is basing his alarm on early unpublished data. He says it takes too long to get answers from science and he believes people should take action now especially when it comes to children.

“Really at the heart of my concern is that we shouldn’t wait for a definitive study to come out, but err on the side of being safe rather than sorry later,” Herberman said.

No other major academic cancer research institutions have sounded such an alarm about cell phone use. But Herberman’s advice is sure to raise concern among many cell phone users and especially parents.

In the memo he sent to about 3,000 faculty and staff Wednesday, he says children should use cell phones only for emergencies because their brains are still developing.

Adults should keep the phone away from the head and use the speakerphone or a wireless headset, he says. He even warns against using cell phones in public places like a bus because it exposes others to the phone’s electromagnetic fields.

The issue that concerns some scientists though nowhere near a consensus is electromagnetic radiation, especially its possible effects on children. It is not a major topic in conferences of brain specialists.

A 2008 University of Utah analysis looked at nine studies including some Herberman cites with thousands of brain tumor patients and concludes “we found no overall increased risk of brain tumors among cellular phone users. The potential elevated risk of brain tumors after long-term cellular phone use awaits confirmation by future studies.”

Studies last year in France and Norway concluded the same thing.

“If there is a risk from these products and at this point we do not know that there is it is probably very small,” the Food and Drug Administration says on an agency Web site.

Still, Herberman cites a “growing body of literature linking long-term cell phone use to possible adverse health effects including cancer.”

“Although the evidence is still controversial, I am convinced that there are sufficient data to warrant issuing an advisory to share some precautionary advice on cell phone use,” he wrote in his memo.

A driving force behind the memo was Devra Lee Davis, the director of the university’s center for environmental oncology.

“The question is do you want to play Russian roulette with your brain,” she said in an interview from her cell phone while using the hands-free speaker phone as recommended. “I don’t know that cell phones are dangerous. But I don’t know that they are safe.”

Of concern are the still unknown effects of more than a decade of cell phone use, with some studies raising alarms, said Davis, a former health adviser in the Clinton Administration.

She said 20 different groups have endorsed the advice the Pittsburgh cancer institute gave, and authorities in England, France and India have cautioned children’s use of cell phones.

Herberman and Davis point to a massive ongoing research project known as Interphone, involving scientists in 13 nations, mostly in Europe. Results already published in peer-reviewed journals from this project aren’t so alarming, but Herberman is citing work not yet published.

The published research focuses on more than 5,000 cases of brain tumors. The National Research Council in the U.S., which isn’t participating in the Interphone project, reported in January that the brain tumor research had “selection bias.” That means it relied on people with cancer to remember how often they used cell phones. It is not considered the most accurate research approach.

The largest published study, which appeared in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2006, tracked 420,000 Danish cell phone users, including thousands that had used the phones for more than 10 years. It found no increased risk of cancer among those using cell phones.

A French study based on Interphone research and published in 2007 concluded that regular cell phone users had “no significant increased risk” for three major types of nervous system tumors. It did note, however, that there was “the possibility of an increased risk among the heaviest users” for one type of brain tumor, but that needs to be verified in future research.

Earlier research also has found no connection.

Joshua E. Muscat of Penn State University, who has studied cancer and cell phones in other research projects partly funded by the cell phone industry, said there are at least a dozen studies that have found no cancer-cell phone link. He said a Swedish study cited by Herberman as support for his warning was biased and flawed.

“We certainly don’t know of any mechanism by which radiofrequency exposure would cause a cancerous effect in cells. We just don’t know this might possibly occur,” Muscat said.

Cell phones emit radiofrequency energy, a type of radiation that is a form of electromagnetic radiation, according to the National Cancer Institute. Though studies are being done to see if there is a link between it and tumors of the brain and central nervous system, there is no definitive link between the two, the institute says on its Web site.

“By all means, if a person feels compelled that they should take precautions in reducing the amount of electromagnetic radio waves through their bodies, by all means they should do so,” said Dan Catena, a spokesman for the American Cancer Society. “But at the same time, we have to remember there’s no conclusive evidence that links cell phones to cancer, whether it’s brain tumors or other forms of cancer.”

Joe Farren, a spokesman for the CTIA-The Wireless Association, a trade group for the wireless industry, said the group believes there is a risk of misinforming the public if science isn’t used as the ultimate guide on the issue.

“When you look at the overwhelming majority of studies that have been peer reviewed and published in scientific journals around the world, you’ll find no relationship between wireless usage and adverse health affects,” Farren said.

Frank Barnes, who chaired the January report from the National Research Council, said Wednesday that “the jury is out” on how hazardous long-term cell phone use might be.

Speaking from his cell phone, the professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder said he takes no special precautions in his own phone use. And he offered no specific advice to people worried about the matter.

It’s up to each individual to decide what if anything to do. If people use a cell phone instead of having a land line, “that may very well be reasonable for them,” he said.

Susan Juffe, a 58-year-old Pittsburgh special education teacher, heard about Herberman’s cell phone advice on the radio earlier in the day.

“Now, I’m worried. It’s scary,” she said.

She says she’ll think twice about allowing her 10-year-old daughter Jayne to use the cell phone.

“I don’t want to get it (brain cancer) and I certainly don’t want you to get it,” she explained to her daughter.

Sara Loughran, a 24-year-old doctoral student at the University of Pittsburgh, sat in a bus stop Wednesday chatting on her cell phone with her mother. She also had heard the news earlier in the day, but was not as concerned.

“I think if they gave me specific numbers and specific information and it was scary enough, I would be concerned,” Loughran said, planning to call her mother again in a matter of minutes. “Without specific numbers, it’s too vague to get me worked up.”



By: Paul Fitzgerald

About the Author:

Abas

One of the most asked questions we receive at Search4cellphonedeals.com is can I use any unlocked cell phone for my carrier?  The short answer is, no you cannot.  There are several things to consider before you run out and buy an unlocked cell phone.

First let’s look at what an unlocked cell phone is.  Some cell phones are designed to use a Subscriber Identification Module card or SIM card for short.  A SIM card is a microchip that stores subscriber data.  The SIM card is issued by a carrier and provides cell service by activating any phone into which it is inserted.  A locked cell phone, however, will only recognize a SIM card from a particular carrier.  If the cell phone is unlocked, it will recognize a SIM card from any carrier.  The “lock” is a software setting that keeps the cell phone “loyal” to one carrier.  This is done by the major carriers to ensure you don’t get a FREE cell phone under a two-year contract and then not pay on the contract and use that cell phone with another provider.  It is in this way that the cell phone providers can justify giving individuals a FREE cell phone that would have otherwise cost the consumer money.

There are plenty of places that sell unlocked cell phones but simply buying one of these phones does not guarantee that it will work with your carrier.  Before buying an unlocked cell phone, you have to know what network your cellular provider operates on.  There are two here in the United States.  The first is Global Systems for Mobile Communications or GSM for short.  If your cell phone has a SIM card, your provider uses GSM.  Currently carriers on the GSM network include, AT&T Wireless and T-Mobile.  Typically if you buy an unlocked cell phone any SIM card should work equally as well in that phone regardless of the provider.  The other network is called Code Division Multiple Access or CDMA for short.  CDMA phones do not have a SIM card and thus even if you purchase an unlocked CDMA cell phone you still have to get your carrier to activate it for you.  The drawback here is that the provider still decides if you can use a specific cell phone.  Currently carriers using CDMA in the United States include Verizon Wireless, Alltel Wireless and Sprint PCS.

The easiest way to determine if your provider will let you use an unlocked cell phone you have your eye on is to simply call them.  Every provider has an 800 number that can be obtained by simply going to their web site.  This is especially important for anyone who is considering buying an unlocked CDMA cell phone.

Unlocked cell phones have become so in demand that there are now companies out there that will unlock your cell phone for a fee.  The fee varies by company and again may or may not free up your cell phone to be used elsewhere.  There are also numerous hacking sites on the web that will show you how to unlock your phone, but be warned, the carriers will render a cell phone that is determined to be unlocked improperly inoperable.  If you want an unlocked cell phone, the best thing to do is to buy one from a reputable company. 

Now that you know the facts, start looking for your dream cell phone.  Remember it is probably best to leave your locked cell phone alone and look elsewhere for an unlocked cell phone that will work best with your GSM (if you have a SIM card) or CDMA cell phone.  Avoid the places that tell you any unlocked phone will work with any carrier and be sure to double-check with your provider before you finalize your purchase.  It’s your money, spend it wisely.

For more information or to find out where to purchase unlocked cell phones, please visit http://www.search4cellphonedeals.com/New_and_Refurbished_Unlocked_Cell_Phones.html   

 



By: Jimmy Collins

About the Author:

Eugenio

Cell phone has brought the world much closer. It does not matter on which part of world you live, you can get in touch with your loved ones through this amazing device. It is small in size, smart and slick in look, portable.

Though it was originally designed to eliminate the limitations of telephone, but gradually cell phone manufacturers come up with models containing many advanced features like MP3 player, camera, video recording facility, and 3D-games. Even you can access the Internet from your cell phone. In fact, the services provided by SMS, MMS and WAP have been popularized by cell phone. It is no wonder then why the use of cell phones has increased many folds in the last couple of years. According to one survey, every eight out of ten people own a cell phone in the USA.

Have you ever wondered how this cell phone works? You can say cell phone is more or less like a sophisticated radio. Cell phone is a full-duplex device which means one frequency is used for talking and another for listening so that both people can talk simultaneously. Earlier first generation mobile technology (1G) was used for Analog model of cell phone and had only 56 channels.

With the advent of second generation mobile technology (2G) the number of channels gradually increased. Now-a-days, a cell phone can communicate on 1,664 channels or more. The range of cell phone depends on its battery or cell power. You can talk hundred miles of your journey if your cell supports that range. The range also depends upon the tower locations. Cell phone tower is a steel pole containing equipments to send and receive the frequency.

Wondering what your cell phone can do for you? Here is the list:

You can store and retrieve information from your cell phone;

You can set of your important appointments and reminders through cell phone;

You can send and receive text, multimedia messages from your cell phone;

You can access internet, send Email through your cell phone;

You can watch movie, play 2D or 3D games through your cell phone;

You can enjoy listening music through the MP3 player of your cell phone;

You can integrate your cell phone with GPRS service facility to download music from internet;

You can share your favourite music among your friends through the Bluetooth technology of your cell phone;

Some models of cell phone also act as a compass guide so show you the exact geographic location (altitude, longitude wise). They come across quite handy especially for people who are on expeditions.

Like any other electronic devices, cell phone also has got its own share of problems. Doctors have warned against use of cell phones over a long time as it can lead to cancer and liver related problem due to the strong radiation emitted from this electronic device. Now research has shown that prolong use of cell phones can result in infertility problem in women.

Scientists have also examined a significant reduction in sperm count among men who use cell phone for longer period. Talking or listening to music for long time can lead to loss of hearing as well. Children should not be allowed to use cell phones much as its radiation can lead to different kind of health hazards.

Certain precautions should be taken while using cell phone. For instance, you should never use your cell phone when there is strong lightening or thundering. Never let your cell phone gets wet and do not use it with wet hands as there is chance of corrosion to the non-repairable internal parts. In case it does get wet, make sure it to be completely dry before switching it on. If you take care of these couple of things your call phone`s longevity will be increased.



By: Roberto Sedycias

About the Author:

Dewey

Cell phone has evolved to be one of the most important part of life. Most businesses require their officers to have a cell phone. Even individuals need cell phones in going about their daily lives. This is why acquiring this important gadget require intelligence to avoid inappropriate expense. Finding the most reasonable cell phone plan is one requirement in choosing cell phones intelligently. Because of the very large number of network services in this country, it may help you to research and assess their offers before deciding on a cell phone plan.

Before you decide to buy a cell phone, you may want to decide first whether you want a prepaid cell phone service or a traditional cell phone plan. If you decide on a prepaid cell phone service, then no problem, no credit check, you just need to pay outright and immediately you have your phone. Some cell phone companies even offer free cellular phone unit when you acquire a prepaid cell phone service from them. However, when you want a cell phone plan, you may need to choose from a by minute charging or by the second charging. Both charging process have positive and negative points. You need to assess your usage frequency and requirements before you decide on a cell phone plan. You may research on the performance like if they have enough towers to reach you wherever you are. There are different cell phone plans for family and national use. There are also cell phone plans for regional use. All of these have their own benefits although there are also their disadvantages. For prepaid cell phone plans, there are cell phone units that may not have the capability for this connection.

Other cell phone plans like family plans, this is advantageous for family use and small businesses. There is free access for emergencies. In addition, for family plans, it is cheaper to call the other cell phones included in one billing. There are also discounts for the airtime usage of family members using this cell phone plan. For national plans, this cell phone plan includes free long-distance charges. There are no roaming charges for this cell phone plan and it is another advantage. For regional use, this cell phone plan may require you to pay long-distance charges but the airtime rates may be cheaper.

Cell phone plans may be beneficial is you can acquire the once that have the benefits you need. The manner of usage is an essential requirement, if you do not need it as much and just for emergencies, prepaid cell phone plan could suit you well than traditional plans where you need to sign a contract with the service provider.

Prepaid cell phone plans are often preferred; however, for travelers the traditional plan with no roaming charges and no long-distance charges might be best.

All of this notwithstanding, in order to make full and effective use of your cell phone, you may want to set some guidelines in your usage. If you want your cell phone for your business, you may need to make sure you turn it off when you need privacy. Being available every time may not do well for you. Reserve sometime for yourself and never allow people to disturb you during this time. If your business partners know they could reach you even late at night and on weekends, they will be annoyed if you suddenly change this behavior. Having a cell phone and being available all the time may not be healthy, thus, you have to be wary not to allow people disturb you when you need to be alone with or without your cell phone.



By: Nicholas Tan

About the Author:

Declan

Recycle cell phones? Absolutely!

Did you know that you can actually recycle your old or used cell phones? If you’re like most people, you probably have an old cell phone or two hidden in a drawer somewhere. In a few months or years, you’ll rediscover these hidden phones and having no further use to you, these old units will most likely end up in your garbage bin and thence, in your city’s landfill.

But there’s a better, more environmentally-responsible, even more profitable way to dispose of your old cell phones. Cell phone recycling is the answer.

There may be around 700 million used or old cell phones in America today, with approximately 125 million discarded cell phones added every year. According to a study done by a market intelligence firm iSuppli Corporation in 2007, 36.8 percent stored their cell phones in their drawers, 10.2 percent threw their cell phones away or declared these as lost or stolen, and only 9.4 percent recycled their used or old cell phones. In actual numbers, that’s 10 million cell phones rotting away in our country’s landfills and 37 million cell phones gathering dust in the drawers of America – and that’s from 2007 alone!

Why should you recycle your cell phones?

Like other electronic wastes, cell phones in their circuit boards and batteries, contain such harmful heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium. Dangerous chemicals like brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are also found in the plastic casing of most cell phones. According to Dr. Anne Marie Helmenstine, author and leading authority in biomedical sciences, lead has been found to cause development problems in children and diminishes brain functions even in adults. Cadmium exposure can lead to “liver and irreversible kidney problems (often fatal), respiratory and bone density problems. Compounds containing cadmium are also carcinogenic.”

Most of our landfills today are scientifically designed to contain chemicals leaking from the solid waste, but will you gamble the health of your children and your’s on the chance that cell phones and other electronic wastes we so carelessly throw to our landfills will not leach chemicals into our underground water systems? The likelihood of these dangerous and deadly chemicals seeping into our water systems is just too high. By dumping cell phones and other electronic wastes in our landfills, we are practically poisoning ourselves.

Is there money in cell phone recycling?

Yes. As a matter of fact, cell phone recycling can be quite lucrative. You can make money by selling your used or old cell phones to recycling and refurbishing companies like Pacebutler Corporation in Edmond, OK who will pay as much as $50 for each cell phone you turn in and will even pay for the shipping of packages containing at least 4 cell phones. The refurbishing company then turns around, and refurbishes these cell phones to be marketed to wholesale buyers abroad, bringing communication capability to people from developing countries in South America and other areas.

On a much larger scale, recycling companies like Umicore in Belgium, who process unserviceable cell phones and e-waste, are able to extract such precious metals and other materials from cell phones like gold, silver, platinum, copper, coltan, plastic and glass, etc. from these. Did you know that there’s more gold found in one metric ton of cell phone and other electronic waste than 17 tons of gold ore excavated and refined through the traditional mining process? The good news is, after the entire recycling process is over, less than half of 1% of the entire electronic waste processed, is deemed unfit to be returned to the production cycle and is then just burned for energy generation.

The precious metals present in each cell phone are basically just trace amounts, so it’s impractical and patently dangerous (because of the industrial chemicals necessary) for you to try and extract these minerals from your cell phone at home. It may seem like a joke, but it was in the news last month – a man who fancied himself as an “urban miner” got poisoned by the industrial chemicals he was using, while “mining” cell phones. The giant recycling firms make money by processing tons and tons of cell phones and other electronic waste.

How do you recycle cell phones?

Give your old or used cell phones to friends or family. Perhaps the most practical and easiest way to recycle cell phones is by extending the life cycle of old phones by giving these away to a friend or a family member. Most of the cell phones we hide or throw away in exchange for a newer model or after we switched to a different provider are still perfectly usable. You can give it to a friend or a younger sister, and you’re sure that cell phone will have a year or two more of use before getting permanently retired. But then again, if you go by this route, you’re merely extending the life cycle of your old phones. You can put in a word for the environment by asking the person you’re giving your phone to, to recycle it properly when the time comes.

Recycle cell phones through the manufacturer or service provider. Did you know that you can actually return your old cell phones to the manufacturer? The leading US manufacturers and service providers like AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint all have cell phone take-back programs, complete with free shipping and/or discounts in subsequent purchases. These companies will ensure that the cell phones are recycled or refurbished in a responsible and environmentally-sound process. It’s a win-win solution, too. The companies win by having access to a steady stream of recycled materials for manufacturing of new items. You win by making sure the your old phones are recycled responsibly and by getting the discounts from your purchases.

Donate your cell phones to your favorite charity. Many charitable and non-profit organizations today are able to raise funds for their respective charities and projects by collecting used and old cell phones, and then selling them to recyclers and refurbishers. If you want to start such a project in your own city or neighborhood, you can network with other non-profit organizations and even ask for material support from the recycling companies. People, even kids, are doing it. If you live near a zoo, chances are you’ve seen cell phone collection boxes near the zoo entrance. The fact is, by raising funds for a worthy cause by collecting and reselling old cell phones, you are putting to good use something that would have been useless, even harmful if disposed improperly.

Recycle cell phones through recycling and refurbishing companies. Selling your old or used cell phones to companies like Pacebutler Corporation is a fast and convenient option. You can actually process everything online in a few minutes. All you need to do is access the company’s website, check for the actual buying prices of your cell phones’ model, and request for a shipping label. Once you have the pre-paid labels, you can box and send your old cell phones to the company. The turn-around time is very fast for these online transactions, too. Generally, the company sends you your check within 4 business days after receiving your cell phones.

To summarize, we have outlined here the paramount importance of recycling your old or used cell phones, in the light of potential impact on the environment and people’s health. There is still so much room for growth in our cell phone recycling efforts, as we’ve seen in the numbers above. But things are looking up, as more and more people become aware of the importance and the absolute necessity to recycle cell phones, we should be able to move forward in increasing the cell phone recycling rate nationwide.

Recycle your cell phones today. As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says, “it’s an easy call to make.”



By: Michael Arms

About the Author:

Altan

The technology of digital communication has literally revolutionized the way people are living their life now. The advent of cell phone technology has brought the distance barrier down to the lowest. Cell phones are no longer perceived as a prized possession of the well-off. It has found its way into the hands of every next person you witness around you.

With the huge of use of cellular phones, quite a few companies around the world have woken up the business potentiality of this digital device. As a result, cell phone manufactures are vying with each other to capture the most sizable segment of the cell phone consumers by offering the best cell phone services at the lowest possible price. Moreover, they are spending thousands of dollars on research and development to outdo each other in the race of offering the most advanced technology to the cell phone users.

On the flipside, the burgeoning use of cell phones around the planet has given rise to many threats that are associated with it. Starting from theft of cell phones to radiation effect, cell phones have unleashed an array of threats the cell phone users around the world must be careful about.

Following are some of the possibilities that you cell phone can be subjected to:

Theft: Swanky cell phones are an emerging fashion norm these days; without a doubt, equally rising is the number of cell phone theft cases. With high-end cell phones models being the desire of every ambitious executive, they also become the target of kleptomaniacs who can lift cell phones at the drop of a hat. Hence, the swankier your cell phone, the more vulnerable it can becomes to the possibility of being lifted. Always make sure that you don`t leave your cell phone away from you carelessly. Besides, you should immediately inform your cell phone service provider to block or suspend your account to avoid misuse of your cell phone.

Cloning: Cloning refers to the practice of illegally charging calls to someone else`s account. When it comes to Cloning, Analog cell phones are prone to be misused to a large extent. However, if you are using a Digital cell phone, you are mostly safe from this potential threat. Cloning, as a matter of fact, can drain your account. Hence, you need to be extra careful about thing factor.

Security: Since conversations through wireless devices are transmitted using radio frequencies, it is likely that anyone can eavesdrop on your private conversation using radio scanners. However, if you are using a digital wireless phone, you are less vulnerable. The reason why digital wireless conversation is secured is that its conversations are encoded and difficult for anyone to eavesdrop on.

Insurance: Insurance is the safest way to ensure that even if your cell phone is stolen, you are likely to be compensated for it. Even if you lose your phone, cell phone insurance provider will provide to cover the loss. However, the insurance services may differ from one service provider to another. Hence, before you take up the service of any particular service provider, just make sure that it is the best one around; at least for your specific purpose.

The above are some of the circumstances where any cell phone user can find themselves in. Buying a cell phone can be an exhilarating experience; however, not being careful about your proud possession can bring you countless agony. Hence, it is really important to take care of your cell phone and cell phone services to ensure that you lead peaceful life. Provide for your cell phone in such a way that it ensure security, safety and longevity of your of cell phone.



By: Roberto Sedycias

About the Author:

Clement