LetsTalk.com Blog

Why doesnt my cell phone work at my desk but does three feet away?

Fri, 2 Jan 2009 21:01:51 PST

It seems incredibly difficult to believe, but your cell phone signal strength can be totally different even within a small radius of where you are. How can this be possible?

Cell phone signals will be stronger when you are in “line of sight” to the transmitter. If there is something blocking the path for the transmission, you may not have a good signal. We all know what happens to your car radio signal when you drive through a tunnel. The same thing happens with cell phone signals. Dead zones are particularly an issue inside buildings, parking garages, and elevators built of concrete and steel. The signal can’t always penetrate through the building to reach the phone, which means you will miss calls or have a poor or lost connection. The closer you are to the outside air, even through a window, the more likely it is that you will have good coverage.

The network and the cell phone are constantly communicating with each other and trying to make sure you have the best signal possible. In some cases you may bounce from one transmitter to another. When this happens, you’ll see one or two bars of coverage then none then one or two again.

What can you do if you have spotty coverage or frequently come across coverage holes?

First, check to make sure that your equipment is fully functional. If there is someone else in your office who has the same service provider you do, see if they have the same poor signal strength in the same spot. If their signal strength is better, it’s likely that there is a problem with your phone. It may be that you need to get the most up-to-date software or that your phone needs to be serviced or replaced. Contact your service provider for assistance.

Second, if you have service with T-Mobile, consider getting a UMA phone which allows you to make your phone calls over a wi-fi network. This is particularly useful for in building coverage and for more remote areas where the providers do not have good coverage. If you have service with another provider other than T-Mobile, you may want to consider installing an in-building repeater, especially if you’re equipping an office. However, such equipment can be prohibitively expensive.

Third, if you have persistent issues that aren’t related to your particular handset, you should consider switching to a new service provider. Generally speaking, the carriers that use 800 mHz frequencies like AT&T, Verizon, and Nextel will have better in-building coverage than the carriers that use 1900 mHz frequencies, like Sprint and T-Mobile. Before you buy, check out LetsTalk.com or the carrier’s websites where you can see street-level coverage details. It may be that your provider just doesn’t have good coverage at your home or work. But the proof is really testing out the phone where you plan to use it. All of the providers have no-risk trial periods so that you can make calls at home, work and in between. Finally, don’t hesitate to hit our or Twitter with the cell phone experts at LetsTalk.com if you need further assistance.

California drivers can no longer text while driving

Fri, 2 Jan 2009 10:01:33 PST
On July 1st of last year, Californians had some using a cell phone while driving laws go into effect. Starting the first of this year, they have another one to add to the list: no texting while driving. This law is not limited to just cell phones, it encompasses any device that can be used for texting. This law was already in effect for drivers 16 and 17 years of age. In short, what this means in for all other drivers on the road in California is if a police officer sees you texting while driving he can pull you over and issue a $20 ticket (in reality, ends up being way more due to additional fees). Additional violations will cost drivers $50. If you do need to text or check your cell phone to access the Internet or anything like that pull over or wait until you get to your destination. That said, there are currently a few applications available that you can use that would allow you to speak a message and then it will be sent to another phone as a text. We'll be reviewing some of these services later this month.
For more information about this law, check out this MSNBC article.

Happy New Year

Thu, 1 Jan 2009 07:12:31 PST
We wish everyone a happy new year. Remember, the area you live in may have laws in effect about using a cell phone while driving. - LetsTalk.com

2 Situations where a cell phone can be a real life saver

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:12:05 PST
We're accustomed to using cell phones as a routine part of our daily lives, but they can also be a real life saver during unexpected occurrences. So we asked Bloggers around the Internet to share their thoughts on just how useful a cell phone can be during an emergency. Our next post comes from Devin Moore. To read more from Vikram, check out his devinmoore.com notes blog.

There are two main types of emergency one can consider when thinking of using a mobile phone for emergency assistance:

1. Emergencies involving being lost

Unfortunately, there is one significant myth about cell phones that must be dispelled: in an emergency, despite your coverage, your phone may not be in a location that provides you with a signal. Therefore, the most important way to use a cell phone is to be aware of potential emergency situations, and use the cell phone as a means of letting people know that you are headed into the 'great unknown'. For example, if you are going to hike on a trail in a huge national park, call someone before you head out to let them know where you are, and when you should be back. This way, if you happen to get lost or injured on the trail and your cell phone will not get signal, at least someone knows where you are and can expedite help to your approximate location -- since they also know when you should have been back.

The GPS signal on a phone is great, if the conditions for using that signal are met. Depending on your phone, you may get a true GPS satellite tracking ability even without cell signal. This is ideal for conditions where you are lost in the woods, because you can get a bearing back to the last place you had signal, and then use the cell to call from there. GPS doesn't do you much good if you're trapped under a beam in your own basement without signal, though, which leads the discussion to the other type of emergency.

2. Emergencies involving an immediate threat

In the situation of being threatened in some way, anything from being trapped under a beam to some kind of assault, the cell phone is a useful emergency tool -- again, provided you can safely get signal. Cell phones become increasingly useful in getting multiple collaborating reports of traffic accidents or other public emergencies. I highly recommend adding an ICE "In Case of Emergency" number/contact in your contacts list, so that if you should become incapacitated in some way, and someone happens upon your location and/or your cell phone, they can use the ICE number to get in touch with someone who knows you personally.

Features to look for

I have heard several stories of people using the "hold 9 for 911" feature to get a call out when they were unable to actually dial the entire number for some reason, so I recommend that feature. I also recommend turning off phone beeps/etc so you can call out silently if necessary. All of these things will support getting help in an emergency, but they will not substitute for knowing generally how to react in emergency situations. My best advice in general would be to have your cell phone charged when heading out, and be able to operate it without having to think about what you're doing. I prefer a simpler cell phone with controls that "just work", versus something cool-looking that may not do exactly what it's supposed to 100% of the time. I don't recommend smartphones for risky situations for that reason -- they just require too much concentration to operate.

3 Smart ways to handle your cell phone

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:12:33 PST
We're accustomed to using cell phones as a routine part of our daily lives, but they can also be a real life saver during unexpected occurrences. So we asked Bloggers around the Internet to share their thoughts on just how useful a cell phone can be during an emergency. Our next post comes from Vikram Deo. To read more from Vikram, check out his Not Another Mobile Phone Blog.
Use of Mobile Phones for safety purposes:
Mobile phone is something that people carry with them day in and day out. If used properly mobile phones can be a good medium to ensure one's safety. GPS function on a mobile phone will let your dear ones know about your location. Also location based services on mobile phones will help you in giving information about nearest Police Station, Hospital, Coast guard. If somebody meets with a mishap on a deserted road in the night, location based services would help him in finding nearest location where he can get assistance.

If your phone has a GPS feature to let other know about your location then travelling with such mobile phone is extremely safe as you would never be virtually alone. Also there are live update services like Twitter, which are also mobile enabled. Twitter lets your friends know what you are doing instantly the moment you update your status. Having Twitter enabled on your mobile phone will help you in keeping in touch with your friends. For example, few months back a guy has wrongly accused and put into a prison in some Middle Eastern country, Twitter helped him in sending out help messages to friends. When you are travelling alone or meet with an accident or somebody is robbing you/your house, you can immediately send a message to Twitter about your situation and it will be displayed to all the people who are following you on Twitter. Though Twitter is a social connectivity service, if used properly, it can be of great help.

Emergency Services for parents:

Nowadays with children carrying mobile phones, it is pretty easy for parent to track them. Use of GPS based mobile phone tracking parents can come to know about the location of their kids. If kids are going to an outing or some camping parents can educate children on how to enable location based services on their mobile phones and use them at the time of emergency. Having a child help line number as one of the hotkey will help parents in taking care of their children during the time of emergency.

Activities to avoid while using mobile phones:

Driving vehicles while using mobile phones is a strict no-no. Here are some other things that can be avoided.

· Crossing roads while talking on the phone

· Do not keep your mobile phone in hand while walking on road, somebody might snatch your phone

One more good idea to implement is that, when you are traveling by say Taxi to some deserted place and the Taxi guy seems to be a shady character then, along with your GPS functions, you can just have a mock conversation with someone on the phone or keep on calling people so that they are aware of your location and the taxi guy also backs off as he has heard you talking to people.

If all these things are followed backed by some common sense, mobile phones would certainly make our life sage and easy.

How a cell phone can help during an emergency

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 06:12:01 PST
We're accustomed to using cell phones as a routine part of our daily lives, but they can also be a real life saver during unexpected occurrences. So we asked Bloggers around the Internet to share their thoughts on just how useful a cell phone can be during an emergency. Our first post comes from David Cassel. To read more from David, check out his posts at Tech.Blorge.
Are cell phones useful in crisis? Here's my favorite story. One family received a call from their mother about an emergency at the gas station. "Can you call them and tell them I'm stuck in their carwash?" The car washing mechanism had simply jammed, and she was pinned inside, unable to drive forwards or backwards.
"The stuff was on the side of the car swirling around," remembered a proud publicist for U.S. Cellular. "It was later at night and nobody was around... She didn't know the number of the station, so she called her home..."

That was when U.S. Cellular was trying to tout the advantages of a cell phone in your car -- but it makes an even more important point. Real life is unpredictable. ("I don't know if she would've gotten hurt if she didn't have a cell phone, " the publicist explained, "but she would've gotten wet!") Cell phones can be useful in emergencies -- but they're most useful in situations which are totally unpredictable.

In fact, even in an emergency, remember to use cell phones wisely -- and know when you shouldn't use a cell phone. In the same interview, the spokesperson also told me the story of a woman who driven into a ravine, and placed an emergency call to 911 saying "I'm in my car and it's sinking." He argued that these stories "make you thankful" for your cell phone. But my first thought was that if my car were actually sinking into a ravine, I wouldn't be stopping to make a phone call! I also remember when I interviewed a spokesperson for Verizon Wireless after a 6.8 earthquake had hit Seattle. Cell phones performed pretty well, but the spokesperson admit that "You simply can't build a network where you can have enough capacity that in a crisis, every call will go through the first time." In fact, it turns out that the standard advice for earthquakes is not to place calls unless they're absolutely necessary -- to free up the lines for those who really need them.

Parents love the ideas of tracking their children with cell phones -- but the teachers don't. Some schools are banning cell phones for children, and advising parents to track their children the old-fashioned way -- by calling the principal's office. But last month, MSNBC reported that "family locator" plans are available from Sprint, Verizon Wireless and Alltel for $9.99 a month (or $120 a year). Verizon's "Chaperone 2.0" service will even send parents a text message if the child strays from a pre-defined geographical area. And if your child's school opposes cell phones, you can always track your kids using another GPS-enabled devices.

Cell phones can be useful in emergencies -- one company is even selling a cell phone strap shaped like an IV for blood transfusions (which at least identifies your actual blood type). But it's important to use some common sense. (Remember that your child could still leave the cell phone in their jacket -- and then leaves that jacket behind!) One co-worker even claimed that they'd heard a story about a cell phone company that created a one-touch button to dial 911. Within a few weeks, they'd been asked to discontinue the button -- because 911 responders complained that people kept pressing the button by accident! Now I think about that story whenever I'm creating speed-dial shortcuts for emergency phone numbers.

Am I going to try to call my mom -- and then call the fire department by mistake?

Cell phones In action: LG Decoy

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 06:12:54 PST
We just got in a LG Decoy cell phone for Verizon Wireless. Get a closer look at what’s in the box, watch as I unpack it in the video below.

Gifts for everyone else on your list

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 06:12:58 PST
We know finding the perfect gift is no easy accomplishment. In our final installment of holiday gifts, we have picks for everyone else on your list. You can see a complete list of holiday picks in our Holiday Gift Guide.
What to get the City Chic: She’s got a sense of style that comes straight off the pages of Vogue and Elle. So why not give her the cell phone that compliments her fashion savvy? That’s right, the Samsung Behold. It’s a slick looking cell phone with a touch-screen, shiny exterior, and slim profile. Everyone will want to know what phone she’s using.
A Little Something Extra: Since she’s so stylish, she’s probably got a social life to match. Help her find the best places to dine with a year subscription to Zagat To Go that’s available right on her cell phone.
What to get for Cool College Kids: They went off to school with trunks of clothes and new dorm room bedding. The one thing not upgraded on their college list of must haves was probably a new cell phone. Why not give them one that will help them get to class on time and look good doing it, such as the Pantech Matrix? You might even get a few extra text messages next semester since their so quick to tap out on the sliding QWERTY keyboard.

A Little Something Extra:There’s nothing like releasing a little extra energy after weeks of studying for finals. Why not give them a way to funnel their creative juices by signing them up for an account at ToneMine where they can mix their own ringtones. Best part about this gift: It’s free to use and share new tones with other community members.
What to get the Stylish Stud: He looks like he walked right off the pages of GQ or Details. He’s got it all: good looks, his own style and a penchant for the good life. Give him the Samsung Instinct. After all, it’s a lot like him: easy on the eyes and super slick.
A Little Something Extra: Even hot guys use Bluetooth headsets, but they’re stylish enough to remove it once they’re done using it. That’s why the the latest Jawbone 2 Bluetooth headset is a good fit. It’s so stylish people will want to know what he’s using as a headset.

T-Mobile eliminates handset upgrade fees

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 06:12:03 PST
Want to upgrade your T-Mobile phone, but don't want to pay the $18 fee for it? No worries, the company recently announced that the company no longer requires the $18 upgrade fee. So, what's holding you back?

Got a Sidekick? It might just be your ticket to the GRAMMY Awards

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 06:12:37 PST
Ever dream of going to the GRAMMY Awards in Los Angeles? If you've got a Sidekick, you could be one step closer to attending. T-Mobile and the GRAMMYs just kicked off the "Party with a Friend at the GRAMMYs sweepstakes." Five winners will enjoy an all-expense paid trip for two to attend the 51st GRAMMY Awards in Los Angeles on February 8th, 2009.
Here's how it works: T-Mobile Sidekick customers will receive a sweepstakes SMS, allowing them to either enter via their Sidekick or by visiting this Sidekick site. Visit the site to enter. You have until 8:59 AM PST on January 16, 2009 before the contest closes.

Verizon's Top 10 Holiday music download list

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:12:02 PST
Tis the season to download new ringtones and ringback tones (you know, the song people hear instead of a traditional phone ring while waiting for you to pick up the phone.) Verizon Wireless released their list of top downloaded tones and ringback tones. The first song on both list is not a surprise - it's one of the catchier holiday songs. Check out the full lists below and let us know if any of those listed are your favorite holiday song that you want on your cell phone.
Top 10 Holiday Ringtones
1. “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” by Mariah Carey
2. “Santa Baby,” by Eartha Kitt
3. “Carol Of The Bells,” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
4. “Chipmunk Song - Christmas Don’t Be Late (1999 Dig Remaster),” by The Chipmunks
5. “Santa Baby,” by Taylor Swift
6. “This Christmas,” by Chris Brown
7. “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year,” by Andy Williams
8. “Christmas Canon,” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
9. “My Only Wish (This Year),” by Britney Spears
10. “All I Want For Christmas Is A Real Good Tan,” by Kenny Chesney
Top 10 Holiday Ringback Tones
1. “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” by Mariah Carey
2. “Santa Baby,” by Eartha Kitt
3. “Carol Of The Bells,” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
4. “This Christmas (Hang All The Mistletoe),” by Chris Brown
5. “The Chipmunk Song,” by Alvin And The Chipmunks
6. “Feliz Navidad,” by Jose Feliciano
7. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” by Luther Vandross
8. “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year,” by Andy Williams
9. “All I Want For Christmas Is A Real Good Tan,” by Kenny Chesney
10. “Let It Snow,” by Boyz II Men

Gifts for those on-the-go

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:12:49 PST
We know finding the perfect gift is no easy accomplishment. In our next installment of holiday gifts, we have picks for the travelers in your life. You can see a complete list of holiday picks in our Holiday Gift Guide.
What to get the Connected Commuter: Whether traveling by car, bus, or train, commuters tend to be great multitaskers. It can be something as simple as checking and responding to e-mail before arriving at the office or catching up on news and reading blogs on the way home. The HTC Touch Pro can handle those tasks and more with ease, making it a great fit for the commuter in your life.

A Little Something Extra: Commuters who use public transportation to get to and from work know that having conversations on the cell phone during commuter hours can be a faux paux, but that doesn’t mean they have to miss your message. Get them SimulScribe for their cell phone. It’s a nifty application that transcribes voicemails into text and then delivers messages via text message or e-mail to your cell phone.

Gifts for a Frequent Flier: Business? Pleasure? Maybe a professional jetsetter? Whatever the reason, these folks probably have enough frequent flyer miles racked up to bring the entire family home for the holidays. So why not get them a cell phone that will work on just about any landing strip? That would be the BlackBerry Storm, which will work on both GSM and CDMA networks. There won’t be many places where they won’t be able to stay in touch.

A Little Something Extra: If you’ve got a frequent flier on your list, chances are they probably travel a lot for work and their laptop can’t be far behind. Help them stay connected with a Sierra Wireless Compass 597 USB Modem. You can get a free X-Box for you or someone else on your list.

Gifts for the multimedia lovers in your life

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:12:15 PST
We know finding the perfect gift is no easy accomplishment. In our next installment of holiday gifts, we have picks for photo enthusiast and those who just can't get enough TV. You can see a complete list of holiday picks in our Holiday Gift Guide.
What to get for the TV Junkie: They were probably the first person you knew to own a Tivo and years later, they likely have a DVR for each TV in the house. Simply, put they just can’t get enough TV. The TV watching experience doesn’t have to end when they leave the house. They can take it with them and watch some shows on their cell phone. Get them the Samsung Eternity and they’ll have access to live broadcast TV via AT&T’s Mobile TV service and still never miss a call.

A Little Something Extra: Help them watch TV or take calls in stereo with the Stereo headset with built-in Mic so they can listen to their favorite shows in stereo. These headphones are comfortable to wear and deliver audio in full stereo.
What to get for the Photo Fanatic: They’re in very few pictures, but have a larger photo gallery than most people in your inner circle. That’s right; they’re the person always behind the camera and rarely in front of it. They might not always have their camera with them, but there’s no reason they shouldn’t have a high-quality camera within quick reach. That’s why the MotoZine Z5 with a 5-megapixel camera and the ability to immediately share and post pictures to the web, it’s a perfect gift for them.

A Little Something Extra: If they like digital cameras then they’d welcome some additional storage for their pictures. Why not give them this Kingston Storage combo. It comes with a 2GB MicroSD card, plus three adapters including a compatible USB keychain.

Cell Phones In Action: Talking About the HTC Diamond

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:12:40 PST
Recently, I caught up with Michael Cera, LetsTalk.com's Merchandising Manager for Sprint, to get some inside scoop on the HTC Diamond. Check out the video below to get a closer look at the Diamond.

Cell Phones In Action: Talking About the Pantech Matrix

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:12:40 PST
Recently, I caught up with Jack Cooper, LetsTalk.com's Merchandising Manager for AT&T, to get some inside scoop on the Pantech Matrix. Check out the video below to get a closer look at the Matrix.

LetsTalk.com Blog

Why doesnt my cell phone work at my desk but does three feet away?

California drivers can no longer text while driving

Happy New Year

2 Situations where a cell phone can be a real life saver

3 Smart ways to handle your cell phone

How a cell phone can help during an emergency

Cell phones In action: LG Decoy

Gifts for everyone else on your list

T-Mobile eliminates handset upgrade fees

Got a Sidekick? It might just be your ticket to the GRAMMY Awards

Verizon's Top 10 Holiday music download list

Gifts for those on-the-go

Gifts for the multimedia lovers in your life

Cell Phones In Action: Talking About the HTC Diamond

Cell Phones In Action: Talking About the Pantech Matrix

Why doesnt my cell phone work at my desk but does three feet away?