Have you had the following thing ever happen to you? You’re sitting around a table with friends at a restaurant, friends you’ve been out of touch with for some time, with the plan of catching up on each others’ lives…and they are all text messaging. The surprising part? They are text messaging with each other!

If you have had this experience, chances are good that the phones they are so furiously thumb-typing on are Blackberries, and they are using the exciting Blackberry Messenger, sometimes referred to as BBM, technology.

What is Blackberry Messenger? Basically, it is enhanced real-time text communication between users of Blackberry PDA phones, and it includes things like multi-media sharing and all kinds of other neat enhancements. Here’s how it works: instead of being SMS based like regular text messages, the messages are relayed through Blackberry’s RIM servers, much like email, so it can take advantage of Blackberry’s other famous proprietary system, push technology. This ensures that messages arrive at your phone at virtually the same instant they are sent by your friend.

This is one of the main reasons why the name “Crackberries” have been given to them among the young generations of gadget geeks. They are an absolutely addictive way of keeping track of your life and keeping in touch with friends! And in addition to advanced calendar programming, high-speed internet access, email push technology, text messaging, crystal clear phone reception, and advanced contact organization capabilities, you have the incredibly cool and desirable function of being able to add other friends that have Blackberries to your Messenger friends list. You can invite them onto your Messenger friends list either via their Blackberry PIN number or email. Once they are added to your Blackberry friends list, you can now communicate with them instantaneously any time their phone happens to be turned on. Which, if you know anything about Blackberry users, is most all of the time.

But, the cool things about Messenger are far from only technical. You can make use of Blackberry Messenger Icons and other assorted smilies to make your points and express your emotions. You can get these either straight from Blackberry or from other services that provide them. You can snap photos and send them instantly to the others on your friends list, or you entire friends list actually. You can leave voice messages or other audio messages for your friends through messenger, or even use it as a standard text messenger for sending straight text messages that don’t involve multimedia.

So that’s why it’s definitely not unusual to see a whole table of friends out at a bar or a restaurant, all with their Blackberries out, and laughing and furiously text messaging - with each other!

Tags: Cell Phones

Buying a GPS PDA is a good solution to this problem. It has an edge over conventional GPS systems and also some downfalls. Overall a GPS PDA is a good way to have a device that will help direct you and still perform other functions. It is even easier to use than an ordinary GPS system.

Is it Worth it?

Buying a GPS PDA is by no means cheap; it will probably cost more than your cell phone. If you are primarily buying a GPS PDA for its GPS system then you are probably feeling like this is not worth it. The truth is that this is a purely subjective matter. Think about how much you need to use your GPS system. If the answer is quite a lot then this is a worthwhile system to invest in.

Another good thing about buying a GPS PDA is that you can update the GPS feature; something harder or impossible to do with a regular GPS system. With a GPS PDA you can buy new software for a relatively reasonable price without having to purchase a whole new system. Plus you can use the other features that come with the PDA. If you have a hectic lifestyle and feel that you have too many gadgets then this is one way of reducing that problem.

The Disadvantage

This type of GPS system does have a disadvantage that is unique to the GPS PDA. It has a comparably shorter lifespan than a conventional GPS system. Your GPS PDA will need recharging if you are using it for long trips and this is something that you don’t want to deal with on a long road trip.

This problem is however easily overcome. You can buy an external charger that will keep your PDA charged while you are driving long distances. These chargers usually have some kind of adaptor that will allow you to keep it plugged into your car. This way you don’t have to worry about finding an outlet while driving. External chargers are also pretty inexpensive; you can find new ones online for very low prices.

Tags: GPS

To help feed this popularity of swapping information, the ring tone converter was created and has become very popular. Many internet sites rely on the technology behind these converters to enable sound files to be downloaded onto cell phones and computers. Fortunately, cellular phone ring tone converters can be used between models from different manufacturers. If you are unfortunate enough to have a basic model you may find you are still able to create sound files with the phones own software.

Over time, cable connections and even wireless free infrared are becoming obsolete with newer ring tone converters using other methods to transfer files between phones. Many of the new sounds are actually composed on phones or computers which can then be transmitted to other phones almost immediately. Of course once you have your own ring tone, it is a simple matter to edit and change it at any time. For those of you that now want their own cellular phone ring tone composer do not worry because many of the converters have this function built in as part of the package.

Sounds that can be sued on phones are also available at an ever increasing number of internet web sites which now cater for the almost insatiable desire for this new craze. Most of these web sites can send the ring tone via SMS and do not need to use your computer at all. However you want to proceed, you have all the information now with numerous web sites, music composers or even get them from friends, and the choice is yours. All you have to do is check that your phone can use the software supplied and after that whether, it won’t matter if it’s a new cellular phone ring tone or wallpaper, you probably won’t come have any problems.

Tags: Cell Phones

How Does GPS Navigator Work

The system of GPS, which stands for Global Position Satellites, is a process that uses different satellites to track a specific device and then transmit that information to a user. For GPS navigator information, a consumer has a system in their car and they input where they want to go. The system then lays out a route that is quickest for the consumer.

The GPS navigator system allows for the consumer to quickly find their destination and displays a map of how to get there. Some of the GPS navigator systems also give verbal directions so the driver need not take their eyes off of the road while they continue driving. The screens are generally wide allowing for the driver to have a good view of the area and street names as they travel along.

Some car manufactures have installed these devices into their models as a luxury feature for the consumers. A GPS navigator system is a popular choice for many consumers and the car makers have realized the benefits of having this product on board.

A GPS navigator system can also be purchased separately and placed in a vehicle. This has both a good side and a down side. The benefit to this type of product is the ability to move it to another vehicle so that it can be used with different cars and drivers. The downside is that it can also be stolen easy as it is transferable, where vehicles that have it built in make it much more of a challenge to take.

A GPS navigator system is truly one of the most up to date features a vehicle can have and these systems are the wave of the future. Being able to accurately map out what direction a consumer needs to take, is an advantage for anyone that travels.

Consumers on vacation can enjoy the benefits of not getting lost on their way and finding nearby restaurants and site seeing tours too. Whether it is a GPS navigator system that is included in the car or one that is purchased separately, this type of system has many advantages that consumers are demanding.

Tags: GPS

Aside from the creepy factor of knowing that someone so far away has control over your vehicle there is the science and wonder factor that makes people wonder how GPS navigation systems really work. How do they do that? How does this little device know where it is and how can it tell you where you are going and how to get there? It is all space age science and it has been going on since the 1980’s.

GPS navigation systems stands for Global Positioning System and it uses satellites to determine position. There is what the government calls a constellation of around 24 satellites that the military launched many years ago that were designed to help the military track vehicles and people anywhere in the world.

The satellites emit microwaves and the GPS navigation system receivers pick up that microwave and use it to figure its location. Usually a GPS navigation system receiver will pick up on at least four satellite signals in order to help it triangulate its location and use that information, in conjunction with software built into the receiver, to determine location and then give out all of the information it has regarding that area.

Then Ronnie Stepped In

In 1983 Korean Air flight 007 was shot down because the Soviet fighter pilot trailing the passenger airliner could not determine if the plane was hostile or not. Immediately following that tragedy President Ronald Reagan ordered that the military GPS navigation system that had been in use for years be opened to the public for public use.

Ever since then the GPS navigation system industry has exploded and the advances in technology have been astounding. It is estimated that the GPS navigation system satellites cost about $1 Billion per year in maintenance, research and development, and the replacing of dead satellites.

When the GPS navigation system industry was opened up the pace of technological advancement has been greatly accelerated both in the private sector and in the military. Devices such as cell phones and watches can now tell you where you are and how to get where you want to go. It is interesting to see what they will come up with next.

Tags: GPS

This on/off button has caused me a problem a few times lately, when the power button is pressed, nothing happens, It was bound to be s*ds law that my mobile would be bound to blast out its loud ringtone any second! I decided rather than suffer the humiliation of being caught with my phone on I would quickly pull off the rear cover and remove the battery!

Mobile Phone Insurance

Getting my finger nails under the corner of the battery I gave it a quick tug and the phone jumped out of my grip – after hitting the hard corner of the outer seat row that I was sitting on! Well at least the battery was out and the phone was now off, the battery was lying in the middle of the isle, just one row in front of me. I picked up the phone and the battery and started to place them together again. This was the moment I could see the screen was smashed on my phone! Now at this point I would normally have emitted a few words that I would not want my children to hear, but today that was not the case!

This was the start of my holiday and there was no way a mobile phone was going to put the dampers on the start of it! The fact was, I was actually grinning to myself about the misfortune of my N95, you see just three days before travelling, at the same time as purchasing some Travel Insurance I decided to purchase some Nokia Mobile Phone Insurance !

Now I have never insured my phone before, I have never really seen the point. But after being advised by my network provider that the replacement value was around £400 for this phone and being aware I was off to Spain for a couple of weeks of Sun, Sand, Sea and plenty of sangria I bit my lip and purchased some Mobile Insurance. I am so glad that my mobile phone was covered -just £6.00 a month and it’s saved me nearly £400 straight away!

Tags: Cell Phones

But exactly what is a free reverse cell phone lookup is when you have a person’s phone number and you want to know who they are, what there name is and where they are telephoning from and you get it for free. Most times, a reverse cell phone lookup can reply to a lot of questions about why a certain number is calling and not leaving a message. It can also answer some questions as to why that person is even telephoning your spouse, child, loved one, place of business and on and on.

Your teen daughter runs into her bedroom when the cell rings. You knock on the door. She is whispering. Then you hear her sneaking out of the house way after her curfew. It’s too late. You couldn’t stop her. But she forgot her cell phone. This is a perfect time to do a reverse cell phone lookup. If she’s got a Verizon phone then do one on their site and if it’s a Cingular then do one on their site. No matter what phone your kids own, you can always do a reverse cell phone lookup and be able to sleep better at night!

Another frequently asked question when dealing with this topic is; how exactly do you find a free reverse cell phone lookup and what does that even mean? For those of you that have no understanding, it is when you have someone call you with your cell phone number but you don’t know who it is. Then you go to a major search engine to find the name associated with the cell phone number. Sounds easy enough doesn’t it? But does it actually work? Now there is a loaded question if I ever perceived one! But don’t stop reading now. As with anything else, things seem so effortless and it seems like your answer is at your fingertips, but it’s just not the case.

So, the question really is: is there truly any such a thing as a free reverse cell phone lookup? Yes and no. Okay, now I’ve lost you. As we said, if you go to a search engine such as Yahoo or Google or any of your favorite search engines, you can enter in the browser the cell phone number and then hit enter. Your best bet is to put the complete phone number in quotation marks (“123-456-7899”) so that the exact number comes up with the digits in that exact order.

Tags: Cell Phones

A GPS tracking device has many potentially good uses for consumers and parents too. This technology allows for greater control in many circumstances. Business owners like the ability to monitor where their employees are during deliveries and the GPS tracking device can also relay information about how fast an employee is driving. This too can benefit an employer as they can then know if they have an employee that may be unsafe on the roads.

A GPS tracking device is one way that an employer can keep tabs on employees during the day to see if they are making appropriately timed deliveries and if they are obeying traffic rules. Parents are finding that a GPS tracking device can be a way to find their teenagers. This type of device allows for parents to locate their teenager at all times and they can also monitor how fast their teen is driving and be able to decide if driving is a privilege that should be taken from an unsafe teen.

Looking at GPS Tracking Device Products

Many companies offer GPS tracking devices that are small and won’t be noticed by a person in a vehicle. These devices can be monitored over the internet and in real time so that a person can see where someone is at that precise moment. This again, allows for either parents or employers to really have updates on where someone is and their driving habits. For both parents and employers this can benefit them to know what their people are up to and where they are.

There are some cell phones that are equipped with a GPS tracking device and many parents find this to be a comforting choice. Not only can they call their children but they also know where they are and if they are where they said they would be. No only can that be a relief, but in case of an emergency, parents are able to locate their children immediately, adding some sense of control in situations that can seem chaotic. Parents and employers both can benefit from using products that contain GPS tracking devices in order to have up to the minute information on where children and employees are.

Tags: GPS

There are many different types of golf GPS systems that you can choose from. You can decide on which type to buy depending on what you want from your GPS system and what your game needs. Some courses have even started to offer these systems to players. These systems are best used on courses without too much tree cover, as a GPS system needs to receive unobstructed views of the sky to work optimally.

Finding That Ball

Have you ever wished that your golf ball had a tracking device on it? Now it can. There are golf GPS systems that work in tandem with a specially designed golf ball so that you don’t waste time looking for a lost ball. Your golf ball has a radio frequency tag that will allow a handheld device to track it down. This is great if you play on a course that has a particularly unforgiving rough.

Judging Distances

If you want to get really technical with your golf GPS system then there is always the golf GPS system that will allow you to judge distances. This system will tell you the distance from where you are playing your ball to the green.

This is a handy device if you have a tendency to drive too far or alternately don’t hit your balls far enough. Some systems will also help you keep score, a great alternative to writing down your scores manually, also this way no one playing with you can cheat!

There are even golf GPS systems that will advise you on what clubs to use. These systems also have a voice feature that will tell you the distances between holes. This way you don’t have to keep taking your device off your belt to consult it.

Many systems also help you to track your scores and this way you can improve your game. Compare scores on different games and holes by using your hand held device. The device can even analyze your game and show you things that you never thought of. If you already have a PDA you can add a golf GPS system to it.

Tags: GPS

* Carrier coverage
* The phone
* The service or calling plans

Of course, the most important is your carrier’s coverage. This is so because your calling plans won’t do you much good if the phone won’t work where you need it to work. However, the thing with coverage is that it is very subjective. The best solution therefore available for you is to ask friends or colleagues who use the carrier in areas where you are likely to use your cell phone.

The next important thing may be something to debate over. Which is more important – the phone or the calling plan? Often, it is best to choose your calling plan first, then the phone. If you’re wondering why, just think how choosing the wrong calling plan could cost you extra money each month. Then think about the phone and how it is merely a one-time decision. Also, from a more practical viewpoint, most carriers these days, in an effort to entice more costumers offer a full range of free phones for each service or calling plan. Thus, with your calling plan, you can have your pick from the most inexpensive phone to the one with the fullest features. So unless you have your heart set on a specific, hot new phone, go for the plan first.

And this thus brings us to selecting your service or calling plan. There are many things to consider of course but they all boil down to “How and where will you use your phone each month?” When you have the answer to that question, then the decision process over your calling plan would be made a lot easier. If anything, the answer to that question will help you determine if you should pick a local, regional, or national coverage area. It would also tell you whether you should opt for special features such as an off-peak package, first incoming minute free, and/or free long distance.

Calling Plan Guidelines

The easiest way for you to find all the answers to the situations posed above would be to visit an unbiased website that will help you figure out all this. The estimates will be based on your estimated calling patterns and comparing them against the calling plans then for sale in the market. One example of these websites is MyRatePlan.com.

However, if you do not wish to estimate your usage through a third party or simply want to use some general guidelines, just keep these three in mind: calling area, off-peak packages, and contract.

Tags: Cell Phones