What Are Refurbished Phones and Why Would You Want One?
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Jon Stone
The shiny new phones you see on TV look amazing. Until you check the price. $800 for the latest smartphone? Not happening this month. But what if you could get a powerful phone without spending all your grocery money? The good news is… you can. And it doesn’t mean doing anything illegal. What’s the secret? Refurbished […]
15 Ways You Can Lower Your Cell Phone Bill
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Jon Stone
It starts like any other day. Coffee, email, work. Then it happens. You get a notification that your cell phone bill is due. Panic sets in as you wonder what it’s going to be this month. You want to curl up and hide in the corner. You’re not alone. Bills have a habit of creeping […]
Here’s What You Should Know Before Buying a Used Cell Phone
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Jon Stone
Want to buy a used phone but worried about being ripped off? This guide will help you minimize risk to find a great phone at a great price! We’ll break things down into three sections: Let’s get started! Where to Find Great Used Phone Deals From stolen or broken phones to scammers that don’t have […]
The Best Encrypted, Secure Messaging Apps
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Jon Stone
If you’re like most people, until recently you didn’t think twice about who might be looking before you sent a text message or placed a call with your mobile phone. Our mobile devices store tons of personal information—and it’s becoming clear that this information might not be as private as we thought. Thanks to secure […]
What is Wi-Fi Calling?
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Jon Stone
Wi-Fi calling is one of the latest features touted by carriers. It’s even the backbone of a few new virtual carriers. But what is it and why would you want to use it? We’re about to break down everything you need to know about this new feature–including any pitfalls you might face should you enable […]
The Best Cell Phones for Seniors
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Jon Stone
Editor’s Note: This post has been updated for 2022 While cell phones might seem complicated at first, they hold a number of benefits for seniors looking to stay in touch with family or friends and explore the world around them. But which model should you choose? With hundreds of options available, finding the best phone […]
How to Get a Cell Phone Plan With Bad Credit
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Jon Stone
While carrier ads might make it seem like anyone can pop into a store and walk out with a shiny new smartphone and great rates, the reality is less pleasant. Unless your credit is pristine, there’s a good chance you’ll walk in and face a hefty deposit–if you qualify for a monthly plan at all. […]
The Complete Guide to Unlocking a Cell Phone
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Jon Stone
A Practical Guide on How to Unlock Your Phone So you want to unlock your phone, but you’re not sure how? Before you drop money to some guy from on online classified, let us help you take the mystery out of the process. Once a bit of a legal enigma, phone unlocking is now legal in […]
What Should You Do If You Lose Your Cell Phone?
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Jon Stone
You reach into your pocket to text a friend and your heart sinks. Your phone isn’t there! You had it this morning on the train and used it at lunch, but sometime between after-work drinks and now it vanished. What should you do? The first step is to stop panicking. We’re here to help! In […]
How-To Tell if Your Phone is Unlocked
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Jon Stone
The benefits of unlocked phones are many. They allow you easily to switch carriers to lower your monthly bills, you’ll save when traveling abroad, and they tend to sell for more than their locked counterparts. But how can you tell for sure if your phone is unlocked? If you bought your phone direct from Apple or Google, it’s probably unlocked […]
Locked or Unlocked? Here’s Why to Buy an Unlocked Cell Phone
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Jon Stone
With each generation, smartphones get more expensive. There was a time when carrier subsidies and contracts made it affordable to grab the latest flagship. However, with the trend toward device financing and leasing, the contract deal isn’t always best. If you’re looking to maximize your mobile savings, the locked vs. unlocked debate is more relevant than ever. Unlocked phones offer more […]
What’s The Mobile Phone Blacklist & How You Can Check Your Phone’s IMEI
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Jon Stone
If you’ve ever considered purchasing a used phone, you’ve probably seen the words “blacklisted IMEI” mentioned in ominous tones everywhere you looked. Yet, the information on the web about blacklisted phones is vague and often conflicting depending on where your look. We’re here to explain everything you need to know about blacklisted phones. We’ll start […]
How to Save Data (27 Clever Tips You Can Use Now to Reduce Usage)
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Jon Stone
It’s happened to all of us right? You get your monthly cell phone bill, pop open the envelope or email and there it is. A huge number jumps out and you nearly fall out of your seat. How did this happen?! This can’t be right! Oh wait…there it is…another data overage. While our smartphones are […]
Use Safe, Free Wi-Fi to Reduce Your Mobile Data Bills
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Jon Stone
Making good use of Wi-Fi is one of the simplest ways to reduce your data usage. You probably already use it at home and, if allowed, at work. However, if you’re not actively scouting out Wi-Fi connections around the places you shop, eat or hang out, you’re missing an excellent opportunity to shave a chunk […]
The Best Camera Apps for Android
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Jon Stone
From larger apertures and sensors to high quality lenses and accessories, phones are inching closer to rivaling point-and-shoot cameras. And while your phone’s specs will ultimately determine the potential quality of your shot, don’t overlook the impact that the actual camera app can have as well. But which to choose? With thousands of available options […]
How Much Smartphone Data Do I Need?
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Jon Stone
So you signed up for a smartphone contract and jumped into the world of candy crush and snapchats on the go. You’ve already watched your favorite TV show on the train, sent selfies to everyone on your contact list and even finished up that work project from the clubhouse. This data thing is pretty awesome! […]
How-To: Change The Ringtone on Your Android Phone
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Jon Stone
A ringtone is the audio file that your device plays when you receive a call. There are multiple options for setting your own custom ringtones including the ability to apply a specific ringtone to certain contacts or groups of contacts. Unlike some operating systems, Android allows you to use virtually any audio file as a […]
How To Secure Your Apple ID With Two-Step Verification
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Jon Stone
Update: While this method still works, Apple now offers a more secure method called two-factor authentication. Apple, like many other companies, offers increased security for your Apple account by way two-step verification. Two-step verification is a simple and proven technique for stopping hacks that take advantage of stolen passwords and other sensitive information. As it is […]
How To Secure Your iPhone or iPad With Two-Factor Authentication
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Jon Stone
In the past, we showed you how to use Apple’s two-step verification to better secure your iPhone or iPad. But there’s a new game in town and it’s called Two-Factor Authentication. Two-Step vs Two-Factor: What’s the Difference? The older two-step method (still active by the way) relies on security keys sent via text to a supported iOS device. It uses […]
Selling Your Used Cell Phone
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Jon Stone
With the sheer power of today’s mobile devices and the consistent release of new upgrades, there’s a good chance that you have one collecting dust in a drawer. If you’re the type that likes to sport the latest handset, you might even have a few. With a little effort, you can turn your old phones […]
11 Great Uses for Your Old Smartphone
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Jon Stone
Whether you upgrade your smartphone only when necessary or you camp out overnight for the newest releases, smartphones are now common enough that you might have an old one collecting dust in a drawer. But what should you do with old cell phones? Can they be of use? You bet they can! Get ready to blow off the dust […]