Mobile Wiseguy

Blackberry updates coming this February
I just got an interesting call from Blackberry support they wanted to inform me of the new updates. I don’t use a Blackberry currently so I was a little confused why the called me and it was because I have written a few post about Blackberry in the past. I told the representative that I did buy a Blackberry Playbook recently and wanted to know about the update that is coming out and if it will bring the Android Market to the Playbook. I was told yes it will have the ability to use Android application but not all the applications at the beginning. Each application has to go through a approval with Blackberry before being allowed on the Blackberry Playbook. I ask about the camera on the Playbook because I was very upset to find out that the only video conference application was from Playbook to Playbook only. I was hoping Skype would work with the new update but it will not at the beginning until Microsoft which owns Skype and Blackberry work out the details. The Blackberry representative did tell me he uses Real Portal to Video chat with someone using a Apple iPad now.
The Blackberry Bold and the Torch will get an update that will allow Near Field Communications, Wifi calling and Mobile Hotspot capabilities. This update will first be available for Verizon Wireless and Sprint Blackberry devices.
Verizon Wireless new rate plans
The new plans are: (all require unlimited texting which is included in the price plan)
Individual lines: 450 minutes $64.99 900 minutes $79.99 (plus 5 friends and family)
Family share: 700 Minutes $104.98 1400 Minutes $119.98 (plus 10 F&F) 2000 Minutes $129.98 (plus 10 F&F) (includes 2 phones/ add lines are still $9.99)
All plans are unlimited texting and not available without unlimited texting. They will only be using “anytime” minutes when they are calling landlines/800 #’s. Unlimited any mobile/any network!!!
Once you change to these plans you can keep forever unless you change it.
Available for area codes 239, 786 and 305 now hopefully all of Florida in the near future.
Tablet war 2011: Nook vs. Kindle vs. iPad
I just read an article on 3 tablets, it breaks down the difference between the different tablets with price points from 200 dollars to 500 dollars. The 3 tablets in this article do not subscribe to any cellular services. They all need WiFi to access the Internet for browsing, downloading books, applications and any streaming media.
I use the Motorola Xoom which is a LTE 4G tablet on Verizon Wireless. My tablet does what the Nook, Kindle Fire and iPad do and has its own built in service. I can use my tablet anywhere on the Verizon Wireless Network and it has its own built in hotspot that I can allow up to 5 other WiFi enabled devices connect to the Internet.
http://gadgetbox.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/07/8682322-tablet-war-2011-nook-vs-kindle-vs-ipad
Verizon Wireless September promotions
$100 Basic to Smartphone Trade-In Offer Upgrade eligible customers with basic* phones receive a $100 Verizon Wireless Gift Card via mail when they upgrade to any Smartphone with a 2-year agreement and corresponding data plan and trade in their basic* phone by mail. Customer must purchase and activate a new Smartphone, complete online submission at trade-in.vzw.com with promo code, and mail in basic phone within 30 days of online submission. VZW Gift Card will be mailed within 3 weeks of receipt of basic phone.
New customers free activation on tablets and aircards till Sept 30th and free activation on cellphones Sept 22nd till Sept 25th.
One of my old cellphones and very cool in its day


This is a Motorola Vader a analog phone with a built in answering machine that allowed you to screen your calls. This was one of the first phones with caller id and it was the smallest phone at that time. The phone used to sell for $500 with a contract from Bellsouth Mobility.
AT&T is scrambling to save its T-Mobile merger plans
AT&T to Woo and Fight Justice Department on Antitrust Lawsuit according to NYTimes.com. AT&T needs merger because Verizon Wireless LTE network will dominate the industry with all the new products and services. If I was developing a service or product to be used on a 4G network would I not use the largest, fastest and most reliable network and if things stay the same that will be Verizon Wireless.
The future is data service in real time and LTE is the pathway that most of the world is choosing to follow.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/03/technology/att-to-woo-and-fight-justice-department-on-antitrust-lawsuit.html
Sprint charges customers for incoming international calls
I had a client call me a few days ago asking me how to forward their home phone to their Sprint phone so they would not get charged for long distance calls. I said to them you don’t get charged for incoming calls because the person who calls you pays the international long distance charges.
I was wrong Sprint does charge for international calls incoming or outgoing. When i called customer service to clarify this the Sprint representative said yes and asked what country would be calling me. I used Trinidad as an example because that is my country of birth. The cost of calls incoming or outgoing to Trinidad would be $1.99 a minute.
Sprint must be banking on these incoming international calls, I can’t see how that would cost them anymore than any other incoming call. I receive international calls on my Verizon Wireless, AT&T and T-Mobile phones without having any extra charges so why does Sprint charge? I guess any extra revenue stream helps the bottom line.
Verizon Wireless has phones that are great for visually impaired customers
Verizon Wireless has phones that are great for visually Impaired customers needs. I recently got a call from a friend of a previous client he wanted me to help him find a phone for the visually impaired. I did a little research and realized a few Verizon Wireless phones have the ability to speak all of the functions. The phone has voice readouts and will speak all the digits when dialing the menu functions and the incoming text messages.
I showed the client two phone models when he met me at a Zephyrhills store. One was the Samsung Haven which is a basic phone without a camera or Bluetooth technology and the other was the LG Octane a phone with a QWERTY keyboard for texting. Both phones did what he wanted but he was a big texter so the LG Octane was his choice.
My smartphone also has the ability to speak all the commands but I never tried the texting part of it to see if it would read the incoming text but I am sure if the phone did not have that capability there would be an application for it.



