One way to be in touch with friends and family is by telephone. But sometimes they move away either temporarily or permanently and staying communicated is necessary. That’s when phone calls usually get expensive, especially if they move overseas. More and more, people are choosing to have only a cell phone for communication. Using a cell phone as one’s “one and only” phone service is perfect for many folks – unless they have a business or want to make international calls. In this case, a second phone is required as international calling rates are extremely expensive using mobile phones. These facts make telephone users look for services to make long distance and international calls easily and cheap. Let’s take a look at two options available and examine their pros and cons.
The first option is the use of prepaid calling cards. There are many of these cards available and they are very competitive in their pricing. However, it is a good idea to shop around a bit when looking for a prepaid phone card because of their wide price range. Some cards can be better than others depending on the destination you wish to call. Usually they require you to call a local number and enter an extremely long pin number. This can be a bit of a hassle. There are other things to consider when looking for one of these cards. One of them is their charges, not only the rate per minute but also check to see if there are connection fees or maintenance fees. Another thing to look at is how the minutes are measured, some cards round up the time to the minute even if you spoke for 30 seconds and other cards require a minimum of minutes per call. All of the before mentioned can reduce the minutes you have available on the card.
The good news is that many of the cards are easily rechargeable and some don’t even need a pin number. You do not have to worry about running up excessive charges since the amount of money you paid for the card is all you are going to spend calling. This is good for safely calling without worrying about the costs. It can also be a bad thing when you are unaware of the time you have been speaking and suddenly you get cut off.
The other option we are going to look at is GooberCall. This is a new application you can add to your cell phone and lets you call long distance for very low rates. It is very easy to use since there is no complicated set ups or contracts to sign. There are no connection fees or maintenance fees either what you pay is the time you speak. The rates do not change from time to time so what you pay today to call Spain will be the same six months from now.
The way GooberCall works is similar to a prepaid card. You call a local number and then dial the number you wish to call. There is no need for a pin number. After your telephone is registered and the number you usually call as well you can speed dial and speak away. You charge your account with any amount of money and as you use the service the minutes will be discounted from there. You can check you balance anytime. Another advantage of this system is that you can access your mobile phone book and select a number you want to call and make the call through GooberCall.
After registering in the web page with your cell phone number the software will be automatically be sent to you via SMS. It’s as easy as that to set it up. It works on any cell phone. When you register for the first time, enter the coupon Nº 146985495 and you will get US$ 2 to try it out immediately. You can then recharge your account via PayPal or any major credit card with the amount of money that you choose. If you are speaking and you run out of time on the account, there is an easy way to recharge your balance instantaneously by the pressing of a button. This way if you are in the middle of an important call you don’t have to wait to continue talking. This feature is great for business people. You can also use GooberCall from when you are travelling; just make sure of how much your cell phone provider charges for roaming. Roaming means that your cell phone can connect to other networks in order for you to call internationally or locally wherever you are and also receive calls. Beware that the roaming charges apply to outgoing calls as well as incoming. The cell phone providers also have special deals on roaming for frequent travelers so you can check them out and you can save considerably. If you are not satisfied with GooberCall or you are not planning to use it in a while there is nothing for you to cancel, there are no strings attached. If you don’t use it, the remaining balance will remain until you use it again. You can also share the same balance with anyone you choose to, friends, family or your company employees.
International calls are no longer the expensive luxury that they once were. Prepaid cards and GooberCall are two options that cards come in handy to save you money so that you can still hear your loved ones voices without breaking the bank.
To check out the rates and register go to www.goobercall.com and entering coupon nº146985495 to be credited with US$2. This may seem not much, but these two dollars can go a long way with GooberCall.
Filed under: Misc
TerreStar launches ginormous satellite in preparation for service originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sitting pretty as the number three cell maker in the world would make many of the bigger names happy -- not to mention the usurped Sony Ericsson and Motorola a bit green -- but not LG, as it's now gunning for spot number two. In an interview with Yonhap, LG's president of its mobile business, Ahn Seung-kwon, stated that the company hoped to bump Samsung to the wayside by 2012 with the help of a serious new set and a premium brand. While the gaudiness of really expensive handsets disturbs us at times, we'll admit that mention that LG's looking at a foray into the über high end of the spectrum -- with the likes of Nokia's Vertu -- piques our curiosity a good deal. And what about that serious new set we mentioned? Apparently in Q4 of this year, LG will launch a new Black Label-branded device to compete directly with iPhone, which when coupled with dreams of more success from yet another Prada device (and if we're super fortunate, some more Transformers-branded stuff) is part of the master scheme to start down the path. Will they crack it? Well, if we were betting types, we'd lean towards not likely as long as the Samsung juggernaut's standing in the way -- but we're all for watching them try.LG eyes number two phone maker spot for 2012, premium brand in the works originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Handsets, China Unicom, Apple
iPhone facing potential trademark issues in China? originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Peripherals, Others
BluAnt Wireless' S1 speakerphone reviewed, is well liked originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Recent Apple patents hint at new features that could appear in future iPhones. Most interesting is a patent detailing haptic tactile feedback for iPhone — that is, the ability for users to feel the virtual keys they’re pressing on the touchscreen.
The idea of haptic tactile feedback is such: The iPhone’s vibrations would simulate the vibrations felt when typing on a physical keyboard, so when you’re typing you can “feel” the edge of each key. This would eliminate the need to look at the screen while typing.
Another patent explains fingerprint identification on the iPhone. Not in the traditional sense to secure your iPhone (although it could probably be used for that, too) but rather fingerprint IDing as an input method to play music and navigate the iPhone menu. For example, a fingerprint from the index finger would trigger the Play and Stop buttons in the iPod. And a fingerprint from the middle finger would trigger fast-forwarding in the iPod. Pretty neat idea, huh?
A third patent covers how a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader would work on iPhone. RFID tags are generally used for tracking items such as library books; thus, an RFID reader would more likely have business applications. Apple suggests using an RFID antenna placed in the touch sensor panel.
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Haptic Feedback, Fingerprint Identification, and RFID Tag Readers in Future iPhones? [MacRumors]
Filed under: Handsets, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, Apple, iPhone OS
Apple patching nasty iPhone SMS vulnerability originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Handsets, HTC, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS, Android
HTC Hero hits FCC with US 3G originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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It’s time for another camera bag review, but with a few differences. First, it’s our first camera backpack review. Second, I actually bought this bag for myself to use, and have given it a good workout over the last month or so. And three, I’ll give you the conclusion right now: If you’re in the market for a camera backpack, buy the Kata 3N1 (three in one. Get it?). It’s not too expensive, it has some great features and it comes in three sizes. Better still, it looks good. So good that the lady even said the rain cover looks cool, and you know how she normally hates nerdwear.
To find out why, read on. Warning: Lots of pictures.
The name 3N1 comes from the three different strap configurations. This bag is the 3N1 20, the middle-sized model. Here it is in standard backpack mode. Even fully loaded this is comfortable enough to wear for hours without feeling it. You can see the padded back, under which the straps can be slid when not in use, and the two hip pads (color coded, more on that in a moment). There is also a thin but effective enough waist strap.
Here the straps are crossed. You can also opt for a sling configuration which just uses one shoulder. Either way, from here you can swing the bag around from back to front and access the main section through the side pockets. If you’re using the red strap (right shoulder) you should pack your camera on the side with the red hip pad.
Pull the clip and open pops the pocket. Both zippers pull open as you do this.
This is what you see. That’s a Nikon D700 with a large-ish lens and metal lens hood, and there’s plenty of room. This is the exact orientation you’ll find when you have slung the bag around to your front. You can get at your camera in a few seconds.
Also inside the pocket is this pouch, which velcros into place and can hold memory cards. It’s handy, I guess, but there are better places for the cards.
This is the same compartment when empty. The yellow inserts can be put almost anywhere, but in practice you can’t stray too much from the standard layout if you want to use the bag as it is meant to be used. The flash is a huge SB900, which runs all the way through the bag but fits fine.
And here is the almost standard layout. If the flash were smaller I would have space at the top to add another lens, and there is in fact a spare yellow divider I’m not using here. Look close and you’ll see a small lip at the bottom of the opening. This is enough to stop things falling out.
These are the side pockets on the upper section. They expand with a dart in the zipper section and have a mesh pocket inside. You can slip in filters or, as in the picture above, something bigger like a flash diffuser. The outside of these pockets is padded.
This is possibly the best part of the whole bag. It’s a zippered section up top which can be used for anything you like, including more lenses and other kit. But because it is separate it’s ideal for all the other junk you don’t want to mix with the camera gear: Cellphones, notebooks, headphones, books, anything. There is an internal zipper so the compartment can be joined to the rest of the bag, but if you’re that short on space buy the bigger model.
This strap lets you mount the bag on a trolley to roll it along, but the bag is so light there’s really very little point.
Finally, the rain cover, which folds into an integrated pouch and doubles as a handy bit of padding for small lenses. The bright yellow color is smart, too, keeping you visible in dull gray weather.
To sum up, the 3N1 is probably my favorite bag I have. It works well for storage and lugging lots of kit but is also very easy to work out of, and that top section means I don’t have to carry my personal junk elsewhere. It’s comfortable and very light when empty, especially in comparison to the Lowepro bags we’ve tested, which are so well padded as to be heavy.
Downsides? A small chest strap would be nice, although in crossover mode it would get in the way. A mesh water bottle pocket on the outside would also be welcome, as would a few extra strips of velcro on the inside for attaching dividers. But these are small gripes. Like I said, if you’re looking for a backpack camera bag, you won’t go wrong with this one. $100.
Product page [Kata]
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Filed under: Software, Nokia, Symbian
Ovi Maps graduates from beta originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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