When you sign up for cell phone service, you expect excellent customer service and superior coverage. Unfortunately, what you pay for is not always what you get. And you may not even see it coming. Even if you try out your new service using your used cell phone before you leave the store, you may soon realize that service is sketchy once you get out on the road. Some cell phone companies will let you try out their service for a short period of time before you sign a contract, but many do not. Even if you are able to try out service beforehand, you might be locked into a certain provider because there are not a lot of choices in your area. Regardless, there are several steps that you can take to ensure that your used cell phone is getting all of the reception that you need.

Antenna Size Does Matters

Believe or not, size does matters when it comes your cell phone. If you have a small antenna, you're not going to have a strong connection with your service provider. Before you buy a used or refurbished cell phone, you need to do some Internet research to determine what the consumers of your "intended" purchase say about the reception of the phone.

Network Capabilities

Different used phones can be connected to entirely different networks, even phones within the same model family. For example, if you purchased a refurbished Blackberry Bold and connected it to the AT&T 3G network, you will most likely have far better reception than if you purchased a used Blackberry 8310, which connects to the AT&T EDGE network. If you plan on purchasing a refurbished cell phone to connect to your current service provider, make sure to make a note of the network it uses and ask your service representative if that network has a strong enough presence in your neighborhood.

Power Supply

A drained battery will negatively affect cell phone reception as well. So, avoid all of the cell phone functions that use a great deal of battery juice including your camera, mp3 player, GPS, internet browser, etc. Only use the functions that you need. Pay attention to functions that might be running in the background (i.e. Bluetooth) as this could affect your battery life without you even being aware of it. Another factor that zaps battery life is cold weather. Avoid using your cell phone outside in cold weather if at all possible and if you do spend a lot of time out in the cold, try to keep your phone in a pocket versus a bag or purse to keep the battery warmer and longer lasting.

When you have a used or refurbished cell phone, there's only so much you're going to be able to do; after all, your phone might be defective or you could move somewhere where you have little to no reception. You can't prevent all disasters that come with cell phones but you certainly can reduce your chances of getting a bad reception by doing some research ahead of time and before you make a cell phone model purchase.

Refurbished cell phone cameras are one of the most convenient and versatile tools on your phone. It eliminates the need to carry around two pieces of equipment, and with modern cell phone technology constantly advancing, you are now able to capture high-quality images that can rival those taken by a compact digital camera. However, once you've taken your photos, how can you share them with your friends other than by picture-messages? What if you want to get prints made for your family? Below are some simple steps you can follow to get photos off of your camera and into your possession.

Email Your Photos To An Email Address

When you're trying to get your pictures off your phone and onto your computer, consider sending yourself a message to your email address, making sure to attach them to that message. It's easy to do but not the best option. If you've got a lot of pictures, it can become a very tedious task attaching each photo to your message; in time, you'll become quite annoyed by it. Another problem going with this option is that your cell phone provider may not offer you an unlimited picture-messaging plan for your used cell phone. Send pictures this way and you may find a very huge cell phone bill in your mailbox.

Establish a Direct Connection with Your PC

Newer used cell phones come equipped with a USB cord that you can use to connect your phone directly to your PC. Once a connection has been established, you can transfer photos from your phone to your computer in one, easy step. Don’t worry about having software or an instruction manual. All you have to do is establish the connection and follow the prompts.

Bluetooth Wireless Transfer

Even simpler than corded transfer is the ability to send all your photos wirelessly utilizing Bluetooth technology. If both your computer and unlocked cell phone have built-in Bluetooth ability, then simply enable both devices and send  your cell phone photo collection directly to your computer.

Photo Booth Kiosks

If you'd rather print off your pictures without transferring them to a computer, you can go to any number of photo booth kiosks seen in many different retails stores such as Target, Wal-mart, etc.  All you need to do is remove the memory card from your refurbished cell phone and insert into the device's dedicated slot. The kiosk should, without hesitation, recognize photos from your card, displaying them for you to choose which ones you would like to print.

Most used Alltel phones come equipped with or are compatible with a memory card that is not yet compatible with photo-print stations. The cards are called MicroSD cards. Phones with this type of memory card come with an adapter that allows you to connect the card to the photo station. Always carry your adapter with you if you have this type of memory card as you will need it to perform most photo functions at department stores.

Photographs capture a moment in time, and being able to share those moments with your friends and family is always something to look forward to. With these steps, you can now take as many photos with your phone as you desire without having to worry about actually retrieving the images from your cell phone.

You don't have to be a professional photographer to take superior pictures with your refurbished cell phone. Plenty of admired photographers use their cell phones to capture their images since the idea behind the photo is much more important than the tools used to capture them. Below are some simple and insightful compositional rules of photography that can make your photos go from “nice” to “unbelievable!”

Following the Rule of Thirds

Many times you'll hear that you need to center your subject in the photo to get a good picture but you don't need to do this with your cell phone. Rather, use the rule of thirds, which means drawing two imaginary horizontal and vertical lines into the frame of your photo; you'll have three columns across and three down much like a tic-tac-toe board. Any important elements in the photo such as trees or friends, etc. need to be placed along these four lines or in a place where they intersect. By doing this, you can create a better overall balance visually and it allows you to take a more interesting, alluring photograph.

Keeping it in the Forefront

Another common mistake made by amateurs is pushing everything to the background of the photo. If you wish to highlight something that is in the distance, such as an ocean or sunset, there should be something interesting in the foreground as well. Perhaps, a shot of the ocean with a beautiful piece of driftwood in the forefront would balance things out perfectly.

Finding New Perspectives

The best thing about cameras on unlocked cell phones is that you can take them anywhere and not have to worry about clumsy gear getting in the way. With this in mind, don't be afraid to explore new perspectives and angles. Try getting down on the ground and take a photo of your pet at eye level, or stand up on a rock to take a cell phone photo of your friends while looking down.

Getting A Close Up Photo

When it comes to rules, they are intended to be broken and this rule applies to photographs with new, used or refurbished cellular phones. First, don't be scared to take an up close picture of the people you know; this way you can get every detail of the facial expression. Keep in mind that you don't have to do a head to toe photo unless you want to. You can, if you desire, crop their head so that the distractions are eliminated and the person looking at the photo will concentrate on the subject's eyes not their body. This rule can also be applied to landscapes. You can always capture the lakeside sunset or a beautiful mountain range; however, see what other things you can focus on. Get a close up picture of a flower or an insect. Perhaps you can get a picture of the rain on a window.

Cell phones can take beautiful pictures, but you need to get creative. Follow the above rules and try new angles and perspectives. Remember; beautiful photography is not the result of expensive equipment. It is the result of your imagination.

You have finally graduated from college and have been hired for an entry-level position at a Fortune 500 company. Maybe you've decided to own your own business. You may believe that "dress for success" stops at what you wear but it actually resonates with everything about you. The way you speak or carry yourself matters so it's important that you show the "best you possible" and get established in the professional field. If you are looking for a phone that will help you along the way, consider getting a used Blackberry; it's what the majority of the professionals use. Here are some tips to help you to look more like a professional with your used cell phone.

Tip 1 - Make It Personal On Your Voice Mail

When you make your voice mail personal, you show your clients, co-workers, bosses, potential clients, etc. how confident you are. Don't go with your used Verizon phones or Blackberry pre-recorded system since it makes people think that your work ethic isn't very strong or worth getting involved with. Now when you personalize your message, make sure to be strong and clear; talk slow so that your listeners can hear all your words. Above all else, do not use cuss words.

Tip 2 – Change Ringtones

People love to hear the latest music but it's very unprofessional to have it in an office or meeting where all can hear it. Instead of using downloaded rock tunes or offensive cartoon bits, consider using the phone's pre-recorded ringtones. By choosing these, you won't perturb anyone with your ringtone in the middle of a call, meeting, etc.

Tip 3 – Delete Ring-Back Tones

Many phones come equipped with ring-back tones; no matter what service you are with, these should be deleted. It's fine for family members and friends but certainly not for clients, present and future. These tones are considered very annoying and most unprofessional.

Tip 4 – Spruce Up Your Phone's Look

While you may think it's stupid, you should fix up the way your phone looks. You want to be taken seriously but no one is going to be able to if you have red flower stickers or other decorations on your refurbished cell phone and/or used blackberry. You never know when you may accidentally leave it out or need to show your clients something.

Tip 5 – Shut It Off

Whenever you're at work or you meet a prospective client, take the time to place your phone on vibrate or silent. This lets people know that you respect the time they have together. If you've forgotten this step, apologize quickly and hurriedly turn off the ringer and shut off the phone. Now if you need to leave it on, don't answer your phone. Of course, if you have an emergency, most clients, future and present, will understand.  You should never walk away from your client to start a conversation on your phone.

It's important that you appear as professional as possible in every aspect of your life. Remember that the world we live in is impressionable and you certainly don't want anyone to get a bad impression of you just because your phone lacked professionalism. By following the five tips above, you're on your way to building your professional reputation.

Gone are the days when used cell phones were only used to place and receive calls. Today, cell phones are mini-computers that make it possible to complete any task while on the go. Technology is improving every day, but many people are having a hard time keeping up with the technology. Following are seven things that you phone can do for free.

1. Record Phone Calls

You may not know it, but your cell phone has a useful record feature that will allow you to record phone calls, in-person conversations and any other form of audio that you wish to save to your phone. For example: If your boss calls with an important list of things he or she wants you to do, you can record the phone call instead of frantically searching for pen and paper or trying to memorize the conversation. Note: Some states require full disclosure when recording phone calls, meaning that you will need to inform the person that you are speaking with that you are recording the call.

2. Make digital Copies

You can take photos of any document that you wish to scan and save it to your phone. Free online services, such as Qipit.com, will take the image of the document and turn it into a jpg or PDF file and send it to your online account. The files are cleaned up until they are clearly legible, negating the need for scanning.

3. Call Information for Free

You can access a free phone directory by calling 1-800-FREE-411 and listening to a short advertisement.

4. Convenient Flashlight

If you need to shed a little light on your dark condition, you have two cell-phone options. You can turn on the backlight of your cell phone by pushing any key. The light will remain on for a few seconds, allowing you to locate your keys in the dark or a main, steady source of light. Your refurbished phones may also have a feature that allows you to keep your flash for your camera on for a long, steady period of time. Check your manual to see if your phone possesses such a feature.

5. The Power of Google, Anywhere

You don’t need a computer or an internet connection to Google. All you need is a phone with text ability. Text any questions to 466453, and wait for the results. The number spells GOOGLE on the alpha-numeric key pad.

6. Track Packages

A free online service, provided by TrackThis, allows you to track packages via text messaging while you are out and about. To sign up for the service, simply log onto www.usetrackthis.com and sign up for a free account. Enter the package tracking information for the packages you wish to track, and wait for text messages to roll in. Texts will be sent to alert you whenever the delivery status for the package changes.

7. Send a Voice Mail without Calling

If you need to send a message when the timing is not ideal, you can send a voice message without directly calling the number. Your voice mail instructions should outline the process for you. If not, contact customer support for your used cell phone service provider.

Imagine, seven different ways that you can use your refurbished cellular phones to simplify your life. And the best part is that it’s all free!

You know that cell phones are a wonderful way to stay in contact with the people in your life. However, you also know that isn't the only reason cell phones are useful. Cell phones have crept their way into nearly every section of your modern day living. You can check your email with it, determine how much money to leave as a tip at lunch and so much more. Whether you have a new, used or refurbished cell phone, they are a way of life and that means you'll want to find ways to extend the phone's battery life. Of course, with continuous use of your cell phone, you'll have a drain on that battery. However, there are several ways you can extend those used cell phone(s) battery life spans.

Tip 1 - Choose Only One Notification Option

How do you like to be notified that someone is calling you; ringing or vibrating? Both will drain your cell phone battery but having them together will use lots of power that could be used wisely on your phone's other features. Determine what way is best for you and your lifestyle and turn the other option off so that your battery's life is extended.

Tip 2 - Cold Weather

Did you know that the cold weather has an effect on your battery? It tends to sap the power from it quicker. When you're in a warmer environment, your phone battery will be better off. If you need to stand outside for any length of time, find a place inside to wait. If not, you may discover that you're with a dead battery sooner than you wanted.

Tip 3 - Charging Your Battery Too Much

You may not realize it but charging that used cell phone all the time is not a good thing. You should only charge your cell phone when the battery power is 50 percent or below; charging all the time will wear out the battery's durability.

Tip 4 - Tone Down The Phone LCD Display

When you're not using your phone, a large chunk of battery power goes to your phone's LCD display screen. If you can handle it, choose a lower brightness setting for the phone's screen. If you're unsure of how to do this, consult the handbook that came with the used Sprint cell phones to figure out how to do this setting. Believe it or not, less brightness means the difference between getting an important phone call and missing it.

Tip 5 - Turn The Bluetooth Option Off

If you not a big Bluetooth user or you won't use it for a specific length of time then turn it off. You waste a lot of power keeping that connection open so do yourself a big favor and shut it down.

Tip 6 - Clean The Phone's Battery Contact Points

Make sure you clean out the battery contact points because debris can get into it. When it's dusty or has garbage in it, you could lose a bit of power from it. These are highly important for phones that are used or refurbished; after all, you have no idea when the previous owner cleaned them last. To clean this area, you'll need to remove the battery and gently wipe off (out) the debris and corrosion from the phone and battery. Make sure to use a cotton swab and a gentle cleaning solution. Once it's dried, replace the battery; you should notice the battery connection is stronger.

Depending on how long you plan to utilize your phone, you may need to eventually replace the battery. However, by using these six tips, you can prolong your battery's life by months and even years before you have to buy a brand new battery for that used cell phone.

The most common complaint among cell phone users is spotty coverage. People who live in the country or near an open expanse of water often have the most problems getting their refurbished cell phones to work reliably. This is due to the small number of towers in rural locations and in locations that are close to water. Sometimes, the layout of the land is to blame as people who live in the hills and mountains know all too well. Regardless of the cause of spotty coverage, there are a few things that you can do when you purchase your used cell phone to ensure that you get the best coverage and reliability possible.

PCS Providers: What an Inexpensive Plan may Cost You

Cell phone providers offer services using two different frequencies. The 1900 mhz frequency, also called PCS, is the least powerful frequency. The 800 mhz frequency is more common and more powerful. PCS services are most commonly used in urban areas where the large number of cell phone towers makes operating a cell phone with a lower frequency feasible and economical. PCS plans often cost less, which makes them an attractive option for city dwellers. Unfortunately, PCS used cell phones are not ideal for country life. A stronger frequency is needed for rural areas.

Ask for Feedback

No one knows cell phone coverage better than the people who rely on their cell phones in your area every day. Talk to professionals in your area about their cell phone service provider. Ask a handful of people who their service provider is. Ask about their experiences with coverage, customer service and reliability. Gather all of the information, and call the service provider that people seem to be the most happy with

Do Not be Afraid to Ask Questions

Asking questions is vital if you wish to select the right service provider and used cell phone. Your salesperson is a great place to start. Ask all questions that you can think of. Be especially careful when purchasing a used Blackberry cell phone. Many people assume that all features are standard with a Blackberry, but many features are not standard and some may not be available in your area at all. Also ask about how different cell phone models. Salespeople know which phones work well in your area and which ones don’t.

Salespeople are a great resource, but they are not infallible. You may get home and find out that your phone works perfectly until you enter your basement apartment. Fortunately, most cell phone companies offer trial periods during which you can return the phone and cancel your contract without penalty. Be sure to ask about a trial period when signing the contract. If the provider does not offer a way out, you may be stuck with spotty coverage for the duration of the contract.

Technology and coverage is improving every day. This means that there are a lot of options available to you. Do the research, ask the questions and follow up. Doing your homework could mean the difference between great coverage and dropped calls.

Although we can now use our cell phones to look up cooking recipes for dinner Friday night, or what the weather will be like during a road trip to Boston, most of us rarely take the time to prepare our cell phones for the event of an emergency. These invaluable devices are almost always attached to us in some fashion, whether at the hip or in a purse, and could literally be the only way to get in contact with friends, family, or other important people during an emergency situation. Below are some simple preventative steps you can take now with your refurbished cell phone in order to prepare yourself and your family.

Program Important Numbers into Your Phone

This may seem like a redundant step as you undoubtedly already have your friends and family programmed into your phone, but do you really have all the important numbers easily accessible in your phone book? The 911 emergency network is not the only important number you may need to call.

For example, if you live on a college campus or work in a large office building, there is most likely a security department at your disposal. In the event of an emergency, who would respond to your distress call first, the local police and fire department or the security guards that are already on the premises? Make sure you program the contact number for the security office into your phone and call them if you are in need of immediate assistance. You can either call 911 yourself after contacting them, or the security office will most likely do that themselves if additional help is needed.

Other important numbers may include the emergency veterinary contact for your pets or the local mechanic shop in case of an auto breakdown.

Pre-Write Emergency Text Messages

The last thing you have the time to do is write out important text messages during an actual emergency. You may not be able to talk live on the phone or the signal may be too weak to make an outgoing phone call, but still strong enough to send a text message out to important contacts. Write out emergency text messages such as “Call for help” and save them as a draft that you can easily access. If you have a Twitter account, this would be especially beneficial as it will send this message to everyone on your list.

For new or used cell phones made by Samsumg, pre-programming text messages could be especially helpful. Later models now have an emergency feature where you can program your phone to automatically send out a pre-written text message to up to ten contacts when you press the volume button four times. When a contact from that list calls you back, your phone will automatically connect without having to press a button. Hopefully, all cell phone manufacturers will implement their own version of this emergency feature.

Our minds are often preoccupied during a crisis, so anything than can be done now, no matter how miniscule it may seem, can be nothing but beneficial as it eliminates the amount of distractions and allows you to focus on the emergency at hand. A few simple preventative steps now can make the world of difference during an emergency situation.

Used cell phones can simultaneously be our greatest ally and our worst enemy, with your cell phone reception quality being the deciding factor between good and evil. What if your loved ones can't reach you in a dead zone, or you are in the middle of a very important (or not-so-important) conversation only to be greeted with the dreaded chime of your phone alerting you that the call has been dropped? Despite the content of your phone calls, entering a dead zone is never a welcomed event, especially if that dead zone is your house! If you can't afford another used cell phone or are stuck in a contract that has an expensive early-termination penalty, there are steps you can take in order to boost the connection power between you and your cell phone service provider.

Update Your Roaming Capabilities

Most cell phone service providers offer the ability to update what is called your “roaming capabilities” , which will send information to your cell phone about the locations of newly acquired cell towers in your area. This is the simplest and quickest way to boost the signal strength on your refurbished cell phone. The steps to do this are usually very easy to complete; for example, if Verizon is your service provider, you would simply dial *228 and follow the instructions. If you recently purchased a used or refurbished cell phone, then it would be very wise to update your roaming capabilities as there is no way of knowing how much time has passed between roaming updates. However, not every cell phone service provider has this option, so it would be best to consult a representative regarding this method.

Wireless Extenders

I should preface this by stating that wireless extenders will cost quite a bit of money, but are guaranteed to extend the reception of your used cell phone. Whether or not this would be a wise investment is entirely dependent on your specific situation. For example, if you're restricted to just one cell phone service provider in your area, or if the penalty to be released from your phone contract is more than the price of the wireless extender, than it would be a smart move to purchase one of these.

The most popular choice for a wireless extender is the “repeater” style, which will absorb the cell phone signal from your refurbished phone and amplify it in order to create a stronger connection to the cell tower. You can purchase a model that is specifically designed for motor vehicles, or one that is made for homes, RV's, and other locations where the distance between you and the antenna will be greater than if you were sitting in your car. It is important, however, not to confuse these two models. The wireless extender designed for the home works best when you are at least 20 feet away from the actual antenna. When the distance between the two is less, the amplifying power will deteriorate, so attaching a repeater to you car that is made for home use will not only be a waste of money, but counterproductive to achieving a stronger cell phone signal and can potentially damage the amplifier. So in short, wireless extenders are either designed specifically for short distances (like in your car or truck) or greater distances (such as in your home or office); it is not a marketing ploy, there are important safety reasons why these two repeaters are designed differently.

The Fraud of Cell Phone Antenna Booster Stickers

Most tech-savvy consumers know that those puny stickers with robot-like designs on them (supposedly to represent some sort of wiring that is so modern it can be simply drawn onto a silver sticker) do not improve your cell phone reception strength. In fact, according to a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled test to determine the actual affect these stickers have on cell phone reception, these decals actually DECREASE you reception strength (four out of five tests show this). The interference caused by placing a glorified piece of tin foil on that newly-bought used Blackberry of yours will apparently interfere with your connection to the nearest cell tower. So essentially, you are actually paying to weaken your signal strength. The only reason these people are still in business is because they are funded by unsuspecting consumers who believe a company that endorses falsified, or at least unfounded, scientific claims about the quality of their booster stickers.

If you feel trapped in a contract with a weak-signaled cell phone service provider, or simply need to boost your phone reception strength, these ideas will aim you down the right path. At the very least, it will help you decide what direction to move in, and what steps to avoid in order to achieve increased signal strength for your refurbished cell phone.

All cell phone carriers have limited service areas that enable their services to be used as their customers travel across the country. Unfortunately, not all carriers provide service in all areas of the country. This creates issues for customers that are traveling out of their local service area.

Nearly all carriers charge their customers high roaming rates when they are outside their local area despite the fact that the provider has service in the area the customer has traveled to. In some cases, customers are charged upwards of 60 cents/minute for calls outside of their service area.  On many phones, a visual symbol warns callers that they are in an area that is outside their local calling plan and will be subjected to roaming rates. The problem: most people fail to notice this symbol.

Of even more concern than the fees though, is the possibility of getting no service at all. This is fairly common when travelling abroad, as most carriers serve only one country, though some larger ones may grant near-global service. It's also important to note that without a connection to your provider, other important functions of your cell phone will also fail to function properly, such as your GPS.

For this reason it is recommended that you purchase a refurbished cell phone and sign up for a third party prepaid phone service. This is not to say that you should drop your local service provider and only use the prepaid phone but that you purchase a prepaid phone to have with you when you are traveling into places that may be out of your provider’s local service area.

So how does it all work with prepaid providers?  What makes them different?  These providers lease tower signals from the major providers around the country, allowing their users to get a signal in the majority of areas where cell phone towers are found. An advantage of used cell phones and prepaid providers is the lack of local calling areas you need to worry with. These services generally charge a flat per-minute rate and have no roaming fees.  Your prepaid used cell phone can be employed in the event your regular service provider is unavailable; this type of service can save your life. The best part is that there are never bills with surprise roaming fees - in fact there's no bills at all since the minutes are pre-paid.  For many people, this is a great appeal (especially those people who don't need an extra bill but need a cell phone).

So stop by your local cell phone retailer, or shop online for the best in used and refurbished cell phones, and experience uninterrupted service at affordable fees, no matter where you end up roaming.