Category Archives: Cell Phone Tips and Tricks

Cell phones are an essential part of our lives, but many of us are not taking full advantage of their capabilities. In this category, we will provide you with tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your cell phone.

One important tip is to take care of your cell phone battery. A few simple steps can help extend the life of your battery, such as turning off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when you’re not using them, lowering your screen brightness, and closing apps that are running in the background.

Another useful tip is to learn how to use your cell phone’s camera features. With today’s advanced camera technology, you can take high-quality photos and videos, but it takes some practice to master the settings and features. We’ll provide you with tips on how to take better pictures, adjust exposure and focus, and use filters and effects to enhance your images.

We’ll also share tips on how to customize your cell phone settings to suit your preferences. You can adjust the font size, display colors, and sound settings to make your phone more user-friendly. You can also set up shortcuts and gestures to quickly access your favorite apps and features.

If you’re worried about your cell phone security, we’ll provide you with tips on how to protect your personal information and data. You can set up password protection, enable two-factor authentication, and use anti-virus software to keep your phone secure.

Finally, we’ll share some fun and creative ways to use your cell phone. You can use your phone to create art, record music, and make videos. You can also download apps to help you learn new skills, stay organized, and improve your productivity.

With these tips and tricks, you can make the most of your cell phone and enhance your mobile experience. Stay tuned for more articles on this category!

AT&T, AT&T Business, Cell Phone Tips and Tricks, Smart Phones, Verizon Wireless, Wireless Plans

Why Choosing a 2-Year Contract Might Be More Economical Than Installment Plans

What Are 2-Year Contracts and Installment Plans?

Choosing the right payment plan for your mobile devices can be tricky. While many opt for installment plans for their flexibility, 2-year contracts can sometimes offer significant cost savings. Let’s dive into some real-world examples to see when a 2-year contract might be the better deal.

Cost Comparisons for Tablets and Hotspots

Image displaying a modern tablet and a portable mobile hotspot side by side on a white background. The tablet shows a large, clear screen with minimal bezels, and the hotspot is compact with visible status lights, indicating active connectivity. This setup exemplifies essential mobile technology tools for on-the-go internet access
  • Tablet: Cost $249.99 or available on a 2-year for $0.99.
  • Mobile Hotspot: Cost $199.99 or available on a 2-year for $0.99.

For these devices, the total plan cost remains the same whether you opt for a 2-year contract or choose monthly installments, providing a straightforward choice without hidden fees.

For devices like tablets, iPads, or hotspots, a 2-year contract at $0.99 often provides far greater savings compared to paying $249.99 or $199.99 in monthly installments.

Cost Comparison for iPhone 16: 2-Year Contract vs Installments

  • Device: iPhone 16 128GB
  • Price: $199.99
  • Location: Tampa, Florida (Assuming no trade-in credits)
An array of iPhone 16 models in various colors lined up side by side. From left to right, the colors are black, white, pink, green, and blue. Each phone features a prominent camera setup and a sleek design, highlighted against a light background.

2-Year Contract Costs for iPhone 16 128GB:

Device Cost: $199.99

The iPhone 16 128GB is on promo for $99.99 currently contact me.

  • Sales Tax (7%): $213.99 upfront
  • Monthly Plan Surcharge: Additional $25 per month on the “Unlimited Your Way” plan over 24 months.
  • Total Cost Over 24 Months: $600 (plan surcharge) + $213.99 = $813.99

Installment Plan Costs for iPhone 16 128GB:

Upfront Tax on Retail Price ($829.99): 7% tax equals $58.10.

  • Monthly Payments: $34.58 for 24 months under the installment plan.
  • Total Cost Including Tax: $829.99 + $58.10 = $888.09

Early Termination and Cancellation Fees Explained

Early Termination and Cancellation Fees: When it comes to cancelling your service, the financial implications differ significantly between the two options:

  • On Monthly Installments: If service is cancelled, the remaining balance must be paid. For example, cancelling a 24-month plan at month 12 would result in owing $415.
  • Early Termination Fee (ETF) for 2-Year Contracts:
    • Smartphones: $325 minus $10 for each month completed. For a one-year completion, ETF would be $120.
    • Other Devices (Tablets, Basic Phones, etc.): $150 minus $4 for each completed month.

Which Payment Option Is Best for You?

Choosing between a 2-year contract and an installment plan depends on your priorities. If you’re looking to minimize upfront costs or save on low-cost devices, a 2-year contract may be the better option. For those who value flexibility or are taking advantage of promotions, installment plans might be the way to go. As your mobile wiseguy, I’m here to help you analyze your business needs and recommend the best payment plan to save money and stay connected. Contact me today for personalized advice!

Cell Phone Tips and Tricks, Mobile Devices, Mobile Wiseguy, Smart Phones

Ways to back up your phone

Here are some ways to back up your Android phone: 

Android You can back up your Android phone to Google Drive using the built-in backup feature: 

Open your phone’s Settings app  Tap Google  Tap Backup  If this is your first time, follow the on-screen instructions to turn on backup  Tap Back up now  Select the data you want to back up, such as photos, videos, device data, or both 

Backup an Apple iPhone

Here are some ways to back up your iPhone:
iCloud: Back up your iPhone to iCloud automatically or manually:
Connect to Wi-Fi
Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup
Turn on Backup This iPhone
To back up manually, tap Back Up Now
To enable automatic backups, make sure the switch is toggled on

iCloud backups include most of your device’s information and settings, but not everything. For example, iCloud backups don’t include data already synced to iCloud, photos if you use iCloud Photos, or messages if you sync messages with iCloud.

Under iCloud settings view all to make sure all content you want backed up is selected. I see some people forget to backup message and they lose their texts if not on.

Computer: Use Finder or iTunes to back up your iPhone to your computer:
Open Finder and look for your iPhone in the left-hand menu
Select the General tab and look for the Backups category
Select Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac
Encrypt your backup for increased security
Click Back Up Now to start the backup
To restore your backup, go to the same page and click on Restore Backup

AT&T, Cell Phone Tips and Tricks, iPhone, Smart Phones

AT&T Unlocking Phones Automatically.

Great news for business customers with Apple and Google smartphones! Automatic unlocking is here!

Starting June 19th, 2024, AT&T is streamlining the unlocking process for CRU (corporate responsibility customer) customers with Apple and Google smartphones. This means your eligible device will be automatically unlocked without needing to contact customer service!

What does this mean for you?

If you have an active AT&T iPhone or Google Pixel phone that meets the following criteria, it will be automatically unlocked in phases by August 30th, 2024:

  • Your device must be an active AT&T phone (Apple or Google).
  • Your device must be fully paid off.
  • Your device must have been active on the AT&T network for at least 60 days since purchase.
  • If you had an installment plan or contract, it must be completed, and 60 days must have passed since the end date.
  • Your account must be in good standing.

Important things to know:

  • Not all eligible devices will be unlocked immediately. The process will be completed in phases by August 30th.
  • This automatic unlocking process only applies to Apple and Google smartphones for now. Samsung devices will still require manual unlocking through the current process. (Automatic unlocking for Samsung devices is expected in 2025).
  • We will share this information with customers on an as-needed basis.

Still have questions?

While we expect this automatic process to reduce the need to contact customer service, you can always reach out to MobileWiseGuy or AT&T if you have any questions about your specific device or unlocking status.