Category Archives: Mobile Life

Does your 13 year old need her own phone?

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“But everyone in my school has one!”

Do you give in to pester power or hold out until they are older? In these times of mobile phone addiction, cyber-bullying and sexting, would you rather not give them a phone at all?

On the flip side for you as a parent, having a phone means peace of mind when they are out and about, while helping them form stronger social networks and be included at school.

So, what is the right age for a child to have their own phone?

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Kids of different ages use phones differently. Younger kids, between 5 and 10, are more likely watch YouTube videos and play games on the phone. Your phone or a shared tablet should be good enough at this age. However 31% of Australian kids already own a phone by the time they are 10.

 

As they get to 12-13 the mobile starts becoming more of a communication tool with texts being the form of conversation. This is also when they start becoming more independent and the phone is useful for organizing the inevitable pick ups and drop offs. You could get them one, but the level of flexibility would have to depend on the emotional maturity of  your child. Consider a prepaid cheapie with restricted credit instead of a full blown smartphone. Research shows 80% of kids in this age group own a phone.

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The phone becomes a perceived necessity in teenage years when the online world becomes as, if not more, important as the real world. Kids have access to a lot when they are on the computer anyway, so mobile phone or not depends entirely on your relationship with your child. This Mum gave her 13 year old an iPhone for Christmas along with an 18 point contract that included terms like restricted hours, no porn, responsible use and no phone to school. Not many parents can enforce such rules but it is a good idea to discuss responsible use sooner rather than later. Perhaps make them earn the phone by saving their own money.

So should your 13 year get her own phone? The answer as we see it, is a qualified yes.

Mobile Advertising: Partly Accidental

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2011 has been pronounced the year of the mobile, with mobile advertising set to deliver potfuls of money to the advertising giants.

Take a look at some of the mobile ad formats accepted by Google for display on mobile devices -

Businesses, particularly SMEs, are very excited about the prospect of serving cheap targeted advertising to customers while they are away from their computers. Mobile marketing is expected to reach 5 billion dollars by 2012.

But according to this study by Pontiflex and Harris Interactive, 47% of users have clicked on a mobile ad without actually meaning to. This is behaviour is actively encouraged by app developers – crucial navigation elements are placed sneakily close to ad placements driving accidental clicks and therefore revenue.

However the lack of ad effectiveness is likely to drive down the attractiveness of mobile advertising in the long run; and app developers will end up losing out on revenue, or will need to severely compromise the user experience to make any money. A lose-lose either way. And its only a matter of time before users acquire the same immunity to mobile ads as they have for banner ads on websites.

As a consumer, you have the option to chose how app developers fund apps. Pay a couple of dollars and buy an ad free experience, or get it free and live with the accidental stumble into the world of mobile advertising.

Looking for deals on smartphones? The Mobile Deal Finder can help.

Six tips for changing mobile phone carriers

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Changing mobile carriers is simple these days – find a plan you like, fill in the contract, give them authority to bring your number over and bob’s your uncle. But it is easy to get something wrong if you are not watchful, and you’ll probably live with your mistakes for 2 years. So here’s a checklist to help you through.

1. Check coverage

You’ve found this awesome deal with a shiny new phone! But don’t sign anything without first confirming that you have coverage in your area. Easiest way to do this is by checking the coverage maps available on carrier website.

Here’s a quick list -

Telstra Coverage Map
Optus Coverage Map
Vodafone Coverage Map
Three Mobile Coverage map

To be sure of coverage, especially if your home lies on a fringe area, pick up a $2 sim and use it around the area to make sure there are no black spots. Radio networks are tricky little buggers and almost all networks have black spots, no matter what they say. So check for yourself.

2. Termination charges

If you are still in contract the losing carrier can hit you with a serious termination fee, sometimes equivalent to the full cost of the remaining contract. Make sure you are aware of all exit fees, but do not cancel your service with the losing carrier. It is cancelled automatically when your number is moved over to the new carrier. The losing carrier will send you a full and final account after your number has been ported to the new carrier.

3. Unlock handset.

Some phones come locked to a network or a service provider. Make sure that the phone is unlocked before you leave so the new carrier’s sim works properly with your old phone. Even if you are getting a new phone, reselling an unlocked phone is easier.

You will need to call the losing carrier to get an unlock code that will set the phone free to use on any GSM network.

4. Make sure the new plan fits your usage.

Don’t be fooled by the headline numbers of huge included credit. Check the call rate and things like voicemail calls, international calls, roaming charges and data costs if you are likely to use them. You can find out if a plan is right for you using our plan comparison tool at www.PhonesAndPlans.com.au.

5. Transfer your contacts.

When you change carriers and get a new phone, you are bound to experience the pain of bringing over your old address book into your new setup. If numbers are stored in the SIM, then just plug the old SIM into the new phone and copy into the new phone memory. If they are in the old phone’s memory, then you can move them over one at a time using Bluetooth or infrared – it takes a few seconds per contact. Newer smartphones will let you save your address book in the cloud and you can synch it back with the new phone.

Some phone stores keep SIM card readers that can help with transfering contacts.

6. Recycle that old phone.

If you are getting a new phone, which you most likely will be, think about recycling the old phone instead of letting it gather dust in a drawer. First port of call would be eBay, but also check out Mobile Muster. They collect old phones and ship them off to developing countries where your hand-me-down could get a new lease on life.

Hope that helped. Do you have more useful tips or suggestions? Share it with other readers in the comments.

Calls to 1800 numbers not free from mobiles

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Caveat emptor. Buyer beware.

This article on SMH today talks about how mobile phone users are being ripped off  by phone companies charging for calls to 1800 numbers that are freecall from landlines. In the comments we have a bunch of people complaining of being overcharged as they didn’t know they were being charged for these calls.

I say buyer beware. If you don’t know the terms of a service you sign up for, then you have no one else to blame when you are charged as per those very terms. Mobile companies and 1800 number themselves make it quite clear that additional charges apply when calling on a mobile.

The problem stems from the fact that there is no such thing as a free lunch. When someone calls a 1800 number, the owner of the 1800 number pays for that call. Since landline to landline calling is pretty cheap, a business is usually willing to wear the cost of a potential customer ringing them from a landline. However calls from mobiles are more expensive and a buiness might not want to wear the cost, meaning the caller has to pay for that call.

It is also worth keeping in mind that some carriers do not include calls to 1300/1800 numbers in the mobile cap, and charge for them over and above the cap value.

Solution: Best to use a landline to make these calls, or use a voip service like Skype or Fring from your mobile.

Caveat Emptor

image credit – The Bunny System

Teenagers texting their way to ‘Textiety’

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A new study by Boost Mobile has found that teenagers today face mental and physical stress because of too much texting.

Teenagers usually take on pre-paid plans with huge amounts of included low cost texts. And then they send out tens and even hundreds of text messages a day.

Textaphrenia is a mental disorder when someone imagines a text has arrived, when actually it hasn’t. And Textiety is the term for uneasiness and anxiety related to not receiving enough texts, seen as a sign of low popularity. Reports from Japan (where else!) talk about teenagers experiencing ‘repetitive thumb syndrome’ due to too much texting.

The Boost Mobile report showed that text messaging had gone up by 89 percent in the last couple of years –that must make the telcos very happy.

What this study doesn’t try to explain is why this sudden increase in texting behaviour. Surely human adolescents are not hardwired to send out a 100 text messages a day. Why is it that Gen Y seems to prefer communicating in short bursts instead of using the time tested method of having a face to face chat? Is it just a fad or will this need for ‘bursty’ communication follow them into adulthood and into the workplace?

And then there is this guy -

Five kinds of mobile phone users – which one are you?

Do you spot yourself in this list? Take our poll and share your thoughts in the comments.

Convenience lover –
You like to use your mobile phone to stay in touch – your mobile is no more than a replacement for your landline while you are out and about. You use it to make calls and send messages, and occasionally use other features like the camera or radio. You like the convenience of being contactable, but would not be too upset it weren’t available.

Your phone is usually no fuss – just whatever came with the plan, or was easily available.

Communication freak –
You love to talk and stay in contact with your huge network of friends. Your mobile is the last thing you put away before turning out for the night. You were born with a texting thumb. You may have, on occasion, found yourself tilting your head sideways to smile :) . Twitter and facebook are recent tools in your belt – you update your facebook status, post pictures and review restaurants from wherever you happen to be.
Your phone is a reflection of you – new model smartphone, feature rich and with plenty of clever applications to match your lifestyle.
Road warrior –
You work keeps you on the move. But you need to always be available no matter where you are. You are rarely at your desk and often dial into meetings while driving or from client offices.
Your phone is a sturdy workhorse designed to handle the rigours of the road, and it has great reception to keep you going in those tricky blackspots. Email and Internet access are important too, if you don’t already use a wireless modem for the laptop. Your mobile is crucial for you to remain productive.

Information junkie –
News, stocks, scores, reviews, updates – you are always up to date. Knowledge is power and you love being the one they turn to for answers.
Your phone is as smart as you are – high speed data access, smart application suite, long lasting batteries pulled together in a stylish package.


Entertainment seeker –
You are a product of the digital age. Your phone is not just for communication. It is your music player, gaming device, camera and even your remote control. You have the latest gadgets and are always up to date with the latest toys.

5 mobile phones for under $60

Yes, you read that right. You can get a brand new mobile phone for less than $60. Mobile phone technology is fairly commoditised after being around for over 40 years. And that means there are plenty of cheap mobile phones out there that just do a few things and do them well. Yes it is the big and flashy smartphones that get most airtime, but this is a list of ones that do the job and don’t cost an arm and a leg.

Nokia

In the last couple of years Nokia came up with some really good basic handsets in response to a demand from emerging markets. They work great as a first phone for the new user, or as a spare phone for emergencies.

Nokia 1209 –

It is the perfect phone if you love your Nokia. It makes calls, sends messages and comes with a handy little flashlight. At that price, you really can’t go wrong.

Price:  $50-$60 check price

Nokia 1661 –

Another good option in a similar price range to the 1209. Adequate for making calls, sending messages and listening to the radio – a nice touch. The keyboard is a bit cramped so avoid if you have bigger digits.

Price:  $55-$60 check price

Samsung

Samsung E1080T –

Probably the cheapest mobile phone available for outright purchase. A word of warning –it is locked to the Optus network. That is usually not a problem if you use it with any service provider that operates on the Optus network, but be sure to check the terms if you want to have it unlocked anytime soon.

Price: $39 Optus pre-paid bundle

B130 –

One of the nicer phones with a decent colour screen and MP3 ringtones. It has a generous loudspeaker and includes a voice recorder. Comes with a couple of pre-installed games.

Price:  $40-$60 check price

Motorola

W156 –

It looks like one of the more expensive Motorola phones, with a respectable feature set including polyphonic ringtones and games. No colour screen though, which makes it feel rather prehistoric. But this is not really about style, is it?

Price:  $40-$60 check price

Did we miss something? Let us know.

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