Mobile Phone Application Development: Is It Worth The Effort And Cost?

The smartphones open up new areas to be explored by businesses and even with the rapid growth of the business marketing industry, it can be said that the true potential of smartphones is not understood as yet. The explosion of gaming industry has enlightened the marketing experts to use social gaming to establish brand reputation. Marketing messages are often sent along with the apps and games in a subtle way so that users get the message, but not annoyed by it. When business brands realized that long-term brand strategy can be established with mobile phone apps, the mobile phone application development gained prominence.

How To Lower The Mobile Phone Application Development Cost To Increase ROI?

Every business can be represented as a mobile phone app. The online stores are greatly benefiting from mobile phones as app stores are relatively easy to set-up by dedicated developers and smartphone users are accustomed to buying from app stores directly. Rather than simply stopping at mobile optimized websites, now businesses want to take one big step ahead and develop mobile phone app. Just because it is possible, you should not just rush into an application development company and ask that you need a business app.

The experience offered by mobile phone apps is completely different from a mobile website. Apps are highly interactive and mobile phone application development incorporates latest technology to create apps that really engage the users. There is no denial that your potential customers will be offered a greater user experience with a shining new app. However, the cost of such an app should be considered before hiring developers to start working on it.

Mobile phone application development is not inexpensive. Most business owners simply think about developing an iPhone app. Even though iPhone is a great smartphone, there are other phones out there that are still used by millions of users. If you are just going to concentrate on iPhone users with your app, you will just lose millions of potential customers. At the same time, cross-platform apps is not a solution for all businesses. Developing applications that work flawlessly in all platforms is very difficult and it certainly incurs more cost. Experts suggest that you do your research and find out which phone your potential audience like to use. You can then develop an app for that platform and then later find developers to port the application to other platforms.

If you want to use mobile phone application development for business branding, you should understand that the app may not generate direct income. Again, it depends on the purpose of your app and if it is another app store to sell products, then, it will generate income. The return on investment can't be guaranteed because you can't control how popular your business app becomes. If the app developed is innovative and useful, eventually, smart phone users will begin to start to use it. So, before plunging into developing an app for your business, you should consider long-term benefits and then decide only if you are ready to wait to get the return on your investment.

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My Journey In Selling My Phone

I just bought another new cell phone and I didn't want to add it to the pile that's accumulating in a box in the garage. My carrier sent a pre-paid slip in the box in which I received my new cell phone, but as I was filling it out I realized that the phone I was giving away for free was probably valuable to somebody else. I got my new phone because I wanted something up to date for my job, but my old one was less than a year old. So could I sell my phone instead of getting nothing for it?

I had never thought about this before, but the longer I left my old cell phones lying around the less they would be worth, so I got on the internet and investigated. I'm actually surprised that the cell phone company doesn't offer a trade in for newer phones, maybe some do but mine carrier certainly doesn't.

I was really surprised at the number of places where I could sell my phone online. Most of these companies offer good money for some of the newer model cell phones. The Blackberry I used to have was worth between $50 and $100 depending on which company I chose to send it to. Mine was in perfect condition because I had kept it in a case and had protective film put on the glass, and an extra $100 would offset the cost of my new phone substantially.

But if I wanted to sell my phone to one of these online companies, could I trust them? Would I just send my phone away and never hear from anyone ever again? I realized I had to choose a company and do some more research. It didn't take long, I simply Googled each company name and checked to see if there were any complaints about them. One had a lot of complaints and those were mainly from people who said they sent in a phone that was in really good condition, but they didn't receive the amount that was quoted.

The company I chose had a lot of great feedback so I went to their site and downloaded a USPS shipping label. A few days later I received an email acknowledgement and a few days later I was notified by PayPal that there was nearly $100 sitting in my account! It was really easy.

Learn more about suggestions on how to sell mobile phone and ways to sell iPhone 3G 8GB.

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If You Give a Kid a Cell Phone

"Back in my day..." a lot of stories start this way when kids begin to ask for newfangled technology. Parents, grandparents, and the like are all saying "back in my day we didn't HAVE cell phones, and we turned out just fine!" This is true. There were no gsm cell phones back when your grandparents were growing up. Even now, for someone in their mid to late twenties, they can still remember rotary dial phones. There is no way that a child who is currently two years old will be able to know that those even existed.

Technology has boomed in the last twenty to thirty years. There is so much more that you can do now that you couldn't even have dreamed of when your grandparents were kids. But does that mean that the technology is bad?

Ask the child who is using their unlocked gsm mobile phone to look up a fact for a term paper on Wikipedia. Ask the kids who are keeping up with their friends on gsm mobile phones through texting and from many, many miles away. These kids will tell you that the technology is not only great but necessary.

By now, many people have seen the video of the baby playing with the Apple iPad and then trying to do the same things with a paper magazine. If there was ever any sign that technology will soon outstrip even the savviest of us, this was it. Technology is becoming more and more prevalent in our society but the question of "when should kids get cell phones" is still a major debate.

I hate to say it but "back in my day" I didn't have a phone until I was in high school. But we can't stay in those days forever. Kids need gsm mobile phones to stay in touch with parents who are giving them the freedom to commute to school by themselves on the train or ask to get picked up from practice after hours. This technology is necessary for parents and kids to stay in touch.

I still believe kids are going to need the ever diminishing skill of face to face communication, so perhaps setting up play dates where no cell phones are allowed is a good idea. But technology is coming on swift and strong, you won't be able to avoid it forever. Just make sure that you get them a nice strong phone so the risk of breaking it on the side of their crib is minimal.

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The Wonders of Mobile Phone Payment Services

Did you know that your humble mobile phone can be put to more use than just sending and receiving messages and making calls to your relatives and friends? Thanks to the latest technological advancements achieved in the world of mobile phones, you can now get the advantage of paying your monthly bills through your cell phone. Even many cheap mobile phones today have the facility to make payments and transfer money between two accounts.

If you're one of those who have a mobile payment service on your cheap mobile phone, you are a really lucky person. The service has come across as a very handy tool for those who want to save time and make their life a little easier on the issue of carrying out financial transactions.

Even a couple of years ago, the idea of executing financial transactions on a cheap cell phone were unthinkable. Most people viewed their mobile phone handsets as nothing more than mere tools of communication. And now, the mobile phone payment technology is not only a reality but one of the most popular emerging technologies.

The benefits of mobile phone payments are many. There's really no surprise in seeing a person use his cheap mobile phone to carry out financial transactions instead of going the traditional way. It's simply the convenience factor that has made the technology popular. So instead of feeling the need to venture out of your home to make a payment, you can simply lie around on your couch, press a few buttons on your phone and make the payment instantly.

Another big scoring point of the technology is that anybody can use it without any hassle. So, it doesn't matter whether you're a middle-aged person or a teenager because you can use the service as long as you have a cell phone handset with you.

Needless to say, mobile payments would get considerable traction in the next few years as cellular and payment technologies mature. They would become widely available as well. Several technologies are competing against one another to emerge as the established standard for virtual and physical mobile payments. Yet, it is ultimately the user who would determine the level of success of the technology through their adoption. The system will become popular only if it becomes cheaper and easier in transacting business by using the technology than by resorting to conventional methods.

But it can be concluded with a reasonable degree of affirmation that mobile payment services would indeed be the future of all financial transactions. Several companies are in fact ready to open their doors to the public. These companies have specialized in the field of financial transactions and are set to usher in the technology on a much wider scale in the next year.

And who knows, the sale of cheap mobile phones may see a fillip as people would make a beeline to buy them as surely won't want to be kept away from the technology. So if you're one of those intending to try out the mobile payment technology, get yourself a cheap cell phone in the first place.

Select from a wide range of contract phones, attractive mobile phone deals, cheap handsets & economical call plans.

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The Benefits of an Online Cell Phone Directory

When you need to find a telephone number for someone with a cell phone, it is somewhat different than seeking out someone that has a landline telephone. For a landline, you simply need to look inside the telephone book White Pages. Most individuals that have landline telephone numbers will have them listed in this way. This is not the case for those with wireless phone numbers. These kinds of phone numbers are not found in any telephone book; however, there are online directories. Most of these do require a fee. You can become included in an online Cell Phone Directory if you so desire.

These directories are normally free and you simply have to opt in to be included in the listings. Anyone that chooses to do so will have their number listed for free. You do not have to have your number listed in this directory to be afforded the luxury of utilizing the directory to find information.

Although there is information available, many people still do not know what a cell phone directory is. It is somewhat different than the average telephone book. The following are some of both the good and not so good points related to cell phone directories.

One of the best features of an online cell phone directory is the fact that many are free, unlike reverse mobile look-up directories that charge a fee for their information. For those seeking mobile numbers without having to pay fees, this is a great option.

Another great aspect of these free directories is the fact that they are quite simple to utilize. You simply enter the phone number and the directory will provide you the information about whom the number belongs to. To make your searches more fruitful, there are many ways you can seek the information you are looking for. You can search by the telephone number, the person's name, any affiliations, or simply the prefix and the area code. When inside the directory, you will also be given the option to add your own number to it so that anyone trying to find you can do so, as well.

One of the most major downsides to these types of directories is that they rely entirely on individuals inputting their own information in order to be included in the directory. So, unless the person that you are looking for has opted in to the specific directory you are searching, you will not find their phone number.

Also, many people have come to expect a certain level of privacy by owning a mobile phone instead of a landline, and by putting your name and number into one of these online directories gives up much of that expected privacy.

As more and more people switch to mobile phones over landlines, these directories will become more of the normal way of finding a telephone number. It is obvious that there is a need for this type of directory, and as more people switch to mobile phones this type of directory will become the norm.

Explore the benefits of a free online Cell Phone Directory.

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How to Find the Best Cheap Cell Phone Plan

Searching for the best cheap cell phone plan, unfortunately, could often be a complicated and tedious job. Anybody intending to avail of a cheap cell phone plan is likely to be overwhelmed to see the innumerable options before him. It often requires a patient research on part of the buyer.

It's obvious that there won't be one set cheap cell phone plan that would benefit all as because we all have our own wants and needs. What's perfect for one, may not work well for another.

Following are three things that you must keep in mind while searching for a cheap cell phone plan.

Determine your wants

Before starting your search for cheap mobile phone plans, carefully consider what you want. Make a list. If you want a cheap cell phone plan for your whole family than consider the needs of all those who would be using it. You must also have a budget for the plan as well. Once you have done that, think about the features that you would like to have in your plan. This could be an unending list and you must draw the line on what would be a necessity and what would be another fancy extra.

Be wary of discounts

Mobile phone companies often advertise incredible discounts and unbelievable freebies with cell phone plans. While there are some very good deals available, most of the deals are nothing but a cunning ploy to rake in more profits. After availing a plan you may not find it to be cheap. Companies have been found to increase the price of handsets in an effort to make up the losses incurred in offering the cheap cell phone plan. Ahead of subscribing to any cheap cell phone plan, carefully go through all the terms and conditions and read the fine print. Compare the plan with similar plans from other companies and pick the one which will be the best in the long run.

Take the advantage of group plans

A group plan could be advantageous of you want to buy a cheap mobile phone plan for your immediate family which includes your spouse and children. We usually spend a lot of time speaking to our family and bringing them under the same plan would obviously be economical. More economical would be to integrate your business contacts and friends to such a network. Mobile phone companies and the service providers would be more than willing to extend you this facility as that would bring more clients.

You can also save on your call charges by opting for a prepaid plan. Thought a prepaid plan is unlikely to benefit you if you spend a lot of time on your phone, nevertheless, if you have a budget and want your monthly mobile phone expenses restricted to that budget, you can go for a prepaid plan.

With more companies entering the communications space, there's a cutthroat competition in the market. Indulge in some bargaining and you can get a cheaper plan than the prevailing ones in the market.

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Top Benefits of Owning a Cheap Mobile Phone

Any person who can afford to own a mobile phone is sporting one these days. Gone are the days when a cell phone was considered to be the prerogative of only the rich. The availability of cheap cell phones today has enabled even the lower middle class people to buy one.

If you are still wondering whether or not to buy a cheap mobile, consider the following benefits that a cell phone has.

Stay connected anywhere and anytime

This is the most basic benefit of owning a cheap mobile. You can stay connected with any person anywhere in the world. Gone are the days when you used to stand in a long queue in front of a phone booth and had to wait endlessly to speak to your loved ones across the seven seas.

SMS

When the SMS was first introduced, mobile phone companies were apprehensive of whether it would be successful. They thought why a person would send a message to someone when they can call them straightaway. But today, SMS is a widely used service all over the world.

Help in case of emergencies

Imagine that you're stuck in the middle of a traffic jam and getting late for an appointment or that your car has broken down somewhere. A mobile can be of great help in such emergencies. You can call help immediately.

Navigation in your hand

Mobile phone technology is being constantly upgraded. Even cheap cell phones today are being equipped with GPRS systems. You'll never get lost anywhere if your cell phone can connect to the web. The internet will guide you to your destination.

Wholesome entertainment

If you have a mobile phone in your hands, you don't have to depend on the TV or your computer to entertain you. It's all there in your cell phone. Even if you have a cheap cell phone, you would be able to play games, click pictures, and listen to music. Many cheap mobile phones are also capable of recording videos.

Transferring data

Most mobile phones, these days, are equipped with Bluetooth technology which allows the transfer of files, pictures, music etc. between two handsets within seconds. You can perform all these activities even if you own a cheap mobile handset.

A mini computer

Mobile phones almost resemble a computer these days. The latest ones can surf the internet at amazing speeds, thanks to the advent of 3G technology. In fact, these days, you don't have to wait for your newspaper. You can simply log on to the internet and get the latest news, watch recently released movies and do a lot more.

Enhancing your business

A mobile phone is a great help in expanding your business. You can send message to potential clients, advertising your promotion. The mobile thus also acts as a great tool for brand promotion.

So, if you're still contemplating whether or not to buy a mobile, think no further. There are so many things to do with a cell phone.

Select from a wide range of contract phones, attractive mobile phone deals, cheap handsets & economical call plans.

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Information You Can Get From A Reverse Phone Search Database

For a few years, since the spread of caller identification and text messaging it has been typical to not respond to a phone call when it is from someone who you don't know. Today, determining the owner of the unfamiliar number is simple if you use reverse cell phone lookup services.

Private land line and smartphone numbers aren't included in phone books since they're private. You can only find them using reverse phone lookup services. Luckily, these reverse lookup services permit the public to research any telephone number, even private landlines and mobile phones.

Within 5 minutes of reading this article and following the steps below you will be able to find out exactly who any number belongs to. When you do a reverse cell phone lookup you will find important identifying information such as:

any other phone numbers that the owner has registered in their namethe phone owner's full address, name and possibly the names of their family memberssometimes the report even includes the phone owner's annual household income

Before you decide to pay for any information, you should first get some useful info for free. Below is what you can for free:

You can find out where, within a 50 mile radius, the phone is registered. You can find out if the phone is a cell or a land line and you will be shown if there is more information in the database about that particular phone number. You can then decide if you want to purchase the additional information.

If you are getting phone calls that you want to have stopped the first step is identifying the person who is calling you. Reverse cell phone lookup directories are the solution to most problems regarding strange phone calls.

There is a cost associated with getting the personal information of a caller. Luckily, the price is very low considering the kind of private data you will be getting.

The cost for a single lookup is a one-time fee of $15. A year-long subscription for $45 allows you to make an unlimited number of searches for an entire year.

These are the same databases that are used by the police and private investigators, so you know they must be high quality. The instant search results can be crossed with almost any number entered into the system to help you get more info. Besides just the owner's location you can get a large amount of information out of these databases.

While doing your investigation, you have to make sure that you only work the most reputable reverse cell phone lookup databases. You will know that a directory is reputable when it offers a 100% money back guarantee.

This part is important, so pay attention.

I have done the work for you and found the four best reverse phone search directories. These are the same databases that police and private investigators use and they give you a 100% money back guarantee. If you live north of the border, you can do a reverse phone lookup in Canada.

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Green on the Go: How to Be More Eco-Friendly With Your Phone

It's sexy to be sustainable. An entire culture has been constructed around using less paper, biking to work, and eating locally grown food. But in the midst of our hemp shirts and reusable water bottles lies a group of items that are doing little to further the cause: personal electronics.

In this era of globalization, we all want to stay connected to what is happening around us. Phones, computers, and TVs, however, use tremendous amounts of electricity and generate troublesome e-waste; the materials used in their production are not biodegradable by any means. Does this mean we have to give up our luxuries? Not necessarily. Find out how you can be more eco-friendly while still staying connected with these tips for green usage of one the aforementioned devices: your phone.

Use your phone more.

Huh!? How does increasing your phone usage help the environment? Don't get too excited; what I meant is to use your phone more in place of your computer. It is estimated that performing a task (ie updating Facebook status) on the computer takes an average of 100 times more electricity than performing the same task on a mobile device. So sorry to burst your bubble, this only works if you use your computer less in tandem. It is a great solution though for people on the go!

Protect your battery.

The less effective your battery becomes, the more often you will have to charge it. So take care of it to maximize its lifespan! Don't expose it to harsh conditions such as extreme temperatures. Also, try to maintain your battery levels somewhere in the middle, instead of overcharging it or letting it run out before charging, as both behaviors are damaging to the long-term efficiency of your battery.

Buy green accessories.

In the same vein, another way to maximize your battery efficiency, and thus reduce how often you have to charge your phone, is to buy accessories that do so for you. Currently, there are products on the market that use various alternative means of energy production to power your phone. They range from the common solar chargers to a very unique charger I once saw that was powered by the kinetic energy (movement) of a yo-yo!

Don't waste your batteries.

As my last piece of advice regarding power consumption, ask yourself if you really have to be connected 24/7. Turn off your phone (and unplug your charger too as it uses electricity even when not charging anything) at night. Besides, you don't want to be rudely awakened in the middle of the night by a call or text. Even in times you feel like you have to leave it on, if it is a smartphone, you'll be happy to hear that most smartphones come with settings that allow you to customize data usage and the rate at which your phone fetches data. Do you really need to get your emails as soon as they're in your inbox? Or can you wait 15-30 minute intervals as your phone fetches them intermittently for you? Do you really need to be on a 3G network all the time? Or can you turn it off and use the regular network from time to time? Anything that involves more data usage also drains your battery. So yes, using Wi-Fi instead of data will also help.

Reuse and recycle.

This one is a gimme. Recycle or sell your old phone to reduce generation of e-waste. Simple as that.

About the Author
Ivy Newport is the resident "green expert" at Every Little Bit Eco Shop, an online store offering everyday products that are conveniently green. Visit http://www.everylittlebitgreen.com/ for more tips & education on going green, as well as a wide variety of eco-friendly products for greener giving and greener living.

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A Look At The Top Cell Phone Service Providers

Choosing a cell phone, smart phone or 4G tablet isn't as easy as just reading reviews of the hardware. Picking the right cell phone service provider is crucial. Each of the major carriers offering cell phone service in the U.S. has their own lineup of phones, plans and features to offer, so what's the best way to choose? This guide to the four major U.S. cell phone service companies outlines some pros, cons and valuable information about each carrier that will make the choice a little easier.

Verizon Wireless

With over 90 million customers in the U.S., Verizon is the country's largest carrier. This is with good reason, as their network coverage and reliability are the highest-ranked of the major cell phone service providers. Verizon's customer support has also garnered praise. The company has, however, attracted criticism for its early termination fees. While every carrier has these fees, Verizon charges much higher fines for canceling a contract on what they term "advanced devices." What this means to consumers is getting out of a contract for a smart phone, which just about everyone has today, costs $350. Still if you're dedicated to Verizon and planning on staying the length of the contract, their service is hard to beat.

AT&T

AT&T really rose to prominence among cell phone service providers with the 2007 debut of the iPhone. Their four-year exclusivity deal with Apple meant anyone who wanted the sought-after technical marvel needed to switch to AT&T. Now that the exclusivity has passed, some of AT&T's rough spots are showing and they are losing ground. The company is still a popular choice for its sheer number of devices offered, the best selection among all major carriers. The only knock on AT&T is that its service is known to be inconsistent regionally. If you are big on hardware selection and already know reception is good in your area, though, it's definitely a safe bet.

Sprint

Sprint is looking to gain ground and differentiate itself from the other cell phone service providers with its variety of flexible plans dedicated to data usage. With more cell phone users employing their phones for texting, browsing and email than they do to make phone calls, this looks like a very savvy strategy. Sprint is now the only provider that offers an unlimited data plan, a major benefit for professionals and others who rely heavily on web connectivity. The downsides to Sprint, as reported by customers, are that their customer service is sometimes lacking and that coverage might be occasionally spotty based on location.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile is the newest challenger to the major cell phone service providers. The company works to differentiate by positioning itself as the most user-friendly of the major service providers. This approach is backed by excellent customer service and the widest variety of phone service options, geared toward allowing customers to pick exactly what services they need to build an affordable plan. The only downfall to T-Mobile is that their network is not up to par with the others in many areas, especially in 3G service. T-Mobile is an economical choice, though, so customers looking to save money may want to read local reviews to see if their nearby T-Mobile service would suit their needs.

To learn more about cell phone service, visit our website at MyReviewsNow.net.

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Windows Phone - The Future of Phones

There are many people interested in smart phones who do not want to buy Apple iPhones, but up until now, there haven't been a whole lot of options that can compare. However, Microsoft seems poised to give the smart phone market their best shot. News has been brewing from a variety of sources about what is now being touted as the Mango (some called it Tango), as a major competitor to the high-end market. The mid-market price point is making a lot of people excited, because instead of going out the gate with a high-priced option, the company is going with a middle of the road price option that will directly compete with Droid and iPhone and knock them down a few pegs.
The stripped-down phone has been named Tango in recent posts, and most are enjoying the play on words that comes along with an operating system that will be native to the device, Mango. Tango Mango is something that Microsoft officials are keeping tight-lipped about.
What people are talking about most often is not so much the name, although there are plenty of pundits that enjoy making fun of the company's naming conventions. Technology buffs are looking at the recent release of the names of the manufacturers that are working closely with Microsoft. Nokia and Samsung are prepping to hose the phones and will hope to combine the software they are developing with a stripped-down phone version that will have plenty of features, including mobile computer networking, with a more intuitive design.
The learning curve that many people have to go through when it comes to getting into the smart phone world is vast, which is why Microsoft is choosing to go with a bit more simplistic approach. While most devices that are being pushed by large companies try to mimic the abilities of Apple, the Windows phone is not trying to be another carbon copy, they are truly trying to innovate. Innovations might seem few and far between with phone technology, especially since most people believe that there is nothing new under the sun in regards to the latest and greatest in communication devices. However, leave it to Bill Gates and company to try and shake things up with all new media implications.
In a recent showcase, the Windows and Nokia model "Apollo" was presented as a stand-alone option that will have voice to speech recognition, text to speech, and so much more. You'll see a fully integrated and intuitive design that is set to be released early 2012 at the very soonest, with many technology bloggers giving it a Mid-2012 time frame.
To clear up some confusion, the Windows Phones Mango, Tango 1, Tango 2, and Apollo are all being released sooner than later, and the phone's OS will be interesting to see. Some videos have leaked to showcase the interesting functionality of the phone, which very well maybe the one true iPhone killer that some fans of Microsoft have been waiting on for some time now. It will be interesting to see if that is in fact what will occur, even though it seems like a tall task.
Penny Lee specializes in providing reliable computer support California to businesses that want to improve productivity and profitability. With IT support in California and computer networking that better maps to your business, you'll never have to worry about technology again.
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