Hewie's Views & Reviews January 17 2005

February, 2005

++++ Connect your PC to your Cell Phone

I often hear the loud annoying cell phone rings everywhere I go.  However, I couldn’t hear my own.  I went to the company store and had them check all of the settings to no avail.  We used the loudest ring tones and it still wasn’t loud enough.  I gave up after almost a year and purchased new phone. 

Since every phone has a different charger connection, I had to look for a new case and auto charger.  The company store wanted $26 for a case that I found on the web for $9. I also decided to purchase software that connects my phone to my PC.  For around $40 from the same vendor, I purchased DataPilot  http://www.datapilot.com/ for my new phone.  It included a CD with software, and a USB cable for my model. 

As instructed, I installed the software, then connected the phone.  I had a bit of a problem with the software recognizing the phone through the USB connection.  By being persistent, it worked after turning the phone off and on and rebooting the PC a few times.  There are six separate parts to the software; Phone Book Manager, Internet Data Connect, Ringtone Composer, SMS Manager, Image Editor, and Calendar Support.  All  but SMS mail works with my particular model.  I was particularly interested in the Phone Book Manager.  It found my Outlook Phone Book and brought in all of my contacts.  I could manipulate and edit them, as well as assigning quick dial codes for each. Once that was done, I uploaded my list to the phone. A word of caution, it does overwrite what is already on the phone.  You can backup your phone list to the PC as well.

This is my first phone with a built in camera. It costs 25 cents plus kilobyte charges to send each picture to an email address.  The Image Editor allows me to upload or download any picture directly. I can snap away, and then download to the PC and e-mail for free.  The Ringtone Composer allows me to compose my own ring tone, or download several file types from the Internet and then send to the phone.  Many are available free.  Without this software, ringtones are $2.49 or more and plus a data charge. 

There is support to connect to my Outlook calendar and add all of the activities to the phone. This works well and I can view any appointments or events.

There is also a feature that I have not tried.  The Internet Data Connect will allow my phone to act as a modem connection to the Internet for my laptop.  I can’t cost justify it, so I have not activated it.  My phone company charges $2.99 for 500K of transfer, $9.99 for 2MB of transfer or $19.99 per month for unlimited transfer.  Time charges still prevail, but nights and weekends there is no time charged.  That’s not bad, if you need it.  One friend mentioned that phone battery time becomes the problem, and I also suggested that the laptop battery is also an issue.

On the whole, I recommend the DataPilot from Susteen, Inc.  You can check their site http://www.datapilot.com/ to see if your phone is supported.

++++ Used Cell Phones

When I changed cell phones, I now have a useless phone. There are some charities that you can donate a cell phone. I donated one to a domestic violence center a few years ago.  If you don’t want to donate your old phone there is a Florida company that will purchase your old phone, refurbish it and sell it in South America.  They have set prices on different models.  After signing up, you receive postage free packaging and once returned, they will send you the agreed upon amount.  My old phone has a $38 value.  Take a look at http://www.cellforcash.com/ to see what that phone in your drawer might get for you.  If you don’t care, please donate it to a charity that accepts them in your area.