One of the new APPS is the SIRI Voice Recognition
software. You need to have the new operating system IOS 6.0 for this APP to
work. The SIRI Voice APP recognizes your voice requests and returns quickly
with an answer. You can ask it anything
like: What is the weather like today? Call home. Where is the nearest coffee
shop? Get me direction to the local library, etc., etc. … There are also thousands of other APPs that
you can get from the APP Store and many of them are free.
Although I like the iPhone, I just can’t justify the two
year contract and the monthly phone bill which is about $80.00 for voice and a
data plan per month or $960 per year.
That’s a lot of money to browse the web, read emails and make a few
phone calls. Of course if you use the
phone all the time for work or school maybe you need the constant connectivity
that you get with a contract plan.
One way around the monthly bills is to buy an iPod Touch.
It costs about $200 one time and no monthly fees. The iPod Touch has all the same APPS as the
iPhone and can even make phone calls with the SKYPE APP and a Wi-Fi connection.
However, it does not have GPS if that is a primary need. There are Wi-Fi hotspots in most Malls,
Hospitals, Schools, Airports and Restaurants. Every McDonalds and Starbucks has
a free Wi-Fi connection. You can wirelessly connect your lap top or iPod to the
internet at any of these hotspots.
Unfortunately, you may be too far away from the nearest
hotspot for the free Wi-Fi or you may be in the car moving along the highway (as
a passenger) or at a restaurant that doesn’t have Wi-Fi. In this situation, you can always wait until
you get home or stop and find the nearest hotspot.
However, if you can’t wait you can buy a small device called
a Mi-Fi. This device acts as your own hotspot and can wirelessly connect five
or more Wi-Fi devices to a phone network and the internet. It’s the size of a small cell phone and
connects to the nearest cell phone tower through a 3G or 4G network and a
provider like ATT, Verizon or Sprint.
Some cell phone providers sell the Mi-Fi device for over
$100 and you have to buy minutes or data packages by contract or pay as you go.
I bought my Mi-Fi through Wal-Mart for about $80 and it’s called “Internet On
The Go” and connects to the Sprint phone network. The minimum pay as you go package is $10 for
500 MB and no contract. This data package is equivalent to receiving 10,000
emails over your Mi-Fi device. It’s good for one year and will probably last me
several months with my limited usage. You
can see some info and data plans at the web link ….. http://www.internet-go.com/
I then connect my
Mi-Fi to my iPod Touch and can use it just like an iPhone. This allows me to browse the internet, get my
email or make a phone call (just like an iPhone) with no contract and no
monthly fees. However, just like any
cell phone you need to have a cell phone tower in the area to make a
connection. Even the best cell phones
loose connections in rural areas or dead spots.
You can compare other Mi-Fi plans at the website
below. Scroll down to middle of the
article and browse the table of providers.……
http://www.prepaid-wireless-guide.com/best-mifi-plans.html . From the table you can see that the True
Connect plan is the best for no contract. Even though it says $4.99 per month,
it is now no contract. Just buy the
device at Wal-Mart with a $10 Data card and follow the directions to register
your Mi-Fi. I found that it works everywhere in my local area.
Another consideration is the service area coverage you
get from the provider. The Sprint network is available in my area and suits my
needs. You can see a comparison chart for coverage
and some maps at the web site … http://www.cellreception.com/search.php?zip=01887&page=1 . Just type in your zip code to check the
coverage in your area and see which provider meets your needs.
1 comment:
It is no doubt, a great offer for occasional users like me. I do not like the fixed bundle of MB kind of plans, that is why I switched to Truconnect
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