You’re probably overpaying if you spend more than $100 a month (for an individual). Here are some tips for slashing that bill. However, there are X great ways to cut that excessive phone bill and save big.

Phone Deals, Smart Deals, and More: 10 Ways to Reduce Your Phone Bill

While skipping the latest phone upgrades and taking advantage of discounts can help, there are even more ways to lower your monthly phone bill and cut unnecessary expenses. Whether you have a family plan, a single line, or need unlimited data, making a few strategic changes can help you save money every month.

1.  Find the Right Plan for You

The easiest way to save the most money on your plan is to ensure you’re signed up for the best plan that fits your needs. You don’t want to pay for data that you don’t use or face charges for sending more than your allotted texts. Likewise, why pay for unlimited talk if you always use messaging apps?

Comparing cell phone plans can be difficult and confusing, but WhistleOut takes the stress out of it. Enter some info about your phone, usage, and network, and it will tell you which plan offers the best value.

2.  Know Your Limits and Be Smart About Data Usage

Download My Data Manager, an app you can use to track your data usage and know which apps are using the most data. This can help you monitor your actual usage and reign in video streaming and other data-intensive activities. My Data Manager also has useful features like an automatic alert when you get close to your plan’s limits or your chosen daily limits.

Stay under data limits by using Wi-Fi as much as possible, especially for activities like streaming video or making face-to-face calls, which use the most data.

3.  Skip the New Phone

Now that most major carriers have eliminated cell phone contracts and subsidies, there’s even less incentive to upgrade every time a new phone comes out. Sticking with an older phone or buying a used phone instead of a new one will greatly reduce your monthly bills.

4.  Just Say No to Insurance 

Unless you’re prone to losing or breaking your phone often, it’s usually a smarter financial decision to skip insurance on your phone. Instead, keep an older phone as a backup in case your current phone breaks or is lost, or set aside the money you would have spent on insurance as an emergency account you can tap should something happen to your cell.

5.  Take Advantage of Discounts

All of the major carriers except T-Mobile have discount programs affiliated with some schools and large employers, as well as for military members. Enter your affiliated email address into the discount page on the carrier’s site to see if you qualify.

6. Consider Prepaid or Smaller Carriers

Many carriers offer prepaid plans that eliminate extra fees and monthly payments for financed phones. Companies like Mint Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, and Cricket Wireless don’t have their own networks; instead, they provide reliable phone service at a lower price by using the networks of larger providers.

If you are comfortable paying for your plan upfront, prepaid carriers offer some of the best deals for reducing your monthly cell phone bill.

7. Join a Family Plan or Group Plan

Most major carriers offer discounts for multiple lines, making a family plan one of the best ways to save monthly money on your cell phone bill. Combining four lines or more on a group plan often results in significant savings if you have friends, family members, or even roommates looking to cut costs.

Even if you don’t have family members to join your plan, some services allow you to join group plans with others to reduce your monthly bill.

8. Avoid Extra Fees and Hidden Charges

Many people unknowingly overpay for their monthly phone bill due to hidden fees and unnecessary add-ons. Common charges that drive up cell phone costs include:

-Activation fees when upgrading or switching carriers

-Roaming charges for international travel

-Premium data add-ons when high-speed data is not necessary

-Phone insurance that may not be needed if you keep an old phone as a backup

Check your phone bill regularly to see what charges you can eliminate. Many people don’t realize they are paying for services they don’t use.

9. Trade In Your Old Phone Instead of Buying New

Buying a new phone outright or financing it through a cell phone carrier can add hundreds of dollars to your monthly bill per month. Instead of paying full price for the latest smartphone, consider trade-in programs or buying a used or refurbished phone.

Trade-ins allow you to:

-Apply the value of your old phone toward a new device, reducing upfront costs.

-Avoid activation fees that often come with new lines.

-Save money on monthly payments if you finance a new phone.

If your current phone still works well, delaying an upgrade and keeping your old phone longer is one of the easiest ways to lower your cell phone bill.

10. Compare Phone Plans and Switch Carriers

Many people stick with the same phone plans for years without realizing they could get a better deal elsewhere. Major carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile frequently update their offers, meaning you may be overpaying for features you don’t need.

Before your contract renews, compare your cell phone plan with competitors to see if you can get a better deal. Some mobile carriers even offer to pay off your current phone or contract if you switch, making finding a more affordable plan easier.

Switch From Your Carrier Locked Phone with Gazelle

The average cell phone bill is higher than it should be for many people, but taking simple steps like switching carriers, limiting data usage, and joining a group plan can make a huge difference. You can reduce your monthly bill and keep more money in your pocket by cutting unnecessary expenses, taking advantage of trade-in programs, and using Wi-Fi whenever possible.

However, providers don’t want you to easily switch your plans. That’s why they tend to lock phones and prevent you from moving freely between providers. If you have a phone you can’t unlock and want to switch, you can sell it to Gazelle.

After selling your old phone, buy one of Gazelle’s affordable, unlocked, refurbished devices. With Gazelle, you can count on a certified refurbished seal of quality and know your phone will work how it should. Saving on great tech today is as easy as choosing Gazelle whenever you need to buy a new-for-you phone.

FAQs

How much is a phone bill for a month?

The cost of a phone bill per month varies depending on the cell phone carrier, phone model, plan features, and how many lines are included. An average monthly phone bill in the U.S. is around $110, but you can do much lower with budget plans from providers like Boost Mobile. Switching to a prepaid plan or choosing a lower-tier plan with limited data can help reduce cell phone costs.

How much is AT&T cell phone bill?

AT&T offers a range of cell phone plans, with prices depending on plan options, data limits, and the number of lines on the account. A single-line unlimited data plan starts at around $65 per month before fees and taxes, while a family plan with four lines can cost around $160. Promotions and trade-in deals can sometimes lower new customers’ monthly cell phone bills.

How much does a single phone plan cost?

A single phone plan typically costs between $50 and $100 per month, depending on the cell phone carrier and whether the plan includes unlimited data, mobile hotspot data, and high-speed data. Prepaid plans from companies like Mint Mobile can be as low as $15 per month, while major carriers like Verizon and AT&T charge more for premium features. The best deal depends on data usage and whether you need international calling or other features.

How much are phone bills per year?

The average phone bill for an individual in the U.S. is around $110 per month, up to about $1,320 per year. However, costs can be higher for those who finance a new phone, have multiple lines, or pay for premium services. Reducing phone plans, limiting data usage, and using Wi-Fi can help save money on cell phone bills over the year.

The post How Much is a Phone Bill Per Month? How to Save Each Month Gazelle Labs appeared first on Gazelle The Horn.

Beats Pill

The Beats Pill is designed for portability and comes with its own unique carrying case that can be clipped onto a variety of surfaces. It comes in several colors including black, white and limited-edition pink. It offers Bluetooth connectivity, or you can also sync it directly from your computer. The speaker has great range, so you can listen outside while it’s connected to your computer inside. One of the best features is its long battery life—that means less time charging and more time playing.

Jawbone Jambox

This sleek, stylish speaker is as beautiful as it is useful. You can seamlessly stream more than just music; try broadcasting phone calls through the Jawbone to bring the office outdoors. It features an internal rechargeable battery that gives you up to ten hours of play when fully charged. Jawbone’s MyTALK portal lets you wirelessly update your software and apps.

Bose SoundLink

If you’re a music lover, you’re probably already very familiar with Bose products. They’ve managed to package their full-sized speakers’ powerful sound into a compact, portable version with the Bose SoundLink. Voice prompts make pairing the device with your smartphone easy, and with eight hours of battery life, you don’t have to worry about running out of power at your family picnic or beach day.

Mpow Portable Waterproof Speaker

If you love the outdoors and plan to spend most of your summer in the water, this is the portable speaker for you. Not only is it water-resistant, it’s also shock-absorbing. The Mpow boasts great range, providing rich bass to boost any musical genre.

EC Technology Mini Speaker

This easy-to-use speaker connects with all Bluetooth-enabled devices and has an audio jack for hardwired connections. It has an outstanding connection range of up to 33 feet and can double as a speakerphone. The cube shape makes it compact and light—small enough to fit in the palm of your hand—while offering high-quality sound.

What are your favorite Bluetooth speakers to pair with your smartphone?

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New phones come with the peace of mind of knowing that the device is in factory-fresh condition. However, buying a refurbished phone from a reputable seller also guarantees a device in good condition with significantly lower costs. With the high prices of many new smartphones, here are some reasons why a used or refurbished phone may be a better investment for you.

Price and Affordability

Refurbished iPhones typically cost less than their brand new counterparts of the same make and model. At a time when brand new smartphones often cost more than $500 or even close to $1,000, refurbished smartphones can save you up to 50 percent or more off original pricing.

Good for the Environment

When you buy a used or refurbished phone, you’re engaging in a form of recycling. Old phones are otherwise disposed of, contributing to pollution. New phones require manufacturers to deplete more of the earth’s raw materials, so by buying a refurbished phone, you’re investing in sustainability and a better environment.

Think of the millions of people buying used and refurbished phones—you’ll be part of a significant positive impact on the planet.

Test–Drive Advantage

Instead of buying an expensive, brand-new smartphone that you might end up disliking soon afterward, you could purchase a used or refurbished device with a similar brand or operating system to the new phone that interests you. This way, you’ll get to test-drive that type of phone before making a significant investment in the new device of your choice.

Would you consider a used or refurbished iPhone? Check out Gazelle.com to learn more.

Image courtesy of Flickr

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The post Why Refurbished iPhones Are a Better Investment Ian C. Paul appeared first on Gazelle The Horn.

I waited a few seconds before bending down to recover my fragile iPhone. Flipping it over revealed a spider-man crack smothering the glass, leaving me on a mission to find out how to fix my iPhone screen – and my key to the outside world.

Most of us have gone through this fiasco, unfortunately so. After a slight breakdown at the sight of my shattered screen, I awoke to reality: Living in the age of technology, we have more fixing options than ever. So before you have “phantic” attack, consider your options (just to name a few):

• The Apple Store: The Genius Bar can replace your screen if it’s not too damaged underneath the glass. This option is cheaper than an out-of-contract replacement from your carrier, but if they take off the screen and can’t replace it, you’re out of luck.
• Certified pre-owned: When you aren’t due for an upgrade and $600 at the Apple Store is too expensive, Gazelle offers a variety of smartphones at low-cost – no contract and risk-free. You might also want to consider which option is more bang for your buck, the cost of a used iPhone or replacing the screen.
• DIY: Tech-savvy users may want to take care of the damage themselves. There are varieties of online resources that provide instructions to self-replace an iPhone screen, though not recommended for the everyday consumer.

Next time you’re iPhone screen breaks, know that you’re not alone. When it happens (because it probably will), research your options before going into full-fledged phanic.

Kevin Walther is a communications specialist at Gazelle and editor for The Horn. Reach him at kwalther@gazelle.com and follow him at @waltherkevin. Connect with Gazelle on Twitter and Facebook.

Image via Flickr.

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Buying on a Budget

Your budget should be the first thing you consider before making a purchase, as it will limit or expand your choices. In almost all situations, pre-owned or refurbished phones cost less than new ones. Be careful when evaluating the cost of a phone that’s subsidized by a contract —you may end up paying more in the long run.

Smooth Operator

Today, the choice between operating systems (OSs) on smartphones is largely limited to Android, Windows or iOS. Each of these OS ecosystems varies in terms of user experience, app availability and user base. iOS devices tend to be pricier than their Android counterparts, Statista notes. Android apps also tend to be less expensive than both Windows and iOS apps.

It’s worth noting that some apps may be limited to a specific operating system. If you require certain business or personal apps that are only available on a certain platform or generation of device, then the choice becomes clear—and could potentially overrule the used versus new phone debate.

Keeping Up Appearances

A pre-owned phone might be the best choice for you if you don’t mind a bit of an older design aesthetic or a few superficial blemishes. Even so, used phones are always cleaned up and shined to meet certification requirements. At Gazelle, all smartphones go through a 30-point inspection and certified as ‘like-new’ or good.’

Do You Want Locked or Unlocked?

Unlocked phones provide more flexibility when choosing a carrier. As a result, these phones may run you more than their locked, carrier-specific counterparts. Both used phones and new ones can be factory- or carrier-unlocked. Make sure you understand all the repercussions of buying and owning an unlocked phone before you make a choice.

Have you purchased a new or used phone? Are you planning to purchase one? Share your comments below.

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Top Apple News and Rumors:

• Apple Q1 earnings fail to impress
• New Apple mobile payment system coming soon?
• Sapphire displays could feature on next iPhone
• New touchscreen patent from Apple filed
• Apple TV update set for a Spring launch

Apple Q1 Earnings: 51m iPhones and 26m iPads Sold

The Q1 earnings are out from Apple and while sales look impressive, analysts are still not impressed. Apple netted $13.1 billion in profit on $57.6 billion in revenue for the quarter.

Apple sold 51 million iPhones for the quarter, which is a 6.7% jump in sales year-over-year and a new record for the company. Many analysts predicted Apple would sell between 54-74 million units for the quarter.

As for the iPad, Apple sold 26 million units, which represents a 13.5% increase year-over year. Since the iPad first started in 2010, Apple has now sold 195 million tablets.

The company also sold 4.8 million Macs, compared to 4.06 million in the year-ago quarter. Apple finally noted the company returned $7.7 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the December quarter.

Apple will likely launch new products – and even new categories – (iWatch, iTV, phablets) later in the year.

Apple Mobile Payment System Coming Soon Claims the WSJ

Looking to pay for everything using your iPhone? According to the Wall Street Journal, you may be in luck. The report claims Apple’s Senior Vice President of Internet and Software services, Eddy Cue, recently met with top executive industry leaders regarding new Apple mobile payment options. The new mobile payment system from Apple is believed to work off of user’s current iTunes accounts, which are currently only able to be used to make purchases inside of iTunes. The new system may allow account holders to make purchases outside of iTunes. With over 575 million registered iTunes users, the opportunity for Apple is huge, according to many industry analysts.

iPhone 6 Could Sport A Full Sapphire Display

New reports coming out of Asia say the upcoming iPhone 6 screen may be a complete Sapphire display. The use of Sapphire is nothing new for Apple, as the material is used as a lens cover for the rear-facing camera on last year’s iPhone 5 and on the new TouchID compatible home button on the iPhone 5S. Last November Apple and GT Advanced Technology signed a five-year, $578 million deal for Sapphire manufacturing. Apple may be leveraging this partnership this year, as Apple is rumored to be testing sapphire-covered iPhone prototype units. Apple’s current iPhones use Corning Gorilla Glass for the display panel, but these moves hint a shift to sapphire for the new iPhone models coming this year.

Apple has invested heavily in sapphire over the years, as they now own 10 percent of the world’s manufactured sapphire.

Will We See A New Apple TV This Spring?

New Apple TV rumors from 9to5mac point to Apple releasing a new Apple TV set-top box this Spring. The source close to the popular Apple site claims, “Apple is making progress on its development of a successor to the current Apple TV and that the device is well into testing.” The new Apple TV will be introduced in the first half of 2014, and will be a set-top box and not a full-blown HD television, according to the source. Besides the new expected hardware, a major software updates may be released with the new set-top box. Another report today from the Apple blog iLounge, claims a new pending software update could bring gaming controls to the Apple TV. iLounge says Apple engineers are working on adding support for new Bluetooth gaming controllers.

Pressure-Sensitive iPhone and iPad Displays Headed Our Way

Apple Insider has confirmed a new Apple patent for pressure-sensitive touchscreens has been filed by Apple. The patent, called “Gesture and Touch Input Detection Through Force Sensing,” was published today by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Apple is looking to further improve screen sensitivity by implementing new special pressure sensors located around the corners of the device. By adding new touch-sensitive pressure points to the outer bezel, it could open up a new commands and gestures that Apple could incorporate into future mobile devices. One other feature that could show up in Apple products as a result of this patent is determining the force of an onscreen press. The new multiple force-sensors described in the patent could allow users to push the screen harder to trigger a new command or control. This could be a really cool feature for gaming, drawing, and even taking pictures or video.

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The First Mac

Jobs gave a memorable presentation onstage for the Mac’s debut, in which he unpacked it, plugged it in, and powered it on. The graphical user interface, the mouse’s ease of use, and killer applications like MacWriter were remarkably intuitive and unlike anything users had seen before. 

Debuting at $2,495, the first Mac competed with big brands like IBM, which had just joined the personal computer business and was building momentum. One year prior, in 1983, the Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet program had made $50 million in sales, which cemented computers as mainstream business tools as opposed to hobby appliances. 

What’s Changed?

The first Macs were marketed in much the same way as they are today: easy-to-use tools that mesh seamlessly with our daily lives. What has changed, however, is the price tag: from over $2,000 to less than half that price for some modern-day Macs.

In 1984, personal computing was still young. When the Mac debuted, it changed the industry as people knew it by re-imagining computers and bringing them into people’s homes. Today, people from almost all industries use Macs for a variety of tasks. Apple continues to tweak and improve on current versions, and their usage continues to evolve.

The Mac Timeline

Following the arrival of the first Mac, Apple debuted a new computer each year until 1991: the Macintosh XL in 1985; the Macintosh Plus in 1986; then the Mac 11, 11x, Portable, LC, and PowerBook. The first iMac hit shelves in 1998, and the first iBook in 2000. The next decade saw the release of a variety of different Macs, the latest in the 30 years of the Macintosh being the Mac Pro.

To this day, Apple finds itself on the cutting edge of personal computer technology, still pushing the envelope of what is possible in the industry. The company recently released a video documenting the history of the Mac accompanied by these words: “Thirty years ago, Apple introduced the Macintosh with the promise to put the creative power of technology in everyone’s hands. It launched a generation of innovators who continue to change the world. This thirty-year time line celebrates some of those pioneers and the profound impact they’ve made.” 

What features do you think Apple has in store for future Mac versions?

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Apple products like the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, are known for having some of the most sensitive touchscreens in the business. Apple is looking to further improve screen sensitivity by implementing new special pressure sensors located around the corners of the device.

Apple has noted that some gestures on current devices involving a swipe or pinch from a screen’s edge are often handled as an unintended action. By adding new touch-sensitive pressure points to the outer bezel, it could open up a new commands and gestures that Apple could incorporate into future mobile devices.

One other feature that could show up in Apple products as a result of this patent, is determining the force of an onscreen press. The new multiple force-sensors described in the patent could allow users to push the screen harder to trigger a new command or control. This could be a really cool feature for gaming, drawing, and even taking pictures or video. Imagine hitting the screen harder to force a harder hit or boost while playing a fighting game for example. This would bring an extra element to game play, which gamers will love.

At the end of the day this new Apple patent is all about Apple innovating and bringing new features to future products. If the patents actually make it to final production units is another question. Current Apple products already incorporate some of the best screen sensitivity and accidental touch detection features around. As both an Android user (phone) and iPad user, I can admit to having performed many more accidental swipes and touches on my Android devices over my iPad. Hopefully this type of tech benefits the mobile industry as a whole, and not just Apple users down the road.

via: Macrumors

image – AppleInsider

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