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5 Popular Travel Gadgets to Take With You on the Road

These days travelling involves packing gadgets more sophisticated than the clothes in your suitcase. Technology has definitely come a long way in improving the quality our travel experiences. By no means, though, do you want to become so laden down or dependent on travel gadgets that you no longer know how to enjoy yourself without being connected to some kind of device. However, there are some gadgets that can be lifesavers when we are on the road.

Besides the obvious devices like iPods, iPhones, video cameras, or even portable laundry gadgets, there are other technological advancements that can bring about peace of mind and lighten the load of travelling.

Here are 5 popular travel gadgets that you might want to take with you on your next trip:

1. Digital Reader: Instead of lugging the latest best sellers in your suitcase a digital reader such as Amazon's Kindle or Sony's Reader can help create some space, not to mention make things a bit lighter. You can even get some of your favorite newspapers and magazines available on an e-reader. So, if you are not a literary purist who must physically turn the pages of a book, a digital reader can be a great way to take your library with you.

2. Memorex Money Clip Flash Drive: This is not your ordinary money clip; it is an electronic multi-tasking tool. The Memorex Money Clip also serves as a 1GB USB drive so that you can also store such things as photos, files, and music. Plus, it provides a safe way to carry cash when you are on the go.

3. Trace Me Luggage Tag: Losing your luggage is a real downer when travelling. However finding ways to avoid such disasters has just got easier with the durable Trace Me Luggage Tag, which has a bar code and serial number that can be scanned if your luggage gets lost. Once the tag is scanned, you get an email or text that lets you know exactly where your bags have ended up.

4. Novatel Mifi: Although you do not always want to be connected on a holiday, there are moments when you might need to get online that do not always involve holing up in your hotel or the nearest Starbucks. For those occasions when you need to get online at the unlikeliest places, get Novatel's Mifi, a personal Wi-Fi hotspot connection. You do have to sign up for a contract from Verizon, but it may be worth it if you are always on the go.

5. Power Monkey Solar Charger: How are you going to keep all those gadgets charged? This small charger can be used for such things as cell phones, digital cameras, iPods, and much more. The Power Monkey Solar Charger is charged by the sun. So simply leave it by a window, attach to your backpack or leave on a car dashboard. When one of your trusty gadgets runs out of power, there is no need to go searching for a plug. Simply attach to the Power Monkey and your device of choice will run for hours.

About the Author

Simon Brady is the director of content for Executive Gift Shoppe. They specialize in
travel alarm clocks
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personalized gifts
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Bell Mobility

Equipment

Their cellular network utilizes CDMA, PTT, 1xRTT, 1xEVDO and HSPA+ technology. Previously they used AMPS, however the analog decommission was completed in 2008.

Their handset lineup includes phones from LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sanyo. The lineup also includes smartphones from Motorola, Palm, RIM, Samsung, HTC and UTStarcom, Apple Inc., and connection cards from Sierra Wireless, Novatel and Kyocera.

Bell became the second Canadian mobile carrier to carry the Apple iPhone (after Rogers Wireless) on November 4, 2009 when Bell launched a new HSPA+ mobile network.

Bell Mobility also features a line up of devices built to withstand various weather conditions and modems.

Services

CDMA 850 and 1900

HSPA+ (Launched November 4, 2009)

1xRTT and EVDO highspeed mobile internet

BlackBerry handheld devices and services

Apple iPhone 3G and 3GS

Wireless data services

SMS

Live Mobile TV

Mobile Full-Length Movie Downloads

Mobile Sirius Satellite Radio

Mobile Full-Track Music downloads

Video Calling

Bell on November 4, 2009 launched a Video Calling service on select HSPA+ mobile phones. The service is available currently on the LG Xenon and Samsung Omnia II mobile phones, with the promise of more phones to come. The service costs $5 CAD for unlimited video calls.

Bell offers a service to check account balances, minutes and megabytes of mobile data used, add features and answers to frequently asked questions. The service is called TCARE, Short for text message care. It is used by sending a blank message to the phone number TCARE (82273). After doing so, you will receive a menu with four options. Replying with the letter A: for account balance, B: for usage, C: Add a feature, or D: FAQ's.

Advertising campaigns

As part of their previous media advertising campaign in print and on TV, Bell Mobility featured a pair of anthropomorphic CGI beavers named Frank (voiced by Norm Macdonald) and Gordon (voiced by Ken Hudson Campbell) , who constantly got into misadventures which led to Frank getting flustered with the antics of the dimwitted Gordon.

Analysts covering a potential restructuring of BCE suggested getting rid of the Frank and Gordon ad campaign. They have also criticized some of Bell Mobility's initiatives as failing to tap the market, such as offering full-length movies.

The ad campaign was canceled by Bell on August 1, 2008 and replaced with the "Today just got better" campaign.

Controversies

Feature Restrictions

Some clients of Bell Mobility have claimed that their phones features have been restricted. This action is typically referred to as rippling. Examples of claims of restricted features are the inability to perform Bluetooth file transfers, for example with the OBEX profile or with a USB cable. Restrictions also include increasing the GPS lock time (210 minutes) and resolution (1-2.5KM) of Third Party applications while maintaining the speed (10-15s) and accuracy (10-25m) of the branded GPS Nav program. GPS Nav service costs $10/month or $3.50/day in addition to the cost of a data plan. The phones affected include the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition, BlackBerry 8130 Pearl, and BlackBerry 8330 Curve.

Some clients claim that Bell Mobility purposely restricts these features in order to force them to use the data services and as a result pay more usage charges. Methods around these restrictions are to use an external Memory Card or software such as BitPim. Researching the abilities and lack thereof is recommended before purchasing a phone or PDA device, as some desired features may be lacking in the initial choice.

Some clients claim that Bell Mobility witholds Firmware upgrades, especially for devices that are not meeting sales expectations. While some SKU's do receive updates on a regular basis, Bell Mobility is reluctant to release upgrades that add enhancements to product, focusing only on firmwares that fix issues. Often times those upgrades fail to become available as well.

Data Plans

In December 2007 the BBC reported a customer with a $7/month unlimited mobile browser plan received a $85,000 bill. The customer had used his phone as a wireless modem for his computer, and so data transferred was not included under the customer's unlimited mobile browser plan. Bell Mobility now releases in detail acceptable data usage in the terms of service. The BBC reported "Canadians complain that their mobile phone charges are much higher for comparable service in the United States".

Text Messaging

In July 2008, along with Telus Mobility Bell introduced charges of 15 for incoming SMS messages. Critics were quick to point out that there is no way of blocking incoming message fees and suggested Bell and Telus were price fixing as both had announced the fees simultaneously. Bell (and Telus) are now being sued by frustrated consumers and subscribers, as they demand change in text charges. Many customers were frustrated because this fee also apply to existing customers with ongoing contracts.

Network Upgrade

In October 2009 Telus Mobility and Bell announced plans to deploy HSPA technology by 2010 as part of an effort to eventually upgrade to LTE technology. The network launched on November 4, 2009, months ahead of schedule. Huawei provided the infrastructure for the new network, which covers 93% of the Canadian Population . The new network operates alongside both Telus' and Bell's existing CDMA network. The network provides download speeds of up top 21 Mbps. Bell offers HSPA devices such as the Apple iPhone 3G and 3GS, the BlackBerry Bold and the Samsung Omnia II.

See also

List of Canadian mobile phone companies

References

^ BCE - 2009 BCE Fourth Quarter Shareholder Report

^ BCE and Aliant form one of North America's largest regional telecommunications service providers

^ Restructuring Of Subsidiary Relationship

^ Business On The Go

^ http://www.bell.ca/support/PrsCSrvWls_Ftrs_VideoCalling.page#0 source

^ http://blogs.voices.com/voxdaily/2006/02/frank_and_gordon.html source

^ Movies- bell.ca

^ Bell's beavers bite it

^

^ a b BBC News,"" December 13, 2007

^ Wireless terms of service- bell.ca

^ http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/07/08/text-messages.htm

^ http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/business/story.html?id=037f5454-2f18-4c3f-808c-f6240c5191b2

^ http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080728/text_message_fees_080728/20080728?hub=Canada

^ http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS211718+04-Nov-2009+BW20091104

External links

Bell Mobility Official Website

v  d  e

Canadian mobile phone companies

Major network operators

Bell Mobility  Rogers Wireless  Telus  Wind Mobile

Regional network operators

CityWest Mobility  DMTS Mobility  ICE Wireless  MTS Mobility  NorthernTel Mobility  NMI Mobility  SaskTel Mobility  Tlbec Mobilit  TBayTel Mobility 

Mobile virtual network operators

7-Eleven Wireless  Cityfone  DCI Telecom  Fido  Koodo Mobile  PC Mobile  Petro-Canada Mobility  Primus Canada  SearsConnect  Solo Mobile  uWho Wireless  Vidotron  Virgin Mobile Canada

Upcoming launches

Mobilicity  Public Mobile  Vidotron

v  d  e

Bell Canada (BCE Inc.)

Corporate Directors

Richard Currie  Andr Brard  Ronald Brenneman  Anthony Fell  Donna Kaufman  Brian Levitt  Edward Lumley  Judith Maxwell  John McArthur  Thomas O'Neill  Jim Pattison  Robert Pozen  Michael Sabia  Paul Tellier  Victor Young

Main services

Bell TV  Bell Mobility  Bell Internet (Sympatico)

Fixed-line telecommunications

Bell Aliant  Bell Canada  Tlbec  Northwestel  NorthernTel

Mobile telecommunications

Bell Mobility  NorthernTel Mobility  NMI Mobility  Tlbec Mobilit  Solo Mobile  Virgin Mobile Canada

Others

InterTAN  The Source

Former

Emergis  CTVglobemedia1  Telesat Canada  Nortel

Categories: Bell Canada | Mobile phone companies of CanadaHidden categories: Wikipedia articles needing clarification from December 2007 | All Wikipedia articles needing clarification
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