Skobbler: Free turn-by-turn GPS navigation application for iPhone

August 31st, 2010

Skobbler is a free application which provides iPhone owners with free turn-by-turn GPS navigation.

If you’ve been just a little bit jealous of the Android users and their free sat-nav app, feel envy no longer. The guys over at Skobbler have launched a free turn-by-turn GPS navigation app for iPhone users in the UK and Ireland.

Which iPhone or iPod Touch do I need to use Skobbler?

Skobbler is compatible with iPhone 3G, iPhone 3G S and iPhone 4.

Skobbler also claim you can use it with iPod Touch, however we struggle to see how you could use the app with only wi-fi functionality. We would suggest buying the in-car MiFi package from Three. It’ll create a wi-fi hotspot in your car with Pay As You Go internet access over Three’s 3G network. This should allow Skobbler to download the maps that it requires to work.

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Amazon’s Kindle offers free worldwide 3G web browsing

August 29th, 2010

Amazon’s popular Kindle book-reading device is currently offering free web browsing over 3G in 100 countries.

Amazon recently launched their Kindle e-Book reader in the UK and one thing that really caught my eye was the fact that they’re providing free 3G wireless connectivity in 100 countries with the 3G version. Combined with the Kindle’s web browser feature, this would make the Kindle an attractive device to use whilst overseas. Although not an ideal device for surfing the web, the Kindle 3G would make it possible to access information such as maps, tourist information and weather forecasts without the ridiculous roaming fees for using your mobile phone whilst abroad or the constant hassle of having to find a free wi-fi hotspots.

What’s the Kindle browser like?

The Kindle isn’t known for having a great web browser. It’s still an experimental feature and whilst features such as Javascript, SSL and cookies are supported, you won’t be able to use plug-ins such as Flash and Shockwave. If you’re looking to watch videos or play games, this certainly isn’t the device for you. The fact that the Kindle is designed as a book-reader and not a multimedia device also shows in that it only has a monochrome screen. So for photos, videos and multimedia the Kindle isn’t going to be a whole lot of use. For basic content pages such as Wikipedia and BBC News, Kindle should be just fine.

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The UK’s Best Value SIM-Only Tariffs (1 month and 12 month contracts)

August 26th, 2010

If you’ve completed your mobile phone contract or you’re looking to switch from Pay As You Go, you can save hundreds of pounds per year by switching to a SIM-only contract.

More and more people are deciding that they’re happy with their existing phone and opting to switch to a cheaper SIM-only calling plan. These SIM-only tariffs, ideal for those who have completed a contract or are currently on Pay As You Go, offer shed loads of minutes and unlimited texts starting at just £5/month. SIM-only tariffs are different from traditional Pay Monthly contracts in that they do not provide a new phone. For this reason, they tend to be about £180/year cheaper than traditional contracts.

In this guide, we’ve compared all of the SIM-only tariffs from the big networks in the UK (3, O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Tesco Mobile and Vodafone). For each price point, we’ve searched through all the tariffs to find the one offering the most minutes and texts. Any of the products listed below should work in your existing phone, providing that it’s unlocked.

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How to find out your international number, receive phone calls & texts from abroad

August 24th, 2010

In this guide, we outline how to receive a phone call from abroad, how to find out your number and what it’ll cost you.

What is my international phone number?

Your international phone number is similar to your UK phone number but the leading zero at the start is replaced by +44. For example, if your phone number is 07123 456 789 then your international number becomes +44 7123 456 789.

Note that your friends abroad don’t actually type this number into their phone. Usually, they’d have to replace the + sign with the international dialling prefix in their country (some mobile phones will now automatically convert the + sign into the correct prefix for you). For example, your friends in America (where 001 is the international dialling prefix) will actually have to dial the number 001 44 7123 456 789. Your friends in Japan (where 010 is the international dialling prefix) will actually have to dial the number 010 44 7123 456 789.

The recommended practice is to give out your phone number in the form of +44 7123 456 789 – most people will know what is meant by this and will replace the + sign with the international dialling prefix in their country.

Note that one very common mistake is to leave the leading zero in the international number (e.g. +44 07123 456 789). This is incorrect and the phone call will not connect.

What is my international number whilst I’m abroad?

Your international phone number will always be the same wherever you take your phone with you in the world. The +44 refers to the fact you have a UK number and not the fact that you are actually in the UK.

For example, if you travel to France then your friends in France will still need to dial your international number with the +44 prefix for UK numbers.

Note that using your phone abroad can be extremely expensive. We’ve got a detailed guide with everything you need to know about using your phone abroad including the charges, how to reduce the chance of hidden charges and cheaper ways of calling whilst abroad.

How much does it cost to receive an international call or text?

In the UK it is always free to receive phone calls and texts. You should not be charged to receive calls/texts from international numbers.

If you take your UK phone abroad, you will be charged to receive phone calls. Receiving text messages is always free.

Solved: The mystery of missing credit on iPhone Pay As You Go

August 21st, 2010

Ken’s Tech Tips investigates reports of Pay As You Go iPhone customers having their Pay As You Go credit eaten up.

I’ve received several reports from PAYG iPhone customers who complain that their Pay As You Go credit has been mysteriously dropping even though they’ve not made any calls or sent any text messages. This problem usually affects users who don’t have an inclusive data allowance on their PAYG tariff (or haven’t topped up enough to receive their free data allowance). Your iPhone continues to the data connection in the background even if you’re not actively using it to browse the web, etc. Although background data usage is usually fairly small, Pay As You Go tariffs such as O2′s Text and Web charge up to £3/MB for data usage if you don’t top up to get free data. This means that even a small amount of data usage can take a substantial amount out of your credit.

In this report, we’ve got a solution to this problem for iOS 4 users and for everybody else, a few tips on how you can reduce these charges.

The solution (iOS 4 users only)

If you’ve got the new iOS 4, you should disable “cellular data”. This will stop the iPhone and all applications from using data over your mobile connection. It will still allow you to access the internet through wi-fi. If you have an iPhone 3G or iPhone 3G S, you can download a free update to iOS 4 (although many iPhone 3G users report performance issues after the update).

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Vodafone launch mobile wi-fi hotspot; but it’s pricey

August 19th, 2010

Vodafone have launched a new dongle which allows you to share mobile broadband between all of your wi-fi devices. We dig through all the hype.

Vodafone have just launched the “Vodafone Mobile Wi-Fi R201″ hotspot in the UK. It’s a standalone battery-powered device which connects to the Vodafone 3G network and then makes the mobile broadband connection available to other devices (such as laptops, iPod Touch, iPad, game consoles and smartphones) over wi-fi.

The hotspot will allow up to 5 connections at once and according to Vodafone will last for up to four hours on a single charge.

What tariffs is this available on?

Vodafone are offering the hotspot on three Pay Monthly tariffs starting from £15/month:

Monthly Allowance Contract Length Upfront Price Monthly Price Total Cost (18 months)
3GB 18 months £49 £15 £319
4GB 18 months £29 £20 £389
5GB 18 months Free £25 £450

For more information on what the monthly allowance means in terms of webpages, emails or downloads see our detailed guide to download limits.

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A Student’s Guide to Mobile: Mobile Contracts, Phones, Discounts and Tips

August 17th, 2010

A current student shares his top tips on university and having a sociable and productive mobile life on a student budget.

So A-Level results day has finally arrived and you finally know where you’re going for university. It’s a very exciting time and there are so many things to look forward to at university. But before the fun begins and Freshers Week arrives, there are probably several things you want to sort out first. Whilst you’re at university, you’ll want to stay in touch with the folks back home and manage your hectic social life and so you’ll want to be sure to choose the right mobile phone and tariff to go with it. This guide, written by a current student, features the top tips and the important things you need to know about your mobile phone.

Should I get a mobile contract?

Once you’ve turned 18, it becomes possible for you to get a mobile contract in your own name. Whether to get one depends very much on how you use your mobile phone. But there are several things you should be aware of.

Firstly, a mobile phone contract is a credit product. You will be credit checked before you are allowed to have one. It is incredibly important to make your contract payments on time: otherwise your credit rating could be damaged and it will affect your ability to borrow in the future. The best thing to do is to set up a direct debit so the money is automatically taken from your bank account every month.

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Tesco launches £6/month SIM-only tariff with 100 minutes, unlimited texts

August 15th, 2010

Tesco have launched a new SIM-only tariff which offers 100 minutes and unlimited texts for £6 per month.

Tesco Mobile have launched a new SIM-only tariff which offers 100 minutes per month and unlimited texts for £6 per month on a 1-month rolling contract. According to Tesco, the new tariff is aimed at the “younger market and text addicts”. At £6/month, the Tesco tariff is the cheapest UK tariff providing both minutes and texts (there are several tariffs providing unlimited texts for £5/month).

Customers will also get Tesco Clubcard points. According to the Tesco website, customers will receive 3 Clubcard points for every £1 they spend with Tesco Mobile. Using the Clubcard Rewards programme to quadruple the value of your points, you’ll get 12p worth of Clubcard Rewards for every £1 you spend. Taking into account the Clubcard points, the effective cost of the contract becomes £5.28 per month.

What is a SIM-only tariff?

A SIM-only tariff is like a traditional mobile contract but is provided without a handset. For this reason, they tend to be cheaper than traditional mobile contracts (typically about £180 per year cheaper). You’ll need to provide your own unlocked mobile phone to use with the service.

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O2 launch £5/month USB mobile broadband with 500MB web, BT Openzone

August 12th, 2010

O2 have launched a new 1-month rolling tariff which provides 500MB of data to use through a USB dongle and “unlimited” access to BT Openzone and Cloud wi-fi hotspots for £5/month.

O2 have just launched the UK’s cheapest mobile broadband tariff. At £5/month, the tariff provides 500MB of mobile broadband internet access on your laptop every month and “unlimited” access to wi-fi hotspots operated by BT Openzone and The Cloud. Another bonus of the tariff is that it’s only a 1-month rolling contract meaning that it can practically be cancelled at any time. There is a £19.99 upfront cost for the the dongle.

How does mobile broadband work?

“Mobile broadband” is the name for a broadband service provided over a 3G mobile connection (the same technology used by smartphones such as the iPhone). This differs from a traditional home broadband connection which is provided through a BT landline or a Virgin Media cable connection. The benefit of mobile broadband is you can use it on the road and whilst away from home.

In order to use mobile broadband on your laptop, you’ll usually need a USB modem (nicknamed a “dongle”). A dongle is roughly the size of a USB memory stick and allows your laptop to access a 3G network.

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The Problem with Price Comparison Websites; proposal for better tariff comparison

August 10th, 2010

Commentary: Ken Lo imagines his ideal mobile tariff comparison website and how we might build one with this smartphone revolution.

Choosing a mobile phone and a tariff is a difficult proposition. When you buy a mobile phone or sign up for a new tariff, there are dozens of considerations in mind. For example: what phones are offered? What’s the signal/call quality like where I live? What will my day-to-day experience be like? Is the tariff good value?

If we confine ourselves to look at tariffs, we’ve still got dozens of considerations. You could opt for a traditional contract, you could buy your own phone and select a SIM-only contract or you could opt for a Pay As You Go tariff. Some tariffs have a minimum call charge (usually equivalent to 1 minute) whereas others don’t. Some tariffs charge differently for calls depending on the network you call or what time you call. Some networks advertise “unlimited texts and internet” when they don’t really mean it. Some tariffs offer add-ons (e.g. flexible boosters or goodybags) which might make a tariff a lot more competitive.

With the complexity of the mobile market, it’s no wonder that mobile phone comparison websites just aren’t terribly useful. The vast majority of mobile phone comparison websites simply consist of a database which lists all of the phone/tariff combinations which are available. The vast majority of price comparison websites usually ask you how many minutes and texts you use in an typical month. They’ll then provide you with a list of tariffs which have a suitable airtime allowance and list them in price order. By neglecting all of the complex features and combinations of the tariffs, the usefulness of price comparison sites are severely limited – they will often miss the best deal out there.

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