Megabyte (MB) and Gigabyte (GB): what do those terms mean and how much data do they offer? The process of figuring out the details can cause quite the headache. That’s why we offer a variety of wireless data plans that best fit individual usage needs. Standard phone data plans have a variety of options ranging from megabytes to gigabytes – how do you pick the right data plan for your needs? Check out the infographic below for a breakdown what you can do with 1GB of data.
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According to TechTarget.com, “A gigabyte (GB) is a measure of computer data storage capacity that is roughly equivalent to 1 billion bytes.” That leads to our next question: what is a byte? A byte is a unit of measurement used to measure data. For light smartphone Internet users, 1GB can be the perfect amount of data to view up to 5,000 web pages, send 20,000 emails, post 10,000 social media updates or listen to up to 30 hours of music. Watching an hour worth of videos per day could take up to 8GB of data in a month, so let’s think about an upgrade on data plans before watching the next season of Game of Thrones!
For prepaid wireless users, the Internet will stop working when the customer’s data runs out. They will need to top-up or buy more data, simple as that. We recommend that you to look at your monthly data usage and pick a plan based on that amount. This information can be found on the monthly bill or by logging into an online account. Casually surfing the web should use about 100MB of data per month, but using a smartphone for heavy Internet browsing will most likely use over 1GB of data per month.
Our Advice
If you spend a lot of time using the Internet on your phone, hours of web surfing can go by in a blink of an eye and all your data could run out (if you are not monitoring carefully.) That’s why we recommend that you connect to Wi-Fi when possible. Using Wi-Fi, when it is available, will save your smartphone data usage for when you need it most! If you enjoy media entertainment such as playing videos, games or streaming music, staying connected to a strong Wi-Fi source is a strategic move to avoid using your data. This trick will help you stay within your monthly data limits, which will leave enough data on your phone to check emails, browse the web and use apps on the go.
As we stream into the wireless world, we’ll leave you with a few points to consider when buying data for your phone:
Am I a light or heavy internet user?
How much am I willing to spend on data per month?
How many hours am I online?
Those are the some of the questions we should keep in mind when it comes to purchasing data. At TruConnect, we’ll always try to guide you in the right direction when choosing prepaid plans.
There are apps to assist with pretty much everything. That’s why we asked around, did our research and tested the best “life-hack” (free!) apps that we find most helpful with day-to-day obstacles. From keeping track of finances to booking tables at restaurants, we tested ten apps to cover the essential parts of life, including: finance, transportation, health and resources nearby. Consider these apps your mini-personal assistants that help make your life easier!
FINANCES
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Monny is an app designed to track your spending and assist with keeping your finances in order. The app records a daily or monthly report of all your transactions and creates monthly reports to show where your money is being spent. Featuring simple and fast entry to make expense tracking easy, friendly analytical reports, charts, and top rankings, and seperate account books designed for traveling, Monny is one of the top personal finance apps out there. Just remember to add each expense every time you spend!
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CheckBook is an organizational finance tool created to help keep track of your expenses. Listed as one of the best mobile finance apps by PC Magazine, CheckBook lets you add your daily, weekly and monthly expenses into one calendar, and an alarm will remind you when your bills are due. It's an easy to use app that requires no account signup and no integrations with your banking data. It lets you add income and expense line items either as they occur, or on specific dates. CheckBook lists all your accounts, reccurring expenses and gives a report of your spendings in a nice percentage graph.
TRANSPORTATION
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Waze is a GPS app to help you avoid traffic. The app crowdsources traffic and suggests routes that are the fastest to arrive at your destination. While using Waze, the app will report accidents, road closures, police around you and more. The app uses various factors to create the fastest route to your destination. You can send other Wazers your ETA, sync your calendar events, turn off toll roads completely so you don't get charged for trips, and it even features an auto day/night mode that turns on a dark screen interface at night to help you concentrate on driving. Not a true replacement for Google Maps as it doesn't feature public transist and walking directions, Waze is more focused on drivers. It even lets users tell other users where they've seen police officers so you can stay out of trouble! Check out this comparison between Waze and Google Maps for more.
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Uber “Ubbs, Call an Uber, Took an Uber” are familiar phrases you may have heard associated with this app. Uber is a revolutionary ride-share app that makes it easy to get from point A to point B. From rides to friends’ houses, restaurants, or even work functions – Uber is a convenient app we like to use compared to taking a taxi. Here's how to use Uber: 1) Tell Uber where you want to be picked up - use the map and your phone’s GPS to tell Uber your current location so you can be picked up. 2) Let Uber respond - Uber will send you a text notifying you how long you need to wait before getting picked up. When your Uber arrives, you’ll get another text to let you know. 3) Wait for your payment to be automatically charged - your tip is included and you never need cash. That's it!
HEALTH
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SkinDeep is a beauty app that scans the chemicals in your everyday beauty and house hold products. Simply scan the barcode on your products and the app will list a hazard score from 1 to 8 based on the products ingredients. The app rates the products in three categories: cancer, developmental/reprotoxicity and allergy. With a database of over 74,000 personal care products, 2,500 brands and 9,000 ingredients, SkinDeep is sure to contain all the products lurking in your bathroom and kitchen cabinets. Using this app may help you avoid certain chemicals that could be harmful for you and your family. Learn when there are carcinogens in the products you use and get extra info about all hazardous ingredients and their side-effects. Check out GeekInsider's helpful review here.
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SleepTime listed among the best sleep apps by Livescience, SleepTime uses your body’s natural sleep cycle to wake you up feeling rested and energized. If you were to wake up during a period of deep sleep, you could start your day feeling drained, sleepy and groggy. SleepTime is a sleep-tracking app that monitors your sleeping patterns and level of movement throughout the night. The app monitors 3 different stages of sleep: awake, light sleep and deep sleep plus the REM sleep stage (the stage where dreaming occurs and your eyelids flutter;), and graphs your sleep patterns so you can see how your sleeping patterns change over time.The app also customizes your sleep data in easy-to-read charts, helping you to wake up when your body and mind is at a full night’s rest.
DINING OUT
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Yelpis a resourceful app that lists businesses around your current location. The app searches for any business you are looking for, from restaurants to the nearest movie theatres. Ratings about the business, photos and customer reviews are included to help the user find the best business they are looking for. It gives you the most important info about the business right up front, including hours open and and "Open" or "Closed" indication for the curent time, a map to the location, phone number, overall review score, and the distance from you to the business. Yelp features a Nearby tab that lets you filter the amount of local businesses to view by a whole host of categories, including nightlife locations, hot new businesses or financial services. Check out Mashable's 11 Things You Didn't Know About Yelp here.
BONUS
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BlueLight The blue light on your electrical devices has been shown to interfere with a person’s sleep cycle and throw off regular sleeping patterns. Studies have repeatedly warned that using electronic devices such as smartphones and e-readers in the evening affects both the quantity and quality of our sleep. Exposure to blue light at night is especially bad, as it effectively tricks your brain into thinking that it’s still daytime. It also suppresses the secretion of melatonin, a hormone that is produced at night and prepares the body for sleep.The BlueLight app adjusts the lighting to the time of day, allowing a cooler color during the day and a warmer color at night. The changing light will decrease eye strain and assist in getting a better night’s sleep. Read more about how your electronic devices are affecting your sleep in this great WebMD article.
We hope the apps will make your life easier as they have helped us throughout the years. Be sure to comment on our Facebook & Twitter pages for the ones you like the most and if any of these apps have made your life easier!
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Planning a trip to Grandma’s house? The slight panic of not having WiFi gives us the heebie jeebies, too. Owning a mobile hotspot loaded with data is an easy way to stay connected. No need to worry about finding wireless internet when visiting Grandma. Paying for overpriced data fees and wondering if WiFi will be available won’t be a problem when it comes to our service. You may be surprised how much data you're using when surfing the web, streaming music or posting updates on your social networks. So, that leads us to the big question – where do you take your mobile hotspot? Below, we listed five places to take your device. We hope it will come in handy for your next trip!
The Beach
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A day trip to the beach on a warm and sunny day sounds great these days. With your mobile hotspot, you can connect to WiFi and listen to music, scroll through social media, play games, read a book, or catch up on some news. If your mobile hotspot is 4g lte, then it's like having a wifi router right alongside you as the seagulls fly overhead. You can surf (the web) and download the latest mobile apps. The possibilities of web surfing are endless when connected to WiFi. Just remember not to drop your device in the water!
Hotels
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Ahh hotels… a bitter-sweet feeling when connecting to WiFi. Yes, the majority of hotels have WiFi internet service available for guests, although there might be a fee. While there are hotels that provide free wireless internet connections, there might be restricted areas to access WiFi. For the hotels that provide free WiFi within the vicinity, make sure to check the bandwidth strength. Sometimes the connection can be weak, and not worth using at all. Also, before doing any online banking, be sure your 3g or 4g connection is secure.
Road Trips
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Have you ever wanted to visit that alien beef jerky shop on your way to Las Vegas? You know you have. As you check off items on your roadtrip planner, be sure to have your passengers use your mobile WiFi hotspot to guide you to the beef jerky shop. Staying connected to WiFi during your travels could help you search for the nearest diner, rest stops and scenic routes. A mobile hotspot is a resourceful tool to have when you visit the small towns that have limited broadband access.
Business Trips
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Work, work, work – a mobile hotspot can help you get work done on the go. You’ll have a 3g or 4g lte portable WiFi connection to prepare for video conference calls, send emails and much more. You will feel better knowing that you’re prepared for anything that work throws your way. You never know, you could be the one to save the day when your team is counting on you.
Camping
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Camping in the great outdoors is a nice break from our everyday routine. So, how will you stay connected to the world? That’s why your mobile hotspot is an essential camping tool. Portable WiFi can assist with mapping out the best wireless internet spot to setup camp, learn facts about your surroundings and search for the nearest stores / rest stops. In addition, keep in contact with friends and family to let them know your whereabouts.
We hope using one of our mobile WiFi hotspots will be a great help on your adventures. Just remember to check the coverage map for your areas: http://www.truconnect.com/coverage/
One of the worst experiences for many of us is arriving at a place where we expect to have wifi access and it fails to exist. After lugging my 17” laptop into my hotel room, I was excited to upload my travel photos and share them with my family via email and my friends through social media. Unfortunately for me, I assumed that hotels all have free wifi in 2015. The hotel we picked was located in a beautiful little town outside of the Sequoia National Forest and my excitement quickly turned to frustration and hopelessness when I discovered that this hotel not only had no free wifi, but also no hotel wifi access at all.
Although this may sound a bit dramatic, especially the hopeless part, having internet access has become second nature to many of us. It is easy to become frustrated when something we expect is not available. This would be similar to driving through a town and not seeing any gas stations. Each time I drive through a city or town, I expect to find a gas station, and if I'm unable to, I become very anxious.
Free wifi is becoming a clear part of the future in technology and wireless communications, but what happens when free wifi locations fail?
Depending on WiFi
Many of us have become relatively dependent on the wifi that provides us with unlimited internet access and an internet connection at mostly any place and any time. I saw an Instagram post earlier this week that said “There is girl sitting in the coffee shop. She is not on her phone or computer. She is just sitting and drinking coffee like a psychopath”. This is hilarious because it is true. We expect people to visit a coffee shop to use their free wifi to connect to the internet or on occasion just simply meet up with friends. The idea of someone simply sitting alone and sipping coffee sounds strange.
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Wifi has become second nature and internet access has become essential. As a country, we look to wifi as a way to stay connected to news, our community, friends, family, and so much more. The Wireless Association estimates that wifi will carry up to 60% of mobile data traffic by 2019, which is roughly 38% more than today.*
I can easily list most of the places we expect to have wifi: coffee shops, hotels, public libraries, homes and some fast food restaurants, gyms, and airports. In a time when we increasingly rely on internet access, it can actually sometimes be risky to rely on free wifi locations for internet access.
When WiFi fails
The anxiety that accompanies a loss of internet connection can be overwhelming and frustrating. Imagine the moment when you have to turn in your final term paper, a presentation to your boss, or submit important time-sensitive documents but you cannot find a wifi connection. These free wifi locations often fail us due to a lack of availability, system failure, or a slow connection because everyone nearby is logged into the same network. Public coffee shops, libraries, and hotels often have free wifi connections based on an inexpensive network, and this means that every person who logs on slows the network. Good luck streaming videos, uploading photos, or sending emails with large attachments.
To ensure that you will be able to take advantage of the free wifi connection, it is important to call ahead and see if the hotel, coffee shop, etc. offers free wifi. The savvy user will also remember to ask where the free wifi is, how strong the connection is, and how fast the connection is, but instead of making every adventure a complicated trip, simply carry your own mobile hotspot.
The Mobile Hotspot
No joke, I was not familiar with mobile hotspots until this past year. I always understood wifi and the concept of having reliable internet on the go, but I had always assumed that people referred to their data plans on their phone, which did not work for me when I needed to connect my laptop.
What is a mobile hotspot? According to PC Magazine, “A portable device that creates a Wi-Fi hotspot.” Mobile wifi was now something I could take advantage of and I loved it immediately. Most hotspots are pocket-sized and easy to take anywhere, and for me, that meant the car, beach, camping, road trips, and even at my apartment when my unreliable home internet refused to work. The portable wifi hotspot quickly became one of my favorite road trip and vacation buddies. Having the hotspot made traveling infinitely easier, which left me with a much more organized road trip planner.
The freedom of mobile internet means not having to make hotel reservations based on free wifi access or worry about running out of data on my phone when using it for the gps system or useful mobile apps. It means never having to fight fellow patrons for the coffee shop wifi and being able to work on the beach or stream movies while camping.
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Seriously Useful
Now that I have scared you by listing all of the scenarios in which you may not have a much needed wifi connection, it is time to figure out whether or not a mobile hotspot would be beneficial for you.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
Do I travel often?
Do I require wireless internet for laptops?
Is my home wifi unreliable?
Do I want to risk finding myself without a reliable wifi connection?
If you answered yes to half or the majority of these questions, I would recommend investing in one of the many hotspot devices available. There is no reason to stress about a wifi connection when you can have no contract internet on a prepaid mobile hotspot with mobile data plans designed to fit your lifestyle.
Your portable WiFi hotspot is working just perfectly until one day, it does not turn on. No wireless internet, no internet service. No response to any button you are pressing. Another thing that may be happening is that your start screen freezes once it is turned on and none of your WiFi-enabled devices are able to connect to your device. You may think that your portable wifi hotspot is broken. However, as you ponder on about all the possibilities, you realize you didn’t do anything wrong with it like drop it in a tub of water or drop it hard against a hard surface. Inconspicuous of any noticeable damage, you wonder what could be wrong with your device. There is no way that it is completely drained out of battery because you just charged it last night.
Things you have tried to get your hotspot working:
Plugged in the AC charger for at least a couple hours to fully charge your hotspot device. (minimum 3 hours)
Restarted the hotspot by turning it on and off. (Hold down the power button for at least 5 seconds)
In case a screw or wire was loose inside the device, you’ve tried everything from shaking the device around to frantically pressing all the accessible buttons. You’ve even checked to see if there was any luck getting internet connection to your WiFi-enabled devices in case it worked. There may be one last resort you could turn to.
The final option you could turn to is the MASTER RESET option.
Our customer service representative, Ronald Buunk says, “A master reset is always the last thing you do to save the device when the device is not working and you have run out of other options. You would lose information that is on the hotspot like the password (which is set up to stop others from using your data). However, the login name and password to check your account status on our website would remain the same.” The device name and password is what will be affected during this process. You can always log back into your web account to change your device settings back to your preferences.
Steps to resetting your device:
Look for the smallest hole that looks like a pin.
Find a small wire, toothpick, pin, or paperclip and insert it in the hole for at least 3 seconds.
Your mobile WiFi hotspot will be reset to factory default settings; this includes SSID (username), password, and administrator settings.
If you’ve kept your default password and usernames, these won’t be changed. Your WiFi-enabled devices should recognize your device and automatically connect to your mobile hotspot.
If you’ve changed your password and username to your own preferences, it will go back to its default settings.
i. In this case, you can log in to connect to the internet via the default password and username. ii. If you do not prefer the default settings, you can go to your online web account and change the settings to sign onto preferred credentials.
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The Master Reset option sounds intimidating since all your memory would be cleared. However, there is nothing to worry about! The only thing that would be majorly affected would be the password and username; but even then, those are easily restored. There is no memory storage within the hotspot so once your device can connect to the internet, all your favorites and bookmarked webpages will still be there. This is because those things are part of your computer’s memory storage and not the hotspot’s memory storage.
Think of it like pressing the reset button on a hairdryer. There is only one button to press. No memory storage is involved. Just open up your internet browser and your internet usage habits will remain the same once your device is reset. Your device may have gone through a glitch or a temporary malfunction but after its master reset, you can continue using your internet on the go, wherever you go!
TruConnect
This advice helps with a general understanding of all our hotspot devices. For specific information on each device, you can always refer to your user manual inside the packaging on how to use your device. For more information, a customer service representative can be reached at 800.430.0443.
‘Free’ is one of the sweetest words to our ears. The words free and premium joined together are two great words mixed into one. The definition of freemium according to Wikipedia.com is a pricing strategy by which a product or service is provided free of charge, but money (premium) is charged for proprietary features, functionality, or virtual goods. We all know that wireless service costs money, so the answer is simple, let’s give our customers what they want, FREE DATA.
The holiday season is here once again! The cold weather, egg nog, holiday cheer and last but not least, holiday shopping. During the holiday season the little kiosks at the mall, filled parking structures, and crowded shopping centers can be overwhelming. We cringe every time there is a long checkout line or the gift we’ve had our eye on is sold out. That’s why we’ve geared our wireless internet offerings to be a one-stop-shop. We sell easy to use and affordable mobile hotspots (and wireless plans!), for the perfect gift to give the techie in your life.
We are ready to go with a range of cell phones fully stocked, competitive deals, and our customer service team there to help. Then we realized something: there were about five other cell phone stores in the neighborhood and all of them are similar.
So, what makes us different compared to other wireless service providers? There is wireless store after wireless store, afterall, with the same “special” deals, right next to each other.
And we are among the wireless service providers who have set-up our own shop alongside the others.
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So we came up with a plan
We decided to make our first freemium offer: 1GB of free Forever Data℠ with a purchase of a data plan and mobile hotspot. Forever Data℠ is the industry’s first data solution to provide mobile data service without an expiration date as long as the customer remains active within the most recent 60 days. This freemium offer is available for a limited time, while consumers get to enjoy up to 1 GB of free Forever Data℠.
1 GB of data allows consumers to send up to 20,000 emails, view up to 5,000 web pages, post 10,000 social media updates, or listen to over 30 hours of music.
We are excited to make this our first freemium deal because we know our customers need internet on the go, especially around the holidays.
A mobile hotspot and 1GB of data is the perfect match for those who need internet services on the go, want to use the latest mobiles apps, or are even planning a vacation! We created this deal to give our customers access to wifi connections anywhere they are, and to help provide this wireless service at an affordable price. We hope our freemium deal helps with using resources such as online banking, shopping online, or even searching for free movies online! A mobile hotspot device is perfect for people who are always on the go, especially the ones who are driving a food truck, and constantly traveling from place to place. ;)
“Connectivity is key” said by Nathan Johnson, Chairman of TruConnect.
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“This deal is one of the many upcoming promotions we have planned. The idea is for our customers to get a taste of how Forever Data℠ works without locking themselves into a long-term plan” said Darren Levy, VP of E-Commerce. “We’re going to deliver more deals and plans for accessible wifi that will best suit our customers’ usage needs,” Levy adds.
If you’re trying to understand our approach to freemium, you need to know a little more about our company history. First, there are some things people assume about TruConnect that are simply not true. For one, we are not a startup. We have the benefit of many years, making – and learning from our mistakes. Some people think we’re a startup because they didn’t know us until late 2014.
Now, they see our ads popping up everywhere (at least in the city of Los Angeles), and they think we’re a startup. Nope, we’ve been around since the late 90’s, but originally were called Telscape. We’re just a small but growing, unique company that supplies affordable prepaid wireless services along with cheap internet connections and portable wifi solutions.
We brainstorm everyday to make our products and services both reliable and cutting edge for our customers. With budget-conscious customers in mind, we decided to throw in some free data around the holidays with this new freemium offer…so everyone can stay connected.
We understand how frustrating poor customer service experiences can be as we have all been in that situation before. Whether it's trying to connect your mobile hotspot to view online movies or get your smartphone connected to 4g lte to do some online banking, the fast moving technological landscape of wireless devices can seem tricky. A successful and pleasant customer service interaction falls on both parties, and while we work to do our best job, here are some things you can have prepared before calling to make your experience smoother!
Customer’s Name – The first thing that the customer service team member will need is your name. It is important to provide the name provided on your wireless or mobile data account, so for example if your name is John, but you used your full name “Johnathan” on the account ensure that you use your full name.
Phone Number – Having your account number ready can speed up the process.
Wireless Phone Only: This number is your phone number for the wireless cell phone you have with TruConnect.
ESN – When calling about a device issue such as problems with your phone or mobile hotspot, look for the ESN number located on the back of the device or under the battery.
Wireless Phone: The ESN is the serial number as shown below:
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IOTG Hotspot: The ESN is the serial number or MEID number as shown below. This can be found on your online web account dashboard or on your device. If you choose to locate the MEID number, you may use both the MEID HEX or the MEID DEC number. Both will work!
If you would rather check your serial number on your online portal, you can view it as shown below:
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Email address – The customer service representative will ask for your email and phone number during the interaction if needed. Please take the time to remember which email address is associated with your account.
TruConnect Hotspots: Your email address is the most important thing in retrieving your account
IOTG Hotspots: Your email address may also be used as a component to trace your IOTG account.
Order Number– If you are contacting customer service regarding a problem with an order, be sure to have the order number ready. This can be found in your email.
Once you purchase your order, the first email sent to you will be the email confirmation with your order number
The second email sent to you will be your USPS tracking number so you can see every stop your package goes to until it arrives to you!
Detailed description of the Issue– When contacting customer service through email or social media, a detailed description is essential. Providing this information during the first point of contact will provide the team member with the most information allowing them to get started on the issue before replying.
Options for contacting a customer service representative:
Being prepared before contacting customer service will greatly improve the interaction and increase the speed at which your issue is resolved. Our customer service team works diligently to provide the best service possible, and we look forward to assisting you!
Wifi seems like a no-brainer in 2016. Most people in Americaenjoy the perks of a modern smartphone including mobile data plans that provide wifi internet access anywhere at any time. With the wide availability of wireless providers, data plans, and free wifi locations, you may begin to ask yourself “why would I need a mobile hotspot”? That is exactly the question my friend asked me since he has a 15 GB monthly data plan on his phone (15 GB, seriously?) Mobile hotspots do provide wifi, and they are useful in situations where your mobile phone may not be able to assist including at school, camping, wifi sharing, and roadtrips.
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School
I remember the days in college when I brought my laptop to school to work in between classes. During this time, I unfortunately spent more time looking for a strong wifi connection in a quiet space than I did actually working. The library was great for peace and quiet, but awful for streaming or downloading content because so many students were logging onto the same wifi network. The courtyard had unreliable wifi, but even when it did work, I was surrounded by loud students enjoying their day, lunch, or cigarettes. This was clearly not the best environment for concentration.
At the time, I did not realize that mobile hotspots were in existence. Yes, I lived under a technology-protected rock for a very long time until shortly after college when I realized it was time to up my game. Anyway, while lugging my laptop (the older ones were heavier) around hoping for a reliable, fast connection, I always wanted to have the ability to work from my car while listening to my own music or in a school green space while relaxing in the sun. The few times I was able to work without an internet connection, I enjoyed the warmth of my car with my “focus” playlist gently encouraging me to finish that research paper that was due in 45 minutes. I can imagine how much more I would have been able to write if only I had that little hotspot.
Another way students can benefit from a mobile hotspot device is in the situation where they are a part of their parent’s data plan and only have a limited amount of shared data per month. Student life can be difficult financially and many of us stay(ed) on our parent’s insurance, phone plans, etc. until the very last minute, which for phone plans, meant sharing data with mom and dad. Students can take advantage of the no contract mobile hotspots by loading them with data and using them when streaming music or free movies online– activities that can quickly eat phone plan data. A seriously great way to avoid that phone call from mom when you run over the data plan and she has to pay extra.
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Camping
2015 felt like the year of “get out there and enjoy nature”. Between the inspiring nature accounts on social media and the several campaigns encouraging workers to “opt outside” it was nearly impossible to ignore the beauty of the natural world. Mobile hotspots are perfect for camping in the modern world. Although some people prefer to completely disconnect, sometimes it is nice to have wifi access to stream movies, check email, check weather updates, or research nearby plants and animals.
The mobile hotspot can turn camping into an entirely new experience. Stream documentaries to teach the family about the local turf or switch on skype when you’re stuck in your car because it started heavily raining and you have to wait it out. Although the mobile hotspot may not be a camping must for many outdoor adventurers, it would definitely be a safe bet to have around.
“We enjoy RV camping, and use our TruConnect hotspot when the campgrounds at which we stay do not offer wireless internet.” – TruConnect hotspot owner.
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Wifi Sharing
It is great to have your own data plan that allows you to surf the web or post to social media whenever you want. Having a mobile hotspot that can connect up to ten devices to fast and reliable wifi is even better. Mobile hotspots are a wonderful addition to any group get together whether it is a study group, adventure group, or family gathering. Imagine traveling with family, friends, or coworkers and saving the day with wireless internet when a flight gets delayed or the car needs some maintenance that includes a two-hour wait time. Be the hero that allows your study group to work from the beach, park, or fun restaurant.
Our mobile hotspots can connect anywhere from five to ten wifi-enabled devices to a reliable internet connection. These devices include smartphones, laptops, tablets, gaming systems, and more! 3G hotspots are good for the casual user who may have a few people sharing the wifi connection for work such as sending emails and posting to social media. 4G LTE speed is preferred for avid users who may have several people connected while streaming music, downloading movies, or playing games.
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Roadtrips
I take my hotspot with me each and every time I am in the car. I love having the portable mobile hotspot for traveling or short trips around Los Angeles. It is important that if you are alone to set up the hotspot before starting your car as trying to adjust settings while driving can be very dangerous and is definitely warned against. I typically turn on my hotspot and place it in the cup holder. Then I plug my aux cord into my phone, turn on the wifi and GPS, and get ready to go! Once I am situated, I can confidently be on my way knowing that I can continue to use my GPS with no fear of losing connection or running out of data.
When I plan a road trip, I love having the hotspot so that the passengers can stream movies and search for food or entertainment during our vacation! Although many people have data plans for their phones or tablets, the shared plans often run out of data quickly and don’t allow other people to join in on your connection. I would have loved to have a hotspot with me when I traveled from Atlanta, GA to Los Angeles, but this was before I worked for TruConnect. My road trip across America would have been much easier if I had consistent wifi access through a mobile hotspot so that my travel companion couldresearch places to eat along the way, find the best hotel reservations, and access online banking without using the data from her parent’s cell phone plan (they are pretty strict with data usage). Not to mention actually being able to access fast internet service in the hotels we stopped at last minute.
Road trips typically do not go exactly as planned, which can definitely be a part of the adventure, but it is nice to have a bit of consistency and the comfort of knowing that a reliable wireless internet connection is one click away.
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Casual Users
Hotspots tend to work best for the casual user and many people prefer to keep one at home versus having a contracted monthly plan with expensive fees plus the cost of a router and modem. If you plan to stream movies every day, the contracted plan is probably a best fit for you, but if you prefer no contracts and no monthly fees, a mobile hotspot is definitely the way to go! Check out ourcheap wireless internet plans, pair one with a hotspot, and choose to take your internet on the go.
At TruConnect, we are always looking for ways to improve our wireless service and provide affordable, cost-friendly mobile data and 4g lte smartphone plans to all. We offer a government subsidized phone service called the California LifeLine program. Working hand-in-hand with the CA LifeLine program, we are able to provide discounted wireless cell phone and mobile data service to those who qualify. Let's see if you meet the requirements! And if not, then maybe someone you know could benefit from this service. Heard about free government phones and want to learn more? So let's continue, keep reading to see if you could reduce your monthly phone bill or even get a free phone!
Why California LifeLine? We adopted the California LifeLine service in January 2014 through the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), implementing LifeLine services to meet the shifting communication needs of underserved households. Special thanks to former President Ronald Reagan & administration for creating the Lifeline program to help consumers lower the cost of their phone bills. You’re the man, Ron!
But, Why? Why adopt the CA LifeLine program? Because we believe everyone deserves access to affordable communication services, particularly with so much of modern life dependent on WiFi access, and to help the community of Los Angeles - of course. With help from the CPUC and our hard efforts, eligible households have the option to subscribe for discounted wireless service plans that include talk and text. Cut-price wireless plans, here we come!
In partnership with the CPUC, eligible households in California are able to stay connected to family and friends, access vital services such as online banking and oneline medical and health resources, participate in online educational services, or use online job services to search for jobs. California Lifeline service can be particualrly helpful in today's gig economy where more and more workers are employed on a temporary or contract basis and constantly need to be chasing down that next opportunity!
Connectivity is key One day I overheard our Chairman and Co-CEO Nathan Johnson on a call with the Los Angeles Business Journal when I heard him say, “Connectivity is key,” and ever since then his words have stuck in my head. Nathan is right. In a world where most of us stay connected through email, phone calls, texting, and social media the power of contacting someone is right in our pocket; no matter where you turn someone is connecting to others using wireless phone or data services.
Lets Get Started With the help of the CPUC we can provide California LifeLine service to all who qualify, and believe me, this is many of us. I believe we are one of the few companies truly looking out for our customers because we work hard to call attention to this free government phone program and other such programs that benefit the many low income household here in California and nationwide. So, let's get started by learning about life line screening.
Method 1 eligibility: “Program based” - which is qualifying for the California LifeLine program discount if you or another member of your household is currently enrolled in one of the following public assistance programs (just to name a few… of many!):
Medicaid / Medi-Cal (no Medicare)
Supplemental Security Income: SSI
Women, Infant, and Children Program (WIC)
National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Method 2 eligibility: “Income based” – you can also qualify for the California LifeLine program if your total annual household income is at or less than the following income levels:
1-2 members $25,700
3 members $29,900
4 members* $36,200 (additional $6,300 for each additional member of your household)
It’s important to provide documentation of your income in order to qualify. The following is a list of what is considered acceptable proof of income.
Income Statements (paycheck stubs): These must be from 3 consecutive months within the past 12 months.
Benefits Statements: From the Social Security Office, Veterans Administration, retirement or pension, Worker’s Compensation, or Unemployment Compensation.
Alimony/Child Support documents
Federal, State or Tribal Tax Return: The front page of the prior year’s return
If you qualify for a lifeline phone, benefits only last up to one calendar year, and after that you will need to renew the service. So make sure you renew your benefits before your plan ends. By doing so, you will receive a renewal form in the mail, providing a new PIN number. Once you receive the PIN, you must prove your eligibility once again, just as you did when you first applied.
How can I avoid disqualification? Once you qualify for the Lifeline program, you must adhere to the instructions set forth in the program. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
Meet All Due Dates: When your initial application (or subsequent renewal form) is accepted, there will be a due date located on both the application form and the renewal form.
Fill Out All Forms Carefully: If you submit an incomplete application or renewal, you will be sent a fresh form, and the application or renewal process begins all over again.
What are reasons for disqualification? There are several reasons a person could get disqualified from a Lifeline program. For example:
You submitted incomplete forms
You were deemed ineligible due to income level
You missed the due date
You forgot to sign the form
You neglected to include proper documentation of income
Be careful when filling out your forms, and make sure you don’t miss any deadlines!
What happens if I am disqualified? If you are disqualified from the program, you will not receive the discounts. You will begin paying a regular rate for your lifeline phone service.
New Start With the New Year upon us, let’s start with a new beginning! The California LifeLine program can be a literal life line that provides tremendous financial relief to many lower income households. What’s the catch, you might ask? No catch. You just have to qualify, and don’t worry – we got you covered on a great 4g lte network. If you don't qualify, help a friend or family member as I am sure they would appreciate this help that will continue to pay dividents throughout the year.
Stay connected my friends, and Happy New Year!
To learn more about the CA LifeLine program with us, please visit http://www.truconnect.com/lifeline/ or call us at 1-800-420-0443 to apply.
WHO? Are you a California LifeLine customer? If so, this is important information! All California LifeLine customers must renew their program participation every year in order to continue receiving their free wireless service. If you do not renew your participation, you will lose your free wireless service. This is why we encourage you to renew early so that you do not forget and lose out on your great free government phone benefits from TruConnect!
WHEN? All California LifeLine customers must renew their participation in the program annually. The deadline to renew is your annual anniversary date from when you first signed up for California LifeLine service. If you’ve transferred your California LifeLine services to TruConnect, welcome! We want you to take advantage of your free wireless service, so be sure to remember you must use your phone at least once every 30 days in order to remain active. Also, remember that your renewal date is dependent upon your original signup date with California LifeLine service and not your transfer date to TruConnect. You can renew up to 3 months prior to your deadline. When you are 105 days from your deadline, you will automatically receive a pink envelope in the mail from the California LifeLine Administration to inform you that you need to renew. If you did not receive this mail or are just curious when your deadline is, browse to www.californialifeline.com/en/contact and a representative will let you know!
HOW? Renewing your California LifeLine service is quick and easy! Once you receive a pink envelope in the mail, you will have your PIN. The PIN is located on the first page of your renewal form. If you somehow did not receive this envelope with your PIN and you know your deadline is coming up, do not hesitate to contact the California LifeLine Administration! They are there to help you obtain your information once they verify your identity. You can simply mail back the completed form or complete the online form through this link: www.californialifeline.com/en/login.
How do you know if you’ve been successfully renewed? You will be notified in a letter in the mail confirming your renewal.
WHAT? The only items you need to log in to your account is your phone number and your PIN.
To complete the renewal form, you must do the following:
Initial to confirm only one LifeLine service per household
Check off whether you are program-based or income-based eligible
Customer service is a great tool when you need a little extra help navigating our website, registering your wifi hotspot, or accessing account information. Although we love hearing from and helping our customers, we also want to empower them to do all that they can on their own! Some common wifi hotspot issues involve a dead battery, restarting the wifi hotspot, adding data, registering the wifi hotspot, or finding a good service location. Take our online assessment to see what is most likely the problem with your wifi hotspot.
Dead Battery If your wifi hotspot will not turn on at all, the battery is most likely dead.
First, use your USB charging cable to charge the wifi hotspot. Simply plug the smaller end of the cable into the wifi hotspot and the larger end into a charging port. You can plug the USB directly into a computer to charge the device or connect it to the wall adapter and plug it into a wall outlet. Allow the wifi hotspot four to five hours to charge before trying to use it.
After giving the wifi hotspot time to charge, if it is still not working, call customer service. There may be a problem with the battery or the hotspot.
Restart Your WiFi Hotspot When a wifi hotspot freezes, glitches, or acts strangely, restarting the device to the factory settings may help. Sometimes technology products can get overheated and a refresh can set it back on track. This is always a great idea to try before calling customer service! Sometimes, simply turning it off and then on again will solve the problem. If it doesn’t, then you would have to reset your wifi hotspot.
Follow the easy steps on this blog to reset your device.
You will be able to locate a pin hole on the wifi hotspot either on the side or by the battery pack. Inserting a paperclip into this hole and pressing down will reset your device.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view. Add Data A working wifi hotspot will stop connecting to the internet when it runs out of data. If you have used your wifi hotspot before with no problem and suddenly you cannot connect to the internet or our business page pops up, you may be out of data.
You should receive an email before you run out of data, so make sure to add us to your contacts list and check your spam folder! To avoid running out of data in the future, invest in a monthly plan so that you get more data at the beginning of each month.
We also offer Forever Data, data that never expires. As long as your account is active and in good standing in the most recent 60 days, the Forever Data you purchase remains yours until you have actually used it all.
Register Your WiFi Hotspot A new wifi hotspot must be registered before it will allow you to connect to internet service. The wifi hotspot should come with enough data so that you can connect to wi-fi and register. If the registration page does not pop up after you connect to the wi-fi network, you may need to located an alternate wi-fi source and register the device first.
During the registration process you will be able to make an account that will allow you to keep track of your data, monthly plan, and more!
No Service Wifi hotspots work on a broadband 4g lte or 3g network. If you are in a location that does not have cellular or wi-fi service, such as a national park, you will not be able to connect and get wireless internet. TruConnect and Internet on the Go provide nationwide coverage. Check the coverage map before traveling to ensure that you will have service:
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view. Call Customer Service Unfortunately our Hotspot Doctor assessment is unable to detect every possible issue. If you have taken the exam and tried the recommended solution with no success, please call the customer service team for additional assistance. Check out our recent blog post on preparing yourself for customer service.
To speak with a TruConnect customer service representative at one of the most affordable internet service providers around, call 1.800.430.0443!
En TruConnect, siempre estamos buscando maneras de mejorar nuestro servicio inalámbrico con productos y planes económicos como datos móviles y 4G LTE smartphones para todos. Ofrecemos un servicio de teléfono móvil subsidiado por el gobierno, el programa se llama California LifeLine. Trabajano juntos con el programa de California LifeLine, somos capaces de ofrecer descuentos en servicios de teléfono inalámbrico y datos móviles a los que califican.Vamos a ver si cumple con los requisitos! Siga leyendo para ver si usted podría reducir su factura mensual de teléfono móvil o incluso obtener un celular gratis! Y si no, entonces tal vez alguien que usted conose podria beneficiarse de este servicio.
¿Por qué California LifeLine? Adoptamos el servicio California LifeLine en Enero de 2014 a través de la Comisión de Servicios Públicos de California (CPUC), la implementación de los servicios básicos para satisfacer las necesidades de comunicación cambiantes de las familias de bajo recursos. Un agradecimiento especial al Ex Presidente Ronald Reagan y la administración para la creación del programa Lifeline para ayudar a los consumidores reducir el costo de sus facturas de teléfono. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Pero adoptar el programa California LifeLine, ¿por qué? Porque creemos que todo el mundo merece el acceso a servicios de comunicación accesibles, particularmente quando gran parte de la vida moderna depende en el acceso de Wi-Fi y también – por supuesto a ayudar a la comunidad de Los Ángeles . Con la ayuda de la CPUC y nuestros esfuerzos, familias elegibles tienen la opción de inscribirse en planes de servicio inalámbrico de descuento que incluyen llamadas y texts. Planes de servicio inalámbrico a precio reducido, aquí vamos!
En asociación con la CPUC, los hogares elegibles en California son capaces de mantenerse en contacto con familiares y amigos, o tener acceso a servicios vitales en línea como bancario electrónico, recursos médicos y de salud, programas educativos y de empleo o a buscar trabajo.
La conectividad es clave Un día escuché a nuestro presidente y co-ceo Nathan Johnson en una llamada con el diario Los Angeles Business Journal , cuando le oí decir , "La conectividad es clave", y desde entonces sus palabras he pegado en mi cabeza. Natahn tiene razón. En un mundo donde la mayoría de nosotros estamos en contacto a través de correo electrónico , llamadas telefónicas , mensajes de texto y con redes sociales el poder de comunicarse con alguien esta en nuestro bolsillo; no importa en donde estas, alguien se esta conectando a otras personas utilizand los servicios de teléfono o de datos inalámbricos.
Vamos a Empezar Con la ayuda de la CPUC podemos ofrecer servicio de California LifeLine para todos los que califiquen, y créanme, esto se trata de muchos de nosotros. Creo que somos una de las pocas empresas realmente tratando de ayudar a nuestros consumidores porque trabajamos duro a publicar y llamar atención a este programa del gobierno de teléfonos gratis y otros programas que beneficien a la mayoría de las familias de bajos recursos en California y en todo el país. Por lo tanto, vamos a empezar por aprender acerca de la información sobre la evaluación de California LifeLine.
Método 1 para calificar:Basado en Programas Calificas para el descuento California LifeLine si tú, u otro miembro de tu familia, está actualmente inscrito en cualquiera de los siguientes programas de asistencia pública. (solo para nombrar unos pocos… de muchos!):
Medicaid / Medi-Cal (sin Medicare)
Seguridad de Ingreso Suplementario: SSI
Mujeres, Bebés, y Niños (WIC)
Programa Nacional de Almuerzos Escolares (NSLP)
Método 2 para calificar: Basado en Ingresos También puedes calificar si los ingresos totales anuales por hogar son iguales o menores a los siguientes requisitos de ingresos.
Tamaño de HogarLímite de Ingreso Anual 1-2 personas $25,700 3 personas $29,900 4 personas* $36,200 *Añade $6,300 adicionales por cada miembro adicional de tu hogar. Válido del 6/1/15 to 5/31/16.
Es importante presentar documentación de sus ingresos para calificar. La siguiente es una lista de lo que se considera prueba aceptable de ingresos.
Declaraciones de Ingresos (talones de cheque): Estos deben ser de 3 meses consecutivos en los últimos 12 meses.
Declaraciones de Beneficios: Desde la Oficina de Seguro Social, Administración de Veteranos, jubilación o pensión, compensación laboral, o Compensación de Desempleo.
Documentos de Pensión Alimenticia y Manutención de Menores.
Declaración de Impuestos Federal, Estatal o Tribales: La primera página de la declaración del año anteriro:
Si usted califica para un teléfono móvil de Lifeline, los beneficios solo duran un año calendario, y después usted tendrá que renovar el servicio. Asi que asegúrese de renovar sus beneficios antes de que se termine su plan. Al hacerlo, usted recibirá un formulario de renovación por correo, proporcionando un nuevo número PIN. Cuando recibas el PIN, debe demostrar su elegibilidad una vez más, así como lo hizo cuando usted aplico por primera vez.
¿Cómo puedo evitar la descalificación? Una vez que usted califica para el programa de Lifeline, debe seguir las instrucciones establecidas en el programa. A no hacerlo resultará en la descalificación.
Cumplir con todas las fechas de vencimiento: Cuando se acepta su solicitud inicial (o formulario de renovación posterior), habrá una fecha de vencimiento que se encuentra en el formulario de solicitud y el formulario de renovación.
Completa todas las formas con cuidado: Si usted presenta una solicitud o renovación incompleta, se le enviará una forma nueva, y el proceso de solicitud o renovación comienza de nuevo.
¿Cómo puedo evitar descalificación? Hay varias razones que una persona podría ser descalificada de el programa de Lifeline. Por ejemplo:
Presentación de formas incompletas, sin firma
Inelegible debido al nivel de ingresos
Se perdió la fecha de vencimiento
No se presentó documentación apropiada de ingresos
Tenga cuidado al llenar su formularios, y asegúrese de que no se le pasé su plazo!
¿Qué sucede si estoy descalificado? Si usted está descalificado del programa LifeLine, no recibirá los descuentos y vas a comenzar el pago de una tarifa normal para su servicio móvil.
Nuevo Camino Con el nuevo año, empezamos con un nuevo inicio! El programa California LifeLine puede ser una línea de vida que proporciona gran alivio financiero a muchas familias de bajo ingresos. ¿Cuál es la trampa, usted puede decir? No hay trampa. Sólo tienes que calificar, y no se preocupe - nosotros tenemos una gran red 4G LTE. Si usted no califica, ayudar a un amigo o miembro de la familia ya que estoy seguro que apreciarán esta ayuda durante todo el año.
Manténgase conectado mis amigos y Feliz Año Nuevo!
Para obtener más información sobre el programa California LifeLine de TruConnect, por favor visite http://www.truconnect.com/lifeline/ o llámenos al 1-800-430-0443.
Text messages and phone calls are the base of smartphones, but utilizing your cell phone to make your life easier and more fun is really the best part of having a smartphone! There are so many incredible mobile apps on the market right now, and we know many of these by name like Instagram, Uber, or your bank’s online banking app. What about the lesser known smartphone apps that can impact our lives, but we never have a chance to discover? We previously created a blog on "10 Apps to Make Your Life Easier", and now I want to introduce some of the best, most fun apps we have come across since then!
Periscope
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Periscope launched in March and has quickly become the number 1 livestreaming app. According to the description listed in the iTunes store, “Periscope lets you broadcast live video to the word”. It is similar to Snapchat except the videos can be longer and you can replay them later. It is pretty incredible to see live videos from around the world. Although there are many streaming apps out there already such as the well-known YouTube, Periscope allows watchers to leave real-time comments that can influence the broadcast. Users can chat through comments, and for example, ask the broadcaster to maybe show more of the concert, pan over to the sunset, or explain how they made the delicious meal that is being shown! We expect to see great success in the future for Periscope, especially since it is now owned by Twitter.
WhatsApp
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WhatsApp is a semi-popular text message app that was purchased by Facebook in 2014. WhatsApp offers fast and reliable SMS replacement, meaning you can send and receive text messages with no need for wireless internet. This app is extremely beneficial to travelers. It can also benefit users in countries where mobile broadband is too expensive and considered unaffordable; according to techcrunch 93% of the Brazilian internet population uses WhatsApp, which benefits the youth and poor who cannot afford the country’s expensive wireless internet.
Shazam
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Shazam is a music-identification app that relies on the iPhone’s built-in microphone and captures a 10-second clip of any song in order to identify the title and musician. Shazam is a known mobile app that is often forgotten, but is the best smartphone app when you are dying to know what song is playing on the radio or in a store or bar. The app can recognize songs, help you discover more about the song such as the music video or lyrics, share your songs, and even purchase the track from the Windows Store. Recently the mobile app has been improved to include more artists and songs making it easy to add your favorite songs to your ever-growing music library.
OpenTable
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OpenTable is an online real-time restaurant-reservation service. It provides online reservations for about 31,000 restaurants around the world and seats about 15 million diners each month. The app makes it easy to find a restaurant with availability and make a reservation, which can make eating out at the last minute infinitely easier. Users can even pay using the app through Apple Pay or by adding their credit card information to the smartphone app. When using the app, the restaurant employees never receive your credit card number or see your personal information. If users own an Apple Watch, they can choose to be notified of upcoming reservations and be given directions to the restaurant through the Apple Watch platform. Basically, if you are the kind of person that prefers limited social contact, especially over the phone with strangers, OpenTable may be one of the most useful apps.
Slice
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Slice is a wonderful app that pairs well with anyone who is an avid online shopper. The mobile app analyzes emails that you receive to hunt for order information and organizes your purchases into one place providing you with easy access to tracking information, purchase history, and it even has a price-drop tracking feature. The price-drop feature works by notifying you when an item you purchased drops in price or is recalled. This is especially useful when ordering from companies that honor price adjustments for items that are marked down within a short time from your date of purchase.
Evernote Scannable
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Evernote Scannable is the type of app that you would never think to download until you absolutely need it and come to realize its importance. This powerful app scans documents or images using your phone’s camera and turns them into legible, scanned items to store in your Evernote account or share with other people. The app focuses on speed and quality by digitizing documents at an impressive rate, which is increasingly useful as many companies and people choose a more green lifestyle and prefer email or digital copies over paper copies. This type of app seriously comes in handy when you have to send a scanned copy of your photo ID or signed documents.
PackPoint Packing List Travel Companion
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PackPoint Packing List Travel Companion may have a lengthy name, but it lives up to it. This little app is a superior travel companion because it makes packing and being prepared that much easier. Simply input your vacation or travel plans including the destination, duration, and activities. PackPoint will even check the weather to assist you in packing for your best trip yet! The app will not only assist you in packing everything for your trip, but also it helps you keep an organized list to reference before leaving or before heading home. The organized system will help you feel more at ease when packing for your next destination. A seriously powerful addition to your road trip planner and vacations allowing you to focus on planning personal or family vacations without the anxiety of packing.
PepperPlate
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Pepperplateis an incredibly easy-to-use app that makes meal planning and grocery shopping simple and fun! This app allows you to find recipes online or enter them manually, "Creating recipes is straightforward, with Pepperplate supplying all the right fields to fill in: title, yield, ingredients, instructions, active time, total time, source, and so forth. Adding a picture of your dish is as simple as uploading it from your iPad." (Heavy.com) I personally love the ability to find recipes online. By going through Pepperplate.com, you can search available recipes on many different cooking websites and instantly add them to your recipe book. Pepperplate does the work for you. Once you select the recipes you want to make that week, the app puts the ingredients into your shopping list and you can check them off one by one while at the grocery store. Be more adventurous with meals and never forget an important ingredient again!
Duolingo
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Duolingo is the app that makes learning a new language easier. The app uses different learning techniques mixing games, speaking, writing, and reading; using proven techniques, Duolingo makes learning and maintaining a new language less daunting. I took Spanish is high school and college, but cannot speak it fluently. Duolingo has been a great help refreshing my memory and keeping me active. The app is free and it will keep you coming back with reminders- if you forget to practice, the app will swiftly get you back on track. This language-learning app has become so popular that even billionaire Bill Gates decided to try the app versus hiring a private tutor. If you've ever wanted to learn a new language or brush up on one you already know, Duolingo is an easy and interactive way to improve those language skills!
Square Cash
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Square Cash is a payment app that definitely comes in handy if you split rent, bills, or even just the check at your favorite restaurant. Similar to other payment apps, Square Cash uses a secure system and you won't worry about entering your credit card information. I love that using my iPhone 6 means that I can use my secure touch ID to access the app. The app is incredibly easy to use, "Users input an amount of money, press the send button, and enter the email address of the person they want to receive the cash." Square Cash has a few competitors, but my favorite part about using this app in particular is that the cash is immediately deposited into my account. I would hate having to wait 3-5 business days on a rent payment when the rent is due in 3 days! This convenient app has revolutionized payments.
• • • • • • • • • • These apps are some of the best smartphone apps out there right now, and we want you to know about them! Many of the apps are accessible on iPhones and Andriod Phones and many are available for free.
Remember that many of these mobile apps (if not all) use data! So, whether or not you are running on 4g wireless or 3g, it is important to connect to cheap wireless internet or use your mobile hotspot when spending an extended amount of time on the app. This is especially important to remember if wireless providers charge a fee if you go over your monthly data limit. Be sure to check how much data you need and find cheap wifi plans!
Tech jargon seems to be expanding at a never ending pace these days. 3G, 4G, now even 5G. LTE, GSM, CDMA etc. What does it all mean and why should I care? Believe it or not, each of these terms has an interesting backstory and a concrete meaning. For today, let’s dig into the difference between MiFi and WiFi.
First, what is a mobile hotspot?
Many of you likely found your way here while researching whether to buy a mobile hotspot. A mobile hotspot, as you may know, is a portable device that provides wireless internet access for many devices including laptops, smartphones, tablets, etc. One way to think of it is as a compact, battery powered WiFi station that taps into cellular networks like a smartphone does and then wirelessly shares its data connection with other WiFi enabled devices, as many as ten at a time.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view. Some people may ask, why would I want a mobile hotspot when I can just tether to my smartphone and use it as a hotspot? The answer to that depends on how heavily you travel, who your mobile carrier is, and the data plan you have. Some of the reasons to use a hotspot include not running out of data on your phone’s plan, sparing your phone’s battery, reliably tethering multiple devices, fewer signal drops or throttling of your connection, not having to choose between data and voice (so you can make and receive calls), and the ability to choose your carrier based on where you are.
Wait, back up, what is WiFi again? Simply put, WiFi is a wireless networking standard that various devices use to communicate with each other without actual wires connecting them. If you have a device that has or is WiFi compatible, it can wirelessly interact with other WiFi compatible devices. For example, your smartphone has a WiFi chip inside that lets you connect to a mobile hotspot. The same goes for your hotspot, laptop, or tablet or other WiFi enabled device.
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So now tell me about MiFi
MiFi is actually a brand name used for a portable broadband device that allows multiple end users and mobile devices to share a 3G or 4G mobile broadband internet connection and create an ad hoc network, i.e. a mobile hotspot. Novatel Wireless owns a registered trademark on the “MiFi” brand name in many countries. According to Wikipedia, Novatel has never offered an official explanation for the origins of the name MiFi, but it is likely short for Mobile WiFi, though some think MiFi stands for “my WiFi”. Although MiFi devices are manufactured by Novatel, the name is often used as a generic label for any device that can function as a WiFi hotspot.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view. Now, about the difference between MiFi and WiFi… Simply put, the main difference between WiFi and MiFi is that MiFi is actually an internet device that has WiFi built in to it, while WiFi is a wireless networking standard. A MiFi device can be connected to a cellular network and provide internet access for up to ten devices. You can call a MiFi a modem or even a router, as it has both components, but it really is a brand name mobile hotspot.
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In fact, MiFi doesn’t just support the WiFi standard, they also support mobile data technologies such as 3G or 4G LTE. That’s why a MiFi device can pick up mobile data from your telecom provider. A MiFi device consists of two main parts, the modem and the WiFi router. The modem part supports 3G or 4G LTE and provides connectivity to next generation wireless devices, and the WiFi router part takes care of providing WiFi connectivity.
You’ll be happy to know that these days there are a wide variety of mobile hotspots available from all manner of manufacturers. Checkout some of TruConnect and Internet on the Go’s budget friendly offerings!
How did this all start? We would like to share with you a little about our company history. Matthew and Nathan Johnson took full control of TruConnect Mobile in 2011, and shortly thereafter acquired Telscape Communications and Sage Telecom Inc. The three companies each brought diverse offerings to the table: Sage Telecom provided bundled phone service and dial-up internet. TruConnect Mobile offered prepaid data service, and Telscape provided phone, plus high-speed internet along with California Lifeline services. Under Matthew and Nathan’s leadership, the three companies were joined together and rebranded as TruConnect in late 2014. Recognizing the need for affordable wireless services, we grew to add mobile phones, smartphones, WiFi hotspots and prepaid phone plans. Then we took off, in a small way at first, and a much bigger way over time.
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Expansion Since then we have grown to locations in California, Dallas, and finally nationwide. We even have much of our IT and customer support set up in India! By drawing on a large network of telecom experts globally, we really can deliver the right support for your wireless needs. But the reason why we continue to grow is a result of trying to serve the needs of our customers first and foremost. We acknowledge the world is different than ever before, technology is ever changing and taking over more and more of our lives, and we’re here to help with your wireless solutions!
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Wireless Lifestyle Champion Trust us, we don’t want anyone to be committed to paying a $100 phone bill every month. That’s why we offer plans starting at $25 per month, contract-free. We work hard to serve the consumer market by offering low-cost wireless services to serve vital, practical needs like staying in contact with family and friends, downloading and using mobile apps, and having quick access to emergency services. Think of us as your wireless lifestyle champion for your wireless needs and your wireless devices including WiFi hotspots, prepaid mobile plans, and smartphones.
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Looking Ahead Whilst in this internet age of information overload, we know there are plenty of great tech blogs to choose from. Reading our weekly wireless blog will help you stay informed about the changing wireless landscape, discover valuable how-to's and help guides, and keep up to date about what’s best for you with telecom and internet services. Our philosophy is to provide you with wireless services that give the best bang for your buck. The future is bright for us, and we look forward to challenging the big guys while staying one step ahead of the market. The journey is challenging, but over time we have prospered through valuable partnerships, great team members, and loyal customers. We look forward to unveiling new products and deals and working together to keep everyone connected!
Here at TruConnect we consider it part of our mission to inform our customers about the wireless technology that is such a vital part of their lives and communication needs. It can be hard to keep up sometimes with all the tech jargon we come across. There are a variety of technological terms thrown around the telecom world these days that the average consumer has a glancing at best understanding of. How is 4G different than 3G, for example. 4G is faster, right? Well generally yes, but the 4G network of one carrier is not always faster than the 3G network of another. Backing up, the G is short for “generation”, with 4G networks introducing peak data rates of at least 100 megabits per second for users on the go (in cars, trains etc) and at least 1 gigabit per second for low mobility users (stationary or walking), compared to the relatively sloth-like 200 kilobits per second peak data transfer rates 3G brought to the world.
So what is 5G?
Just as we start to wrap our head around this terminology, we are seeing new headlines about the coming 5G technology. What does this mean and how will it affect me? In May 2013, Samsung announced they had successfully developed technology that will power the 5th generation of mobile communications. This new technology will provide data transmission up to several hundred times faster than current 4G networks, they say. Nokia claims it has already tested a 5G connection with download speeds of 30 gigabits per second, which is 1,000 times more powerful than an average 4G connection. The real world likely won’t offer such speeds due to inconveniences like trees, buildings, and distant cell phone towers, but the industry is forecasting speeds at least 10 to 100 times faster than 4G.
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5G is coming
Despite this promise, it has yet to be determined what 5G will actually be defined as in terms of capacity and performance. Bill Smith, President of AT&T’s Network Operations, says that 5G will likely be defined in 2018, and the standards for 5G will be codified in 2019 by the standards-setting International Telecommunication Union, which is part of the United Nations. The standard will define which wireless technologies can be called 5G and such qualities as how fast it will be. Per CNN, each of the four nationwide cell phone carriers, as well as smartphone chipmakers and the major network equipment companies are working on developing 5G technology for their customers.
Who’s rolling it out first?
This seems to be setting up some of the major players for a little competition as well. AT&T only recently revealed its 5G plans, saying they aim to field test its 5G network in Austin, TX before the end of this year. Verizon jumped the gun last year with its announcement that they plan to start rolling out 5G by 2017, years earlier than industry experts predicted. AT&T claims that this is premature as the standards for what constitutes 5G won’t even be set until 2018. This hasn’t stopped them from announcing that they are working with Ericsson and Intel and will begin testing 5G in a lab this spring before outdoor testing begins later this year.
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What will 5G offer me?
The true benefits of 5G won’t really start happening until around 2020 for most of us, according to guests on the CTIA wireless association panel. In addition to faster speeds for basics like texting, internet access, and video, it is expected that 5G will support next generation technologies like Ultra HD and 3D video, virtual reality, self-driving cars, robotics, as well as the coming wave of smart home devices and even smart cities. Sports fans could get real time feeds of games or concerts and even switch camera angles or get instant replay. Self-driving cars will need to communicate with the cloud to receive instructions with near zero lag, and 5G will go a long way towards supporting this. 5G will enable virtual reality users to collaborate with one another as if they are in the same physical location with no distortion. The future of medicine may change as surgical procedures are performed by wirelessly controlled robots, powered by 5G of course.
When it comes to 5G, it seems the sky’s the limit. The good news for smartphone customers is that although existing smartphones won’t support newer standards, new smartphones are almost always backwards compatible so your new 5G phone of the future will still work on those old fashioned 4G networks you might be unfortunate enough to stumble across 5 years from now. TruConnect looks forward to providing you with the best affordable 5G phones when they hit the market!
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view. TruConnect is now selling the sleek Novatel MiFi2 hotspot bundled with unique, affordable data packages. Running on our 4G LTE network with crazy-fast speeds, this mobile hotspot is sleek and sophisticated, and more interactive than any hotspot we've sold in the past. This new wifi hotspot has a bright touchscreen with 11 different options that help you understand and customize your new 4G LTE mobile hotspot experience:
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By clicking the “WiFi” icon, you can see your network name, password, and security information. After powering your hotspot on for the first time, you will need this information to log onto the network with your wifi-enabled tablet, computer, or phone. Having the information displayed on-screen also makes it easier to let friends connect.
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The “Connected Devices” icon will show you the number of devices connected to your wifi hotspot and what devices are connected. Another great feature of this hotspot is the “Data Usage” icon. This feature allows you to set data usage alerts and pick your own cycle start date. Pick an alert level so that the hotspot will notify you when you are getting low on data!
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“Settings” has a lot of important options that you should definitely check out. In the “settings” section, you can:
Enable Airplane Mode
Disable Cellular Data Usage
Enable International Roaming
Switch between 3G, 4G, LTE, or set it to automatically pick the best option
Change your screen timeout
Adjust screen brightness
Enable sound alerts
Adjust your wifi range (this feature can save battery power)
Switch to USB mode when directly plugged into a device
Change language
The “Mifi Media Center” can be accessed if you purchase a MicroSD card to use with your mobile hotspot. You can store videos, photos, and music on the MicroSD card and then use the “Mifi Media Center” to access the data on the card.
Your new hotspot can also receive text messages! Visit the “Messages” icon to see new messages.
File sharing can be used with a MicroSD card. This will allow you to share files from your MicroSD card to compatible devices like your computer or phone.
The “GPS” icon will allow you to share your location information with connected devices that do not have their own GPS.
“WPS” (Wifi Protected Setup) easily and securely connects wifi devices to your hotspot.
Before calling customer service, you can access the “Customer Support” icon to see your device information. This will be important as customer service will need to know this information.
The “About” icon will take you to see your current device status, device information, and any available software updates.
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The new Novatel MiFi 2 hotspot is available for $59, which is 40% off of the retail price! We're featuring 4 unique and highly affordable data packages with the Novatel:
$5/mo for 200 MB of Data
$15/mo for 1 GB of Data
$30/mo for 2 GB of Data
$40/mo for 3 GB of Data
We wanted to give our customers the opportunity to try this new device at a discounted rate alongside our new and improved data plan options!
With continued emphasis on providing a great customer experience, TruConnect has created an innovative new ExpressPay website where customers can easily and securely add data to their existing mobile hotspot or phone, or activate a new one. This new website allows customers to quickly select a data top-up option and pay by credit card or data refill card whenever they need to add data to or activate their phone or mobile hotspot.
TruConnect and Internet on the Go devices will now automatically re-direct to the ExpressPay website when users run out of data or turn on a brand new device they purchased from www.truconnect.com or www.internet-go.com. Focusing on convenience and user experience, the new ExpressPay website recognizes both TruConnect and Internet on the Go (a TruConnect brand) devices, offering customers a branded online experience where they can select among a variety of data refill options, paying by either credit card or a previously purchased data refill card. If the device is not recognized or a customer navigates directly to the ExpressPay website, customers can simply enter their phone number, hotspot MEID number, or SIM card number (for GSM devices) to access the page’s services.
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“The beauty of our new ExpressPay site is that customers never need to spend time looking up and navigating to a website (hard to do when you’re out of data) or spending time on the phone trying to reach a live agent just to get back on the internet. Our new customer focused site is designed to take care of that for you with a beautifully simple user experience.” says TruConnect Sr. Product Manager Jim Lukowitsch. Indeed, ExpressPay is configured so that a user can utilize its services even when they have exhausted their remaining data.
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The ExpressPay website provides a secure portal where TruConnect and Internet on the Go users can quickly add data and return to their online activities. ExpressPay can be accessed by visiting refill.truconnect.com. Next, we are planning to add an option to sign up for or change monthly recurring data plans, so a user can subscribe and truly never run out of data!
With the recent launch of ExpressPay, a data refill and device activation website, TruConnect continues to focus on its mission of serving the underserved community by working with Qpay, now known as InComm Agent Solutions, to offer customers a cash option to purchase Data Refills. Qpay is the industry leader in efficient payment processing solutions for customers without access to credit. TruConnect customers can now visit various Qpay locations in California and use cash to purchase Data Refill Cards.
The ExpressPay website allows TruConnect customers to easily and efficiently purchase Data Refills for their smartphones or other wireless devices as soon as they run out of data. Even with the immediate success of this new platform, TruConnect continues to strive for solutions that serve all customers, including those who prefer to use cash or those without access to credit. Lifeline customers are especially likely to use cash because many are without bank accounts, and TruConnect seeks to break through this barrier by teaming with Qpay to keep these customers connected.
“TruConnect values our customers and is consistently looking for ways to make our wireless offering the best value for them,” Patrick Rail, VP of Retail. “A cash option for Data Refills provides customers the needed services and convenience that they deserve.”
Once their purchased data is used up, TruConnect customers are redirected to the ExpressPay site from their smartphones and hotspots to refill their data directly online. With the launch of the QPay-TruConnect collaborative, customers now have the option to locate a nearby Qpay store location to conveniently purchase mobile data refill cards with cash so they can pay for their data refills.
To better serve their customers, TruConnect, the leading low cost telecom provider, has created international calling plans customers can easily add to their existing monthly plans as well as International Refills to add more minutes. Better yet, international calling is now available to Lifeline customers as well. TruConnect’s demographic research shows that a significant portion of their customer base is Hispanic. Now the bulk of their customers will be able to contact family members and friends back at home in 80+ countries at low and affordable rates.
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To promote the launch of International Long Distance plans, TruConnect is including a free $2 international credit in all monthly plans that include unlimited talk and text. This means that Lifeline customers get the benefit of free international calling as well as unlimited talk and text that goes along with their Monthly Plan. TruConnect is the first telecom company to provide free international calling to Lifeline customers. This $2 credit is applicable in select countries land and cell, and is used at the advertised rate per minute.
TruConnect’s easy to add International Long Distance plans are offered as $5/mo. Unlimited Landline and Cell to Mexico and $10/mo. Unlimited Landline or Cell to Mexico, China, India, Brazil and 70+ more countries monthly plans as well as International Refills with entry points at $2, $5, and $10 to add minutes. This allows customers to only use what they need and purchase more if necessary. TruConnect believes its customers should only pay for what they use and our low entry price points support this. Other companies have high entry points starting at a minimum of $10 for additional minutes.
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Because of TruConnect’s predominantly Hispanic customer base and the importance they place on communicating with their families living abroad, TruConnect has created Unlimited calling to Mexico for only $5/month and Unlimited calling worldwide to 80+ countries for only $10/month. TruConnect does not require a minimum plan in order to add this low cost service, which most other telecom companies do. With competitive per minute rates, customers can get 200 additional minutes talk time with Mexico for only $2, a particular benefit for our low income Lifeline customers, many of whom have relatives living in Mexico.
