TruConnect just launched online self-enrollment for Texas Lifeline applicants, allowing users to fully enroll for Lifeline free government phones including free talk and text service directly on our website. TruConnect Texas Lifeline customers receive a free feature phone including 300 minutes of monthly talk time with unlimited texts. Now applicants can go to http://www.truconnect.com/lifeline/freephone/texas/ and enter their Texas ZIP code to begin self-enrollment.

Once service availability is confirmed in their ZIP code, applicants begin the quick application. Applicants must have both proof of identity and either proof of participation in a federal or state qualifying program OR proof of income eligibility. These requirements are summarized on https://www.truconnect.com/lifeline/freephone/qualify. Forms of proof must be uploaded to the website during enrollment, so applicants must have a digital copy of these documents on hand. These might be photos of the documents or digital versions.

Applicants first provide form information including name, address, last four of SSN, and email. Once this information is validated by the system, they read and click various disclosures indicating they understand the terms of the Texas Lifeline program. Upon completion of disclosures, applicants select a 4 digit PIN they must note down that allows them to access their account and communicate with TruConnect supports representatives if needed.

The next and final step is submission of identity and program or income proof images. Acceptable forms of identification are broad, with 15 options including:

• U.S. Driver’s License
• State ID, U.S. Passport
• Permanent Resident Card, Permanent Resident Alien Card
• U.S. Military ID Card, Birth Certificate
• Certificate of U.S. Citizenship, Certificate of Naturalization
• Weapons Permit
• Military Discharge Documentation
• Government Assistance Program Document
• Statement of Benefits from a qualifying program
• Unemployment/Worker’s compensation statement of benefits
• U.S. government, military, state issued-ID.

Acceptable program proof types depend on the qualifying program selected, they can include an Assistance Program Card, Letter of Participation, Other Letter of Participation, and Prior Year Statement of Benefits.

Eligible state and federal programs for Texas Lifeline service include:

• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FHPA) or Section 8
• Health Benefit Coverage under Child Health Plan (CHIP)
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• National School Lunch Program's free lunch program (NSLP)
• State of Texas Access Reform (STAR)(Medicaid)
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/Food Stamps/Food Assistance)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Texas Works , Cash Assistance, Choices (Texas Workforce Commission, TANF Work Program (TANF).

Qualifying income levels are met if your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. This means at or below $17,820 for a single person Texas household, $24,060 for two, $30,300 for three, $36,540 for four, and $42,780 for a five member Texas household. Add $6,240 for each additional member of your household.

Acceptable proof types for Income include:

• Income tax statements
• Pay stubs (3 consecutive months of statements)
• Social Security Statement of Benefits
• Veterans Administration Statement of Benefits
• Retirement/pension statement of benefits
• Unemployment or Worker’s Compensation statement of benefits
• Federal notice letter of participation in General Assistance (3 consecutive months of statements)
• Divorce Decree or Child Support Award.

If you don’t currently have copies of your program or income eligibility documentation, you may still submit your application through TruConnect, but you will need to follow up directly with TruConnect at compliance@truconnect.com with copies of your documents in order to finalize your application. In case you don't have access to digital copies, paper copies can be mailed to:

TruConnect Compliance
10440 N. Central Expressway, Suite 700
Dallas TX 75231

Next applicants will see a copy of the application they are about to submit which may be downloaded for their own records. Finally Texas Lifeline applicants select their mobile service plan. Currently TruConnect offers a free monthly plan including 300 minutes of talk time with unlimited text. Upon submission of their order, TruConnect Texas Lifeline applicants will see a confirmation page with their order number which they should note down for future reference.

The next steps are validation and approval of their application by the Texas Lifeline Administrator. Once approved, TruConnect Texas Lifeline applicants can expect to receive their features phones in the mail in 4-7 days. All they need to do to activate their service is place a first call with the device!

On March 31, 2016 the Lifeline Modernization Order was approved by the Federal Communications Commission, effectively modernizing the Reagan-era program for the 21^st century. The new Order transforms the Lifeline program from a voice only subsidy to one that subsidizes high speed broadband, phases out voice only Lifeline service, imposes higher service standards, eases market entry for broadband providers, and transfers responsibility for verifying Lifeline eligibility of Lifeline applicants to a national database.

Why was this needed?

“This is a program that will meet the twenty-first century needs of those who are most worthy and could most benefit from connectivity and what the technological revolution has to offer,” said FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, who led the Lifeline broadband expansion effort. The Lifeline program was originally created to subsidize phone service for low income people, but with the key role the internet plays in our economy, federal regulators have moved to extend the program to cover broadband access among other changes.

Indeed, of low income households (those earning less than $25,000) only 48% subscribe to broadband service per the 2013 US Census report. By comparison, 95% of those with incomes over $150,000 subscribe to broadband. Former FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, a special advisor to Washington D.C. based public interest group Common Cause, called the Lifeline expansion “a giant leap forward” that will help “extend the awesome power of the internet to those who need it most. School children, jobseekers, the elderly and infirm in particular will all benefit.”

Here are some of the changes the Lifeline Modernization Order introduces:

• A $9.25 monthly household subsidy for broadband access
• Establishes a fixed minimum standard of 10 Mbps for downloads and 1 Mbps for uploads with a usage allowance of at least 150 GB
• Phases in a minimum mobile standard of 500 MB per month of 3G data, increasing to 2 GB by the end of 2018
• Establishes an inflation-adjusted annual budget of $2.25 billion for the program
• Phases out the voice-only subsidy beginning in December 2019 and eliminates it by December 2021 except in areas where there is only one Lifeline provider
• Establishes a National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier database to determine the eligibility of low income applicants to participate in the program
• Streamlines and reduces the number of federal and state programs used to determine Lifeline eligibility
• Creates a streamlined nationwide “Lifeline Broadband Provider” designation to increase competitive entry by broadband providers (including cable operators and ISPs), bypassing traditional state-by-state designation requirements
• Introduces other changes and refinements, including to non-usage rules and the annual recertification process, establishing a 12-month window for transferring broadband benefits, publishing subscriber counts, and creating new forms

When will this take effect?

The Lifeline Modernization Order was published in the Federal Register on May 24, making the effective date of the Order June 23, 2016. The majority of the rule changes will not take effect until the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) certifies that the edits meet the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act. This includes changes to authorize Lifeline funding for broadband Internet access services and the minimum service requirements for Lifeline-supported voice and broadband services. The majority of the edits will not become effective until Dec. 1, 2016 at earliest, possibly later if the OMB approval comes after that date. A few of the changes will become effective immediately upon publication of the OMB approval, others 30 days after.

California and Texas residents who qualify may apply for the Lifeline benefit at TruConnect.

What is California LifeLine?
California LifeLine is a state program that provides discounted home phone and cell phone service to eligible households. TruConnect offers qualifying California residents a free Android smartphone with free unlimited talk & text and 100 MB of free data each month. Only one LifeLine discount is allowed per household.

So How do I Qualify?
There are two ways to qualify for the California LifeLine discount: 1) Program-Based and 2) Income-Based. Program-Based means that you have to be enrolled in a qualifying public-assistance program. These include the following:

• Medicaid/Medi-Cal
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8
• CalFresh, Food Stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)
• National School Lunch Program (NSL)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs)
• Stanislaus County Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (StanWORKs)
• Welfare-to-Work (WTW)
• Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN)
• Tribal TANF
• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
• Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only)
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

For Income-Based qualification your household’s total annual gross income must be at or lower than these annual income levels:

• 1-2 Household Members - $25,900
• 3 Household Members - $30,100
• 4 Household Members - $36,500
• Each Additional Member – add $6,400

How do I prove Eligibility?
To prove eligibility for California LifeLine based on program participation, you must have copies of the following documents available to mail in the Pink Lifeline enrollment envelope, or have originals to bring into a store or to meet a TruConnect agent:

• Identification card or number from a qualifying assistance program
• Statement of benefits from Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or a qualifying assistance program
• Notice of eligibility or decision letter of participation from a qualifying assistance program
• Other official documents

If you don’t have the originals available to make copies of at your local Kinkos or Fedex, you may contact the program administrator and request that they mail you replacement copies.

To prove Income-Based eligibility, you may provide copies any of the following Income-Based types of proof:

• Front page of prior year’s state (540, 540A, 540 2EZ, 540NR, or 540X), federal (1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040NR, 1040NR-EZ, 1040SS, 0r 1040X0, or tribal tax return
• Income statements or paycheck stubs for 3 consecutive months within the previous 12 months
• Statement of benefits from Social Security, Veterans Administration, retirement/pension, Unemployment Compensation, Worker’s Compensation, and/or a qualifying assistance program
• Alimony and/or child support documents
• Other official documents

Remember, household income includes, but is not limited to: wages, salaries, interest, dividends, alimony and child support, grants, gifts, allowances, stipends, lottery winnings, inheritances, worker’s compensation, unemployment and public assistance benefits, social security payments, pensions, rental income, income from self-employment, cash payments from other sources, and all employment-related non-cash income.

What Do I Do Next?
At TruConnect we give California LifeLine applicants 3 options to apply for the California LifeLine benefit once they have all required proof documents available.

1) Customers can apply by mail at https://www.truconnect.com/freephone/program-income and receive a Pink envelope to mail their proof documents in.

2) Customers can select a local TruConnect store to visit at http://www.truconnect.com/lifeline/freephone/stores/california and apply and if approved walk out with a free Android smartphone and phone service with data.

3) Customers can fill out the TruConnect California LifeLine form at http://www.truconnect.com/freephone/program-income and select the "Hand Deliver by a Sales Agent" option to have one of TruConnect’s agents contact them and arrange a meeting to process the application.

What if I get Stuck?
TruConnect’s customer service representatives are standing by to assist you with any questions or walk you through applying for the California LifeLine free government cell phones and free cell service benefit to receive your lifeline phone. We can be reached by phone at 1-800-430-0443 or by email at customercare@truconnect.com. We look forward to being your California LifeLine provider for years to come and helping you out with this life line of a service!

New TruConnect customers and current customers who have had accounts for at least six months can now get a refurbished Apple iPhone 4 for just $30 at a TruConnect retail store. The hottest smartphone brand could be yours at the most affordable price on the market when you sign up for California LifeLine, or you can choose from three different Android smartphones at no cost. 

 
·  3.5” Display
·  640x960 Resolution
·  8GB Storage
·  5MP camera at 720p
·  512MB RAM
·  Apple A4 Processor
·  FaceTime Video-calling
·  Bluetooth 2.1
  

California LifeLine is the most affordable way to email, text, surf the web, and more on the world’s most popular smartphone, and new qualifying customers get Unlimited Talk & Text and $2 int’l call credit (that’s 200 minutes to Mexico). To get your iPhone 4 today, visit one of the retail locations listed below.

Participating Retail Locations:

Panorama City Mall

8401 Van Nuys Boulevard, #80
Panorama City, CA 91402

Huntington Park

6906 Pacific Blvd,
Huntington Park CA 90255

Chula Vista Center Mall

555 Broadway Ave #1002,
Chula Vista CA 91910

The hassle of learning the ins and outs of a new phone can be a headache when switching to a new mobile carrier. With TruConnect’s Bring Your Own Device there’s no need to waste time transferring your favorite music, photos, videos, and apps to a different device or suffering the aggravation of some of the things you loved about your phone being lost along the way. Keep the phone you already know and experience TruConnect faster!            

New Prepaid Mobile Plan and California LifeLine customers can simply bring their current device to a TruConnect Agent or to a local retail location and see if it passes a quick sim-compatibility test. If it passes, customers are ready for the more affordable experience of the TruConnection without having to get used to a new device. If it doesn’t pass, that’s ok. The Bring Your Own Device offer may not be available for all handset models due to network compatibility and device security exclusions. We also have affordable device options available, and a selection of free Android Smartphones when customers qualify for California LifeLine. 

If you own it, TruConnect it.

Call 1.800.430.0443 to find the agent or retail location nearest you.

Display Brightness

This first one is probably pretty widely-known. The brighter your phone is, the more juice that’s being wasted. Even having auto-brightness set can have a negative effect on your battery (and possibly your eyes), so decide what level of brightness is best for you depending on the lighting. 

App Notifications 

Notifications are handy (and dandy) but not all of them are entirely necessary. Information from apps that you rarely use, or apps that send you the most notifications (like those pesky Instagram Likes) might be best turned off, especially when battery is running low.

Vibrate Mode

Keeping your phone on silent when in meetings, class, or movie theaters makes vibrate the best solution so that you never miss a moment, but these constant vibrations take a toll on your battery fairly quickly. I'm sure those messages can wait. 

Power-Saving Mode

While putting your device into a built-in power-saving mode 24/7 would definitely take away from the incredible features that you love about your phone, turning it on when battery is getting low could give you those few extra moments until you can get to a charger.

Auto-Lock Time

This one may be surprising. Auto-lock is a great feature for those of us who may forget to turn our phone’s screen off completely when not in use, but setting this feature to the shortest time possible will be a life saver.

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Not currently near Wi-Fi? Not using a Bluetooth device? Simply turn these radio features off in Settings and give your battery a break.

Temperature

California residents understand the annoyance of a hot phone, but keeping your phone in a cool place can actually save you some much-needed battery life. Once your device crosses into the 90 degree territory, the battery takes a hit.

Secondary Battery

A second battery can sometimes be a bit costly, but it’s a great decision for those of us that are constantly on the go. There are also a ton of battery cases out there to choose from for that quick refill. 

Close Background Apps

This may be a no-brainer as well, but this may be the most important one. If you're not using it, why let it eat away at your battery life? Apps that are not currently in use can be easily switched off, or try rebooting your device periodically to give your battery a fresh start. 

Delete Battery-Killing Apps 

If saving battery power is one of your top priorities, maybe saying goodbye to those apps that are sucking your battery dry is the right decision. Whether it’s a powerful app, or an app that's built improperly, go into your phone’s settings to see which of your apps need to get the chop. Ok, maybe not Facebook. 

TruConnect’s Free Lifeline plans now include more data for California and Texas Customers

New California customers that sign up and are approved for TruConnect’s California LifeLine can now get up to 1GB of data every month when they bring their own device for even more email, web browsing, music streaming, and social media. New Texas customers that sign up and are approved for Texas Lifeline can now get 100MB of data (plus a 400MB bonus)! Customers can also continue to enjoy the benefits of Unlimited Talk & Text and a $2 int’l call credit with their new California LifeLine plan, and Texas customer can enjoy 100 minutes of Talk and Unlimited Text! 

Lifeline PLUS

For even more data, Lifeline customers have the opportunity to upgrade their existing plans so that they can enjoy more of what they love. California LifeLine customers can upgrade to Unlimited Talk & Text with 1.5GB of data for only $10, and can upgrade to 3GB of data for only $20. Texas Lifeline customers can get Unlimited Talk & Text and 100MB of data (plus a 400MB bonus) for $15, 1.5GB of data for $25, and 3GB for $35.

Pay-As-You-Go

Those who do not qualify for TruConnect’s Lifeline Program can still get the benefits of TruConnect at an affordable price. New customers have the following options for TruConnect’s Pay-As-You-Go plans:

Unlimited Texting - $5/month

100 Minutes, Unlimited Text, 500MB of Data - $10/month

Unlimited Talk & Text with 100MB of Data - $25/month

Unlimited Talk & Text with 1.5GB of Data - $35/month

Unlimited Talk & Text with 3GB of Data - $45/month

For more information on California and Texas Lifeline’s, eligibility requirements, and full terms and conditions, please visit http://www.truconnect.com/freephone/program-income. 

Did the Lifeline Free Government Phone Program Just Change?

Recently the FCC ruled on petitions filed by a number of states and USTelecom to give these Lifeline states and their Lifeline phone service providers more time to implement the commission’s updated Lifeline program eligibility rules. USTelecom worried that some Lifeline applicants may be excluded from the Lifeline program if they only qualify for a state Lifeline benefit that is no longer eligible. The FCC granted this temporary waiver to some of the states, with certain conditions.

The waiver request relates to the 2016 Lifeline Monetization Order issued in March, which amended the qualifying government programs and income levels for the Lifeline government phones program. Eight of the petitioning states can continue to use their old Lifeline free government phone program qualifications for the time being.  These states are California, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

States including Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia were denied the waiver from updating their Lifeline eligibility requirements by December 2. Reasons for denial include the lack of state-specific details justifying a waiver and that these states did not show good cause to delay implementation of the new rules as they wouldn’t require more time to update processes and databases to ensure ineligible applicants won’t be enrolled.

What Does this Mean to Me?

What this means for Lifeline applicants in the states granted the waiver is that applicants to the Lifeline program will continue to be able to qualify for the program based on the previously eligible federal and state programs and income levels during the time period of the waiver. One new qualifying government program for Lifeline applicants is the Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit Program. Lifeline states must add this program to their list of qualifying government programs effective December 2, 2016.

When Does the Waiver Expire?
Per the FCC, the waiver will run from December 2, 2016 until the states align their elgibility criteria with the FCC's new rules and update their eligiblity databases or by fixed dates per the below appendix, whichever comes sooner.

 Can I still Switch Lifeline Phone Service Providers?

One of the other new requirements of the Lifeline program this waiver applies to is the Benefit Port Freeze. Starting December 2, 2016, Lifeline customers will be required to remain with their service provider for a minimum period before they can transfer their benefit to another provider for free cell phones. This is called a benefit port freeze and per the Universal Service Administrative Co., or USAC, allows Lifeline carriers to invest in high-quality, low-cost service offerings for Lifeline consumers.

Per this requirement, voice service customers must remain with their service provider for 60 days before transferring their Lifeline benefit to another company. Broadband customers must remain for 12 months. During the benefit port freeze, other Lifeline Program providers are forbidden from seeking/receiving Lifeline reimbursement for the customer. After the benefit port freeze period expires, the customer may continue using the Lifeline benefit on a month-to-month basis or transfer their benefit to another provider of free phone service.

The FCC waiver allows California and Oregon to delay the effective date of these port freeze rules until June 1, 2017 or when their state databases and processes are in compliance, whichever is sooner. So, consumers in the Lifeline program can still freely switch providers in these states until then.

What’s the Takeaway?

So basically, if you live in California, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Utah, Vermont, Washington, or Wisconsin you can still qualify for the Lifeline free government cell phone program using the existing state specific criteria for acceptable federal and state government programs. For example California applicants enrolled in CalFresh can still qualify for the LifeLine benefit in California. Also, if you live in either California or Oregon, for now you can still freely transfer your Lifeline benefit for free government phones and free phone service to other phone service providers without having to wait. For now. President Obama is leaving office soon, but the Obama Phone will remain unchanged for many hoping to get a free cell phone for the time being.

In the 2016 Lifeline Modernization Order released in March by the FCC, one of the key components is the Lifeline benefit port freeze. According to the commission, to further incentivize investment in high quality Lifeline free government phone and free cell phone service offerings, consumers will not be able to port their Lifeline service to another provider until 12 months have passed for data services, and 60 days for voice services. So if you apply for Lifeline free government cell service with data, you must stay with the provider you applied with for a year, if you’re on voice only you must stay for 60 days before transferring your benefit to another telecom.

Who Does It Help?

Telecom providers may not seek or receive reimbursement through the Lifeline program for service provided to a subscriber who used the Lifeline benefit to enroll in Lifeline within the previous 12 months for a Lifeline data offering and 60 days for voice. Per the FCC, this will ease market entry for new Lifeline phone program providers and enhance competition and innovation in the market. One of the problems many Lifeline service providers have had is customer churn, as customers could switch providers as often as every 60 days. This churn makes it difficult for providers to participate and invest in offering superior broadband offerings and outreach as they tended to have a very unstable customer base with unpredictable cash flow.

Are there Any Exceptions?

Telecoms providing Lifeline free phones and free cell phone service can apply for a Port Freeze Exception if they meet one of the following exception qualifications:

• Customer moves and changes their residential address
• Current Lifeline service provider ceases operations or otherwise fails to provide service
• Current Lifeline service provider is found to be in violation of the FCC’s rules during the benefit year and the subscriber is impacted by such violation
• Late fees billed by the Lifeline service provider meet or exceed the month end user charge for the supported Lifeline phone service.

In any of the above circumstances, Lifeline subscribers may cancel service and receive a new Lifeline-supported service with another provider until the end of the original 12-month period. In these circumstances, the subscriber is not required to re-verify eligibility until the end of the original 12-month period. Requests for exception are reviewed on a case by case basis by USAC.

When Will This Start?

Per the FCC, the 2016 Lifeline Modernization Order takes effect on December 2, 2016. This means that as of now, Lifeline phone program users must wait 12 months to transfer their service to another telecom providing Lifeline government phones with data, or 60 days for Lifeline free cell phones that are voice only.

But What if I Live in California or Oregon?

California and Oregon both applied for waivers to this new Lifeline benefit port freeze rule. Oregon applied for a waiver as it claims it will take up to 6 months to update its system to administer both port freezes. California argued it will require significant changes to the Lifeline program administrator’s enrollment process and the California Lifeline database. The FCC has approved the waivers for both states. Oregon now has up until June 1, 2017 to implement its Lifeline benefit port freeze while California has until June 1, 2017 or whenever it updates its relevant state databases and processes to enable telecoms to fully comply with the new rules, whichever is sooner.

Keeping your Android phone running smoothly and efficiently can be difficult and time-consuming, especially if you've had your device for awhile. Check out these great apps that will not only help your phone run faster, but are also small enough to allow you to hold on to that storage space while still enjoying everything you love. 

All-In-One Toolbox

This device-cleaning app is the Jack-of-all-trades! Not only does it clear out pointless junk from your storage, it also boosts speed, performance, and memory, and acts as a manager for your apps and files. 

Simply scan for useless cache, files, empty folders, unused apps and images, and trash them in one tap. You can also tap to stop unnecessary system tasks that cause your device to drag.

All-In-One Toolbox is also equiped with an app manager (that helps you uninstall apps, backup/restore, increase boot-up speed, and customize the apps you want to run when you start-up your phone easily), an easy to use and categorized file manager, and a notification manager. 

Google Photos

Google Photos is definitely a must-have for all Android users. Not only does it organize all of your favorite photos, it also automatically backs-up your photos and videos to Google's own cloud storage. You'll never have to clutter and slow down your device with your photography skills again!

Categorize your photos and videos automatically by people, location, and things, making it easy to search for the item you want without tagging them. Also, enjoy the wonders of collages, animations, panoramas, advanced editing, and smart albums. 

Not only does this app help free-up space, it also offers unlimited storage for free in high quality and you can access your photos and videos from any device. 

Spotify

Similar to Google Photos, Spotify Music offers users the freedom of unlimited albums -- without using up storage on your device. Also, for only $9.99 a month, all of your favorite music is commercial-free!

This app has changed the world of playlists. You can create your own playlists of your favorite music as well as listen to pre-made playlists of popular music, up-and-coming-artists, and what's trending. All of which are updated constantly. 

You fall in love with Spotify's premium feature, which gives you the freedom of playing any song at any time, download music for offline listening, state-of-the-art sound quality, and no ad interruptions!

Wi-Fi Finder

You're in luck! Your TruConnect device already comes pre-loaded with the Wi-Fi Finder app, a free public Wi-Fi radar at the palm of your hands! 

Save on your monthly data by searching for and favoriting free Wi-Fi hotspots in your area and wherever you venture. Get access to over 550,000 free and paid locations in 144 countries whether you're online or offline!

The Wi-Fi Finder app lets you scan for hotspots around you and worldwide, view hotspot details, directions, and contact numbers (call the location within the app!), and filter hotspots by category (cafes, hotels, etc.).

Wiser

Let's face it -- Android OS can be confusing, unlike the sleek operating system of the iPhone. However, what the Android has that iOS does not is the freedom of customization. So, why not customize your Android device's home screen to be as easy to use as possible? The Wiser launcher is as user-friendly as they come, and only uses a minimal amount of storage!

This app allows you to customize your home screen with simple, bold, and colorful icon shortcuts, your favorite contacts and apps, while also making text messaging and adding contacts easier than ever. The big dial pad for easy phone calls doesn't hurt either!

Want to customize the homescreen of a loved-one's Android device? Remotely personalize their launcher screen with Wiser's sister app, Wiser Companion. 

The California LifeLine free government smartphones program is undergoing some big changes this year, so read on to learn how they may affect your California LifeLine free cell phone service if you are already enrolled in the program, or considering applying.

The big changes that will occur this year were due to take effect last year, but the state of California filed a waiver with the FCC to delay enactment of these changes, which affect the Lifeline program nationwide.  This waiver, which was granted by the FCC to the state of California, relates to the timing of new requirements of the 2016 Lifeline Modernization order, effective December 2, 2016.

The changes California was successfully able to delay until this year are two big ones: 1) Change in qualifying programs and income levels 2) a Port Freeze on how often customers can change California LifeLine providers.

Qualifying Programs Changes
First, the qualifiying programs for California LifeLine are changing. Currently, California residents can qualify for California LifeLine two ways, either being enrolled in a qualifying government program, or by meeting the income level requirements based on household size. Right now, the current qualifying programs are:

• CalFresh, Food Stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Medicaid/Medi-Cal
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) *
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) or Section 8
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
• Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)
• Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit Program
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs)
• Stanislaus County Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (StanWORKs)
• Welfare-to-Work (WTW)
• Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN)

As of October 31, 2017, California’s temporary waiver will expire, and the new eligible programs for California LifeLine will be as follows:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Medicaid
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
• Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit Program

The goal of the FCC here is to streamline the eligible programs in recognition of how most Lifeline subscribers qualify for the Lifeline free smartphone program. Life line screening, as many consider it, should focus on the actual ways most people go about Lifeline online enrollment in obtaining a free cell phone or free smartphone.

Qualifying Income Level Changes
Currently California residents can qualify for the California LifeLine program if their income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. This means that for a given household size, the current qualifying income levels are:

• 1-2 Household Members: $25,900
• 3 Household Members: $30,100
• 4 Household Members: $36,500
• For each additional person: add $6,400

As of October 31, 2017, the qualifying income levels for California LifeLine will change to 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.  This means that the new qualifying income levels for California LifeLine will change to:

• 1 Household Member: $16,038
• 2 Household Members: $21,627
• 3 Household Members: $27,216
• 4 Household Members: $32,805
• For each additional person: add $5,616

So good news here for low income Californians, it will be easier to qualify for a free government smartphone with free cell phone service in California later this year!

Lifeline Benefit Port Freeze
Currently California LifeLine subscribers are free to switch their Lifeline service providers as frequently as every 60 days. The FCC found that this resulted in excess subscriber churn, reducing the incentive for Lifeline providers to participate in the program and offer free government smartphones. To combat this, effective June 1, 2017:

• California LifeLine subscribers receiving data services may only switch providers as frequently as every 12 months
• California LifeLine subscribers receiving Lifeline-supported voice services only may still change providers as frequently as every 60 days

So there you have it. If you plan to switch Lifeline providers, don’t wait until after June 1^st if you are receiving data with your benefit. TruConnect is currently accepting transfers from other California LifeLine providers, and we would be honored to provide excellent service to your California LifeLine account in the coming years.

If you are qualifying for California LifeLine with one of the currently eligible programs such as CalFresh or the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), consider enrolling in one of the new qualifying programs, such as the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). Please check back here often, as we will be sharing the latest updates and changes to the California LifeLine program as they happen!

Is Your Phone Unlocked?

If not, you will need to call your service provider and ask them to unlock your phone. To unlock a phone, you must contact the wireless provider you are attempting to move away from and request that they unlock your phone. Once that provider has unlocked your phone, your new TruConnect SIM can be used in the unlocked device.

Understanding Your New TruConnect SIM Card

TruConnect wireless services are tied to SIM cards. When these small cards are inserted in a cell phone or other wireless enabled device they link the device to TruConnect’s wireless network. If you ALREADY have a phone, but want to switch to TruConnect service, you can usually replace your old provider’s SIM with a TruConnect SIM. However, not all phones allow for this option. The only way to know is to try your new SIM card to see if it works. If it does work, you can activate service with TruConnect and keep the phone you already own simply by activating the new SIM card.

Two numbers to pay attention to are the SIM number, which is under the long bar code and the PUK number, which is the 8-digit number on the top of the card. 

Because various types of phones require various size SIM inserts, the SIM card included in your kit allows for three different insert sizes. When looking at the other side of your SIM card focusing in on the “punch out” section, you can see the different sizes as outlined in the images below. (Standard, Micro and Nano)

When you open up your cell phone, you will see the SIM card and this will give you the right punch out size to try to use for the phone. If your phone has more than one SIM slot, make sure you use slot #1.

If for whatever reason you are not able to activate your new TruConnect service with your phone, save the punch out and the card and keep them together. You can always try the SIM on another phone if the size is correct. So, don’t throw them away and keep the SIM and PUK numbers with the punch out. You will need these numbers for future reference.

Try the Activated SIM in your Phone

In the example below, you can see a Moxee phone with the back cover removed. You can also see the SIM card inserted in position 1, near the top of the phone. In this case, you would remove the battery, to allow the existing SIM card to be removed.

Once you have the SIM card removed, you can tell what SIM size you need. In this case, the SIM is a Micro sized SIM. The next step is to take the SIM card from this kit and punch it to the proper size. Once this is done, simply insert the TruConnect SIM card, reinstall the battery, replace the cover and power up the phone.

If a message appears asking for an unlock code, this means the phone is “locked” to another network and the phone cannot be used with the new SIM until it is unlocked. To unlock a phone, you must contact the wireless provider you are attempting to move away from and request that they unlock your phone. Once that provider has unlocked your phone, your new TruConnect SIM can be used in the unlocked device.

When the phone is completely turned on, dial the number 611. If the SIM activation and insertion was successful, you will hear “Welcome to TruConnect.”

IF YOU DO HEAR THIS MESSAGE:

Proceed to the APN Settings below.

IF YOU DO NOT HEAR THIS MESSAGE:

There may be a problem with either the SIM or the phone. Power down the phone and reverse the steps to put the original SIM card back into the phone. Call TruConnect customer service at 1.800.430.0443 for trouble shooting assistance or visit a TruConnect store for a representative to assist you in person.

APN Settings 
(This allows you to use data services.)

At this point, you are set up to talk and text with your new SIM card on your device but there’s one last issue - mobile data. In order to make sure your device connects correctly when browsing the web or attempting any other use of mobile (cellular) data via the TruConnect network you’ll need to make sure your APN settings are set to our preferred settings so that they are compatible with our network.

Your APN settings need to be set to the following:

• Access Point Name (APN): TruConnect Internet
• APN: wholesale
• APN type: default,mm,supl
• MMSC Server: http://wholesale.mmsmvno.com
  /mms/wapenc
• MMC: 310
• MNC: 260
• APN Protocol: IPv4
• APN roaming protocol: IPv4
• APN enable/disable: APN enabled  

Setting the APN on an Android device

First, make sure you haven’t downloaded a battery saver app. These can disable APNs. If you have downloaded one of these apps, uninstall it. Also make sure your device isn’t in Airplane mode. Then, from the Home screen, press the Menu key. Tap Settings > Wireless & networks. Check Mobile Network. Tap Mobile Networks.

Make sure the following are checked:

• Data Enabled
• Use Packet Data
• Data Roaming

Tap Access Point Names or APNs.

Enter the preferred APN information.

There are different APN types: default,supl,mms OR Internet+MMS Default Android providesa text field to enter default,supl,mms.  (image below)

Samsung provides an Internet+MMS radio button to select (image below)

Type in or select the following:

• APN: wholesale
• APN type: default,mm,supl
• Proxy: not set
• Port: not set
• Username: not set
• Password: not set
• Server: not set
• MMSC: http://wholesale.
  mmsmvno.com/mms/wapenc
• MMS Proxy: not set
• MMC: 310
• MNC: 260
• Authentication type: not set
• APN Protocol: IPv4
• APN roaming protocol: IPv4
• APN enable/disable: APN enabled
• Bearer: unspecified
• MVNO type: none
• MVNO value: not set

Press the Menu key and save. Reboot your phone and test your data connection by opening a web page.

For iPhone, follow these steps:

1. From the main menu, tap Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap Network. (Note: For iOS6, tap Cellular.)
4. Verify the following settings:

• Data Roaming: On
• Wi-Fi: Off
• 3G Enable: On 
  
  Note: Changing the 3G Enable function while the device is on an active call may cause the call to disconnect.

        5. Tap Cellular Data Network.

        6. Configure the internet settings under the Cellular Data section:

• APN: TruConnect Internet Note: For some iPhone unlocks you may need to use wap.voicestream. com.
• Username: <Leave Blank>
• Password: <Leave Blank>

        7. Configure the picture message settings under the MMS section:

• APN: wholesale
• Username: <Leave Blank>
• Password: <Leave Blank>
• MMSC: http://wholesale.mmsmvno.
  com/mms/wapenc
• MMS Proxy:
• MMS Max Message Size: 1048576
• MMS UA Prof URL: http://www.
  apple.com/mms/uaprof.rdf

        8. Enter the following information under the Internet Tethering section:

• APN: wholesale
• Username: <Leave Blank>
• Password: <Leave Blank>

        9. Press the Home button to save the APN and exit to the main screen.

      10. Verify MMS is enabled:

1. Tap Settings.
2. Tap Messages.
3. Set MMS Messaging to On.
   Note: For iOS5 and lower, Tap MMS first.

      11. Turn the device off and back on.

      12. Test the connection by opening the Safari web browser and sending a picture              message.

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.

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 Pay As You Go 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 Pay As You Go 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

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! 

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

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.

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

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.

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

Yelp  is 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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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.

 (a little weird, right? Should we get her a book, tablet, phone?)

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.

(brb gotta get some work done)

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 Pay As You Go mobile hotspot with mobile data plans designed to fit your lifestyle.

When all else fails, there is still hope!

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:

1. Look for the smallest hole that looks like a pin.
2. Find a small wire, toothpick, pin, or paperclip and insert it in the hole for at least 3 seconds.
3. 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.

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.

What is freemium might you ask?

‘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.

Get a Mobile Hotspot with Free Data

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.

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.

“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 Pay As You Go wireless services along with cheap internet connections and portable wifi solutions.  

And we have big plans for the future.

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:

•  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!
  
  
• D-Link Mobile Hotspot Serial Number Example:
  
  
  
• UniMax Mobile Hotspot MEID Number Example:
  
  
  
  

• If you would rather check your serial number on your online portal, you can view it as shown below:

   

• 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:

1. Call 800.430.0443
2. Submit an online form: http://www.truconnect.com/contacts/ 
3. Leave a direct message on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TruConnect

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 America enjoy 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 could research 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.

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 our cheap wireless internet plans, pair one with a hotspot, and choose to take your internet on the go.

Now, take this easy quiz to find your perfect hotspot!