You’re probably already familiar with using WiFi to get in touch with others when SMS texting fails. Messenger and Kik, for example, help you send texts to others using a WiFi connection. iPhone users see the difference when they send blue-boxed texts from iMessage instead of green. All major carriers provide WiFi calling to their customers, and all you need is a WiFi capable device.

WiFi Calling Makes Connecting Easier

WiFi calling utilizes a WiFi network, whether that’s a public network, at-home network or hotspot, to make a call as versus a carrier’s network connection. Treating clients to a cocktail hour and trying to help a colleague find the bar, only to be the victim of a poor connection? Get in touch with WiFi calling and remain connected with your clients.

WiFi calling is robust in that you can use it anywhere there’s WiFi. Easily circumvent weak signal strength, dropped calls and spotty networks. Stuck in a basement? Where there’s WiFi, there’s connectivity and the power to do more with your business and for your clients.

In many ways, WiFi calling is like making or receiving any other phone call with your carrier’s connection. The quality of the connection relies on the strength of your signal.

To turn on your WiFi calling, it’s usually as simple as going to Settings > Calls > WiFi Calling and toggling the feature on. If this feature is not available, your carrier may not offer it, or you may be prompted to contact your carrier regarding setup.

Need something a little more in-depth on how to enable WiFi calling? We’ve got you covered below.

How to Use WiFi Calling on an Android

How do you set up WiFi calling on an Android device? To enable WiFi calling on an Android:

1. Go to “Settings.”
2. Tap on “Advanced Calling.”
3. Enable “WiFi Calling.”

Once you enable WiFi calling, you will see a prompt to enter your address to route emergency calls. After that, dial the number you need, and you will see a WiFi calling icon when the service is in use.

How to Use WiFi Calling on an iPhone

How do you activate WiFi calling on an iPhone? Here are the steps you need to take to enable WiFi calling on your iPhone:

1. Open the “Settings” application.
2. Tap “Phone” and select “WiFi Calling.”
3. Toggle the “WiFi Calling on This iPhone” on.

You may see a notification about collecting data regarding your location. You should tap “Enable” to ensure “WiFi Calling” is on, and you may also be prompted to enter an address to route emergency services. Please note that iOS 12 phones only turn on WiFi calling when cellular reception is very low.

Additional Need-to-Knows About WiFi Calling

Some situations arise where you need to know a bit more about WiFi calling, aside from how to turn the feature on and off. Here are a few common questions.

1. Can you use WiFi calling without carrier service?

Yes, but you would need an unlocked phone that is not assigned to a carrier. Your ability to send and receive texts and phone calls would also rely on a WiFi connection.

So, it’s not the best solution for those entrepreneurs on the go who consider their smartphone as an office in their pocket.

A few nomads who prefer the lone wolf lifestyle use free apps to get a burner number to make WiFi calls and texts when they are ready to connect.

2. Is WiFi calling better than cellular connectivity?

For the most part, the quality of WiFi calling is similar to when making calls inside your carrier’s network. Your WiFi call quality depends on the strength of the WiFi signal. If the connection isn’t strong or if too many people are on the network, the quality of your WiFi call won’t be as satisfying.

3. Is WiFi calling free?

Most major carriers offer free WiFi calling, but some smaller carriers offer WiFi phone calls as an add-on. The only time you may get charged is if you are traveling internationally, and your WiFi call shifts back to your carrier’s network when a better signal is found.

To solve this, you can turn on Airplane Mode temporarily while connecting over WiFi. Teltik customers always get free WiFi calling because we know how important it is for you to remain available and connected.

4. Why isn’t WiFi calling working on my phone?

Is your WiFi calling on? Go back through the steps and look at the manufacturer’s website for guidelines. Perhaps, “WiFi Calling” is listed in a slightly different area on your phone.

Is your WiFi on? Check the connection. Try resetting it.

Reset your “Network Settings.” Tap on “Settings” and look for “Network Settings” under sections such as “General,” “Reset” or anything related to “Network Settings.” You may find it faster using the search bar. Keep in mind that this will erase your WiFi settings, so you will need to reenter the information after resetting.

When all else fails, call your carrier.

No wireless carrier maintains 100% coverage, which is why WiFi calling offers a great backup option for businesses on the go. This important feature is always free for Teltik customers, where you can guarantee a quality connection with an unlimited phone plan.

The post What is WiFi Calling? appeared first on Teltik.

The most common germs you can encounter as a result of contaminated contact include ones that cause diarrhea, flu and the cold, but also staph, MRSA, norovirus and more. Fortunately, the skin is the largest organ of the body and pretty resilient, minus the odd scrape or when your immune defenses take a dip. So, don’t forget to hydrate and eat a well-balanced diet to stay on top of your health because where you go, your phone goes, and germs join the party.

Mobile Phones Make Germs More Mobile

Since your skin hosts its own circus of bacteria, you should sanitize anything you regularly touch. Your phone is like another hand, so you must clean it frequently, too. In fact, your phone has roughly 17,000 germs, ten times dirtier than a toilet seat, not to mention that most Americans check their phones 47 times a day.

Now, consider where you place your phone throughout the day. What surfaces does it encounter? Your mobile counterpart goes where you go, whether that’s to the toilet, to dinner or the seat next to you as you take an Uber. Microbiologist Dr. Charles “Germ” Gerba and his team from the University of Arizona tested cell phones that held 100,000 bacteria. Germs have greater mobility these days thanks to mobile phones.

The CDC recommends disinfecting and cleaning frequently touched surfaces daily, especially those touched by other people. Those in a traditional office environment may remember to regularly disinfect desks, keyboards, mouses and corded telephones. However, many forget contact surface decontamination, which should include your cell phone.

Before You Disinfect Your Phone

Unless you come into direct contact with mucus or have a health concern, you may feel like disinfecting your phone daily isn’t necessary. Clean your phone every day when you use your phone during meals and other routines frequently. Some may prefer to clean their mobile phones twice a week while others may do it more often, even twice a day.

Consider increasing how often you sanitize your cell phone during the flu season or at times when you’re more concerned about your health or the surfaces you are interacting with.

So, how do you sanitize your cell phone? Should you use wipes? Is it safe to use alcohol or other chemicals on your phone? When sanitizing your iPhone or Android, review these essential guidelines before disinfecting your phone:

• Always review the manufacturer’s booklet or website for instructions on cleaning before you disinfect your phone. Different phones are better equipped to handle different cleaners. Google recommends using cleaning wipes or ordinary household soap as needed for the Pixel 3a, but it also does not restrict the use of alcohol-based wipes. Apple states that it’s acceptable to clean iPhones with Clorox disinfectant wipes or 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipes, but every iPhone has different guidelines.
• Don’t clean your phone while it’s charging. Always remove your phone from its charger and turn it off before you try to clean it.
• When using wipes, disinfect your phone with wipes specifically made for electronic devices, not wipes used for regular cleaning. Wipes should not contain pure alcohol. The proper wipes will usually specify that they are for electronics on the packaging, such as Windex Electronics Wipes, 3M Electronic Equipment Wipes or Nice N’ Clean Electronic Wipes. Many of these wipes are available at major retailers like Best Buy or Walmart.
• You can also use e-cloths or microfiber cloths on your phone with a disinfectant. Avoid paper towels as they can be too abrasive.
• When using liquid disinfectants, be careful with mixing the wrong concentrations of water and alcohol. Though disinfectants can clean cases and perhaps the exterior of a phone, keep it away from the glass. The solution may get underneath the glass and potentially destroy the phone, or at least the oleophobic coating that protects your phone screen.
• Never use the following to clean your phone for risk of damage: compressed air, aerosol spray cleaners, harsh solvents (like toluene, acetone or benzene), bleach, hydrogen peroxide, abrasive powders or window or household cleaners.

How to Disinfect Your Phone: A General Guide

If not using wipes, here is a general guide on how to safely disinfect most phones with a microfiber cloth and disinfectant solution. To proceed, you’ll need:

• Lint-free microfiber cloth
• ½ cup distilled water
• ½ cup 70% isopropyl alcohol
• Cotton swabs

Follow these steps to disinfect your phone, comparing them with manufacturer guidelines:

1. Unplug your phone and turn it off, removing earbuds and the case.
2. Mix distilled water and isopropyl alcohol in a one-to-one ratio, adding it to a spray bottle. Do not substitute for the distilled water if you live in an area where you have hard water. Shake the bottle like a Polaroid picture.
3. Gently spray the microfiber cloth with the mixture, not overwetting the cloth. Don’t spray your cell phone directly.
4. Clean the entire phone using the misted microfiber cloth, wiping down the sides, front and back. To disinfect your phone screen, pay special attention, again, to how wet the cloth is so you don’t damage the phone. Gently wipe the screen.
5. Look closely for debris in small areas. Do you see any buildup around buttons, attachment ports or the camera lens? Gently use a cotton swab to clean the areas, and follow up with the misted microfiber cloth.
6. Allow the phone to completely air dry for 15 minutes before use. See the next section for tips on cleaning your cell phone case.

Tips to Clean Your Cell Phone Case

If you sanitize your cell phone, only to put it back in a dirty case, then what’s the point? The protective aspect of the case becomes pointless, in a sense. Phone cases come in different materials, such as leather, hard plastic or silicone. Most cases also have textured edges to give the user a better grip, but these edges are also prone to grime and need regular cleaning.

So, how do you clean each type of case? Here are a few tips:

• Leather: Clean leather cases with products specified for leather, such as saddle soap. Let the case dry completely before reinserting the phone.
• Hard plastic: Lightly mist the microfiber cloth with the distilled water and isopropyl alcohol mixture solution. Wipe the case down. Dip a cotton swab in the solution and clean the buttons, lens opening area and any texture edges. Let the case dry completely before reinserting the phone.
• Silicone: Clean silicone cases with dishwashing soap and warm water. Use a soft cloth to clean grimy areas. Use the microfiber and distilled water/isopropyl alcohol solution technique for daily cleaning. Let the case dry completely before reinserting the phone.

Still don’t think you need to sanitize your phone? While the average person checks their phone 47 times a day, a 2019 dscout survey found that people touch their phone 2,617 times a day. Wiping down your phone, touchscreen and case should at least be part of your weekly routine.

Clean your “office on the go” with as much care as you give your physical office. It’s the little things that give great first impressions and instill confidence in your business investments, especially when you’ve got us to back you up with affordable and secured data plans.

The post How to Sanitize Your Phone appeared first on Teltik.

If you don’t have a webcam on your laptop or PC, or you want better picture quality than what you currently have, we have good news. You don’t need to buy a separate webcam (and in some places, you can’t anyway); you can use your phone as a webcam.

Provided you have a newish smartphone (no more than a few years old) your phone camera is decent enough to give you the picture quality you need. And yes, it doesn’t matter whether it is an Apple or Android phone. The image quality will certainly be better than your default laptop webcam unless your laptop is new. As an added advantage, it’s easier to position your phone to get the right angle of your face.

Learn how to turn your phone into a webcam in the article below.

Must I Get a Webcam App?

You don’t really need a specialized webcam app, although they come with a host of features to make the experience better. If you’re not making a high stakes call, you may simply be comfortable launching an app of your choice – Zoom, FaceTime or Skype – and chatting right from your phone. There are steps to take to make the video quality better, even when chatting directly on the phone. Keep reading for more details.

Connecting Using an Android Smartphone

First, you need to download an app that lets you use your Android phone as a substitute webcam for your PC or laptop. There are dozens of apps you can use for this, but most experts recommend using DroidCam Wireless Webcam. DroidCam creates a connection between your phone and Windows computer, either through a USB cable or on Wi-Fi or other wireless networks.

DroidCam includes free and paid versions, and you can still use the free version if you don’t mind having ads displayed on your phone. The premium version comes with a few extras, both for the phone and for customization of your Windows client. Some include:

• Changing image contrast and sharpness
• Mirroring your video
• Rotating video
• Supporting high-res video (720p), and,
• Getting double the frame rate through the FPS Boost setting

However, if you’re just looking for the basic setting that turns your phone into a webcam, such as to facilitate web meetings or remote schooling, the free version works just fine. Before proceeding, ensure that your phone and computer are connected to the same wireless network.

Step 1: Download the App

Search for DroidCam Wireless Webcam on Google Play Store and select it. Follow the prompts to install it and wait for it to download and install. Once installed, you can move to configure your Windows PC or laptop.

Step 2: Download DroidCam Client App for PC

Open your default browser and search it, or go directly to DroidCam Windows Client. Tap the large button written DroidCam Client vX.X.X Download to download and install it. This will download a zip file, DroidCam.Client.6.0.FullOffline.zip to your default downloads location, or you can move it to whichever location you prefer.

Extract the contents of the zip file and look for the executable file DroidCam.Client.6.0.exe, whose size is just under 1MB. Double-click the executable file and follow the wizard to install the DroidCam client on your PC.

The only thing to note is that you’ll be prompted to install driver software from DEV47 APPS, which you MUST accept, or you won’t be able to connect the client to the phone. Open the Windows Client when the installation is complete.

Step 3: Connect the App on Your Phone to the Windows Client App

Open the DroidCam Wireless Webcam from your Apps list. You’ll get a start guide to show you how to use the app. Read and click on Next, then Got It at the bottom. You’ll be prompted to give permission to use the phone microphone and camera, which you must accept for the app to operate properly.

The next screen will show you the Wi-Fi network connected to your phone, the smartphone IP address and the port which the app uses. You’ll need those details shortly.

From your Windows PC, open DroidCam Client and look for Connect over Wi-Fi (LAN). Here, enter the IP address and port details, then select Video and Audio checkboxes. If you don’t check Audio, you’ll use your PC microphone, instead of your phone’s.

Step 4: Start Video Feed

Now you’re ready for your web conference or remote learning session. Clicking Start will begin video data transmission. If everything is working properly, you’ll see a preview of this video on your PC DroidCam Client.

Step 5: Connect to Other Apps

To actually set up an online video conference, you’ll need to configure the app you use to see your smartphone as the webcam to be used. For example, if using Skype, go to the three dots, then select Settings>>Audio & Video. At the top, you’ll see Camera and an option to set the webcam to be used. Choose the DroidCam Source X, where X is a number, e.g. DroidCam Source 1.

You’ll do the same thing for Zoom web conferencing, Facebook, FaceTime, and other video chatting apps. The steps may be slightly different depending on the app. If you don’t know how to set up your specific app to receive webcam feeds from your phone, simply Google how to do it.

Connecting Your Smartphone via USB

You can connect to your smartphone by using a USB or making a direct connection on wireless networks. The advantage of USB connections is that you can use the phone as a webcam without connecting to the internet. You’ll still need the internet to communicate with someone else, however.

The USB method is used by advanced users since you’ll be tinkering with the USB Debugging setting in the Developer Options. If you want to set it up, follow these instructions to set up a USB connection.

Set up your phone to Debugging mode by going to Settings>>Applications>>Development>>USBDebugging. Connect the phone to the computer using a USB cable (select USB debugging mode if your phone prompts you after connecting).

On the DroidCam Client app on your PC, choose the USB option, and you should be able to see your feed.

Bonus Tips for Online Web Conferencing

If you have a little money to spare, or you’ll be having multiple web conferences, you might want to invest in a mini tripod and tripod mount (both of these cost less than $25 online) to help set up your phone at the proper angle. But even without the tripod and mount, you can improvise with things you already have in the house to set up the best camera angle.

Note that running the app will drain your phone battery, so you should hook it to a charging outlet or external power back. Use the phone’s main camera (the back camera), which has better picture quality and more options for zooming and focusing. Some phones have better selfie cameras though, so you should decide what works for you.

Choose a spot with adequate lighting, or put a lamp next to you to make your face look brighter and eliminate shadows that interfere with picture quality.

Conclusion

As you can see, setting up your Android phone to use as a webcam isn’t very difficult – anyone can do it. Today’s phones have very advanced cameras, and you’ll get excellent picture quality with the added advantage of being able to set up the camera angle to be more comfortable for you.

The post How to Use Your Phone as a Webcam appeared first on Teltik.

What is tethering? Tethering devices offer handy access to the internet in a pinch, but how do you do it? When you tether, you use your phone or data-driven device as a router with other devices that can’t connect to the internet at the moment, such as your laptop or tablet.

What does tethering mean? Depending on the equipment you have, there are many ways to tether, such as via USB or Bluetooth. You may also need a tethering plan from your carrier since non-allowed tethering can violate the terms and conditions of your existing contract. From tethering an iPhone to USB tethering, here’s your ultimate guide to getting connected.

How to Tether an iPhone

How do you tether with an iPhone? Only iPhone 3 and beyond supports tethering. Here’s how to tether an iPhone to an iPhone via personal hotspot:

1. Tap the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
2. Select “Personal Hotspot,” or you will see “Set Up a Personal Hotspot,” urging you to contact your carrier.
3. Toggle the switch from “Off” to turn the hotspot “On.” Create a network name and choose your password.
4. On the second iPhone, select “Settings.”
5. Choose “Wi-Fi.”
6. Once inside the “Choose a Network” tab locate your personal hotspot.
7. Enter the password to “Join.”

What happens if you don’t see the network on the second iPhone? Toggle the switch for the hotspot off and on for the first phone. Place the second phone near the first one and try to connect again.

How to Tether an iPhone to a PC

How do you tether your iPhone to a computer? Here are the guidelines to get you set up:

1. Within your system menu, click the wireless network and bring up the available networks for your area.
2. Choose the network that has the same name as your iPhone.
3. Connect and enter the password to join.

How to Tether an iPhone to Mac OS X

How do you tether your computer to an iPhone? Ready to tether your Mac to an iPhone or tether an iPad to an iPhone? Here are a few guidelines to get you connected:

1. Select the wireless icon from the menu at the top of the screen. The available wireless networks in your area will appear.
2. Choose the network that has the same name as your iPhone.
3. Choose this network and enter the password to join.

How to Tether an Android

How do you go about cell phone tethering with your Android?

1. Go to “Settings” and select “Network and Internet.” You may see another variation under the terms “Tethering and Portable Hotspot,” “Mobile Hotspot” or “Tethering.”
2. Tap “Hotspot and Tethering.”
3. Then, tap “Wi-Fi Hotspot.” Enter a name for the hotspot.
4. Once you tap “Security,” select “WPA2 PSK.” Tap to update the password.
5. Connect to the hotspot like a regular Wi-Fi network.

How to Use Bluetooth Tethering

Alternatively, use your cell phone for Bluetooth tethering with your computer. Keep in mind that Bluetooth means a slower connection, but it’s the next best thing to a hotspot. You also conserve battery power.

Have you tried to connect before and find Bluetooth tethering not available? To proceed, your computer and phone both need to have Bluetooth capability. Follow these steps to connect your phone’s internet to your PC via Bluetooth and turn on Bluetooth tethering:

1. Make sure your phone is connected to the internet, and then turn on Bluetooth on your phone.
2. Is your phone discoverable with Bluetooth? Tap on “Settings,” then “More Networks,” and select “Tethering and Portable Hotspot.” You may also see tethering options by the name of “Personal Hotspot” or “Mobile Data.”
3. Enable Bluetooth tethering.
4. On the PC, turn on your Bluetooth. Under “Settings,” select your phone and then pair the devices.

How to Use USB Tethering

Tired of searching “USB tethering Android” and “USB tethering iPhone?” Unlike hotspot and Bluetooth options, USB tethering requires a cable connection. Once you locate a USB cable, you are ready to tether. Follow these steps:

1. Use the USB cable to connect your phone to your PC. Do not enable File Transfer; if the notification appears, cancel it.
2. Under “Settings” on your phone, select “Wi-Fi” or “Network Settings” on PC. On Mac, you can directly select “Personal Hotspot.” Activate your personal hotspot. For Android, you will see “More Networks” and then “Tethering” underneath Settings. Toggle the “USB Tethering” button to on.
3. Visit the “Network Settings” area of your computer system to check that your devices are enabled.

The perks of having a free hotspot plan mean that you can get what you need done anywhere at any time, especially if you run a business on the go. You can tether any Wi-Fi device.

Teltik offers business cell phone plans with unrestricted tethering for affordable prices, so you can do what you need to do. Propel your business and worry less about connectivity issues.

The post How To Tether appeared first on Teltik.

What Does GSM Mean?

The meaning of GSM is the Global System for Mobile Communications, and it is the most widely used network system in the world. In fact, only countries like Russia and the USA have moved on from GSM to other network systems. Originally, GSM meant Groupe Spécial Mobile, but the acronym was updated when cell service became commercialized in 1991.

GSM network is an international standard that applies Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), which assigns time slots to various conversation streams. These slots are alternated in sequence, with a very short interval between each conversation. In those intervals, phones can transmit phone-specific information. Every GSM phone must have a SIM card (Subscriber Identification Module), as it shows the network that users are connected to.

The SIM card is pivotal to the proper function of GSM networks. It is your SIM card that contains your network identification, address book information, and service subscription details. Through the SIM card, every phone conversation is assigned a time slot, and you can find out the network services that you can access. If your carrier allows, you can also use your SIM to pass information between phones and maintain some contact details.

How It Works

In TDMA, a narrow band 30 kHz wide and 6.7 milliseconds long is divided into three-time slots. Narrowband is a fancy name for the traditional radio channels we have (as opposed to broadband). So each conversation “broadcasts” for one-third of the 6.7 milliseconds.

This works because analog voice data is converted to digital data, then compressed to take up less transmission space. As a result, TDMA has three times more capacity than an analog system while using the same number of channels.

GSM Features

GSM networks have several useful features, which include:

• Data networking
• Applying encryption to secure phone conversations
• Call forwarding
• Multi-party conferencing
• Short Message Service (SMS) for paging and testing
• Call waiting
• Caller ID

GSM in Europe and Asia operates within the 890-960 MHz band, while in the USA it operates in the 1.9 GHz or 1900 MHz band. It is used within PCS-based and digital cellular systems, and it forms the basis for the popularized Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN) introduced by Motorola.

What Is CDMA?

CDMA is the other network system popular within the USA, and it works a little differently from the GSM network. It was developed during the Second World War by the Allied Forces, mostly to prevent Nazi forces from hampering communications by jamming radio signals. It is mostly found in Russia and the USA, but it is becoming popular in other countries.

What Does CDMA Mean?

CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access. CDMA gives its users complete access to the whole spectrum of bands, which means more users can connect at a given time. CDMA also works by encoding every user’s conversation through a pseudo-randomized digital sequence. As a result, only those participating in the call will receive the correct and complete data, offering better protection and privacy.

Instead of having SIM cards to identify users, CDMA network phones were built specifically to connect onto a specific carrier’s network. Therefore, buying a phone from one carrier limited you to the carrier and their bands. Should you need to change providers, you would have to change phones.

Because of technological advancements, some carriers can unlock phones allowing you to switch the phone to a different carrier. However, it is more common for CDMA carriers to use SIM cards, although now they carry LTE networks.

The Differences between GSM and CDMA

Both GSM and CDMA are multiple access standards, which means that multiple calls can be sent through one tower. The major difference between them relates to how your data is converted into radio waves for the phone to broadcast and receive. Apart from that, here are some practical CDMA vs GSM differences that affect you at the consumer level:

SIM Cards

As mentioned, before 4G LTE was invented, CDMA devices did not have a SIM card, while GSM devices came with SIM card slots. That is, CDMA was a phone/handset-based standards, where the phone number was linked to the handset/device. If you needed to upgrade your phone, you’d have to talk to your network carrier to deactivate the old device and activate your new device.

Conversely, for GSM devices, your phone number is linked to the SIM card, so popping the SIM card to a new device allows you to retain your identity. Although, some GSM devices may still be locked to network carriers, especially in the US.

Network Coverage

Network coverage doesn’t have anything to do with CDMA or GSM as separate standards. Rather, the infrastructure of the carrier determines whether or not you’ll have coverage. GSM networks are still more popular globally than CDMA networks. However, in the US, CDMA carriers have the broadest coverage and the largest number of active subscribers.

Roaming

At home, it really doesn’t matter which network you’re on as long as you have coverage. If you travel, though, you’ll be interested in what your carrier can do when you’re away from home. GSM has an edge over CDMA for roaming, because it is far more popular worldwide, and carriers make roaming deals to ensure you stay connected.

If you have a GSM phone, you can also pick up a local SIM where you are, assuming your carrier hasn’t locked the device to their network. You may not have full internet connectivity depending on device and network compatibility, however.

GSM and CDMA Carriers

If you’re a customer in the USA and you’re wondering which network carriers carry which kind of network, the answer is pretty much 50 percent for both sides.

When you’re thinking about a network carrier, think about how the carrier suits your needs, preferences, and budget. Consider their service quality, network infrastructure, features, phones, and services. Always check with your network before investing in a new phone, to ensure that it will work with your carrier.

It is possible for carriers to switch from GSM to CDMA and vice versa, but given that technology is wheezing past 4G and into 5G, many carriers don’t think it’s worth the trouble. This is why Verizon retired its 3G network and is now moving towards 4G and 5G. Many other carriers are likely to follow suit in the coming time.

Final Thoughts

For many carriers, going into CDMA or GSM was a matter of timing. Earlier carriers adopted GSM because it was the only available one at the time. When CDMA came into being, carriers that were opening shop jumped at the new thing that was better then. GSM soon caught up with the features of CDMA, which is why your choice isn’t so clear-cut one way or the other.

Before choosing or switching your phone or network carrier, take time to find out how they will suit your needs, not just what it means for your pocket. If you get the wrong device, you might have a hard time switching or changing carriers or plans once you’ve signed up.

The post GSM vs CDMA appeared first on Teltik.

Nowadays, most small business transactions and networking happen on the go. You don’t work the usual nine-to-five, so why buy a business line and all the equipment that goes with it? All you need is an open line of communication with your customers, and you already carry it in your pocket.

Your cell phone is the most accessible solution, and you can use your cell phone for business without customers even knowing that it was never originally a business line. Here are five tips for keeping it professional and building your reputation while using your cell phone for business.

1. Update Your Voicemail For Business Calls

What’s the difference between a personal vs. professional voicemail greeting? What should a business voicemail say?

With both types of voicemails, you must know your audience. The issue is that you have two different audiences, and your voice messages will differ accordingly. So, be tactful and friendly in voicemail greetings for work.

A personal voicemail greeting typically includes your name, represents your personality and may include a joke. A professional voicemail greeting contains your name and the business name, represents the brand and may include your company’s social media or alternative contact information. The most thoughtful professional voicemail tells callers that they will receive a return call, not that you are going to “try” to call back.

How can you record a voicemail that suits both your personal and business worlds? Remember, your voicemail serves as your first impression:

• Keep it short and to the point, allowing a pause before you begin recording.
• State your name and the name of your business, and provide a brief directory if relevant. Allow callers to press # to skip the greeting and leave a message.
• Skip the jokes.

Default voicemail greetings are not welcoming and are confusing for all callers. Think of your business voicemail greeting like a good elevator pitch, and practice before you record.

2. Always Answer Professionally

What kind of language and tone do you use when you talk to your mom vs. your best friend? How would you greet someone that follows up with you from a conference?

What do you say when you first pick up the phone personally vs. what do you say when answering a business phone call?

Much of communication remains unseen when on the phone, so your tone is even more important to building rapport. Different tones affect the mood of the listener and make a powerful impression.

However, your nonverbal language still affects how you communicate. Sit up straight. Make sure your voice is clear, and stay hydrated. Smile into the phone as you speak.

Always answer a phone call professionally, not casually. You don’t want to sound dry. The energy of your tone sets the energy for the call. So, be tactful, warm, and confident. Pace yourself as excitement and anxiety can make you speak a little too quickly.

The most professional answer is similar to recording a professional voicemail greeting in that you state your name and the name of your business: “Hi, this Joe, CEO of The Greatest Business Ever.”

Always assume it’s a business call. Answer consistently to build trust which in turn builds the reputation of your business.

3. Stick to Your Business Hours

Define your typical business day upfront. What are your normal business hours, and what are your non-business hours?

Consider how personal contact might affect your availability for business contact. This consideration also links to how you schedule your day. When are you available, and for what?

It’s important to schedule moments to invite positivity into your business day, whether that’s meeting with a mentor or going to the gym for 30 minutes midday. Don’t schedule the most stressful meetings back to back.

Relating to business phone calls, do you consider yourself available when in a noisy environment? Some professionals think it’s important to take client calls wherever they are, but the client, or even a relative, may not see it this way. Accepting calls at this time, for business and personal, can make the other party feel unimportant. Let calls in noisy environments go to voicemail.

4. Set Rules for Personal Calls

Set rules for personal contact, which means your business hours must be kept firmly in mind. Will you take personal calls at work?

If so, when? Will you accept return personal calls during your lunch or for a short period in the afternoon? Must personal calls and texts wait until after you close for the day? It’s very important to practice proper cell phone etiquette at work, even if you’re a solopreneur.

Set boundaries for personal calls, and clearly communicate your business hours. Communicate under what circumstances you will take calls and when you will return calls. Keep your promises to loved ones and clients. Setting boundaries will keep you focused and present for both.

Consider directing friends and family to connect with you via Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp. This will help keep the personal and professional separate.

Extend phone call etiquette into texting etiquette, and determine rules for yourself. Will you only text friends and family? Will you also text clients? It’s important to be mindful of whom you text, so you don’t get into any tricky or embarrassing scenarios.

5. Be Prepared to Handle Various Types of Calls

Consider sales and customer services departments and how prepared they are to handle all kinds of calls. How will you handle calls for quotes, demos or a followup? What if someone is interested in having you as a speaker? What if your mom calls and texts you that it’s an emergency?

Which procedures will you follow? If you don’t have a confident way of handling circumstances, it can lead to the perception that you are inexperienced in business due to your inconsistency. In matters concerning loved ones, it can look like you don’t care.

You are the best advocate and knowledge base for your business. The more you have ready to go, on the go — the more confident and informed you will feel and come across to others. So, know your mission, your products and your pitch. Where do your products ship from? How well do you know the industry? Have you read the latest research? Where do you see your business going in the next five years?

You’ll also answer customer service calls, so be prepared to address concerns with empathy and action. Customer service calls provide vital information for your business, especially when it comes to feedback and areas of improvement. So, don’t provide stop-gap solutions.

You won’t have all the answers, but be determined to find the answers and work through problems. Engage with your clients, and you will build loyal, powerful business relationships.

Yes, you can use your cell phone for business. You gain an office in your pocket when you use your cell phone for business, increasing your mobility and accessibility which makes a professional and positive impression.

However, you need to set a few ground rules and protocols. Make your first step updating your voicemail to a professional greeting that states your name and the name of your business. Set and stick to your business hours, and determine rules for personal calls so you can be available for both clients and loved ones.

By using your cell phone as a business phone, you get to take advantage of endless mobile tools to take your business to the next level. This allows you to build your reputation as a budding business who will fundamentally change the market for the better.

The post How Can I Use My Cell Phone For Business? appeared first on Teltik.

SIM cards help you to stay connected to your loved ones, and there are few things you can do on your phone without a SIM card. Therefore, understanding the SIM card meaning and what it can do will help you do more with your everyday devices and tools. Besides, you will understand your options when choosing the ideal card for your phone.

Regarding the SIM card definition, it’s a tiny plastic chip or circuit board that slots into your phone to give you a unique ID and connect your phone to the cellphone network. Without it, for example, you cannot make phone calls or send network-enabled messages.

So, what is a SIM card used for? Learn everything you need to know about SIM cards in the article below!

What Does a SIM Card Do?

As mentioned, the SIM is the card that connects your phone to your carrier’s network. It is through this card that your carrier identifies your phone within their network.

In simpler terms, it is like a memory chip which stores your unique cell phone identity. For example, the chip contains a unique seventeen-digit code which tells the carrier the country of origin, the carrier network (e.g. Verizon or AT&T), and your unique user ID. This is the information the carrier uses to attribute your cell phone usage for billing purposes.

You can transfer your SIM card from one device to another and still incur the same charge according to your usage because of the ID information. There are also certain features on your phone that will only work in the presence of a SIM card. For example, you cannot turn on mobile-enabled data without a SIM.

How does a SIM card work?

The most important piece of information your SIM card holds is the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), which is the seventeen-digit code described above. This IMSI is validated by an authentication key which your carrier provides.

This is how the carrier authenticates your SIM and allows communication:

•  When you turn on your phone, the phone reads the IMSI and transmits it to your carrier, sort of like a request for access
• The carrier receives the IMSI and checks in its internal database for its authentication key
• The carrier network generates a random number, e.g. “U” and signs it using the authentication key to create a new number, e.g. “Q”. The network knows what number to expect if the SIM is legitimate
•  If legitimate, the network transmits “U” to the phone, which in turn forwards it to the SIM card
• The SIM signs it using its own authentication key to create a third new number e.g. “F”, which it relays back to the carrier network
• If the carrier’s number “U” matches the SIM-generated number “F”, the network declares the SIM legitimate and allows access for communication

You can change your phone without being refused access to your SIM card. In most countries, however, your SIM card and device is tied to the carrier network where it was bought. This means that your card won’t work in a device sold by a different carrier. However, your carrier can help you to “unlock” the device to allow you to use a SIM from another network.

Can a phone work without a SIM card?

The SIM card is the brain that runs your mobile phone, so there’s very little you can do without your SIM card in the phone. It is possible, for example after damaging your phone, to move your SIM to a similar device and immediately retrieve your data, contacts, and other data within minutes.

A phone without a SIM is nothing but an expensive iPod/camera/gaming device. You can still use Wi-Fi to access the internet, take pictures, listen to music, play games, and use the calculator. But you can’t make phone calls, send text messages, or use apps that require SIM access, like Uber.

What information is stored on a SIM card?

Apart from the identification and authentication details, your SIM card can store a small amount of information. It can hold up to 250 contacts, a few SMS messages, and some other details needed by your carrier. Most SIM cards can store 32-128KB of data, but they are almost never used now because of the massive internal storage capacity of today’s phones.

To transfer data in the SIM, you must move it from one phone to another, and then copy the details into the phone’s internal storage. However, this is almost no longer necessary thanks to backup apps and cloud storage.

SIM Card Sizes

There are different size SIM cards available in the market now. The first SIM card ever built in 1991 was the size of a credit card, but they have been reducing in size since then: today, the smallest SIM is called the embedded SIM, and it measures 6x5mm.

The mini SIM or standard SIM was used on older devices; today, devices mostly use micro and nano SIM cards. The size of the circuit board is the same; the only difference is in the size of plastic surrounding the board.

Do SIM cards fit all phones?

Most carriers will provide you with a 3 in 1 SIM card, which means the card comes precut into the mini, micro and nano SIM sizes. If your device has a nano slot but you need to change to a device with a mini or micro slot, you can use the provided SIM card adapter to ensure your circuit board sits at the right place in the SIM slot.

Below are the different sizes of SIM cards:

Standard SIM

The standard SIM card or mini SIM was introduced in 1996, and it was used for every mobile device. It measures 25mm by 15mm with a cut-off corner. It remained standard for over one decade before the introduction of the micro-SIM. The standard or mini-SIM is still provided by carrier networks so that they are compatible with older phone models (usually non-smartphones that are more common in developing countries).

Micro SIM

The micro-SIM was first introduced in 2003 for devices with SIM slots that were too small for mini-SIMs. Micro SIM dimensions are 15 by 12 mm, with a cutoff corner.

However, the uptake of the micro-SIM was very slow; it wasn’t until 2010 that Apple first adopted the micro-SIM for their iPhone 4. Other manufacturers followed suit. Your SIM card still comes with a micro SIM adaptor for your nano SIM, should you need to switch to a device with a micro SIM.

Nano SIM

Finally, the nano SIM card was introduced shortly after Apple took up the micro SIM. By the time iPhone 5 hit the shelves, Apple had switched to the even-smaller nano-SIM. Switching to the iPhone 5 was a little difficult for users, as they had to get a new SIM or use an adapter. Nano SIM dimensions are 12.3 by 8.8 mm.

However, phones made after 2014 now support micro SIM vs nano SIM technology. Those with two SIM slots usually have one of each.

Final Thoughts

Now you understand everything there is to know about SIM cards and how they work. As a final note, it’s worth mentioning that you should do your research between network carriers carefully before settling on a carrier. Otherwise, moving to a different carrier once you’ve gotten your device and cell-phone plan could be very difficult.

The post What Is A SIM Card? appeared first on Teltik.

Using your smartphone over the internet exposes you to different risks like cyber-attacks and identity theft. Some of the most basic Android security precautions, like locking your home screen, can help protect your device from data theft. Securing your home screen enhances your iPhone security, and prevents unauthorized access to the contents of your phone.

Apart from having private data stolen from your phone, a virus attack may also corrupt it. As such, it’s only essential that you know how to protect the phone from hackers and enhance phone virus protection.

What Types of Threats Do Smartphones Face?

In the past, the biggest cybersecurity threats only existed on computers, but this has changed. Since your smartphone is at the risk of cyber-attack, you should be concerned with phone theft protection measures. Before then, it’s essential that you understand the type of threats that your smartphone is exposed to.

Mobile security threats fall into different categories. One is the application-based threats that happen when people download a malicious app. If you ever wondered, “what is mobile malware,” the answer lies in application-based risks.

These are applications that disguise themselves as legit, but in real sense, they skim data from your device.

Network-based threats are common when you use public networks. Cybercriminals steal unencrypted data from your phone when you connect to publicly shared internet connections.

The other category is the physical threats that happen when your phone is stolen or gets lost. Hackers get direct access to the hardware where your data is stored. Physical phone threats are more dangerous, and phone theft protection should be a priority.

Web-based threats are another category, but these tend to go unnoticed as they’re more subtle. They happen when you visit sites that seem legit. In the real sense, they’re created to download malicious content into your device automatically.

In this regard, what is the need for security in mobile phones? Ensuring your device is protected keeps your data safe and protects you from possible fraud.

How to Secure Your Phone

Protecting your phone from attack goes beyond locking the home screen. Remember, there’s more at stake than losing your contacts and text messages if you lose your phone. Even without using your phone to access the internet or store private data, you can still be at risk.

You can stay several steps ahead of modern mobile security threats if you’re keen on mobile phone security tips. If you lock your phone as part of security measures, go ahead and adopt other security measures as outlined here.

• Protect Sensitive Data

In days past, using a PIN and password was all you needed to protect your phone. However, this isn’t sufficient anymore as people can easily remove the microSD card and access your data. Another approach to protecting your sensitive data is to use phone encryption strategies.

Some smartphone platforms offer software that can encrypt files or folders with industry-standard protection. Encryption means that a specific code must be entered before viewing or copying a file. Anyone without this code may not be able to access the files, passwords, account numbers, and login details.

• Enable Google Play Protect Feature

In addition to encryption of data, consider using the protection software on Google Play Store. This is a feature that runs a safety check on the apps you wish to download from the play store. It checks for any potential malware and warns you when it detects them.

The software also periodically scans your phone. It sends you privacy alerts about apps that ask for permission to access private information. Once an installed app has been detected to contain malware, the best thing is for you to uninstall it.

• Be Wary of WiFi Connections

With most smartphones, it’s possible to connect to a WiF network. Any device connected to such networks faces a potential security threat.

Ensure you always switch off all WiFi connections when not in use. This will prevent malicious parties from connecting to your phone without you knowing. Switch off automatic WiFi connection feature on your phone for more security.

With a Teltik unlimited phone plan, you won’t need to worry about your data limits.

Basic Phone Security

Phone security falls into basic and advanced levels. Basic phone security can go a long way in helping protect your data from cybersecurity attacks. They make it harder for hackers to gain access to private information.

Two Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication is an extra step that seems tedious but adds an extra layer of protection to your accounts. It helps check and verify your identity before allowing access to your account.

The process generates a time-sensitive code sent to you through a text message. Once you enter the code, you’re able to access the account you want to log into.

Update Your Phone

Regularly updating your phone’s software is essential in enhancing its security. Regular notifications to update your phone may seem like a nuisance, but they’re for your own good. The longer you take without updating the software, the higher the risk of malware attack and malfunction.

While updating the software, ensure you also backup your phone. It’s advisable to store your data on cloud servers where you can easily retrieve it in case you lose your phone.

Track Your Phone

Some software on the market can help you track your phone when you misplace it, or it gets stolen. You can install find my device app to allow you to track, lock, and erase information from your handset from wherever you are with just a tap.

Once you download it, sign in to your Google account and give the app permission to access your phone’s location.

Another thing that could put your phone at risk is charging your phone at public USB ports. Connecting to an open port does more than just charge your phone as it also transmits data. If a port is compromised, hackers can access your photos, contacts, and emails.

Advanced Phone Security

In addition to the above steps for basic phone protection, you can go a step further and use advanced protection.

Password Manager

If you have multiple accounts on your phone, remembering all the passwords may be a little tricky. Avoid using the same password across all accounts and, instead, use a password manager. It helps you log into your accounts without having to memorize the passwords.

All you need to do is create a master password and have it encrypted. This is the only password you’ll have to remember.

VPN

Virtual Private Networks or VPNs ensure that you make secure connections over the internet. You can send and receive data over shared or public networks while preventing unauthorized access to your data. Use a VPN to add an additional layer of protection between you and hackers.

App Permissions

App permissions are meant to help protect the privacy of your phone. Apps request permissions to access your sensitive data like SMS and contacts. Others also access the camera and the internet.

It’s essential that you check app permissions as some may cause you to grant dangerous access to sensitive data. Some permissions, like reading your phone’s contact, is dangerous permission that you shouldn’t allow.

Other advanced phone security approaches are to turn off unknown sources and use a physical security key. Unknown sources are applications that come from outside your phone’s Play Store. Your phone will ask you every time you’re about to install an app from an unknown source.

Final Thoughts

Your phone security is essential, mainly if you use it to access the internet. Apart from locking your phone, you need to consider more advanced security features. Avoid using public Wi-Fi connection and USB Ports, use VPN, check app permissions, and update your phone regularly.

The post Phone Security: How to Protect Your Phone appeared first on Teltik.

Cue you rushing to get a Ziploc bag, fill it with rice, slip your phone in and wait for a DIY recovery. You swear you’ll back up your phone next time, if only it’ll turn on again. Well, “next time” is today. Get ready to learn how to back up iPhone and how to back up Android in ways that work best for your time and business.

Why You Should Back Up Your Phone

Get your phone, right now. Scroll through your apps, documents, photos and other media. How much of this data matters to you, to your business?

What would happen if you accidentally tapped on a link containing a virus or your phone fell under the tap, straight into a sink full of water? A phone dropped in water, especially a dropped phone in the toilet (don’t deny it), is usually a data death sentence if not handled immediately. Awkward.

The risk of losing this data is a direct reflection of what your business stands to lose. Here are a few insights as to why you should back up your phone:

• Evil water elementals: your phone is not waterproof.
• Technological brain fog: data loss.
• Sneaky tech: malware attacks.
• Tests of gravity: you drop your phone or otherwise smash it.
• If they can’t have it, you can’t either: thieves.
• Or, fairies stole it: lost phone.

A smashed iPhone or Android, Android virus or malware on iPhone are the last tech fails you want to deal with when you have deals to make. As much as you may want to blame it on evil water elementals or fairies, take this step to protect your business and customers. Back up your phone.

Why Businesses Must Back Up Data

Many entrepreneurs believe that their focus should be on security strategy. However, to secure your network, you must focus on corporate data backup. Conduct regular backups to keep your company running smoothly. If a hack or natural disaster occurs, your business and its sensitive data are safe. Nothing is lost, but everything is gained.

Malware and ransomware are other threats to look out for. Don’t risk compromising the privacy of your customers and the secrets of your business success. Make backing up your data a regular and vital business routine.

What should you include in a data backup? All files that your company generated or modified must receive a regular backup, which may range from everything from your accounting records to your emails. Remember, emails can be understood as contracts in some legal scenarios.

An increasing number of apps for businesses are available on the cloud. You don’t need to back up desktop apps since you can download or reinstall them.

iPhone Backup

Does your iPhone have iOS 5, at least? Then, use a backup feature already built into the iPhone: iCloud backs up data automatically once you turn this feature on. Here’s how to back up iPhone to iCloud:

• Connect your iPhone to a secure Wi-Fi network.
• Tap Settings > iCloud > Backup.
• Turn on iCloud Backup.
• If connected to Wi-Fi, tap Back Up Now.

When you tap Settings > iCloud > Storage > Manage Storage, choose your device. Your most recent backup should be listed. You can also access iCloud on your desktop with a simple download.

You receive 5GB free in iCloud, but if you need more space, you will have to purchase a backup plan. 50GB costs $0.99 each month. 200GB costs $2.99 each month, and 1TB costs $9.99 each month. Though convenient, the fees add up, and you may consider other online storage services.

iTunes Backup

To use iTunes backup, you will need a computer, either a Mac or PC, that runs iTunes. Use a secure Wi-Fi connection or USB cord to let the devices communicate and backup data. Follow these steps to back up iPhone with iTunes.

• Open iTunes.
• Connect the iPhone via USB or Wi-Fi to your computer.
• Click File > Devices > Backup, or click Backup Up Now on the Summary page.

Android Backup

What about backup android phone solutions? Android has its own backup solution, the Android Backup Service.

The service backs up your settings and apps, allowing you to easily restore this data on a new phone if something happens to your old one. To activate Android Backup, follow these steps:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap on Accounts and Backup.
• Tap on Backup and Restore.
• Toggle the Back Up My Data switch, adding your account if you need to.

Your account is now backed up. You can also use a third-party service if you prefer.

Backing Up Android to Your Computer

By now, you may feel overwhelmed by all the options for backup. Why can’t you just stash it all on your computer? It’s easy-access and easy to do on any computer. Android backup to PC may be the best option for your business.

Those who use MAC need to install the Android File Transfer app. Back up your Android phone to your computer by following these steps:

• Connect your phone via USB to your computer.
• Plug your phone into your computer with your USB cable.
• Open the storage on your phone under My Computer for Windows, and for Mac, go to Android File Transfer.
• Drag over the files to a computer folder for backup.

Notes on Cloud Storage

Thinking about using cloud storage and searching “backup phone to Google Drive,” “backup iPhone to OneDrive” or “backup phone to cloud?” It’s as simple as signing up, dragging over files and waiting on the upload. Picking a cloud storage service is half the battle.

Choosing to back up your data with online services is convenient when backing up a mobile device. For those with businesses on the go, cloud computing may be more ideal. It’s important to make regular local backups of your cloud data in case of hacking.

Regularly change your passwords, and make them strong with random capitalization, punctuation, numbers and uncommon word grouping. Encrypt your files.

Local Backups

Locally saved data allows you to back up files and data that you need to archive on one drive. Local backups are great for accounting, spreadsheets, documents, emails and photos. After the initial archive, you can use a backup software program to make the updates.

It’s strongly recommended that you conduct nightly backups. For more security, look into offsite storage for your archives and backups.

USB Drive Backup

You search “backup phone to USB” to see if it’s more than a convenient option. Is it safe?

USB drives, or thumb drives, come in larger sizes these days that make for convenient backup for data on the go. USB drives don’t hold as much data as an external hard drive. However, you can quickly back up data to a thumb drive, and then take it to offsite storage or where you need to use it next.

USB drives are very “plug and play,” and they’re also easy to lose. Another reminder to back up your backups.

External Hard Drives

You search “backup iPhone to external hard drive” or “backup Android to external hard drive” to see if the two will actually pair well for storage. Yes, it will.

For small businesses, buying and using an external hard drive for data backups is the recommended method. Just plug it in.

Back up your iPhone to external hard drive:

• Connect your iPhone.
• Launch iTunes. Another option is to locate your iPhone with Finder.
• Select Back Up Now.
• With that complete, open the iOS_backup folder on your external hard drive.
• The time and date should match the most recent backup.

Backup Android to external hard drive:

Plug your Android into your computer. It should come up as a drive immediately, or look for it on the notification tab. Select it for more options, including File Transfer.

Local Area Network (LAN) Storage

Do you have a local area network (LAN)? Then, you can back up your files and databases to an additional computer or a server. However, this type of storage is sometimes vulnerable to theft.

Tape Storage

Do you have boatloads of data that have to survive evil water elementals? For large amounts of data, use tape backups if you are focused on reliability and retaining large data archives. Tape storage is on the decline, but if your business relies on long-term archives, don’t discount tape.

Security in Critical 3-2-1 Storage

You should always back up your data, but you should also always back up your backups. Ensure that data is secured with the 3-2-1 strategy. You always retain three copies of your data: two are local and on different devices, with one offsite copy. For example, you may retain two copies on a thumb drive and Google Drive with one copy on LAN.

Create a “no data left behind” plan by taking your data security strategy deeper. Back up your phone today with three of the best backup options listed here that work for your business.

Need more data for your data transfer? Check out Teltik’s most popular, unlimited business phone plan for only $40 a month. Mighty data and secure backup means you stay confident when a test of gravity plunges your phone into your morning cup of coffee. Now, back up that phone!

The post How to Back Up Your Phone appeared first on Teltik.

To ensure that you’re not using too much data, you must regularly check your data usage on your phone and compare it to your bill to stay within budget. You can also set limits to your data usage to help keep you on track. However, depending on the apps you use and your business needs, you may need the amounts of data you’re currently using.

What Uses Data on a Cell Phone?

Your cell phone’s mobile data is the amount of data used in one billing cycle, typically a month. Cellular data is used any time you are using your phone’s internet connection to complete a task.

What counts as data usage, and what uses data on your phone? Here are a few common ways that data is used on a smartphone:

• Searching the internet
• Downloading or running apps
• Posting on social media accounts
• Playing games
• Streaming video
• Streaming audio
• iMessaging (iPhones only)

Apps that use data while doing any of these activities can make your bill run high. In terms of your business cell phone plan, the data you use while connected to WiFi doesn’t count against your data plan’s usage.

What Is Background Data?

What the difference between foreground and background data? How do you turn off background data?

When an app isn’t being actively used by you, the data consumed is known as background data because it’s happening behind the scenes, passively.

So, what is foreground data? Well, if you have an app displayed on your screen and you are actively engaging with it, then you are using foreground data. Once the app is closed, data that it continues to consume is background data.

What does “restrict background data” mean? You’ve probably seen these terms referenced online and on your phone. However, it’s important that you know that background data consumption is intrinsic if you rely heavily on notifications.

If you restrict background data, then apps won’t be allowed to send you notifications unless you’re actively using the app. The app itself doesn’t handle background data; the operating system does.

If you use many apps or widgets, then you need background data. If you don’t, then it may be best to restrict or turn off background data. Also known as “low data mode” in iPhones, automatic updates and background tasks are paused when you restrict background data.

How to Check Data Usage

You may be wondering, “What is using my data? Which apps are using my data?” The best way to check data usage is to look at your cell phone’s settings. You can then see how much data you have used overall and how much data each of your apps are using. You can manually switch off the ones you don’t often use.

On an Android, this is done by going to Settings -> Connections -> Data Usage.

On an iPhone, this is done by going to Settings -> Cellular -> Current Period Section.

How to Use Less Data

Reduce data usage to optimize both your phone and day, while saving money over time. Different apps take up more data than others. So, how do you turn on your data saver?

iPhone (iOS)

Set the data limit on iPhone (iOS) and turn off “push notifications” for social media, emails and GPS apps. Go to Settings > Notifications > Select the app, for example, Facebook > Switch Allow Notifications off.

Turn off autoplay for video. Change the settings in apps like Instagram and Facebook so videos don’t automatically play.

Restrict mobile data. Make sure certain apps run only over Wi-Fi. Go to Settings > Mobile > Scroll down to Mobile Data > Switch off mobile data for apps that you don’t want to run over the cellular network.

Please note that pressing the Home button to exit apps does not fully stop the app from using data in the background.

Android

Turn off “push notifications” for social media, emails and GPS apps. Go to Settings > Notifications > Switch off notifications for selected apps.

Turn off autoplay for video. Alter your settings in apps like Instagram and Facebook so videos do not automatically play.

Restrict cellular data for certain apps, as needed. You can restrict certain apps from using background data. Go to Settings > Apps > Select an app > Switch off “Allow background data usage.”

Turn on Data Saver mode to conserve mobile data. If you don’t have unlimited, turn on Data Saver. Go to Settings > Connections > Data Usage > Turn on Data Saver mode or restrict data usage for certain apps.

Only use Viber or WhatsApp when you’re connected to WiFi if you want to avoid a data drain. So, when traveling abroad for business, double-check that your data roaming is off.

Background data really drains the megabytes. Fortunately, you can reduce how much data you use by taking actions like turning on Data Saver and manually turning off notifications for certain apps.

For entrepreneurs and professionals on the go, you know that apps are intrinsic to staying relevant and connected. Who wants to miss an opportunity?

Not a Teltik business cell phone plan customer, and they won’t because they don’t have to worry about wasting data while on an affordable and unlimited plan.

The post What Is Data Usage? appeared first on Teltik.