We Review 3 Phones AT&T Pays You to Use*

> Get Details on Money-Back AT&T Phones Now

The deals are out there — major carriers like AT&T are paying you rebates to sign up for service with certain phones.  And they are fully-featured phones.  Here, we’ll review three current specials (at the time of this writing) from AT&T — The BlackBerry Curve 8310, The Samsung BlackJack II i617, and Palm Centro — leading multi-media phone/PDAs from major manufacturers.  Note the deals are limited time specials and you can order now here at BestRatePlans.com

Which do we like?  Well, they seem similar at first glance, all with similar sized screens, a digital camera, and keyboards.  But, on closer look, we like the Blackberry — the only one of the three with a good web browser, tied with the BlackJack for battery life, GPS services, and the only one that is internationally compatible.

$74.99 Rebate on BlackBerry Curve 8310  (Red or Titanium) - The gorgeous BlackBerry Curve 8310 for AT&T really sets a high bar on style and functionality. Like all BlackBerry devices, the BlackBerry Curve 8310 provides possibly the best on-the-go email and calendar solution for mobile professionals. But this new BlackBerry Curve 8310 includes a 2.0 Megapixel camera, GPS, a rich experience media player, voice dialing and stereo Bluetooth. Built for smartphone lovers with a sense of style, the BlackBerry Curve 8310 is dressed for success.

$49.99 Rebate on Samsung BlackJack II i617 (Burgandy, Pink, or Blue) – The upgraded Samsung BlackJack II for AT&T delivers exciting multimedia options, all within an attractive black shell. The addition of Windows Mobile 6 with larger RAM lets you get things done quicker. Plus, the Samsung BlackJack II includes a built-in GPS with Telenav audible turn-by-turn driving directions. There’s also an upgraded 2.0 Megapixel camera/camcorder, on-board XM Satellite Radio, Media Player and stereo Bluetooth for tons of entertainment options.

$39.99 Back on Palm Centro (Black, Blue or White):  The popular Palm Centro is now available for AT&T wireless customers! This Centro is a remarkably slim and powerful smartphone that is perfect for first-time users. Like all Palm devices, the Centro helps you stay productive by delivering your corporate and personal email, calendar and contacts or editing MS Office documents on the go. In addition, this consumer-oriented Centro gives you broadband Web access, Google Maps, and a media player.  A 1.3 megapixel camera is included plus a touchscreen with stylus for pinpoint control.

> Get Details on Money-Back AT&T Phones Now
*Current promotions and plans change often – please note all offer dates and read details of specials completely before considering purchase.

Understanding and Finding Unlocked GSM Phones…

> Review Unlocked GSM Phones

Did you know that most cell phone users in Europe simply remove their “SIM” card when they want to use a different phone — and their phone number and identity information travel with them to the new phone?  That’s right.  This works with a GSM phone that is “unlocked.”  GSM stands for “Global System for Mobile Communications, and “unlocked” means that the phone is not set up to run only for one service provider.  Most people I know would like to find that in the US.  Guess what?  You can… but not at the kiosks, and specialty phone stores of the major providers in strip malls.  Try the search at right — showing all the GSM unlocked phones for sale at eBay from providers (check their service ratings before purchase).

Here are more details about unlocked and GSM phones…

UNLOCKED PHONES: Some cell phones are designed to use a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card, or microchip that stores subscriber data. The SIM card is issued by a carrier and provides cell service when inserted into your cell phone. A locked phone, however, only recognizes a SIM card from a specific carrier. If the cell phone is unlocked, it will recognize a SIM card from any carrier. This “lock” is a software setting that keeps your phone set for use with only one service provider.

In the United States  phones are commonly locked so that they will not work with other carriers. Providers have said this is necessary to offset the rebates and promotions on phones. Sometimes, a carrier agrees to unlock the phone, usually charging a fee. But the phones don’t always function correctly with other carriers, even once unlocked.

One way to get an unlocked phone  is to buy it new from a third party vendor in its original, unlocked state, though the price you pay may be close to full retail. Your  advantage is that your unlocked phone should work equally well with any carrier that uses SIM cards.

GSM PHONES: A GSM — (G)lobal (S)ystem for (M)obile Communications –  uses GSM to send and receive phone calls. GSM is a digital standard that is currently the most popular mobile phone transmission technology in the world.

The GSM standard uses TDMA digital technology, which allows for three different voice calls to be placed in the same time slot, rather than one call using the old analog “cell” phones. Another benefit of a GSM phone is the addition of a SIM card, or “Subscriber Identification Module.” This little chip slips into the back of GSM phones and provides all of the users’ personal information. This includes contacts and calendar information in most cases, and more importantly the subscriber’s personal identification information. Having this information on removable chip enables a GSM phone user to move a SIM card between mobile phones and still receive voice calls to the same number. It also prevents user from having to re-input personal information each time a new phone is purchased.

In Europe and most of Asia, GSM is the standard — a great advantage over the US system, because users can simply move their chips to different phones if they travel to different countries or in most cases use the same phone.

> Review Unlocked GSM Phones

Two Different Cards that Reward you for Gas and Auto Expenses…

> Details of Cards Compared |  ALL Gas Reward Cards

Hey…  gas has been real affordable for the Holidays… right?  Well, the latest news says that the Arabs, smarting from less cash flow, are lowering production in attempt to raise the price of gas.  Not good, if you travel a lot on the road for your business, so here are a couple of ways to earn back some of those gas and travel expenses.

Capital One® No Hassle Miles(SM) Rewards For Travel & Gas (8.15% Purchase APR):  The Capital One® No Hassle Miles(SM) Rewards For Travel & Gas card is one of the best and least costlycards available for cardholders who frequently travel and make gas purchases. Cardholders will earn three miles per dollar spent on travel and gas purchases and one mile per dollar on all other purchases. Miles are redeemable for flights on any airline (with no blackout dates), cash, merchandise, and gift certificates. Miles can also be donated to participating charities. This card has no annual fee.

Discover® Open Road(SM) Card:  The Discover® Open Road(SM) Card, issued by Discover, is designed for those with very good credit who would like to earn cash rewards on gas and auto maintenance expenses. Through the reward program, cardholders earn a full 5% in cash rebates for gas and auto maintenance purchases, up to 1% for general purchases, and .25% for purchases made at select warehouse clubs and discount stores. Those who spend up to $1,500 on general purchases will receive a .25% rebate, between $1,500 and $3,000 will receive a .5% rebate, and over $3,000 will receive a full 1% rebate.* This card also offers a variable rebate on gas and auto maintenance purchases. Those who spend up to $1,200 will receive a full 5% rebate, between $1,200 and $1,500 will receive a .25% rebate, between $1,500 and $3,000 will receive a .5% rebate, and over $3,000 will receive a 1% rebate.

> Details of Cards Compared |  ALL Gas Reward Cards

We Review Four Prepaid Cellular Plans

Sometimes it works out best to pay as you go, or pre-pay.  How do you pick? Review below, but we like AT&T over T-Mobile because of the rollover feature.

Here’s a selection of different providers for your review — three in the US, and one works in more than 54 countries if you travel a lot):

• T-Mobile To Go: you get prepaid wireless service exactly how you want it with the coolest handsets and the newest ways to communicate.Service Details:
  1. No annual contract or credit check
  2. No hidden fees
  3. All phones include $15 in free starter airtime
  4. Call or roam nationwide at no extra charge
  5. Buy airtime refill cards available at 40,000 locations nationwide
• GO from AT&T: Prepay when ever you want with easy refill. Free delivery for all orders with an individual new line of service! All the benefits of wireless, without the surprises. This prepaid cell phone plan allows you to simply pay in advance for what you need. No long-term contracts, credit checks or deposits.Service Details:
  1. Refill your minutes 24/7
  2. Three ways to refill—prepaid cards, online, or over the phone
  3. Track your usage—You will receive a text message with your updated balance after each call.
  4. AT&T Advantages
  5. Rollover® BalanceTM lets you carry over your unused account balance when you refill before your balance expires.
  6. No long distance or roaming fees across our national service area.
• Tel3 Mobile:  Tel3 Mobile offers a great combination of low international rates with premium call quality and free software – a unique “SmartPlug” software gives you direct dialing option, and the convenience of using your address book. Tel3 reportsl savings of up to 80% on all your international calls and with their auto-recharge option, you will never run out of minutes when you are on the go.  There are no hidden charges, no connection fees, no contracts, plus no need to dial any Toll Free Number or PIN like a calling card.
• OneSIMcard:  This prepaid international card allows you to take your GSM mobile phone overseas, without incurring high roaming charges!If you are using a T-Mobile or AT&T cell phone, chances are that your handset is equipped with a SIM card. A SIM card is a small smart chip that acts as an identification card for your GSM handset. Your SIM card is smart because it can store phone numbers and even text messages. All you need to do is replace your phone’s existing SIM card with international SIM card when you travel. Save up to 85% compared with your regular mobile phone service and even receive calls for FREE in more than 54 countries. OneSimCard international mobile service works in over 150 countries.

Major Carriers Now Offer Free Air Cards for Laptop Connectivity…

> View Comparison Features |  All FREE Aircards |  All Aircards

More an more of us are connecting to the 3G network with our laptops when on the go.  So, we wondered what specials are out there for USB aircards?  Guess what… just like for cell phones, the market is good right now with a lot of free offers from major carriers — review “All Aircards” and you may even find some cash back rebate offers.  Remember that offers change frequently and quickly, so be sure to read all the details of a plan before signing up.

Here’s an overview of three free Aircard offers from Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile:

Sierra Wireless Compass 597 USB Modem (Sprint): The Sierra Wireless Compass AC597 USB Modem for Sprint offers excellent on-the-go Internet access for a great price. Support for EV-DO rev A compatibility, means you’ll enjoy high speeds (up to 3.1 Mbps download, and 1.8 Mbps upload). And, the Compass AC597 houses a microSD card reader, making it easy to add memory.

Option Quicksilver USB Modem (AT&T): The Option Quicksilver USB Modem for AT&T is capable of bursting to data speeds that turn most any Windows laptop or Mac notebook into a roaming productivity center, and AT&T’s network is constantly evolving to provide even better speeds. Compatible with both AT&T 3G BroadbandConnect and nationwide EDGE data networks, you get coverage when you need it. Plus, true plug-and-play USB connectivity helps you get up and running painlessly.

Novatel Ovation U727 USB Broadband Card (Verizon): The Novatel Ovation U727 PC/Mac USB Broadband Card for Verizon Wireless lets you connect your PC, Mac or Linux machine to the Internet nationwide on the Verizon Wireless network. With data download speed bursts to 3.1 Mbps and upload speed bursts to 1.8 Mbps, you can get more done faster. And, the Novatel Ovation U727 broadband card offers a first for Verizon Wireless – a built in microSD memory card slot for portable file storage! Plus, there’s a built-in GPS receiver.

> View Comparison Features |  All FREE Aircards |  All Aircards

REVIEW: Three Carriers Offer Rebate Specials

> Compare ALL Motorola Plans and Rebates

Remember when Motorola made most of the cell phones available?  Then came Nokia… hey whatever happened to them?  Well, it’s a cell-phone marketing war out there, and that’s to your advantage.  Now three major carriers are offering the same Motorola model — the Q9, but with rebate specials where you get the phone free (Verizon), to where you get $100 (AT&T).  Be sure to check quickly changing terms and offers before ordering.

Here’s an overview of three current deals:

Alltel (current offer $100 cash back) Motorola Q9C: The 2nd generation Motorola Q9c for Alltel is a more ergonomic, more potent version than the original MOTO Q. Measuring at less thanThe Motorola Q9c offers Windows Mobile information-rich Today screen theme with direct links into essential business functions – email, calendar, contacts and to do’s. The Motorola Q9c has Windows Mobile 6, stereo streaming Bluetooth, broadband-speed downloads, voice dialing and a full HTML browser to get your work done anywhere.

AT&T offers $50.01 Back on Motorola Q9 Global:  The second-generation Motorola Q9 Global for AT&T is a more ergonomic, more potent version of the original. Still measuring at less than 0.5″ thick, the Motorola Q9 runs on the Windows Mobile 6.0 operating system, stereo streaming Bluetooth, broadband-speed data downloads, advanced voice dialing and a full multimedia (music and video) player. And, now with a bigger, more ergonomic keyboard, the new Motorola Q Global is ready to kick your productivity into high gear!

Verizon Q9M by Motorola offered FREE: The second-generation Motorola Q9m for Verizon Wireless is a more ergonomic, more potent version than the original MOTOQ, and more multimedia-focused than the Motorola Q9c. Tthe Motorola Q9m offers has a Verizon Wireless-customized Today screen theme and built-in Motorola Media Player UI, plus VCAST capability. The Motorola Q9m for Verizon also has Windows Mobile 6, stereo streaming Bluetooth, and broadband-speed for data downloads.

> Compare ALL Motorola Plans and Rebates

Take Advantage of a Flood of Phones and Rebates… and earn money now!

> Compare ALL Cash Back Offers on PDA Phones Now…

With a flood of phones on and hitting the market, if you’re ready to find a great rate plan, you can actually make some money on rebates. Here at BestRatePlans.com, our customers receive up to $100 back, sometimes by check, and sometimes by prepaid visa cards. Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and all the major carriers offer these specials. Please note that offers and rebates change frequently, so check the latest updates carefully before purchasing.

Here’s a list with links to some popular cash back comparisons.

• $100 Back on PDA Phones: BlackBerry Pearl 8130 (Multimedia Phone), BlackBerry Pearl 8130 Red, Motorola Q9c Black | Carrier: AllTel
• $50 Back on PDA Phones: Motorola Q9 Global Slate Gray, T-Mobile Dash w/ myFaves, Samsung BlackJack II i617 Sky Blue | Carriers: AT&T, T-Mobile
• $39.99 Back on PDA Phones: Palm Centro, Available in Blue, Black, or White | Carrier: AT&T

> Compare ALL Cash Back Offers on PDA Phones Now…

Net 90, Rewards, and Air Miles offered up by Small Business Credit Cards

> Get Detailed Comparison of Cards now…

When you run a small business, you can use all the help you can get when it comes to credit.  And despite the economic slowdown, bank card companies are serving up some interesting offers.  Here we profile three — a choice between being able to have 90 days interest free to pay (a good businesslike option), rewards including cash (can help in the right type of business), and air miles for the active traveler.  You can research, compare and sign up for these and other credit card plans online now at BestRatePlans.com.

Overviews…

Advanta Business World MasterCard (Rewards Focused): The Advanta Business World MasterCard® is for business card applicants with excellent credit and offers the convenience of one account for all business purchases. Through the rewards program, accountholders will earn one point for every dollar spent on purchases. Accountholders will be eligible to redeem rewards after earning a minimum of 5,000 points. Rewards include travel, gift certificates, merchandise, and cash (in $50 increments). As long as the account is open, rewards will never expire and there are no limits on the amount of rewards that can be earned.  ORDER NOW

Advanta “Net-90″ MasterCard, Helps you with the “Float”: Perhaps the greatest benefit of carrying this card is that accountholders will have 90 days interest free on all new purchases.  The Advanta Net-90 Platinum BusinessCard is a good option for people with very good credit who are looking to manage all their business expenses on one credit card account. Business card account holders will have access to a rewards program where one point is awarded for every dollar spent. Rewards can then be redeemed for travel, gift certificates, and merchandise. Rewards can also be redeemed for $50 checks when an account reaches a minimum of 15,000 points. Cardmembers may participate only if their account is in good standing. There is no limit to the number of points cardholders may earn, but points do expire 36 months after being issued.  ORDER NOW

The Capital One® Business Platinum card with Preferred No Hassle Miles(SM): This card is best for business owners who have excellent credit and want to earn more miles on travel and entertainment purchases. Cardholders will earn two miles for each dollar spent at hotels, restaurants, airlines and more. Earn one mile per dollar on all other purchases. Miles won’t expire for the life of your account, and there is no limit to the miles you can earn. Miles can also be redeemed for cash back, merchandise, gift cards, and more! Plus, miles are redeemable on any airline, anytime, with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. Save with no annual fee and a 0% introductory interest rate on purchases and transferred balances. Plus, receive free employee cards with individual spending limits you set and a year end summary with annual purchases tracked by category.  ORDER NOW

> Get Detailed Comparison of Cards now…

Comparing Five Popular BlackBerry Phones

> Get Complete Five Phone Comparison Now

There are a lot of BlackBerry cellphone models out there nowadays, and they vary in features depending on the service provider.  So, we thought we’d profile five of the hottest phones as of this writing, including (of course) the BlackBerry Storm… with touchscreen (a definite competitor to the iPhone).  Remember, you can find the best rate plans, order with confidence, and have your phone delivered next day by ordering here online:

• BlackBerry Pearl 8130 (Multimedia Phone): The super-slim, ultra-light BlackBerry Pearl 8130 is now part of the Alltel catalog. Like all BlackBerry devices, the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 provides a top notch on-the-go email solution for mobile professionals. But the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 also includes a good camera, a built-in music player, and broadband download speed for Web browsing. Best of all, this BlackBerry weighs in at a scant 3.2 ounces and is razor-thin – the smallest of its class.
• BlackBerry Bold: The BlackBerry Bold for AT&T is the next step forward for RIM devices, taking the best features from previous models and combining them into a new, sleek form. The Bold’s beautiful new display is twice as crisp as any other BlackBerry, and operates on AT&T’s HSDPA 3G network. With 1 GB of built-in memory, GPS, WiFi, a 2-MP camera, full web browser, and stereo Bluetooth, the BlackBerry Bold is simply one of the most powerful and attractive smartphones available.
• BlackBerry 8830 World Edition: The BlackBerry 8830 for Sprint PCS is perfect for the global professional. Like all BlackBerry devices, the BlackBerry 8830 provides possibly the best on-the-go email solution for mobile professionals. But this new BlackBerry includes a full QWERTY keyboard, built-in GPS locator and GPS applications, a music and video player, voice dialing and Bluetooth. Plus, when travelling the globe, the BlackBerry 8830 switches into GSM mode for international roaming capability. Now that’s smart!
• BlackBerry Pearl 8120: The super-slim, ultra-light BlackBerry Pearl 8120 Titanium for T-Mobile is another new upgrade to the hugely successful class of BlackBerry Pearl devices – in addition to the great features found on the previous Pearls, the 8120 adds WiFi support. Like all BlackBerry devices, the Pearl provides excellent mobile email. But the Pearl includes a good camera, a built-in music player, Bluetooth, and a SureType QWERTY keyboard. And, of course, the 8120 is as compact and cool as any other BlackBerry
• BlackBerry Storm 9530: The hugely anticipated BlackBerry Storm for Verizon Wireless is the world’s first touchscreen BlackBerry, with a brilliant 3.25″ display that uses the breakthrough SurePress technology. The Storm supports Verizon’s high-speed EVDO network, and comes loaded with 1 GB of on-board memory, a 3.2-MP camera, a full featured web browser, and a removable battery. The full BlackBerry experience on a touchscreen device – it’s set to take the world by storm.

> Get Complete Five Phone Comparison Now

How does VOIP work?

> Compare VOIP Plans Now

We see that question a lot, so here’s an outline of how it works.  The main concept is that you save at home and in your business by calling through the internet (VOIP = Voice Over Internet Protocol).

1. Use any phone system (some companies have restrictions, so be sure to compare).
2. Get an adapter box from your selected company — this allows you to hook in your phones.
3. Connect the adapter to your modem/router system.
4. Your voice travels in “data packets” over the internet.
5. Your service provider “routes” (guides your voice data packets) through the system to help maintain clarity and reliability.
6. Depending on the service you use, you can call any number in the world — land lines, cellular, fax and other VOIP users.

> Compare VOIP Plans Now