Monday 30 June 2014

Should Mobile Phone Unlocking Be Free?

If you are one of the lucky ones who has reached the end of a phone contract without breaking or losing your phone (it’s okay, some of us here are guilty of it too!) then you’ll know about the policies of some providers - regarding unlocking a mobile to all networks. Currently, there seems to be quite a considerable range in policies when it comes to unlocking a handset. The minority will do it for free, most do it for a substantial cost, and others will not provide the service at all.

Which? has called for providers to unlock all mobiles at the end of a contract, and to alert customers of the best deals going a month before their contract is due to expire.

More than 8 out of 10 customers believe that unlocking a handset should be done for free, especially when they have paid for a handset throughout the course of the contract.

This may seem like common sense; however it certainly hasn't been happening across the board. New research shows most people don't trust their provider to alert them of the best deal to suit them. Only 40% of consumers believe their current provider gives them the best possible deal.

The executive director of Which? stated “'We want to send a message to mobilephone companies that they should help customers get a better deal by alerting people that their contracts are about to end and by unlocking handsets for free."


We agree that more regulation should be called for regarding contracts and unlocking mobiles. What do you guys think? Have you ever been stung at the end (or even the beginning) of a contract? Tell us more in the comments below!

Thursday 19 June 2014

OwnFone Launch First Ever Phone For Blind People

OwnFone, a UK based company who specialize in making low-tech user friendly handsets, has just announced that they may have made life that little bit easier for the visually impaired - by launching the first ever mobile phone handset for blind people.

Other Braille phones have been designed by various companies before this has been released to the public; however OwnFone states that the device is the first of its kind to go on sale.

By using 3D printed Braille buttons and offering short cuts to pre-saved phone numbers, which there are 4 of in total. This handset may have pretty limited functionality compared to other models on the market; that being said, it’s the first step in making a handset a viable option for the visually impaired.

With the prices starting at £60, it isn't only affordable, but convenient and at a reasonable price. The low cost is mostly due to the 3D printing aspect of production, meaning that the parts can be printed off in house, lowering the need for high cost suppliers.

OwnFone have a track recording of developing mobile phones outside of the standard target market. In 2013 the company developed and produced a child-friendly mobile called named 1stFone. The device was around the size of a credit card, and came pre-programmed with a chosen 4 numbers. The model was a hit, with parents up and down the country praising the company for making a simple model for younger children.


OwnFone really are offering a great service to those who may not be suitable for a standard mobile phone.

Thursday 5 June 2014

World Environment Day or "WED".

If you’re passionate about the environment, then you will surely know that it is WED (World Environment day) at the beginning of June. Many schools, companies and individuals all over the world are holding events to raise awareness for the day.

World Environment day is just round the corner (June 5th to be exact) and the residents a town in Australia are doing their bit to honor the day, and recycling their mobile phones.

WED have said that recycling your old handset prevents mass amounts of precious metal being mined, and doing so can drastically help the environment.

To even further push the campaign, the recycling Manager at MobileMuster, Rose Read has openly stated that the citizens of Australia “need to take responsibility for their contribution to the mounting e-waste problem.”

It has been mathematically proven that in the Greater Hume Shire, the town holding the campaign to back WED, that there as many old phones left in homes, garages and office for every man, women and child in the area. This amounts to staggering 31 tones of precious metal ore.

To put that figure into perspective, that’s the environmental equivalent of 27 trees being planted or over 1 thousand aluminum cans.

If all this is being wasted in a town in Australia, the numbers based for the rest of the world must be staggering. Do you have a old phone lying somewhere in a drawer? Mobile phone recycling in the UK has never been easier, so get yourself to Fonehub!