Are You Smarter Than Your Phone?

Not all smartphone customers are the same. They each use their devices in different ways to enhance and simplify their lives and there are endless personalization options to let them customize it to fit their lifestyle, according to a news release from U.S. Cellular.  For smartphone customers or wireless customers thinking about making the switch to a smartphone, U.S. Cellular is offering a free Device Workshop from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at 33 Gravois Bluffs Plaza Drive.

U.S. Cellular associates will help people learn about and maximize all the features on their Android™-powered, Windows® Phone and BlackBerry® devices. It's free. And it's open to everyone. 

U.S. Cellular’s free Device Workshop will guide attendees through all of the features and functions of their devices and how to customize them for their lives. Wireless users can also trade in a qualifying used smartphone from any carrier and earn up to $150. All questions are welcome from current and potential smartphone users, and attendees don’t have to be a U.S. Cellular customer to participate.

 “With constant access to your e-mails, social media sites, helpful apps and the Internet, you can stay connected and organized with a smartphone, no matter where your busy life takes you,” said Nathan Waddell, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in Missouri, said in the news release.

Android devices, like U.S. Cellular’s  Samsung Galaxy S® Aviator™ featuring a 4.3-inch bright, sharp-image touchscreen, stereo-quality sound and a front-facing camera for easy video chatting, can best be appreciated when customers understand how to access these and various other features and tailor them to their liking.

From the look and feel to the sights and sounds, there are a variety of ways to customize an Android-powered device. Here are a few ways smartphone customers can do that:

Home Screens – Whether your device has one homescreen or seven, each one can be configured to fit your needs and interests. The screens are designed to easily add shortcuts, applications, folders and widgets, and each page can feature a different interest or theme. If you like to stay in touch using social media, you can have all of your favorite networks on each page or a single page, and if you’re a business user, you can customize the screens with office e-mail, calendar, stocks widget and more.

Keyboard options – Android-powered devices give customers the option of a touchscreen keyboard or a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and some devices come with both. Another feature of Android-powered phones is the availability of Swype™ technology. With one continuous motion across the on-screen keyboard, you can text more than 40 words per minute. You can also take advantage of Android’s custom dictionary to add words or phrases you use often to make it even easier to input text.

Sounds – Most cell phones have sound alerts for incoming calls, text messages, alarms and other notifications. Android-powered devices allow you to upload your own mp3 files, so your phone sounds the way you want. The device’s audio can be enhanced further by downloading a smart ringtone app like FoxyRing that uses GPS to adjust the volume settings depending on your location. For example, the device can be programmed to reduce the volume at the office or movie theatre.

Plans – Having a smartphone that can be modified to your lifestyle is appealing, but it’s also important to make sure your wireless plan fits your needs and budget. “We conduct a needs assessment with each customer to determine how they will use the device and help them select the plan that’s best for them,” Waddell added.