A:AnswerI'm not sure who your carrier is but I have had Verizon for about 10 years. I dreaded going into the Verizon stores but didn't know I had another choice. Stumbled on the phone section at Best Buy and have not set foot in a Verizon store since!!! They can do everything that the carrier store can do...change your plan, upgrade the phone...you name it. AND sometimes their phones are cheaper! The people at Best Buy have been far more helpful and getting accessories is much easier and cheaper. Also, their "geek squad" protection plan is MUCH better than the Verizon insurance plan for your phone. Overall, yeah, sometimes you have to wait to be helped but the same applies at a Verizon store. It's just a more complete experience and the people at Best Buy have, over all, seemed to know more about the phones than Verizon. Just my opinion...
A:AnswerYou can call Verizon Customer Service. Phones can be activated online provided you are a current account holder and you can read identification details on the telephone, and follow simple instructions.
A:AnswerFrom experience, the Samsung Galaxy S 4 can be a little harder to read in direct sunlight, but it is not impossible. That can be fairly common with most mobile phones though. A screen protector could potentially help limit the amount of glare while outside, especially a protector with anti-glare.
I hope that helps!
A:AnswerThere was a time that you could activate any phone without all the features, but those days are long over. If you want to activate a "Smart Phone" you will be required to activate a smart phone data plan that starts at $30/mo. Sorry
A:AnswerVerizon vs. AT&T
Unfortunately, Verizon and AT&T phones and networks don't really like each other. Verizon uses a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) network where each cell phone (or wireless device) is permitted access to their network individually. With CDMA you cannot move from the intended service provider to another with the same device.
AT&T (as well as most of the rest of the world) on the other hand use GSM (Global System for Mobiles) networks. With GSM networks rather than authorizing a single phone to be used on the network they authorize a SIM card to be used. The SIM card can easily be taken out of one phone and put into another and that's all you have to do to change phones or with an unlocked phone, change networks (more on that later).
Due to the different types of networks you cannot go from one to the other though.
U.S. Phone vs. Overseas
As I said above, AT&T and most other countries use GSM networks, where switching your SIM card can easily be done to change the phone you use or the network you're on. That would bee optimal if you plan on doing a lot of international travel, but there's a catch. You have to make sure you get an "unlocked" GSM cell phone, because most of the phones you buy in the U.S. are locked to a single carrier (see oligopoly) which prevents the owner of that phone from using it on any other network despite the fact that is how the technology was designed to work. This is mostly because carriers pay for most of the phone (typically around $800 for "top of the line") and require the buyer to pay a smaller portion and sign a 2 year contract. If you get an unlocked GSM phone you will pay significantly more for the phone, but you won't have a contract and you can switch from AT&T to Europe Mobile (I just assume that's the name of a company) with the switch of a SIM card and you will no longer be roaming internationally. You will have to use prepaid SIM cards for whatever country you're in at the time, so also keep that in mind. Then when you come back to America, replace your AT&T SIM card, re-enable your account (unless you want to pay for AT&T while you're gone and not using it) and continue using the same phone.
NOTE: Right now Best Buy (online) has an unlocked AT&T S4 (refurbished) for $690. So you can get the same phone, but also if you're paying that much out of pocket I strongly recommend getting the Best Buy protection (it's the best insurance I've found) unless you're willing to pay the original cost again if something happens to your phone.
Other tips and tricks
Constantly using prepaid SIM cards can get expensive even if it is significantly cheaper than international roaming. If you have a good internet connection consider using Google Voice when you're at wherever you're staying so you can call any number in America for free from anywhere in the world, and calling a number in any other country is usually less than ¢3 per minute.
A:AnswerSounds like you are not getting a good signal for sending MMS (group texts are sent via MMS). Try connecting to Wi-fi or waiting until you are within a reliable 3 or 4G signal.
A:AnswerNo, but there is an application in the Google Play store called, Smart Wifi. It will switch on your wifi signal when it determines that you are connected to a specific cell tower (at home) and then automatically turn on your wifi. This approach is better since it uses less battery power to monitor your location based upon cell towers vs using the GPS.
A:AnswerYes...I have no faith in the HTC products. I had a Thunderbolt and after 2 weeks I realized it was a piece of garbage, but I was locked into it for 18 months....thanks Verizon! This phone is great and I have had no battery issues at all. A good days use and I still have 70+% left.
A:AnswerCan't stop them. Some of these apps can be deleted to be stopped, but others are inherent to the phone and you are stuck with them. They should not be running down your battery anyway.
A:AnswerIf you buy the phone from any big box store, there most likely will be a contract or some sort of agreement required. Since you just want a phone to put the SIM card into, I would go to one of those discount phone shops and buy one there. Just call Verizon before you buy it with the IMEI number so they can verify it is clean.
A:AnswerYes ... if you buy data from your ISP you can wirelessly connect your PC/Laptop/Tablet using the wireless Hotspot connection. The downside is that you must keep your cellphone connected to a power outlet as it drains the battery quickly.
A:AnswerYou can plug in your sd card or even your phone in to any store that offers picture printing kiosks. There is nothing that commits you to purchasing them. You can just use it to look! I know Walgreens has them. They usually have a slot for all size cards plus a USB cable to hook up directly to your phone.
