I’ve been reading a few horror stories about insane roaming charges when a wireless user goes into another country. The story usually goes like this. User takes their Internet capable wireless phone into another country. The user maybe sends one or 2 text messages, makes 1 call or uses the Internet once. After returning to the United States, the user finds that he/she has a $3,000 bill.

When you call the cell phone company to protest the bill, they will say they have nothing to do with the charges and that they are simply being billed by the other network and have to pass it on to you. If you bitch and moan enough, they will usually cut the bill in half. Still, a $3,000 bill down to $1,500 is still a lot.

Not only do these cell phone companies charge you these exorbitant rates, some even charge you insane amounts even if the phone is simply on and not being used.

If you asked me, the wireless providers shouldn’t allow these third party suppliers charge these amounts. They try to put the blame on them, saying there is nothing they can do. Oh yes there is! They could simply not allow these charges to be forwarded. Yet they see their customers continue to get hosed and do nothing.

Looks like the best option when traveling abroad is to keep your phone off. If you have to have service, be sure to check the terms and conditions of your wireless plan. Though the latter can often be cryptic and take hours to read.

Other horror stories:

Mexico Roaming?

How to use the applications on your Palm Treo 755p while you are on an active call.

1. While on a call, do one of the following:

• Select Hold to put the call on hold.
• Select Spkr-phone to continue talking.
• Select a headset.

2. Press Applications.

3. Open the application you wish to use.

4. Press Phone to return to the Active Call view.

Note: You can’t use data applications while on a call. 

I have suffered many moments where I have dropped my cell phone into water. I’ve dropped 2 in the toilet, 1 into a puddle and dropped another into a bathtub. People that get their phone wet shouldn’t be hopeless though about getting it working again. If you follow the right steps, you won’t have to start looking for a new phone just yet. Here are a few tips to use if your cell phone is drenched.

First and most important, make sure the phone is off. If it has shut itself off from being submerged in water, leave it off. If it is still on, shut it off.

Second, remove the battery and anything else that can be removed from the phone. Expansion cards, sim cards, anything that can detach from the phone, go ahead and remove.

Do not attempt to turn your phone on anytime soon. If there is water inside, it will most definitely short out the phone. Water itself is usually not enough to damage your phone. Damage usually occurs when the phone is wet and turned on.

Let your phone dry in a ventilated area. Set the phone on its side. Let the phone sit for 3 days. Let it sit longer if you think the phone is still saturated.

Finally, when you think the phone is completely dry, reattach the battery and try it out. If it works, good for you!  If not, you’ve at least given it your best shot.

How to enable Call Forwarding on your BlackBerry Bold 9000 series device.

First verify that call forwarding is enabled on the plan with your provider.

Add a phone number for forwarding.

1. From Home, press Menu.

2. Click Options.

3. Click Call Forwarding.

4. Press the Menu key.

5. Click New Number.

6. Enter in a phone number and press the Enter.

7. Press Menu.

8. Click Close.

Now you can setup Call Forwarding to forward to this number.

Read more… »

How to enable or disable Call Waiting on your RIM BlackBerry Bold: 9000 series device.

1. From the Home screen press Menu.

2. Click Options.

3. Click Call Waiting.

4. Change the Call Waiting Enabled field to Yes or No.

5. Press the Menu key.

6. Click Save.

How to clear the browser cache on your BlackBerry device.

1. While in the browser, press the Menu key.

2. Click Options.

3. Click Cache Operations.

4. Next to a cache type, click Clear.

How to turn off the trackball sounds on a BlackBerry Pearl 8100, 8110, 8120 or 8130.

1. From the Home screen, press Menu.

2. Click Options.

3. Click Screen/Keyboard.

4. Set Audible Roll to Mute.

5. Press Menu.

6. Click Save.

Now you won’t be annoyed with the sounds of the trackball anymore.

How to enable or disable the Bluetooth LED indicator light on your BlackBerry Curve 8300, 8310, 8320 or 8330 device.

1. From the Home screen, press Menu.

2. Click Options.

3. Click Bluetooth.

4. Press the Menu key.

5. Click Options.

6. Set LED Connection Indicator to On or Off.

7. Press Menu.

8. Click Save.

How to rename a Bluetooth device on your BlackBerry Curve 8300, 8310, 8320 or 8330.

1. From the Home screen, press Menu.

2. Select Options.

3. Click Bluetooth.

4. Select a Bluetooth device.

5. Click Device Properties.

6. Set the name in theDevice Name field.

7. Press the Menu key.

8. Click Save.

Your Bluetooth device is now renamed.

How to add an email signature to your Palm Treo 700p or 755p.

1. From any mailbox screen, press Menu.

2. Select Options.

3. Select Preferences.

4. Select Signature.

5. Check the Attach Signature box.

6. Enter the signature, and then select OK when you’re done.

How to make a conference call using 3-way-calling on your Palm Treo 700p or 755p.

1. Dial the first number and get the first call on the line.

2. Use the directional pad to select Hold.

3. Use the directional pad to select Add Call.

4. Dial the second number.

5. When the Dial another call? prompt appears, select Yes.

6. When you’re connected to the second party, use the directional pad to select Conf to
start the three-way call.

How to add an email signature so that it appears automatically in your email messages.

1. From any mailbox screen, press Menu.

2. Select Options.

3. Select Preferences.

4. Select Signature.

5. Check the box for Attach Signature.

6. Enter the signature, and then select OK.

Since Apple announced that they will be releasing new tools for the iPhone in June, people seem to be all excited about the iPhone again. I have read that the iPhone will replace the BlackBerry, and I couldn’t disagree more. Have we forgotten that the iPhone has a host of problems? The largest problems being that it’s very difficult for the average person to type a message using the touch screen. A BlackBerry has a keyboard with actual buttons. This disadvantage alone is enough for corporate America to just say no to iPhone.

At a time when the United States is headed into recession, I don’t think companies are going to be buying $400 devices for their sales teams when they can get a BlackBerry for a fraction of the cost. I don’t see why the rest of the world would either. It’s another classic case of people going ga-ga over every single Apple announcement. The same thing happened with the AirBook, where the press overlooked that it doesn’t have an Ethernet port or CD-ROM drive. You can buy a more powerful laptop with more features for $500 at Wal-Mart.

Don’t get me wrong, the iPhone is a fairly cool device. It’s a solid product for consumers. I look forward to seeing some of the games that come out. The ability to move your iPhone around and control objects on the screen gets me a little giddy. But, replace devices in the corporate world? I think the device needs to be redesigned before that will happen.

If you prefer to start hearing your phone call through the iPhone instead of the headset in the middle of a call, you can perform the following steps.

1. Tap Audio.

2. Select iPhone, Speaker Phone or a Bluetooth device on the list.

If you do not wish for others to be able to see your number appear on their caller ID display, you can disable it.

1. From the Home screen select Settings.

2. Select Phone.

3. Select Show My Caller ID.

4. Select on or off.

Now the people you call will not be able to see your number on their caller ID display.