Bell cuts controversial tax

This Summer Rogers dumped it’s monthly SAF charge (oddly enough Rogers customers bills increased), last month Telus followed by ridding their SAF charge.  As early as November 20th Bell Mobility, that last of the big three Canadian carriers with a monthly SAF, will announce the elimination of their SAF.

What is the SAF?  The SAF is short for “System Access Fee”.  All three carriers have positioned the fee as a monthly charge that covers network maintenance and upgrades.

Here’s Bell Mobility’s official explaination:

The System Access Fee is charged monthly by Bell to help recover the costs associated with operating and maintaining a wireless network, including costs for ongoing maintenance, new equipment installations and technology upgrades.

The fee varied by carrier from $6.95 to $8.95 per month plus 911 Fees.

Of course there are still many BIG questions like:

1. How will Bell implement the elimination of the charge? Will they, like Rogers, increase the cost of their package by an amount greater than their current cost of their SAF.  Or will Bell follow Telus’ example and put a couple of bucks back in the pocket of their customers?

2. The second BIG question is will this change apply immediately to all customers on all plans, or will this apply to only new monthly plans forcing customers to upgrade their plans to get the savings?

Ultimately this should be good news for Cellarama customers everywhere.

Let’s wait for the official announcement and see.

To your wireless success,
Alvin

Free Bell Mobility BlackBerry Manuals

Have you been looking for your Bell Mobility BlackBerry User Manual Online?

Just when you need your user guide the most there’s a great chance you won’t have it near you!  This simple resource is your easy access to Bell Mobility BlackBerry user manuals.  Simply find your model below and click on the link:

Bell Mobility Blackberry User Guides (PDF)

Bell Blackberry 6750 BlackBerry User Guide(english)(francais)
Bell Blackberry 7130e User Guide(english)(francais)
Bell Blackberry 7250 User Guide(english)(francais)
Bell Blackberry 7750 User Guide(english)(francais)
Bell Blackberry 8703e User Guide(english)(francais)
Bell Blackberry 8830 World Edition User Guide(english)(francais)
Bell Blackberry Pearl 8130 User Guide(english)(francais)
Bell Blackberry Curve 8330 User Guide(english)(francais)
Bell Blackberry Storm 9530 User Guide(english)(francais)
Bell Blackberry Tour 9630 User Guide(english)(francais)
Bell Blackberry Bold 9000 User Guide(english)(francais)
Bell Blackberry Bold 9700 User Guide(english)(francais)

And if you liked this article you can find more articles and videos for Bell Mobility users at http://cellarama.com/articles/ – At http://cellarama.com you’ll also find great contract-free cell phones for Bell Mobility. Written by A. Thompson

Have you ever forgotten to take your Bell Mobility cell phone out of your pocket before tossing your clothes in the washer?  Maybe you’ve gone swimming completely forgetting you had your cell phone on you? Whatever the reason for your wet cell phone if you are fast enough you just might be able to salvage it. Use this simple guide.

Be Quick – As fast as possible get it out of the water.  Even though phones are pretty tightly sealed in under 20 seconds water can penetrate the seal. Grab your Bell phone out of the water as quick as you can. Remove the phone from the case (if it was in a case).

Don’t Panic – If you’re quick and you get your phone out of the water as quick as possible there’s a good chance it won’t be too seriously damaged.

Take the Battery Out – Immediately remove the battery from your Bell phone. The faster you can cut power to your phone the more likely it is you’ll be able to save it.

Dry Your Cell Phone – You need to work fast to remove as much water as you can as quick as you can. Shake your phone to remove as much water as possible. Then use a paper towel to soak up any remaining water.

Inside Water Removal – Place the cell phone on absorbent towels or paper towels that will pull the remaining water away from the cell phones components. Rice also works well to absorb moisture, even that which is trapped under the screen. Place your drying Bell cell phone near a heater to help accelerate the drying process. (Do not place your phone directly on top of a hot heater as the direct may also cause damage.)

Your goal here is to make sure no water is trapped inside.  When no signs of moisture are evident move onto the next step

Test it – After 96 hours inspect your phone.  If everything looks dry you can replace the battery, put the case back together, power it up, and see if it works. If it works, great, you’re back in business.

It is important that there are no signs of moisture on you Bell cell phone before you turn it on.  Water in your phone causes the most damage when your phone is powered on, so if you doubt that your phone is complete dry outside and inside give it more time.

If your phone doesn’t work, try plugging your phone directly to the charger with the battery out. This will determine if the problem is with your phone or if you are in need of a new battery. If it works without the battery you’ll have to replace it, and you’ll be back up and running.

If it still doesn’t work your phone may be dead.  If you decide to take your phone into a Bell World or Espace Bell store for assistance don’t try to hide that your phone has been wet. There are moisture indicators and in most cases they’ll know.

Of course if your phone is toast, and you are not eligible for an upgrade from Bell or if you are like me and do not like contracts, I would recommend you visiting http://cellarama.com/clearance_centre.htm for great contract-free Bell Mobility cell phones.

And if you liked this article, you can find more articles and videos for Bell Mobility users at http://cellarama.com/articles/. At http://cellarama.com, you’ll also find great contract-free cell phones for Bell Mobility. Written by A. Thompson

To maximize the usefulness and life of your Bell Mobility cell phone, treat yourself to some accessories that will help you get the best service from your phone. Here are some key cell phone accessories that we recommend.

Protect your Bell phone with a cell phone case. To help your phone stand up to the bumps and scratches that come with everyday use, slip it into a case, or skin, that fits the shape of your phone and your lifestyle. Available in a variety of colors and designs, a cell phone case or skin can be changed often, but will always serve as a protective layer around your phone’s electronics. When you select your case, take your phone with you, to ensure a perfect fit and a good look.

Get a battery charger or new battery for more phone power. Why invest in a cell phone if you can’t make calls because the battery’s low? Keeping your cell phone charged is essential to getting the most use out of it. Purchasing a travel charger that can juice up your Bell cell phone between usage times is a must. For those who travel by car, a car phone charger, which plugs into the dashboard, can ensure that your phone is ready to use when you arrive at your destination. If your phone’s battery is not providing power long enough no matter how often you charge it, don’t waste time. Replace the current battery with a more powerful version.

Increase your phone’s storage with a memory card. A phone is not just a talking device anymore. If you’re like me, you are increasingly using your phone to store pictures, videos, and more. Lately, Bell Mobility has been introducing more cell phones with memory card slots. With a memory card to boost the storage capacity of your phone, you won’t have to worry about running out of space for the things you want to store. Memory cards provide additional storage at a cost that’s lower than ever before. With the additional memory, you can also consider installing applications on your phone that you didn’t have room for before. The sky’s the limit! Why restrict yourself? A memory card is the simple answer to your storage problems.

Get earpieces or a headset to deliver the sound directly to you. Better yet, get Bluetooth®! To hear your phone conversations better, get earpieces or a headset to deliver the sound directly to your ears while decreasing background noise. Better yet, get a Bluetooth wireless headset, which make hands-free talking simple and convenient, allowing you to talk without headset wires. Not to mention, many provinces are making it the law when driving.

Enhance your listening with speakers. For the audiophiles among us, wireless speakers are the latest in phone technology to enhance the quality of the sound received. And speaker functions can be integrated with phone functions, to allow for the best reception for both uses.

One thing about your cell phone: If you treat it right, it will repay you with good service and long life. Treat yourself to the right accessories and maximize your experience with your Bell Mobility cell phone.

And if you liked this article you can find more articles and videos for Bell Mobility users at http://cellarama.com/articles/ – At http://cellarama.com you’ll also find great contract-free cell phones for Bell Mobility.  Written by A. Thompson

To maximize the usefulness and life of your Bell Mobility cell phone, treat yourself to some accessories that will help you get the best service from your phone. Here are some key cell phone accessories that we recommend.

Protect your Bell phone with a cell phone case. To help your phone stand up to the bumps and scratches that come with everyday use, slip it into a case, or skin, that fits the shape of your phone and your lifestyle. Available in a variety of colors and designs, a cell phone case or skin can be changed often, but will always serve as a protective layer around your phone’s electronics. When you select your case, take your phone with you, to ensure a perfect fit and a good look.

Get a battery charger or new battery for more phone power. Why invest in a cell phone if you can’t make calls because the battery’s low? Keeping your cell phone charged is essential to getting the most use out of it. Purchasing a travel charger that can juice up your Bell cell phone between usage times is a must. For those who travel by car, a car phone charger, which plugs into the dashboard, can ensure that your phone is ready to use when you arrive at your destination. If your phone’s battery is not providing power long enough no matter how often you charge it, don’t waste time. Replace the current battery with a more powerful version.

Increase your phone’s storage with a memory card. A phone is not just a talking device anymore. If you’re like me, you are increasingly using your phone to store pictures, videos, and more. Lately, Bell Mobility has been introducing more cell phones with memory card slots. With a memory card to boost the storage capacity of your phone, you won’t have to worry about running out of space for the things you want to store. Memory cards provide additional storage at a cost that’s lower than ever before. With the additional memory, you can also consider installing applications on your phone that you didn’t have room for before. The sky’s the limit! Why restrict yourself? A memory card is the simple answer to your storage problems.

Get earpieces or a headset to deliver the sound directly to you. Better yet, get Bluetooth! To hear your phone conversations better, get earpieces or a headset to deliver the sound directly to your ears while decreasing background noise. Better yet, get a Bluetooth wireless headset, which make hands-free talking simple and convenient, allowing you to talk without headset wires. Not to mention, many provinces are making it the law when driving.

Enhance your listening with speakers. For the audiophiles among us, wireless speakers are the latest in phone technology to enhance the quality of the sound received. And speaker functions can be integrated with phone functions, to allow for the best reception for both uses.

One thing about your cell phone: If you treat it right, it will repay you with good service and long life. Treat yourself to the right accessories and maximize your experience with your Bell Mobility cell phone.

And if you liked this article you can find more articles and videos for Bell Mobility users at http://cellarama.com/articles/ – At http://cellarama.com you’ll also find great contract-free cell phones for Bell Mobility.  Written by A. Thompson

We’re happy as heck to have reached our 5th anniversary!

Five years ago, Cellarama.com was launched to solve one basic question…

Where could Bell Mobility users go to find contract-free cell phones that were reliable and inexpensive?

Since then we’ve added accessories and hard-to-find batteries for Bell cell phones. Recently, we’ve started the “Best Blog for Bell Mobility Users” anywhere. We’re even starting to create instructional videos too!

Through all of this we are happy to have assisted more than 10 thousand Bell users. And we truly thank you for choosing Cellarama.

To celebrate we are kicking off “5 fab deals for 5 great years” – every week for the next 5 weeks we will be discounting one fabulous items for you.

Thanks again,
Alvin – Your Inventory Manager
cellarama.com

It’s annoying to discover your battery has gone dead when you need your phone the most. Here are some helpful tips to extend the life of your Bell cell phone battery.

Tip #1 – The easiest way to preserve your battery life is the one that’s overlooked the most, and that’s simply to turn your cell phone off. Of course, this isn’t an option all the time, but if it’s late and you are off to bed no one will be calling, or if you are at the office and you have all your calls, coming through the office you can also shut your Bell cell phone off.

Tip #2 – Whenever possible, use either ringer or vibrate. The vibrate function use a lot of battery power. Using both the ringer and vibrate is simply a waste of your battery power unless there is a really good reason to have both on, other than by default.

Tip #3 – Bluetooth headsets can be very convenient. However, they are also a heavy draw on your battery. Either turn off your Bluetooth headset when you don’t need it, or go back to a corded headset, which uses up a lot less battery power.

Tip #4 – Skip animated wallpapers and all the other really cool stuff because they can also drain your battery power. Find a nice picture you like and use that. It’s simple and it isn’t going to waste your precious battery power.

Tip #5 – Use your cell phone for what it is a phone and messaging device. When you know you are not going to be able to recharge your phone for extended periods of time, don’t play games, don’t watch videos or scroll through photos, and don’t use it to listen to music. All of these are very hard on your battery power and you could find yourself with a dead cell phone when you need it the most.

Tip #6 – Turn the brightness down on the screen. New LCD screens require an incredible amount of battery power. While each Bell phone is a little different, you will find the brightness adjustment somewhere in your phones main settings.

Tip #7 – Charge your Bell cell phone battery only when it really needs to be charged. It’s best if you can let it go dead or at the very least below half a charge. If you charge it too often when it is not nearly dead you shorten the batteries memory and you start to get less and less time off the battery. Most batteries will last a minimum of a few days on standby, so there is really no need to charge them every night if you are not a heavy user.

Tip #8 – Your battery connection on your Bell phone can become corroded over time, which will lead to poor performance by your battery. A cotton swab with a little rubbing alcohol can be used to clean the contacts. Clean the entire compartment. You’ll be impressed at just how much this little housecleaning act can improve the performance of your batter.

Tip #9 – Bell cell phone batteries can be really expensive. If you use have a lot of talk time on your phone, or you just can’t live without the music and game features, you can always consider investing in a one or more spare batteries. That way your phone will never be without battery power.  Cellarama.com’s Bell Battery Program offers Canada’s largest selection of batteries for Bell Mobility cellular phones.

And if you liked this article you can find more articles and videos for Bell Mobility users at http://cellarama.com/articles/ – At http://cellarama.com you’ll also find great contract-free cell phones for Bell Mobility.  Written by A. Thompson

lost my bell cell phone

Cell phones are lost and stolen every day. Many people take no action, thinking that their phone will reappear. Many also go through the nightmare of receiving huge phone bills because they did not report their missing phone to Bell Mobility.

A decision not to report your lost or stolen phone can be a very costly one. If your phone ends up in someone else’s possession, it might be used for long distance calls or to charge expensive downloads to your account. Although you may be found not responsible for these charges, do you really want to go through the hassle?

Contact Bell

Whether your phone was simply misplaced or was actually stolen—even if you’re not sure what happened to it—it’s best to contact Bell immediately and let them know that you don’t know where your phone is. This simple act will provide you with the most protection and the Bell representative can confirm for you the date and time your phone was last used.

How to make the report

Bell has a few methods you can use to report your lost or stolen phone, but the simplest way to make the report is to call Bell Mobility Customer Service at 1-800-667-0123.

When you call, the first thing the Bell representative does is remove the lost or stolen phone from your account. This means that no one will be able to use your phone to make or receive calls or to transmit data.

Next, the Bell representative places your phone’s ESN on Bell’s negative file. This means that your phone cannot be used on the Bell network.  Many stolen phones end up being sold for use by others, but once your phone is on the negative file, it can no longer be activated and used by anyone.

While you’re talking to the Bell representative, make sure to ask if there were any calls placed from your phone during the time it’s been missing. If enough time has passed, the representative may be able to determine whether your phone was used and even what numbers were dialled.

What to do if you find your phone

If you locate your phone, simply contact Bell again. They will remove your phone from their negative file and add your ESN back to your account.

Remember, when your phone is missing, it’s always better to err on the side of caution. Report your phone to Bell. It is better to be safe than sorry.

And if you liked this article you can find more articles and videos for Bell Mobility users at http://cellarama.com/articles/ – At http://cellarama.com you’ll also find great contract-free cell phones for Bell Mobility.  Written by A. Thompson

Bell Mobility Contact Information and Resources

I encourage you to bookmark this article for future reference!

E-mail contact:

Send an e-mail message from the Bell Canada Contact Us Web page: https://www.bell.ca/support/PrsCSrvWls_CtUs_Eform.page

Phone contact: See below….

Help with your mobile phone:
From your mobile phone: *611 (no charge)
From any phone: 1-800-667-0123
From the U.S.: 1-800-667-ROAM (7626)
From anywhere in the world: +1 514 420-7748
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 9 pm, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Help with data services (e-mail, etc.):
From any phone in Canada and the U.S.: 1-877-328-2123
From anywhere in the world: +1-514-420-7748
Hours of operation: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Help with amounts owing:
From your mobile phone: *777 (no charge)
From any phone in Canada and the U.S.: 1-800-361-2613
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Help in Cantonese or Mandarin:
From your mobile phone: #838 (no charge)
From any phone: 1-888-884-8333
From the U. S.: 1-800-667-ROAM (7626)
From anywhere in the world: +1-514-420-7748
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Help with your prepaid service:
From your mobile phone: #321 (no charge)
From any phone: 1-888-537-9999
Local numbers: 1-416-674-2233 (Ontario), 1-514-420-7777 (Québec)
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Help with your pager:
1-416-674-PAGE (7243)
1-800-387-PAGE (7243)
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Problems with your BlackBerry®, smartphone, or Internet / data access:
Call Technical Solutions: 1 (877) DATA-123 (1 877-328-2123)
Hours of operation: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

And if you liked this article you can find more articles and videos for Bell Mobility users at http://cellarama.com/articles/ – At http://cellarama.com you’ll also find great contract-free cell phones for Bell Mobility.  Written by A. Thompson

What Is Water Damage?

Water and your Bell Mobility cellular phone don’t mix. If your phone is exposed to water, you might find that it won’t work properly or that it quits completely.

Water damage is a common cause of problems, but the repair of damage caused by water is not covered under your warranty. And don’t make the mistake of thinking that it takes a total soaking for your phone to suffer water damage. That’s not the case at all. Major problems with your phone’s functioning can be caused by far less exposure to moisture.

Why Should You Care?

If your phone is exposed to water, you could find yourself with annoying performance issues. Your cell phone could suddenly suffer from poor reception, making it difficult to make a call or carry on a conversation while on the move.

You could also find yourself experiencing poor battery life, which can be extremely frustrating. Suddenly, you’ll find you have to charge your battery far too often. And when you need your phone the most, it’s dead. The reason for your short battery life may not be the battery itself, but may be connected with water damage to your phone.

With water exposure, your phone can also lose functionality. Some or all of your features may stop working, depending on how much water your Bell phone was exposed to.

And be warned: Water damage will void your warranty faster than you can say “void warranty.” If your warranty is voided, you will either be stuck paying the phone repair bill yourself or you’ll find yourself having to buy a new phone. And both options can be expensive!

And here’s the kicker!  A diagnosis of water damage can void your entire warranty, so if you have a repair issue that is not related to water damage and you phone has signs of water damage in most cases you’re out of luck.

How Does Water Damage Occur?

Most of us make the mistake of thinking that water damage occurs only when the phone is totally submerged in water. While that’s certainly one way to damage your phone, there are other causes of water damage that most of us aren’t aware of.

Let’s have a look at the obvious and not-so-obvious causes of water damage.

The Most Common Causes of Water Damage

The most common causes of water damage are, indeed, the result of an accidental “drowning” in the sink, the toilet, the swimming pool, or a snow bank, or an accidental trip through the washing machine. Of course, there are other, similar, causes—but you get the idea.

Little-Known Causes of Water Damage

Less frequently, in hot weather, the excess humidity in the air can cause moisture to build up in your phone and damage it.

Most Overlooked Causes of Water Damage

Speaking of excess humidity, a steamy bathroom is one of the most overlooked causes of moisture damage to a cell phone. If your phone is regularly sitting on the bathroom countertop while you are taking a shower, you are exposing it to moisture that, over time, can result in damage. If your bathroom mirror is foggy from your shower, it’s a reminder that your phone should be removed to a dry location.

How You Can Tell If Your Phone Has Water Damage

Most Bell cell phones have a “Moisture Indicator” sticker. It’s normally found beneath your battery. Most stickers are round, but occasionally they are square. The moisture sticker indicates your phone’s level of exposure to moisture.

If the sticker is white, it means there is no water damage to your phone. If the sticker is pink or red, however, it means your cell phone has been exposed to moisture and should be checked for damage.

Occasionally, your phone can actually suffer moisture damage without the moisture indicator changing colour. In these cases, water damage can only be confirmed once the phone is opened and the main board is inspected.

Take Ordinary Precautions

When you think about how to make sure your phone doesn’t get wet, don’t forget that exposure to moisture can be just as a big a problem for your phone as submerging it in water. In fact, exposure to moisture can actually become a bigger problem because the damage often goes unnoticed until the phone quits working and you can’t figure out why.

If your phone has been exposed to moisture, you could be in for problems. Problems with signal reception and short battery life are just two examples of the various troubles your water-damaged phone may experience.

Although it’s impossible to avoid all moisture, it’s also important to take ordinary precautions, such as not leaving your phone on the bathroom counter while you are showering.

Remember: While you might not have control over the accidental submerging of your phone, you can take steps to minimize other sources of exposure.

And if you liked this article, you can find more articles and videos for Bell Mobility users at http://cellarama.com/articles/. At http://cellarama.com, you’ll also find great contract-free cell phones for Bell Mobility. Written by A. Thompson