The Savvy Boomer

Do not call for Smartphones

PrivacyStar, an app for Android and BlackBerry with nearly one million users, has just released October user data showing that over half of the people who used the app to file complaints had not registered their smartphone with the Do Not Call List.

One of the app features allows users to directly report Do Not Call List violation to the Federal Trade Commission with over 200,000 complaints made to date.

PrivacyStar has found that a common misconception is that smartphones are protected from telemarketing and unwanted calls and so therefore do not need to be registered on this list. This is not true and has become more important as more people are abandoning their landline for the exclusive use of their mobile phone number.

Below are two easy ways to take the first step toward privacy by placing your mobile number on the Do Not Call List:

·      FTC Website: https://www.donotcall.gov/register/reg.aspx
·      Call Directly: 1-888-382-1222

8 tips to keep telemarketers at bay

Jeff Stalnaker, CEO of PrivacyStar who has 15+ years in the telecommunications regulation industry, shares some common sense practical tips about how to prevent telemarketers from obtaining landline and cell phone numbers, and actions that can be taken for those on the Do Not Call list that are still receiving calls.

Of course if they do get through, you can always use the Seinfeld tactic.

 

Click below to get Jeff's tips.

Virgin Mobile Canada can't tell time.

My email to Virgin Mobile below is self-explanatory. It didn't help my state of mind when the rep asked for my tel # and password even though I had to punch it in before I got through to him and then asked me to fax something.  2011 and Virgin still uses the fax?  They were just bought out by Bell which I'd never deal with anyway so I guess this was just fate. 

"My balance was to expire Jan 8 so on Jan 8 my balance was gone although I thought Jan 8 lasted until midnight.  So when I phoned and asked for the balance to be put back so that I could top up I was told I couldn't get the old balance back without topping up first and then faxing something to Virgin about the situation and then maybe I'd get a credit on the expired balance.  I neither have a fax nor the time to do this when all your rep had to do was put back the balance ($25) so because of a difference in opinion when Jan 8 ends, you have lost a 3 year customer.  Granted, you don't make much money off me so I guess you won't miss me anyway but I'm sure some other carrier will be happy to take my money."

The problem with today's youth

Some snot nosed kid called Jason Kincaid who writes for TechCrunch was whining because the free Google Voice app wasn't working yesterday.  Let me get this straight Jason-you expect free phone calls to be a God given right and if the service happens to be down for a couple of hours you have a right to bitch?

Let me remind you of a few facts:

• It's a FREE service-you get what you pay for
• In 1980-when you were still in diapers or perhaps still a wet dream, long distance calls were charged according to distance called-L.A. to N.Y. was about $1 a minute so today's LD charges of 2-5 cents a minute are irrelevant.
• What kind of idiot depends on FREE to conduct his business?
• Anyone who calls me for business (personal calls, no problem) on a FREE service gets hung up on (I can tell because you sound like you are calling from a urinal) because if you can't spend a few cents a minute for a landline or cell call, I don't want to talk to you.
• FREE means you have no right to bitch

OK end of  rant.

British Columbia finally bans cellphones when driving

I was driving out of a parking garage tonight when a car coming in oblivious to the fact that there was an in and out divider, came in on the out route.  You guessed it, the female driver was yakking away on a cell phone.   After a middle finger salute, I gave her a few more choice words but since she was the mother of one of my ESL students, I doubt she understood what I said.

A few minutes later, I was following another moron driving 1/2 the posted limit. Yup, texting on his cell phone.  Middle finger, horn and a few more choice words that rhyme with f+_(%^ing azzhole.

So when I got home and watched the news, I was overjoyed to see that B.C. has finally entered the 21st century and decided to ban cell phone usage when driving.

Sure, it will be difficult to enforce but I can't wait to take a picture of someone using a cellphone while driving.  Oh wait a minute, that too may be illegal.  Ahh, it'll be worth the expression on their face trying to cover up their criminal activity when they see my cell phone camera.

It's about time this provincial government that I'm ashamed to admit I voted for finally got something right.

Attention Canadian Pensioners: We own part of Skype now

I'm not certain whether I'm shocked or happy or both that as someone who draws from the CPP (Canada Pension Plan) that I now have a vested interest in Skype.  Actually, I have used Skype for years both as a free and a paid user and I think it's great.  Well now, I think it's really really great-wait, no, it's fantastic.  So come on Canadians, sign up now if you haven't already, because the CPP which is basically a nice little monthly prop for us 60+ in Canada has now moved into the 21st century.  I'm sure Gen X and Y hope the investment goes well.

Canadian cell phone users are getting screwed

Another day, another report on how Canadians get screwed over on something else-this time cell phone rates.  We know it and for some reason, most Canadians just, albeit grudgingly, accept it.  It's why I moved to a pay per use phone a while ago and use it as little as possible.  Look at the poll below of what Canadians think of their cell phone rates. 

Blackberry isn't the only smartphone made in Canada

A new entry in the Smartphone market from Nova Scotia.  Eat your hearts out iPhone and Blackberry-this phone has features they can only dream about.  The Pomegranate phone will soon be introduced.