I promised our readers an update of the aggravation I have had with trying to get the unlock code for my Nokia 521. Keep in mind I have unlocked my device but I did not get the code from T-Mobile cause of the run around they gave me. I have decided to do a new post instead of updating the first post. For those readers just joining us here is Part One: http://mobilitydigest.com/double-edge-sword-of-unlocking-cell-phones-t-mobile-usa/ . If you need time please click the link and I will wait here for you to catch up with what has happened so far.

Now you have read my article up to date from the first post, then let’s continue with the new information on my case.

I sent my post to a T-Mobile PR Media Rep asking them to review my post and comment on it if they could. That email was sent on 14 June 2013. I received a response by the PR Media Rep asking for some time to look into the situation. I had no problem with that so I waited till today 18 June 2013 and sent a “Just Checking Back” request.

The PR Media Rep replied if someone could call me to talk. I sent my phone number and today a Customer Service Care Rep from Corporate called me.

The Customer Service Care Rep asked that I had an issue with unlocking my device and I said I did. I told her everything that I posted in the first post, including what happened in the retail store about the customer in front of me. I informed her that aggravated me the most. I informed the Customer Service Care Rep that I was given so many answers why I could not unlock my device (some of the answers I got was I had to have service with $50.01 on my account, another one is I had to have service for 40 days, another is service for 60 days, another is 180 days, another Nokia has to unlock it not T-Mobile).

The Customer Service Care Rep replied that the Nokia 521 is part of a Pre-Paid Kit. She said in the terms that came with the phone, says I have to have service first before they unlock the device.

I replied back that I have kept the box the phone came in and I will look at the information it came with, but at the same time T-Mobile website DOES NOT say this. I even opened up the link and read her what the site says.

Well by this time (even though the Customer Service Care Rep kept calm) the Customer Service Care Rep was getting agitated with me. She quickly mentioned that T-Mobile has the last say if the device gets unlocked or not. She then quickly asks if there is anything else she could do for me?

I said no and both of us hung up the phone.

I will say this since T-Mobile is basing themselves as a customer friendly, the Customer Service Care Rep sealed the deal for me to never use T-Mobile.  Three strikes and you are out.  Strike one - Store rep willing to unlock an AT&T Phone but not my T-Mobile Phone.  Strike 2 – Never getting the same answer twice on WHY THEY COULD NOT UNLOCK IT.  Strike 3 – The Customer Service Care Rep not really caring.

Now since the phone call I brought out my box that held the so called terms and conditions she talked about. I have read every book, box, and piece of paper that the phone came with. NOWHERE and I repeat NOWHERE does it say I have to have service to get the unlock code. I even took pictures of the terms and conditions, the box, and anything else found in the box. I have sent an e-mail to the PR Media Rep asking,

” I still cannot find anywhere on the box, T&C, or website where it says I have to pay for service before I get an unlock code.

Can you help me out by showing me this?”

I am now waiting for the reply back. As always when I get an update I will post that here.

My pictures of anything related to unlocking, or using the device on another network are below for your reviewing.

Post a comment below on what you think!

         

TVACalc : http://www.windowsphone.com/s?appid=88a81477-451a-e011-9264-00237de2db9e

    

Ok I had the honor of testing out an app from one of our Windows Phone Family from France named José Torres. He has created a very useful app called TVACalc.

You ask what is TVACalc?

Well this app helps compute VAT (Value Added Tax) for our European Windows Phone Family or Sales Tax for our American Windows Phone Family. When I was first shown this app, I though how could a user benefit from this app? Well believe it or not, I actually needed it for my business I run. I am a computer repair tech. If it involves a computer repair, network install, or purchasing computers that is me. Based on that info I actually need to compute sales tax on a computer for a customer. At the time I did not have a calculator, but remembered I was testing TVACalc. I whipped it out and adjusted the sales tax configuration to the sales tax in my area (see picture 1).

Picture 1

To adjust the sales tax select one of the pre-installed percentages, and at the bottom of the screen there is four boxes to adjust the percentage needed as in the case my sales tax is 10%. Once the tax amount is adjusted flip back a screen to the calculator (Picture 2).

Picture 2

On this screen there are three options I can use.

The first button called “EXC” I can type in the amount of the item before tax and the calculator will show (based on my sales tax rate) how much sales tax is and the total amount with sales tax. For the business professional this saves time trying to figure tax out.

The second button called “VAT” I can place how much sales tax is and the calculator will figure out the price of the item before and after sales tax is added. This can come in handy if the business professional needs to know the price of an item based on the sales tax amount a lone.

The third button called “INC” I can compute the item if it is already including tax to figure out how much tax was charged as well as how much the item is before tax was added. I have found this useful when I get gas from the gas station. Example gas in my area is $3.11 a gallon, if I plug in $3.11 on this line I will be paying $2.83 without sales tax and paying $.28 sales tax per gallon. This to me is a really neat feature to use.

Since I am using the trial version the calculator to add multiple items is not active unless the paid version is bought but I can compute the sales tax for each item (Picture 3). The app is only $.99 and well worth the price especially for the professional needing to add, subtract, multiply, and divide with sales tax involved.

Picture 3

My final thoughts: overall I have found this app very useful in my day to day business dealings with collecting sales tax. The only issues (and it is a small issues) is the name of the app across the top of the screen gets cut off on my Nokia 521 (400 x 800 screen size). I am not sure on other devices have the same issue but this is the only issues I had. Overall it is well thought out, and very simple for the new beginner to use. I give this app a very strong 4.5 out of 5 stars. Like I said the cut off name of the app across the top is distracting but can be over come.

If you find out this app is useful then by all means buy the full app ($.99) to support the developer and don not forget to rate the app as well.

To the developer – great job and I will be looking forward for updates as well as other apps you develop to test in the future.

 

If you would like your app reviewed and willing to grant permission to the full version of your app for testing, then please email me (herg62123) at herg62 (at) hotmail .com

Please make sure you put in the title “Please Review My App”.

If you do not put the title above your app will not get the attention needed for review.

Update: TMobile is currently looking into the case and will report back with new info when available.

I may upset a lot of people about this post but I need to be heard. Then again it may stir enough people to help the cause.

I do not make a lot of money but wanted a Windows Phone. I have found out that Nokia was coming out with the Nokia Lumia 521 and it is limited to T-Mobile USA. I thought that this would be the phone for me. It is a low budget device but it is a Windows Phone. That is all I cared about….A WINDOWS PHONE. Well through hard work I got the money and went to Wal-Mart to buy The Nokia 521 (T-Mobile Branded) at full retail price of $129.99 (before sales tax). So I legally paid FULL PRICE and T-Mobile should (key word “SHOULD”) give me the unlock code. Thinking on this I bought the phone.

 

A few days went by, I finally had the day off so I could talk to T-Mobile on to getting the unlock code. I first looked at T-Mobile’s Website to find the conditions to get the unlock code.

Once I pulled up the site and found the conditions to unlock my phone, I see the “IF STATEMENT” that I have circled in red. I thought GREAT, since I have paid full price and the “IF STATEMENT” says I can get the code without any issues.

Well I was wrong and here is why……

I have first contacted T-Mobile through online chat three times. The first time I did not print out the chat but the last two times I did.

I did receive an email from the Sim Unlock Team and this was their response to me:

As you can read above that they are not honoring their conditions from the “IF STATEMENT”. Keep in mind nowhere in the picture of T-Mobile’s Website above does it say all of these conditions must apply. It only says if like if one is true then…..

 

From the above chat with Michael S (look at the BRACKET PART OF THE PICTURE), I have to use T-Mobile service AND pay in full before I can get the unlock code. From Michael S, he talks about certain Guidelines, well the CERTAIN GUIDELINES posted on their site is in a picture above. Nowhere on it says I have to have service active to get the unlock code. I paid in full and posted a copy of my transaction from Wal-Mart showing this.

Well I am determined to unlock my Nokia 521, so I went into A T-Mobile Store in my city and waited, and waited, and waited for a rep to assist me. The customer in front of me was talking to a rep about unlocking her AT&T iPhone to be used on T-Mobile, so I listened in on the conversation. The rep said T-Mobile uses an unlock service called, http://www.releasemycode.com.

As the rep finished with that customer, another rep started working with me. I informed the second rep that I was over listening to the first rep and want to unlock my T-Mobile branded Nokia 521. My rep said we cannot do that. I informed my rep that I had paid for my Nokia 521 at Wal_mart at full price and here is my receipt to prove it. Puzzled, I informed my rep that you will unlock an AT&T iPhone without informing AT&T but T-Mobile will not unlock my Nokia 521 to use on AT&T. I asked about releasemycode website that was mentioned, could they do it. I was told NO but I could try. I did just that.

This is a picture that T-Mobile even used in some of the commercials that shows an unlocked iPhone in it.

I came home jumped on the computer and went to releasemycode website to find out. I looked all over the site but no luck. I found a chat online link and jumped on it. Releasemycode Rep informed me that they could not unlock my Nokia 521. I am now getting pissed.

I have paid full retail price and according to T-Mobile Website I can get my unlock code but every corner I get blocked. My next step is to find someone who will unlock my device. I did find one and got the unlock code as of today 6/13/2013 but I do not want to get this website in trouble I will not mention the site name even though I would be honored to promote their business. So basically I bought the phone over a month ago and now I have finally unlocked my device on which T-Mobile should have done to begin with.

Now before I go any further, this is the double edge sword (from the title comes in) I will be talking about. I understand that starting this year (2013) that unlocking smart phones is illegal and punishable by law. Well I guess I am a criminal now. According to theatlantic.com:

This is now the law of the land:

ADVISORY

BY DECREE OF THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS

IT SHALL HENCEFORCE BE ORDERED THAT AMERICANS SHALL NOT UNLOCK THEIR OWN SMARTPHONES.

PENALTY: In some situations, first time offenders may be fined up to $500,000, imprisoned for five years, or both. For repeat offenders, the maximum penalty increases to a fine of $1,000,000, imprisonment for up to ten years, or both.*

So let me get this straight, if I the user unlock my device without permission I will be fined $500,000 and/or prison time or both, but T-Mobile can advertise an unlocking service on their site to unlock any GSM device without telling the carrier (in this case AT&T) and get away with it. How is this fair? It is not in my opinion.

Now let’s get back to T-Mobile now. I thought T-Mobile is the UN-BRANDED CARRIER NOW. No contracts, no hidden charges, no hidden fees, always thinking of the consumer’s interest. Watch this video below, while watching remember what I said above in mind.

Access the video titled: John Legere, CEO – Tremendous Momentum for T-Mobile US

My final thoughts:

A good friend of mine has pointed out that on several sites there are several people asking for someone to unlock their cell phone and willing to pay money for it. Go figure people willing to pay money to unlock their phone. Who thought that?

If I can be punished for unlocking my device then what can be done to a retail business promoting unlocking service?

If T-Mobile is the UN-CARRIER then why are they acting like the other carriers?

If T-Mobile is advertising they are acting in the consumers’ interest then where is my free unlock code instead of having to pay someone else to get it for me?

Post a comment below and let me hear your stories. I know they are out there cause I have found others with similar stories like mine.

At the time of this post I have sent a copy of this to T-Mobile for comment but have not heard anything yet. If they do comment I will update this post.

I have had the honor of testing out Search All
created by Idea Mars ( aka Ramanathan Subramaniam ).

Free Version Download : http://www.windowsphone.com/s?appid=03679e6f-faf2-4274-bade-b5dcf749599a

AD Free Version Download (PAID VERSION) : http://www.windowsphone.com/s?appid=5b5aa4cf-12b0-457b-b60a-33bf0249901d

 

Have you ever get tired of always switching between search engines to find what you are looking for on the internet?

Always wanting to type in a search name once while searching several engines without typing again?

Well now you can with SERCH ALL. (Yes I know I sound like one of those Infomercials.)

Ok but for real now, this app is a web searchers companion. I have found that I can type my search phrase once ( say Mobilitydigest.com ) and search severeal search engines without any further typing ( see pictures 1 through 5 ). All I had to do was click the little icon to the left of the search box and it opened a list of search engines most commonly used. The list includes bing, google, yahoo, facebook, twitter, youtube, and many others used in everyday searches.

          

Pictures 1 though 5

One of the great little tricks I have discovered is a quick link bar that sits under the search box (see pictures 6 and 7). In this quick link the user can program the most used search engines the user uses the most. For example I like to use google, and bing a lot. With the quick links all I have to do is touch the search engine I want and (cloud smoke) POOF (cloud smoke) the search engine that was chosen is now being used.

 

Picture 6 and 7

Oh and one more thing…….if you want to open the program in the full Windows Phone Internet Browser than all you have to do is click on the “OPEN IN IE” icon at the bottom of the screen (see picture 6 above).

Another feature to mention is the developer has also included a way to search your phone of contacts like phone numbers, emails, and names in your contact list.  With this feature it truly makes this app a SEARCH ALL App you must have.  Everything a user could need all in one app.  This feature is a nice feature to have for the person always on the go.

My final thought of SEARCH ALL app by Idea Mars is a strong 4 out of 5. Overall the app is very simply to use. The search engies included (several might I say again) is well planned out, the only issue I found to be a small issue is when the app opens the keyboard is automatically opened. Where yes it needed to be used for the searches, but it takes away from the well thought out app and the app screen the developer made.

I would give this app 5 out of 5 if the developer would not let the keyboard open when first opened. Instead have the keyboard open when the user touches inside the search box when the user is ready to do a search.

Like I have said I did find overall this app very useful specially when I needed to search several engines and only wanted to type one time.

To the developer keep up the good work and look forward to future upgrades to this app.

 

If you would like your app reviewed and willing to grant permission to the full version of your app for testing, then please email me (herg62123) at herg62 (at) hotmail .com

Please make sure you put in the title “Please Review My App”.

If you do not put the title above your app will not get the attention needed for review.

Recently I bought couple of scarcely used items from eBay sellers. The items are good and shipped as listed. But I noticed few unwanted and uninvited guests surprised me for which I didn’t pay for and those came with the shipment. As a thumb rule, my wife and I decided to open any packing for the bought items outside of the house. Because sometimes these boxes live in warehouses or showrooms for a long time and may have some dust in them. To avoid extensive dusting, we open the boxes in the backyard or garage depending upon the size of the packing. And that actually saved us a lot. Here these uninvited guests are roaches. And our thumb rule helped us the time and money we would have to spend on getting rid of those. I am telling you, I haven’t seen these surprises in the past, and I did eBay shopping a lot of times. So make sure you open your boxes either outside of your home or open the boxes carefully because you and eBay for that matter never know the conditions at the shippers’ places. I thought I should pass this tip to our readers.

If you would like your app reviewed and willing to grant permission to the full version of your app for testing, then please email me (herg62123) at herg62 (at) hotmail .com

Please make sure you put in the title “Please Review My App”.

If you do not put the title above your app will not get the attention needed for review.

I had the pleasure of reviewing Quicktimer by Paul Kaufman.

Download Link – http://www.windowsphone.com/s?appid=25304ec1-f077-4904-b821-7dd0a283eb21

The developer, I have to say, has thought of everything to assist a new user to the app.  From when I first downloaded the app and opened it, I was greeted with a welcome style sign wanting to know if I would like to take a tour (see picture figure 1).  That really impressed me that the developer took the time to make sure the user is able to understand the app and the correct way of using it.

Figure 1

Well since this was my first time using the app, I decided to take the tour.  The layout and instructions on how to navigate, to me, was flawless (see picture figure 2 through 6).  The instructions was easy to follow as well as pictures to show what was being said.

 

Figure 2 through 6

Ok now I have the basic understanding of how the app works………Time to dive in and see how this app preforms.

I started out by randomly adding numbers to the timers and started them ( see picture figure 7 ).  The max time you can use is 99 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds.  It also has preset times if you need something with a preset time that can be adjusted to meet your needs.  Meaning if you need a timer to time multiple things you can use the preset times ( which is adjustable ) or manually tap in your time as needed.  The other great benefit you have anywhere from 3 to 6 separate timers to multitask.

Also there is a stopwatch feature handy as well.  The stop watch feature is great if you are timing, lets say, a runner on laps.  It has a lap feature to show best lap records as well as over all time so the runner can make adjustments as needed ( see picture figure 8 ).

       

Figure 7 and 8

And finally, it did not dawn on me till later on using the timer and stop watch, that there is a small gear in the upper right hand corner.  As I found out the hard way, this is your settings function.  I kept looking at the three little dots at the bottom for settings ( see picture figure 9, 10 and 11 ) , like many other apps do, but I could never find it right away.  That took time for myself to get used to.  In the settings, this is were you can modify the preset timers, change the alarm tones, change from 3 timers to 6 timers, as well as email your timer/lap record to a friend.  Now in the settings there is a way to change the theme color but every time I try to modify the color nothing happens.  Maybe I am doing something wrong but to the best of my knowledge I followed the information provided.  I am hoping the developer will comment on this to help inform us more about the theme feature in more detail.   On alarm sounds, I would think it would be neat, if the developer can do this, would to be able to add customized alarms.  Say like the users favorite song, or maybe a recorded voice of the users voice.

 

  

Figure 9, 10, and 11

Overall, I give this Quicktimer App a 4.5 stars out of 5.  Everything works perfectly except I got confused on how to change the theme color and maybe adding customized alarms.  If those two items would be addressed I would give this app 5 out of 5.

 

 

If you would like your Windows Phone App Reviewed then send an email to me (herg62123) to: herg62 (at) Hotmail .com.  In the subject line please use the following as your subject title: Please Review My App

Failure to put the subject line as above will delay any reviews of your app.

Also in your email please tell me a little about your app and how could it benefit the user installing your app.

Not much else to say…

Via: https://twitter.com/TiagoJoseMC/status/340511639768014849

ThanksJim Schneider

Microsoft Office 365 passed 1m subscribers in just over 100 days, making it the best-selling Office yet. And for those that have problems with math, that’s a pptential 5 million users. Source: The Next Web

Yes, LG is not interested and won’t be making successor to current Google Nexus Phone. LG’s VP said it is not finding any added value without its “skins” despite the current Nexus Phones it made received well in the market, via Mashable

Source: Mashable.com