Mobile Devices
Installing an app on Apple iOS.
1. Swipe left or right - find the App Store icon. 2. Click App Store icon. 3. Click search (magnifying glass). 4. Type desired program. 5. Click desired program. 6. Follow instructions.
Installing an App on a Droid or Tablet
1. Tap the Apps icon. 2. Swipe left until you see he Play Store app Icon. 3. Tap the icon and enter your Google sign-in. 4. Search for desired program. 5. Click on program and follow instructions.
Connecting your phone to the Internet
1. Through a cellular provider with a data plan: data charges may apply, available wherever you can receive a 4G or LTE signal, download speeds limited by cellular system or data plan. 2. Through a Wi-Fi signal: does not incur data plan charges, only available in areas of Wi-Fi reception, no download/upload limitations, often faster speeds.
Basic cellphones and smartphone differences
3G phones (basic cellphone) - less expensive, long battery life, good for phone calls and texting and limited Internet connectivity. 4G or LTE phones - best for streaming, uploading photos or video. LTE stands for long term evolution. Designations don't equal speeds, but generally LTE is fastest and 3G is slowest. Description of cell network speed. G stands for generation.
Smartphones
All 3G capability plus numerous apps and significant Internet browsing capability
Conference Calling
Allows multiple users to use the same phone call. Can usually be accessed from remote locations. Saves time traveling between offices and facilities.
Business voice mail
Allows users to leave messages when real-time communications are impractical or unnecessary. 2 Types of Voice Mail Messages: Outgoing (voice mail greeting) - lets callers know you're unable to take their call and tells them how to leave a message. Incoming - allows callers to leave messages when you can't take their call.
Gmail Hangouts
Also called: google talk, google chat, and GChat. IM app requiring: computer (or smartphone), internet connection, microphone and webcam - for video-teleconferencing. As long as both parties have the gmail accounts and are online at the same time, they can video-teleconference or instant message.
Cell Phone Providers
Also known as "carriers" or "mobile network operators." SIM card identifies the cell phone and user's account. Physical infrastructure - cell towers and antennas, mobile switching stations. Need license from government to use radio frequencies. Only large companies can compete nationally, though smaller markets often have smaller providers.
Comparing Android OS with iOS
Android OS: Linus based - open source. Most popular mobile OS worldwide. Focus on 3rd party apps. iOS: For Apple products only - iPhones and iPads. Most popular mobile OS in U.S. Focus on Apple Apps.
Business landline (hardwired) phone system features
Auto-attendant. Call management. Voice mail. Internal (short-code) intercom. Conference calling. Caller ID. Phone usage tracking and call accounting.
Subsidiary Carrier
Boost Mobile, Cricket, etc.
Smartphone capabilities and limitations.
Capabilities: Allow internet connection where a Wi-Fi or cellular signal is available. Provide robust browsing in areas of 4G or LTE. Huge number of apps. Limitations: small screesize limits browsing and document editing ability. Cellular network connections can result in high data plan costs. Smartphones are the most popular computers as well as the most popular means of connection to the Internet.
How Cell Phones work
Cell phones send and receive extremely weak microwave radio signals to and from nearby cell towers. These towers have sets of 3 antennas that divide the surrounding area into 7 roughly hexagonal cells that have assigned microwave radio frequencies. Cell towers are connected to base transmission stations that send phone signals to mobile switching stations. MSS tracks strength of your phone signal within the cells. As you move between cells, and phone signal gets stronger in one cell, mobile switching station changes the transmitting and receiving frequencies to that of the new cell. Urban areas create smaller cells and weaker signals.
Cellular Carrier Plans and Contacts
Cellular Carriers: All cellular phones require a carrier to connect to the network. Carrier Plans Options: Long Term - often include discounted phone prices and data plans. Month-to-Month Pre-paid - Often offered through a major carrier's subsidiary.
Adjusting chat and other options in gmail.
Click the arrow next to your profile picture to display a drop-down list of Options. You can select availability settings that will be displayed to your contacts. Select Add contacts to add people to your group chat. Select people you would like to invite or type the email address of someone you would like to invite to add to your chat group. Other options you can adjust include change pic, change settings, and add voice and video.
iPhone OS
Developed by Apple for Apple products only. Used on iPhones and iPads. Most popular smartphone OS in the U.S. know for ease of use. Includes numerous Apple apps, including iTunes, FaceTime, Safari, and Siri. 3rd Party Apps - must be reviewed and approved by Apple.
Internal office (short-code) Capability
Intercom system. Colleagues can phone each other by dialing extensions (usually 4-digits). Makes it quick and easy to make internal calls.
Components of a professional voice mail greeting
Let the caller know: What voice mail they've reached. If possible - why you can't take the call. When they can expect a return call. Invite the caller to leave a message. *avoid using "Your call is very important to us"
Skype
Microsoft video-teleconference app. As long as both parties have the Skype app and are online at the same time, they can instant message or chat. Users need: Internet connection, webcams, microphones/speakers. Since all smartphones and nearly all laptops have cameras and microphones, Skype has become a popular way of staying connected.
Android OS
Most widely used smartphone/tablet OS - over 1 billion users. Open-source, Linux based - manufacturers can use without cost. Versions have candy names (Lollipop, Marshmallow, Nougat, Oreo). smooth interface with Gmail and Google+. Relies on 3rd party apps to increase funtionality.
MMS
Multimedia messaging service - for larger messages, images, etc. MMS - similar to email, message goes to an MMS server, is encrypted, stored, and then transmitted.
Configuring notifications
Nearly all Email programs provide notifications and alerts. Different methods are used to activate alerts, depending on the program used, but all are similar. In outlook: Go to the file tab, then select: options, mail, message arrival, display a desktop alert.
Data Usage Chart
Offered by most cell phone providers. Nearly all data is used for webs & Apps. Audio services use very little data. Phoning and texting uses minimal data.
Cell Phone Bill Overview`
Reading and interpreting a cell phone bill: Different providers - different layout - same basic information. Bills typically include: Monthly charges - phones& data plans, Equipment charges (new cell phones), taxes, and surcharges
Cell Phone Bill Line Charge
Reading and interpreting line charges: Providers charge for each line on your account. Smartphones: assessed premium charges. A 3G phone might save you money.
How to Use GMail Chat
Select the contact you want to chat with. Select the chat with this contact button to open the chat dialog box. Click the pop-out button to enlarge the chat screen. Click the more button to review available options including go off the record or block the contact from chat. These buttons allow you to add people to this chat, add voice/video chat and start a video call. In the chat box type your message. Press enter when you are finished typing. Select the Pop-in button to minimize the chat box. Click the close button to end the chat.
SMS
Short Message Service - text messages of up to 160 characters. SMS messages sent through as SMS center (no encryption).
Instant Messaging (IM)
Similar to texting. Uses the internet. Both users must be online and using the same IM app. Capabilities: Online chat. Sharing Web Links. Sharing video and images. Sharing audio files.
Major Carrier
Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.
Cellular-enabled tablets use data from cellular data plans
Tablet computers use data in the same way that your smartphone uses data. When connected to a Wi-Fi signal, tablets and smartphones do not use cell phone data. Remember that when connected to a cellular network, data usage charges may be incurred.
Phoning A Friend
When you turn your phone on, cell phone searches for nearest cell tower and base tranciever station. After they recognize each other and link up, your network's mobile switching station identifies which cell you are in. When you dial and press send, your network's mobile switching station signals your friend's network's mobile switching station. If her phone is connected to her network, her network's mobile switching station finds her phone and identifies which cell her phone is in. It then sends a rain signal to her phone. her phone's digital signal processor sends the rain signal to a digital to analog converter that creates sound waves that she hears as her ringtone. If your friend accepts your call, the mobile switching station assigns two frequencies: one for listening, and one for talking. When your friend says hello, her phone's analog to digital converter changes her voice's sound waves into a digital signal. Then her phone's digital signal processor enhances the sound signal and sends it to a digital to analog converter that transmits the signal to the cell tower and base transceiver station that corresponds to the cell she's in. Then her hello signal is transferred from her base transceiver station to a mobile switching center in her network then to a mobile switching station in your network. Your network's mobile switching center determines what cell you are in, and sends the hello signal to the correct base transceiver station and cell and assigns two frequencies for your phone call. The base transceiver station sends the hello signal to your phone over the assigned listen frequency. Your phone's analog to digital converter receives the hello signal and sends it digitally to your phone's digital signal processor. Your phone's digital signal processor enhances the signal and sends it to the digital to analog converter that creates a hello sound wave. If it all works correctly, you will hear your friend say hello.
Tablet computers can be Wi-Fi only or cellular-enabled
Wi-Fi Only: Usually less expensive and can only be connected through a Wi-Fi signal. Cellular-enabled: Tend to be more expensive and can be connected through a cellular connection or to a Wi-Fi signal.
Benefits and limitations of tablet option
Wi-Fi only tablets: Need a Wi-Fi signal in order to connect to the Internet BUT there are no data limitations. Cellular-enabled Tablets: Can connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi signal or with a 4G or LTE cellular signal BUT Cellular connections require a data plan from a cellular provider. *Wi-Fi connection has no limit on usage but is limited to a location with the Wi-Fi connection. Cellular data can be very expensive, so you might consider a Wi-Fi only tablet.
Business Phone Auto Attendant
Voice-answering menu system. Transfers calls to requested extensions without a receptionist. Reduces the need for personnel to answer and route calls.
Tablet Computers
mobile computer - sometimes use a mobile OS. Touch Screen display. Typically, screen size is over 7 inches.
Business landline phone system
Traditional phone system. Runs on the telephone company's phone lines, also called public switched telephone network. Requires traditional telephone wires (twisted pair) in facility. Allows for call transferring, call directories, voice messaging, etc. Requires electrical power to operate - unlike your cell phone, it won't work in a power outage.
3G cellphones
mainly calling, texting, photos and audio files