Hello again everyone,
I hope you are all well and enjoying the recent cold snap. recent research has found that 1 in 10 people will use their mobile phone to purchase Christmas presents this year. Of the 4000 people asked by Tesco direct 78% said they would be buying online and of these 70% said that a mobile is the best way to get their internet shopping.
This is a trend I can relate to as Mrs. Mopay recently wanted to get tickets for the Take That concert and it turned out that a mobile phone was the most effective way to get the tickets as her attempts online via a laptop proved un fruitful.
So remember people, mobile phone internet browsing is not just for Christmas... (Sorry bad joke).
If you are thinking of upgrading to a smart phone this Christmas please do recycle the old unit it is replacing with mopay and think I will sell my mobile this Christmas.
Until next time people keep recycling!
1 in 10 people to use mobile phone to contact Santa for presents this year!
iPad or Tab, Samsung take on Apple
Hello again everyone,
In addition to mobile phone recycling and MP3s mopay also has the ability to recycle netbooks and tablets. It works in just the same way as the mobile recycling so it is the same great process that people have come to know.
Well then tablet PCs.... Apple has arguable the most desirable option with iPad but Samsung now has the 7 inch Galaxy Tab on the Android platform. Although smaller in size the Tab can compete with the iPad on many levels for one, Price. The Apple can be purchased for £429 for the 16GB Wi-Fi only model, rising to £699 for the full-whack 64GB Wi-Fi + 3G model where as the Tab is priced around the £300 mark.
In addition the Samsung has features which the iPad does not like a camera for example.
So in conclusion Mr. mopay believes that the Samsung wins the battle in terms of price and spec, but the iPads overwhelming desirability factor will still see it victorious.
Until next time people keep recycling.
Facebook poke at mobile phone market!
Hello again everyone,
It has been heavily rumoured that Facebook are building a mobile phone, well more likely they are building the software and the unit will be built by an exsisting maufacturer as with the current nexus one with Gooogle and HTC. I can see why they are trying to tap into the mobile market as many users now use mobile phones as much laptops and PCs to get on to Facebook and any deal that will allow better or even exclusive facebook access will surely give them a great start into the mobile phone market.
This news is so secret that some facebook employees do not know about these plans but I will do my best to get the news to you.Stay tuned in for any further news and remember keep selling those old mobiles for cash with mopay!
Mr. mopay
Unlimited mobile phone internet- well within reason!!!
Hello again,
Sorry it has been a while since my last post but I have been extremely busy recently as you can imagine the life as mascot mopay is never a quite one. Today I would like to discuss unlimited internet usage and downloads on mobile phones.
It used to be the case that it was exactly that unlimited, but now the have fair usage clauses and it got me to thinking why? I have in the past expressed views on the potential for mobile Skype taking connections away from networks and they brought the fair usage to protect themselves for the future, but this may not be the case upon reflection!
However in a recent conversation it became apparent that it was the sheer cost of unlimited internet to the networks, and thus the restriction was brought in. In addition he added that it was Microsoft operating systems that were constantly porting for updates, a little like your home computer would and this constant porting used the internet.
This raised another issue and the reason for this blog, please please be careful should you visit another country with your Smartphone if it is on Microsoft O/S and you have a restriction on your internet usage and are charged above as you could find the cost of your holiday going up dramatically.
Until next time people keep recycling
Carrying the Torch for Blackberry!
Hello again everyone,
How is it August already? this year has gone so fast! And it seems that every 2 weeks a manufacturer releases a new phone and keeping up is getting harder and harder.
The latest of which is the Blackberry 9800 torch, This is so called named after the company that (RIM) Reasearch in Motion purchased recently. This is Blackberry's first slider phone and features a full qwerty keyboard sliding from behind a touchcreen interface on the main body of the phone.
The best of the curve/bold and storm?
Lets hope so as we love the curve and bold here at mopay and to a certain extent the storm but found the touch screen a little tricky as it moved into the phone slightly in operation which was a strange sensation when you are used to the iphone like screens found on most other touchscreen phones.
Hopefully this will again put Blackberry at the forefront of the mobile phone industry as we are huge fans.
So if you are thinking of getting one of these new units when they become available please remember to recycle your old mobile phone with mopay, you may just earn a few quid!
Until next time people keep recycling!
A Real Bad Apple???
Hello again everyone,
Firstly sorry for the little delay since my last blog on mobile phone recycling I have been up to my antenna in it! (a little mr mopay joke there) So the new iPhone "Stephen Fry endorsed" 4 is out and it looks amazing with a new operating system and a multitude of new features.
However it does have one minor feature that is not working that well on the phone...
Phone Calls!!!!
This has been known for a while now and all we seem to get are excuses on what the issue is. I think we would all just like an admission that there is a fault find out what it is, and fix it. The reasons for this are that apple fans like myself will still continue to buy Apple products as they are a modern artwork with more features than you could shake a rythme stick at. The problem is that I still need to call people, and without this feature at hand we have real problems as we have all become so reliant on our phones to keep in touch.
So in conclusion Apple please sort the connection issue out ASAP so when your next new product comes out I canl be waiting in the queue for it like the other millions, or atleast be on the 1.7 millions strong waiting list like with the iPhone 4, (despite the phone not phoning people).
So until next time people keep recycling.
Mr Mopay believes mobile phone networks worried over Skype on smartphones!
Hello again everyone,
A very interesting battle is brewing within the mobile phone industry. That threatens to open up a real can of worms when chossing your mobile network provider. The manufacturers and networks in the UK have always had a very good relationship with networks heavily subsidising new handsets to the public to try and lure them to their network. This has meant that consumers within the UK have had a great time with mobile connections meaning unlike in Europe a new up to date Smartphones usually comes free with the new contract.
However with manufacturers such a Sony Ericsson now offering Skype on new models a storm is brewing. What this means is that using IP people could make phone calls extremely cheaply from their mobiles over mobile internet rather than using the traditional method. Now the networks cannot stop selling popular handsets because of this, as they may affect their own sales if they cannot offer the best range of handset options.
So what they have done? Well the answer is simple, they have started to phase out unlimited downloads on their tariffs. This means that the cost for using Skype will increase and thus they can rest a little easy.
So please be careful if you do not change your usual mobile internet usage as you may find you are hit with higher bills in the future.
So until next time people keep recycling.
The iPhone 4G is coming!
Hello again everyone,
The new iPhone is due to be released on the 24th June in the UK. And as usual the tech hungry people of Britian will be in sleeping bags outside their local Apple store with only a Pot Noodle and Dan Brown's The lost symbol for company. I mean don't get me wrong, I like technology as much as the next man but I would not be willing to spend the night like a tramp to have a new phone one day before my friends.
This whole process really amazes me I mean what do you do once you have it, ring your mum and your best mate and say "Hi I am calling on my new iPhone 4G", the usually answer I would get from my Mum is it sounds no better than your Dad's 6310i! (In his eyes still the best phone ever as it has never gone wrong!)
All this being said people will be out there in the thousands doing exactly this on the 24th of this month. The only question left really is the location. Now 02 no longer have their exclusivity this could be with any of the networks. Currently all of them have stayed quite on pricing, tariffs and reasonable data caps, and I suspect this is due to the fact they are waiting to see what the others do, but be assured who ever has the best deal best have a good amount of stock on the day a demand we bill great.
May I suggest people that if you are getting a new 4G iPhone then please recycle your old mobile phone and sell it for cash with mopay and earn yourself a little towards your new purchase.
Until next time people, keep recycling.
Can you HTC the future?
Hello again everyone,
Not so many moons ago very few people had even heard of HTC, and this was mainly due to the fact that since its launch in 1997 HTC had been developing handsets for networks to sell under another brand. You may not know but is was responsible for bringing the O2 XDA, Orange SPV, Vodafone VPA and T-Mobile MDA to market but all under the networks branding.
Well now they are ready to take on the big boys under their own branding and the recent releases of the seven Android-based mobiles – the Hero, Dream, Magic, Desire and Legend, all under its own brand in addition to the G2 for T-Mobile and the Nexus One for Google, both of which saw HTC share branding along side the network.
I believe if they continue along this trend of super feature smart phones they may really trouble some of the more well established memebers of the industry.
So dont forget if you are going to buy a new HTC handset do the right thing and recycle your old mobile and sell it to mopay.
Unitl next time people keep recycling
Phone Fury Over O2 Election Blackout
O2 customers across the country are angry after network coverage went down during David Cameron's appointment as Prime Minister.
Complaints flooded Twitter, Facebook and the O2 website as users were unable to access the internet on their mobiles during one of the biggest UK news events of the year.Customers also complained they could not make or receive calls and texts.One customer on the company's website said she was "on the brink of throwing my phone against the wall".
It is believed the coverage went down from 6pm until 3am with services across parts of the Midlands, South West and Northern Ireland being affected. O2 say full service has now resumed although there may be a "few remaining issues with voicemail". The company said the network fault was caused by a damaged transmission link following planned engineering work in Yate, near Bristol.
"We apologise to our customers for the loss of service," a spokesperson said.
ED BALLS - No its just my phone next to my head!!!
Hello again everyone,
Following on from a recent blog where AP McCoy had been caught using his mobile while driving his car it seems that more famous people are at it. This time it is Children' Secretary Ed Balls who was caught driving on Sunday while using his mobile on route from Yorkshire to London. In fairness to him he said "it was a fair cop" and that he was sorry for his actions. People please note it is not safe to drive and use the phone at the same time, get yourself a decent bluetooth headset or in car speaker, I know that we think we can get away with it but we can't, and it does distract you. This being said I can't help thinking that if Ed Balls changed his name to something a little less comedic then I and other people would feel more compassion towards him.
So here it goes, my suggestion for Ed Balls name change is....... Harry!!
Harry Balls.... I can see nothing wrong with that
Until next time people keep recycling
Sanitation vs.Communication - More mobile phones than toilets in India!
Hello again everyone,
In a recent study by a UN think-tank and shocking statistic was produced that India's mobile subscribers totalled 563.73 million at the last count, nearly 1/2 of the country's 1.2 billion population yet only 366 million people - around 1/3 of the population had access to a toilet.
I think it is tragic that a country that is wealthy enough to have half the population connected do not have access to basic sanitation. The influx of availabilty of mobile phones maybe due to the efforts of mobile phone recycling companies in the UK to make affordable handsets available. This is an ethos that should be mirrored by sanitation companies and help to get more toilets available in India. This in turn would help to stop the spread of water-borne diseases and save lives.
The recycled phones have been saved from polluting the environment, as must the additional toilets save the spread of disease.
Until next time people keep recycling.
On Ash Cloud Nine!
Morning All,
The Ash Cloud has been with us for some time and collegues here at mopay have family members stuck all over the world. I have been wondering if the ash cloud has caused any issues with mobile phone network connections as I have had a poor signal for a few days and suspect maybe the cloud has had some influence?
Has anyone had a similar experience with their mobiles??
Using a mobile phone while driving? Don't Push It Mckoy!
Hello again everyone,
It has been a little while since my last mobile phone blog so thought I best jump back in the saddle (Pardon the pun!) and get one written and out there on the web.
Today is less mobile phone recycling and more a current affairs article. Tony "AP" McKoy finally had his dream come true on Saturday when at the 15th time of asking he managed to win the Grand National 2010 on "Don't Push It". Like any good son he couldn't wait to tell his mum (65) about it and contacted her via his mobile phone as he exited the raceground in his car. The jockey had not gotten no more than 200 yards when he was duely pulled over and fined £60 and three points on his licence, presumably by a policeman who bet on Black Apalachi.
However annoying this maybe for "AP" of whom Mr. Mopay is a big fan, we think the incident will of done little to spoil his day. Well Done AP.
Until next time people keep recycling.
iPhone- Can't HACK Won't HACK!!
Hello again everyone,
This weeks blog is about the iPhone 3GS a mobile phone I am sure you are all aware of. But beware if you are trying to unlock them as you have done with previous apple phones. The company have built a security update into the software that overides the software hacks that have been used previously. What this means is if you reboot the phone, take out your SIM or run out of juice on the battery upon reboot it is locked again!
This has become a real problem for hackers as the 3GS in on a wider range of Networks including Orange and Vodafone so the problem is occuring more and more.
So if you are going to try and hack a iPhone 3Gs then think again before you try and do so.
Until next time people keep recycling
Video Calls on new Apple iPhone 4G???
Hello again everyone,
Recycle 3 or more gadgets in March and you could win FREE Gadget Show tickets!
Hello again everyone,
Following the staggering demand for tickets since going on sale in October, the Gadget Show Live 2010 is now completely sold out from 8th - 11th April and a special preview afternoon for Wednesday the 7Th April without the Super theatre performance is set to sell out shortly.
This is our second exclusive year exhibiting at the event and mopay.co.uk is proud to be offering a pair of free tickets to the event for a lucky recycler who sells 3 or more gadgets for cash on mopay.co.uk before the 22nd March.
The lucky winner will be notified of their success on the 23rd March, So get recycling your old mobiles and iPods and get entered into the draw for the chance to meet us there and enjoy a day of all the latest technology and gadgets.
So unitl next time keep recycling (and trying to win Gadget Show tickets)
Sony Ericsson Vivaz - Great Phone, Poor Advert.
Hello again everyone,
Sony Ericsson are now letting us pre book the new Vivaz, a new phone with a great HD 8.1 mega pixel camera. But have you seen the advert they are going to launch it with? A young man is walking to meet friends and just starts filming random strangers, a women with a baby and a lady with a pet dog and to me it all seems a little strange! I think it is fair enough to try and show off how good the new HD camera and video is on the phone (which by the way is brilliant!!) but a little wrong to depict someone filming strangers in a rather creepy way!
What I am trying to say is do not let the poor advert put you off from the phone itself, I have always been a big Blackberry and Nokia fan but this phone has got me thinking, and I am sure it will you too!
So until next time people keep recycling!
I'm holding out for a HTC HERO 'til the end of the night!!!!
Hello again everyone,
The GSMA mobile awards ends tomorrow and a couple of my good friends here at mopay have been attending enjoying the fresh air, sun and Rioja! (Oh and they went to the 15th GSMA awards!!)
I think it is great to see that the HTC hero won the handset of the year award as HTC have only fairly recently hit the market as a brand themselves not just producing handsets for partners.
I hope this is a sign of things to come as more competition on smartphones can only mean one thing, cheaper phones with more gadgets for us!!!! BUT, don't forget to recycle your old phone it replaces.
So until next time people keep recycling.
Don't count your geese until they have been driven through London!
Hello again everyone,
According to marketingmagazine this week, T- Mobile's new TV advert will feature a flock of geese being driven through the city of London and is based on challenging outdated thinking within the Mobile phone industry akin to the old law that allows Freemen to drive livestock across bridges within the square mile.
This got me to thinking what other outdated laws there are out there that T-Mobile could use in follow up adverts, and it turns out plenty!!!
One such law is that you can drive away noisy brass bands from your street, not only that you can fine them 40 shillings if they refuse to move. Probably not a good choice following on from their last advert for joining a super band.
Another such law is that it is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the British monarch upside-down. Considering treason is still punishable by death I suggest you get this right!
If they wished to move away from London for the next advert perhaps they could go to Edinburgh, Glasgow or any other part of Scotland where if someone knocks on your door and requires the use of your toilet, you must let them enter. Very helpful!
Sticking with the Scottish theme, In York it is legal to murder a Scotsman within the ancient city walls, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow, Again though probably not a good choice for an advert!
My favourite that I would like to put forward is that a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants, including in a policeman’s helmet which you are not normally legally allowed to touch.
What an advert that would make!
So until the advert comes out on the 15th Febuary we will just have to speculate on what it's follow up might be.
So until next time people, keep recycling!
Sony Ericsson has their GreenHeart™ in the right place.
Sony Ericsson has initiated steps towards developing eco-friendly mobile phones to keep our environment clean & safe. The Sony Ericsson Hazel & Elm (obviously named after the trees!!!) have both been developed under their GreenHeart™ portfolio and will still offer the wide range of features & applications that we have come to expect from Sony Ericsson.
According to the Sony Ericsson,” The phones are designed and developed under their GreenHeart™ portfolio without compromising its specifications, design, entertainment and usability.”
In line with this new range of phones the company said that from today their all accessories are developed under this GreenHeart™ portfolio, so that they help to reduce some part of CO2 emission via mobile phones & accessories. Their Hazel & Elm mobile phones are developed with recycled plastics, free from hazardous chemicals & materials, consume less power & come with minimized packaging.
And that is a big well done from Mr. Mopay for the foresight to do this and I will look forward to recycling these phones in the near future.
The Sony Ericsson Hazel & Elm are expected to arrive in the second quarter of this year and will compete with the Samsung model I previewed last year which had the solar panel back and was also made from recycled plastics.
I am really looking forward to both models and also to see what the uptake is on eco friendly phones??
I hope you all know the answer that I would like to see to this question!!!.
So until next time people keep recycling.
0800 FREEPHONE.... now FREE to move.
Hello again everyone,
It has been announced that 0800 numbers that have always been free from a landline are now to be free on mobile phones.
I for one welcome this news as a freephone numbe should be just that.. FREE.
When you are on the move and need to call a customer sevice line for your gas or electric supplier for example you can sometimes be on hold for 20 minutes or more at your cost to sort out a problem that may not be your fault and I found this somewhat annoying.
But no longer as they have seen sense and embraced the future. Free 0800 calls for everyone everywhere!!
Until next time people keep recycling!
Google i Phone Killer?
Hello again everyone,
Following on from my blog yesterday to encourage more mobile recycling aftre Christmas comes the news that Google are launching a new iphone competing phone the Nexus One.
So is this big news....
Well in some instances no, as they already produce the software for other similar phones produced by people such as HTC using the Android operating system. But this is their first step into hardware production and will be branded as Google and not another manufacturer. This brand association combined with the experience that Google have with Android surely makes them a big player offering similar apps. to the iphone.
But can it overtake the well established iPhone?
Mr. Mopay thinks given time.... Yes!!!!
Until next time people keep recycling.
Happy New Year - A Call to Change!
Hello again everyone and a Happy New Year to all!
So it is 2010. The year of the Tiger to some, a call to change and lose weight to others, but to me it signals the year that mobile phone recycling will really become common place and we will see more and more phones recycled and saved from a life left on a dump.
Most people now know about phone recycling and selling mobiles online due to the large marketing campaigns and mass TV coverage. It seemed to me over Christmas it went sofa sale, bed sale, recycle phone, recycle gold over and over again in the adverts and I think this exposure will this year really kick the mobile phone recycling market into action.
So my call to change is… make sure you not only recycle the old phone that was replaced with a new one this Christmas, but also go through your draws and find those older phones also and send them in also to mopay.co.uk
Until next time people keep recycling.