Tame Your Technology - Computer Repair Zone

For the first time ever [blush!] I have actually installed a few additional applications on my trusty Palm Treo.

Whilst I consider myself above-average when it comes to general technology use, I’d never installed anything like this, so I was a little bit nervous.

It turns out it was OK.

The software I wanted to download had a mobile page available (often beginning or ending in “m” - such as www.maindomain.com/m or m.maindomain.com - and very plain to look at) so after finding it on my main desktop PC, I visited the link on my Treo’s browser.

Next I simply clicked the download link, ticking the “open after download” option and left it running for a few seconds to download the application.

Straight after download it automatically installed itself, and checking the “Programs” menu, there was the new application.

How simple is that?!

If you *can’t* download the file straight onto your Windows Mobile device however you can download it to your PC, then sync your PC and mobile device, then install from there but it seems a bit more complicated and long-winded.

I found this video (from an outside source) incase it’s of use though…

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It’s strange how many people still think they pay to receive a picture message. I suppose it’s similar to the way many people think they’ll pay to receive a text message when they’re abroad. Trust me - it ain’t going to happen.

So as to whether you need money on your phone to receive picture messages, the answer is “no”. Only the sender pays.

If you’re expecting one and you haven’t received it, then either there’s a problem with their phone sending it or yours receiving it. Firstly - can they send picture messages to other people? If not, the problem is likely their phone. If other people can receive them but you can’t, then the problem is likely your phone.

In which case, read my article about not being able to send or receive picture messages and all will become clear

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When I worked with cell phones this was one of the most common questions of all - and yet the easiest to resolve.

So let’s take you through a simple guide to linking (or “pairing”) your cell phone and Bluetooth headset.

Basically what we are going to do is play an electronic version of find and seek. We’re going to get your headset to say “come and find me!” then your cell phone to search for him and track him down.

OK, let’s get prepared. Best have your manuals for your cell phone and headset to hand as each model is slightly different and you might get stuck part way.

Here are the steps:

1) Turn the Bluetooth on your cell phone on.

Typically this will either be in a “Tools” or “Settings” menu. Taking my Samsung as an example, I open the menu, select “Organizer And Tools” and there 4 options down is Bluetooth. I go into this menu and notice by “Activation” it says “Off”. I need it to be on, so I toggle it with the menu button. It says says “On” and that’s stage 1 complete.

2) Prepare You Cell Phone To Search

Still within the Bluetooth menu look either for an option called “Search For Devices” (or similar) or look my “My Devices”. Taking my Samsung again I select the “My Devices” option and inside that menu there is an option to “Search New Device”. Basically where we end is in such a place that you can just click an option and your handset will start “looking” for any Bluetooth-enalbed device within range.

3) Put Your Headset In Pairing Mode

By putting your headset in pairing mode, it is essentially sending out a message so your cell phone can locate it and create the necessary link between the two. This differs greatly between headsets but generally involves pushing in and then holding down one or more buttons. You’ll know it’s right because the lights will change - typically rather than an ocassional blue flash you will get alternate red and blue flashing lights. When you see this, you’re ready.

4) Begin The Search

Your Bluetooth headset will only remain in pairing mode for a matter of 30 seconds of less (which is why we did that last) so quickly press the search option on your handset and within a few moments you should find the name of your Bluetooth headset appear on the screen. Wait till your phone has finsihed searching then highlight and select your headset on the screen. If you phone asks you for a password to link the two devices simply enter 0000 and that should work.

All done!

You should now be able to pop your headset on and make a call without holding your cell phone! You should onlt need to do this once and your phone and headset will continue to recignise each other when in range in the future.

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Cell phones have a unique identifying number like the chassis number of your car.

If and one gets stolen it gets blacklisted by the cell phone networks - which stops calls being made on that handset and theres no way to resolve the issue unless the network remove the bar. Bizareely they often *can* send texts, just not make calls.

A common occurence in “cheap” phones bought off a friend, off ebay or suchlike is this very problem.

So if you buy a new phone but can’t make a call when you can send a text think - dodgy phone and get your money back as quickly as possible.

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Text messages get routed through a specific number and the single most common reason for your phone to not be sending texts is simply that the number, hidden deep in the menu of your phone, is wrong.

The most common one is it’s missing the last digit because you accidentally changed it when you meant to do something else (did your handset used to send texts then just suddenly stopped?). Other options are that there is no number in the menu at all, or the incorrect number.

What you need to do is to contact your network and find out what the correct *message center number* for texts is on their network.

Then looking in your “Message Settings” in your cell phone look for SMS settings and locate the Message Center Number option.

In 90% of cases you’ll find it’s wrong. Just correct it by typing in the correct number, press save, restart the phone and you’ll likely be sending texts again in no time.

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