Viaero Technology Blog

From conspiracy theories to the possibility of self-driving cars, 5G continues to inspire both controversy and intrigue. While many major U.S. carriers are promoting 5G networks, this doesn’t mean that 4G networks have been or are going to be completely replaced soon. While 5G can deliver faster speeds, fewer delays, and higher capacities, these networks will continue to rely on and run alongside 4G LTE technology.

Guest blog by Abdul Rehman (byline at end of article).

For the majority of the world’s population, smartphones are a prominent necessity of life. Our everyday life cycles just don’t work without the use of smartphones.

While they are convenient for communication, accessing the Internet, digital media, and entertainment, smartphones can also become inconvenient if not protected in the right ways.

In one of our previous blogs, we covered some of the basics of visual voicemail for smartphones. Visual voicemail lets you look at and listen to your voicemails from an app, rather than having to call from your phone.

One of the conveniences of visual voicemail is that messages from known telemarketers and spam callers can be deleted. You don’t have to suffer through hearing a robocall recording or voice message about an expired car warranty.

This post will explore more of the advantages of visual voicemail, how to set it up on different smartphones, and how to use Viaero’s Vmail.

Guest Blog by Jordan Fuller (byline at end of article)

In the modern world, work phones are a simple yet powerful tool for workers. Since we perform daily tasks on the move, having our own pocket computer only serves to make this lifestyle easier to maintain.

But, when coronavirus struck and lockdown measures were enforced, suddenly the workforce slowed its pace and wandered indoors.

As employees acclimatize to remote working, surprisingly to some, the need for a phone remains constant.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the daily routines and lives of many, as most states have enacted shelter-in-place orders or restrictions on in-person non-essential activities, including school and work. More people are now confined to their homes most of the time. There is also increasing collective anxiety over when things will return to “normal” and whether the spread of the virus will personally impact ourselves or someone we know. Spending more time at home has increased the need to rely on the Internet, smartphone apps, streaming, and online-based means of entertainment and information exchanges.

The sticker prices of modern flagship smartphones may be shocking, but when we take a look back at the history of cell phones’ retail prices, it reveals today’s costs may not be entirely out of line. When new or advanced technology is introduced, higher prices often compensate for the efforts and costs that went into developing that technology. Like the cell phones that were first introduced in the early 1980s, modern flagship phones integrate new technology to expand what a cell phone can accomplish.

CNBC reports that American smartphone owners are hanging on to their phones for longer. In 2016, the average time users kept their phones was 22.7 months. As of 2018, the average was up to 24.7 months. Some of the top reasons why we’re becoming more reluctant to upgrade our smartphones as often include:

• Rising Costs
• Too few technical advancements or significant changes between models
• Phones are more durable and are lasting longer

With average smartphone prices up 52% in the last three years and with high-end models now $1,000 or more, consumers are finding it less affordable to upgrade. They also want to get the most use out of a more expensive phone. One of the ways that wireless carriers are helping to make the cost more affordable is by extending average contract lengths.

Owning a smartphone allows you to accomplish a variety of tasks, whether you’re at home or on the go. Smartphone accessories can help expand the types of tasks you can perform and help protect your phone. But what about the accessories and attachments that seem a little wacky or you may not have heard of? What are they and what can you use them for?

Have you ever wondered what others around the globe pay for the data they use on their smartphones? You might be surprised to find out that North American countries pay some of the highest rates on average. As reported by Niall McCarthy with Forbes, the average cost per gigabyte of data in the United States is $12.38. Despite these higher averages in the U.S., residents of Zimbabwe pay the highest rates in the world at $75.20 per gigabyte.

Our smartphones can do many different things, but they can easily run out of space once you start storing photos and videos. Even apps, downloaded memes and documents can start to fill up your phone’s storage. OS and app updates will also take up the majority of your phone’s built-in space.