SaveOnCellPhones.ca

National Do Not Call List (DNCL)

Do telemarketers calling you on your home line bother you?  Do you hate those calls telling you that you have Won a Cruise or to Take a Survey?  Well in the next few months those telemarketers are going to start to have access to cell phone numbers.  Thats right, not only will they be able to bother you at home, but they will be able to get you on your cell phone or PDA.

Fortunately the Canadian Radio, Television and Communication Commission has setup a system to give you the option to opt in or out of these services.  https://www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca/index-eng

From their website:

“The National Do Not Call List (DNCL) gives consumers a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls. The National DNCL Rules introduce new responsibilities for Canada’s telemarketers.

If you are a consumer you can choose to reduce the number of telemarketing calls you receive by registering your residential, wireless, fax or VoIP telephone number on the National DNCL. You can also check your registration, find out how to remove your number from the National DNCL, and file a complaint about telemarketing calls. Please consult our frequently asked questions section to find out more about the National DNCL.

The National Do Not Call List (DNCL) introduces new responsibilities for Canada’s telemarketers. If you are a telemarketer you can use this Web site to register your business information, obtain and buy a subscription to the National DNCL, and download or query the National DNCL. You can also find out about subscription rates, file formats and other information in the Telemarketer section of this Web site.”

If you want to De-Register your number, here is the direct link so that you won’t be receiving any annoying telemarketing calls:

https://www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca/insnum-regnum-eng

However, for the select few of you that enjoy those phone calls, please do not hesitate to keep your number active and you can listen as to how you can win that trip of a lifetime or take the latest survey.

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FURTHER DETAILS AND FAQs ON THE NATIONAL DO NOT CALL LIST

Source: CRTC Website: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/DNCL/brochure_consumer.htm

Have you heard about Canada’s National Do Not Call List?

You can sign up to reduce the number of telemarketing calls you receive—and maintain your personal privacy. It’s your choice.

What is the National Do Not Call List?

Every year, thousands of Canadians raise concerns about receiving unwanted telemarketing calls. In 2006, the federal government passed a law allowing for the creation of a National Do Not Call List (DNCL) that all telemarketers must respect. When you sign up to have your cellular, home phone or fax number included on it, companies making unsolicited marketing or sales calls can no longer contact you.

How do I sign up?

Registering for the National DNCL is simple. Call 1-866-580-DNCL 1-866-580-DNCL ( 866-580-3625 866-580-3625) or log on to www.dncl.gc.ca and follow the few easy steps required. That’s it: your number will be on the List.

How long do I have to wait before my registration takes effect?

After you sign up, your numbers will be added to the List within 24 hours. Telemarketers then have 31 days to update their own information and make sure they don’t call you in their next round of solicitation. Don’t expect all calls to stop immediately, though. You could still receive calls within those first 31 days.

Is my registration permanent?

No. Your number will be registered on the National DNCL for five years. As well, if your numbers change, you will have to register your new numbers.

How do telemarketers know I’m on the National DNCL?

Telemarketers are required by law to subscribe to the National DNCL. Such companies register and pay fees to download updates from a secure website. It is their responsibility to ensure numbers on the National DNCL are not called.

What do I do if I get calls after I am on the National DNCL?

You can file a complaint with the operator of the National DNCL online at www.dncl.gc.ca or by calling 1-866-580-DNCL 1-866-580-DNCL ( 866-580-3625 866-580-3625). One important detail: don’t hang up if you get an unwanted call! To make a complaint you need to provide the name of the organization that called you OR the number where that organization can be reached, the date of the call and your own number. By law, telemarketers must give you their name and number.

Why should you learn more about the National Do Not Call List?

Your privacy is yours to manage: being informed will help you take action to protect yourself.

What happens to telemarketers who call numbers on the National DNCL?

New legislation gives the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) the power to assign penalties of up to $1,500 per infraction for individuals and $15,000 for corporations that do not follow the National DNCL rules.

Does being on the List prevent all unsolicited calls?

Being on the National DNCL keeps you from receiving most telemarketing calls, but there are exceptions. Registered charities are still allowed to call for donations, and certain other organizations—such as companies conducting polls or surveys, political parties, and newspapers looking for subscriptions—can also continue to contact you. As well, if you’ve done business with a company in the last 18 months, that company is considered to have a relationship with you and is allowed to call. After 18 months the company must stop calling if you’re on the National DNCL, unless you give permission otherwise. To learn more about exemptions, call 1-866-580-DNCL 1-866-580-DNCL ( 866-580-3625 866-580-3625) or go to www.dncl.gc.ca.

Can I do anything to stop exempted calls?

Yes. If you do not want to be called by an organization—even if that organization is legally allowed to call you—you can ask to be put on its own do not call list. Every telemarketer based in Canada must maintain such a list and respect your wishes not to be called.

What happens if I receive a call after hours?

Even organizations making exempt calls must abide by the telemarketing rules. Exempt calls that are made outside the permitted calling hours should be reported to the National DNCL operator, and the organization that called you may be subject to pay a penalty.

Will I be protected from phone fraud if I sign up?

The National DNCL applies to all telemarketing organizations. It does not necessarily prevent fraudulent telemarketing calls. That’s why it’s important for you to always to be on your guard: if you receive a call and are worried it may be part of a fraud scheme, contact the police

Sign up

Go to www.dncl.gc.ca or call 1-866-580-DNCL 1-866-580-DNCL ( 866-580-3625 866-580-3625) to register your number on the National DNCL. You can manage your privacy. It’s your choice.

National Do Not Call List at a glance

Remember:

Signing up is simple and quick

It’s the telemarketer’s job by law to check and respect the National DNCL

Some kinds of calls are exempt—the National DNCL does not apply in every case

If you do receive a valid call, the telemarketer has to follow Canada’s Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules

You may ask to be put on a telemarketer’s own do not call list at any time

Complaints can be made quickly and easily by phone or online—and any telemarketer found to be in violation of the law can receive financial penalties

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The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) launched the National Do Not Call List (DNCL) on September 30, 2008. Bell Canada was contracted to act as the National DNCL operator, and will be responsible for registering numbers, providing telemarketers with up-to-date versions of the list, and handling consumer complaints about telemarketing calls.

GPS Apps Showdown

Okay Blackberry users here is a review for you of Google Maps versus Blackberry Maps. With millions of blackberry users around the world and more and more applications it can sometimes be daunting to figure what the best options are.  Well here is a quick assessment of Google Maps and Blackberry Maps.

Blackberry Maps is the standard mapping and GPS application that many blackberries come with.  The application uses loaded maps and connects them to your built-in GPS to show you in real-time exactly where you are in the world.  Blackberry maps are very simple to use and the application has a clean interface.  Clicking the trackball or track wheel gives you the option of either zooming in/out of the map or panning around the map. The menu has options including getting directions from one location to another and adding locations to your favorites. One of the great options is that you can actually send your current location to someone else so they can see, on a map, where you are.  All in all, Blackberry Maps is simple but effective but is fairly limited in the bells and whistles.

Google Maps, on the other hand, is actually quite feature packed with options and abilities.  GMaps has all of the features of blackberry maps that I listed above, but in addition GMaps has all the same features that you see in the computer based online version of Google Maps.  This includes, clean basic versions of maps, along with satellite views that you can zoom right down to the buildings on.  If you are looking at cities in the United States you can actually switch to street view and see what the street looks like where the address is.  This is great for familiarizing yourself with a route or a neighbourhood.  You can actually make the street view full screen too! Another great feature of GMaps is you can click on a point or building on a street and it will show you the address of that street. 

Probably the coolest part of GMaps is Latitude.  Latitude is free signup which allows you and your friends to be able to visually track each other on your GPS blackberries.  It notes each of your locations and places it on GMaps for you to either help give directions when someone is lost, see if someone far from arriving or just to cheat at hide and go seek. To add to GMaps is actually a traffic monitor that shows how bad the traffic is on certain roads so you can plan your route better.

 Search Near By is an extremely handy feature of GMaps.  With this tool you can search for restaurants, businesses, gas stations, doctors, etc that are in close proximity to you.  So if you are running out of gas in your car it will pin-point the closest gas station for you to fill up.  Or if you are out with the family and you can’t make up your mind about a restaurant, this could help you make the decision.

 The last awesome part about Google Maps is that not only can it give you driving directions, it can also give you walking directions or transit directions.  So if you are in a new city and you have to get somewhere on the bus it will tell you what lines to take and when to change lines.  It will find you the shortest or quickest routes.  As well, if you feel like walking around town and want to check out a historic site you can plot in the two points and it will map out the best walking route for you.  Pretty cool app.

 Although Blackberry Maps does the job, it really doesn’t compare to Google Maps.  The best part of it all is that Google Maps is FREE! And is a relatively small sized application.  Now, the next question is probably, “How can I get it?”  Well, here is the best way to get it.

Text  “GMAPS” to 46653 and Google will send you a link to download the application right to your Blackberry!

Lastly, even if you don’t have a Blackberry you can use this application.  Google Maps are made for many PDAs and Smart Phones.  Give it a try and let me know what you think of the application.

www.saveoncellphones.ca

The Canada Line (Downtown to Airport and Richmond) opens today!

I know this topic is not directly related to cell phones, but it is relevant for thos people who travel for work in Canada and are looking to save some money.  Right now it costs about $35 to take a taxi from downtown Vancouver to the airport.  However that will all change today.  The Canada line of the Vancouver Skytrain officially opens today so any one coming to Vancouver for work can take the train from the airport to downtown for a tenth of the price!  Thats right $3.50!

The Canada Line is part of the infrastructure changes in Vancouver that have been implemented as part of the Olympics.  It is actually finished 4 months early and those working in Vancouver can save a lot of money by taking this express train.  Only 20 minutes from the airport to downtown the train connects to the sea bus, cruise ship terminal, VIA tail station and Greyhound Bus Station.

NOTE: On August 17th the new Canada Line will be free from 1pm to 9pm

So if you are coming into town on business you can jump on the SkyTrain right from the Airport and save yourself both the time and money of taking a taxi.  If you would like more information on the opening of the line you can read a full article in the Vancouver Sun.

http://bit.ly/13fcsj

You can also look at the Translink Website for the new route, stops and connections to other lines and buses.  Enjoy the expedited transportation and the cost savings!  Plus, you can use your cell phone on the whole route, all the way to downtown (I will test this out as soon as I can!)

www.translink.ca

SaveOnCellPhones.ca

BBC NEWS ARTICLE MAY 29, 2009

This is a great story that I came across on the internet a few weeks ago.  It sounds as though when you go to prison one of the hardest things to detach yourself from is your cell phone.  These prisoners were foiled in their attempt to get cell phones air lifted by remote control helicopter into their prison compound.  Here is the article by Gary Duffy of BBC News in Sao Paulo.

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“Police in Brazil have foiled a plot to smuggle mobile phones into a high-security prison using a remotely-controlled model helicopter.

Four people were arrested and the high-tech toy was recovered after police stopped a car near to the jail.

Mobile phones are widely used by prisoners inside jails in Brazil to continue directing criminal activities.

Earlier this year prison guards in the same state discovered that pigeons were being used to carry mobile phone parts.

It seems the plot to smuggle the mobile phones into the Presidente Venceslau high security jail in Sao Paulo state was only stymied when police stopped a car as part of a routine check.

In the boot of the vehicle they found the one-metre long model helicopter with a basket-like container attached to its base.

Inside were nine mobile phones wrapped in a disposable nappy, while another five phones were also discovered in the vehicle.

Four suspects were arrested, and the youngest, who was aged just 17, is reported to have confessed they had been given $5,000 to buy and prepare the helicopter.

They were apparently to be paid the same amount if they had successfully landed the model inside the prison walls.

Prisoners in Brazilian jails routinely use mobile phones to carry on with criminal activity, and the police say the ones they recovered were probably intended to go to gang leaders inside the jail.

It is not the first time that the authorities have foiled an innovative attempt to smuggle material into a jail in Brazil.

Earlier this year Sao Paulo state prison guards uncovered a plot using pigeons to carry mobile phone parts over the walls of a jail.”

Please click the link below for the story and photos of the helicopter on BBC News:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8067589.stm

Enjoy your freedom and your cell phones!

www.saveoncellphones.ca

Local, Long Distance and Cost Effective Phone Calls, what is the best combination of services?

In this technological age we have a variety of choices when it comes to making a simple phone call.  We can use our home or office land line, we can use our ultra portable cell phone, or we can make internet based phone calls with programs like Skype.  The challenge is, what should we use and what do we need?

(FYI: Skype is an internet based phone service that uses VOIP, Voice over IP, technology to connect phone calls.  Similar services include Vonage and Google Talk. www.Skype.com, www.vonage.com, www.google.com/talk)

Having all three of these services (Land, Cellular, Skype) can be quite a costly monthly bill, however utilizing a few of these services might actually save you a significant amount of money.  Lets first look at the advantages and disadvantages of each of the services.

Local Land Line:

• Has a local phone number attached to it for people to call
• Relatively inexpensive options at $10 / month
• Medium / High long distance fees ($0.04 to $0.35 /minute)
• No portability, phone line is stuck to your house
• Can use for unlimited local calls at no additional charge
• Has caller ID, Voicemail and call waiting features

Cell Phone

• Has a local phone number attached to it for people to call
• Relatively expensive monthly costs at $40+ / month
• High long distance fees ($0.10 to $0.35 /minute)
• High portability, you can use your phone anywhere in Canada
• Cannot use for unlimited local calls, limited to minutes in plan
• Has caller ID, Voicemail and call waiting features
• Has Email, Internet, can play MP3s, take photos and more.

Skype or VOIP Services

• Does NOT have a local phone number attached (in Canada)
• Very inexpensive monthly costs at $3.00 to $4.00 / month
• Unlimited Usage North America Long Distance included!
• Medium portability, use your Skype ”phone” (laptop) with any WiFi
• Can use for unlimited local calls, anywhere in North America
• Has caller ID, Voicemail and  free calls to other Skype users.
• Includes instant message chat service and many other features.
• Does not have 911 Capabilities. Can’t call 9-1-1 for help.

So what combination of these services make the most sense to use?  Well, I think most of us will agree that it is going to be pretty hard to give up our cell phones and the convenience of their portability, productivity and functionality are too hard to detach from. (Plus, if I recommended you get rid of your cell phone it wouldn’t give me much left to Blog about on this site!)  So lets look at the other two options.  First, Land Lines.  Land lines are relatively inexpensive and they do give a great option for unlimited local calling and a local based phone number.  However, you are fixed to using it at your house and it is quite expensive compared to Skype.  Skype on the other hand is very inexpensive with unlimited North American calling for only $4.00 Cdn a month and gives the added advantage that you can use the service anywhere there is an internet connection.  The downsides to Skype are that you cannot get a local Skype number in Canada (yet), and you have to use an internet connection and computer to connect.

Save On Cell Phones.ca Recommedation:

So what do we recommend at SaveOnCellPhones.ca?  For the price and the portability we recommend the Cell Phone and Skype combination.  By using your cell phone for ultimate portability and for having a local number you can achieve your mobility while still being able to be reached.  With Skype you are able to make unlimited local and long distance calls and have the added benefit of being able to make long distance calls from any internet connection.  Plus with the marginal cost of Skype, it is a no brainer to use this as your Long Distance option.  So, save your long distance calls for when you are at your laptop and use your cell phone to receive all of your incoming local calls and you will be set for all of your calling needs.

If you have any questions about Cell Phones, Land Lines or Skype don’t hesitate to leave a comment.