Regardless of how far phone technology has advanced, the most vital function of every mobile device is still making or receiving calls. And if your phone says “SIM card not detected,” that indicates you haven’t used your phone in a while.

 The situation is likely aggravating, and a quick solution will be necessary. If you’re stuck and don’t know what to do, try these recommended steps when your Android phone’s sim card isn’t detected.

Ways How To Fix Sim Card Not Detected

Reboot Your Smartphone

If a software fault causes your SIM card error, a simple reboot may be all that is required to resolve the issue. This can cure a variety of topics; however, customers complained that rebooting isn’t enough to repair the “No SIM” error and that rebooting may potentially produce the “No SIM card detected” message.

The answer was to turn off their phones for 30 seconds and then turn them back on. If this resolves your issue, you should continue to power down instead of restarting and then turn on your phone until an Android update or carrier settings update is issued to address the issue.

Re-Insert Sim Card

Check your SIM tray next. Remove it and correctly re-insert it. Insert a little bent paper pin into the pinhole as you pull the tray out of the slot. Lightly push down on the SIM tray until it pops out.   Re-insert the tray after inserting the SIM in the proper orientation.

Don’t try to push it. If the tray becomes stuck, gently push it. The forceful push may damage the pin or the circuit board, increasing your “SIM card not detected” issue.

Check to see whether your SIM card is active.

This will help us to identify the specific source of the problem. Use the SIM card on a separate phone. If the phone does not recognize the SIM card, the SIM is the issue. 

• To begin, contact your network service provider to verify that the SIM is activated.
• Also, check to see whether the SIM registration is completed correctly.
• Check to see whether the SIM is in good shape. Clean it with soft cotton cloth if there is any dust or carbon on it. But be careful not to scratch it. Otherwise, you risk inflicting more significant harm to the SIM card.
  

Enable your SIM card 

Examine your network and SIM card settings now. Go to Settings > Mobile Network to get started. Toggle on “Enable” under SIM Card Info & Settings, then tap the SIM. Also, while you’re in a roaming region, make sure data roaming is turned on to prevent this problem.

Set the Network Mode to Automatic.

Another option is to change the network mode to automatic. You may do this by navigating to “Settings -> Mobile Networks -> Network Mode” and selecting LTE/WCDMA/GSM as the first option (auto connect).

Clear the Cache to Fix the SIM Card Error

To repair the no SIM card problem, clear the cache on your Android device. “Settings -> Storage -> Internal Storage -> Cached Data” that’s where you’ll find it. A pop-up will appear when you press on cached data, informing you that this will delete the cache for all applications on your smartphone. To complete the process, just hit “Delete.”

Check Sim Slot

Dust may collect in the SIM slot and connection, preventing the device from correctly reading the card. As a result, you should check into it as well. To clean the connection, lightly wipe it. Also, make sure the pin isn’t broken.

A damaged pin might also result in an android phone not detecting a SIM card. If you have any hardware damage, you should take it to a local service shop and have it serviced or replaced by qualified specialists.

If the sim slot is working fine, maybe you need to unlock your phone :

Unlock Your Phone’s Carrier

If your SIM card is not inserted correctly, damaged, or not enabled on your network, you won’t be able to make or receive calls or texts, and you’ll get errors on your phone like “ Sim Card Not Detected.”

However, you must ensure that your phone is not locked to your carrier for this to work. Otherwise, using a sim card from another carrier would not work.

Removing your phone’s carrier lock is a straightforward process, and if your carrier refuses or is unable to do it, you may do so safely using UnlockBase.

Visit https://www.unlockbase.com/unlock-phone/ for more information

Conclusion

There would be no need to spend time trying alternative techniques if there was a way to identify generating the no SIM card problem from the start. Unfortunately, unless the Android smartphone displays a notification indicating the problem, you’ll have to rely on trial and error. If you have any other ways to resolve this problem, you can recommend it by commenting below!

When you get a brand-new phone, you are eager to use it for calls and other activities. When your new phone displays a SIM card not provided error, however, your enjoyment fades fast. When this occurs, you won’t be able to make or receive calls or access the Internet on your phone.

The MM2 issue (Sim not supplied) is quite prevalent on Android phones but don’t worry, this is a simple problem to correct. You’ll be able to solve the issue as long as you know what’s causing it. Why does my phone show that my SIM card hasn’t been activated? What should I do with my SIM card after it has been activated? In this article, we’ll teach you how to do fast and simple troubleshooting tasks to resolve the sim not provided mm2 or sim not provisioned problem.

Why does “ Sim Card Not Provisioned MM2 ” Occur?

You won’t be able to make or receive calls or texts if the SIM card is not correctly inserted, damaged, or not enabled on your network, and you’ll get errors on your phone like ‘sim not provisioned,’ ‘phone not permitted for voice,’ or ‘sim not provided mm2.’

The following are some more causes for the sim not provisioned error:

• You purchased a new phone as well as a new SIM card.
  
• The server of your mobile network provider is unavailable (if you’re using an iPhone, the Apple server also needs to be online).
  
• There’s an issue with the SIM card’s placement.
  
• You have left your carrier’s service region and have been deactivated from roaming.
  If you’re “roaming” or beyond your carrier’s service region, you’ll need to use a SIM card from one of the other carriers that serve the area.
  

However, you must confirm that your phone is not locked to your carrier in order for this to function. Using a sim card from another carrier will not work otherwise.

Removing the carrier lock on your phone is a simple and painless operation, and if your carrier refuses or is unable to do it, you may do so securely using UnlockBase.

You can visit here: https://www.unlockbase.com/unlock-phone/

Ways To Fix “Sim Not Provisioned MM2”

What should you do if you get a “sim not provided mm2” error?

The first step in correcting this mistake is to figure out why it happens in the first place. Let’s start with the most basic and apparent point, which is the sim card’s look.

1. Examine the SIM card for any potential damage.

• Remove the SIM card. Are there any dents, damage, or scratches?
• Is the sim card correctly inserted into the sim slot?
• Is the size of the SIM card correct?
• Is there dirt on the sim card or in the slot for the sim card?
  

The sim card may be positioned in the rear, underneath the battery, if you have an older phone model. To get to the sim card slot, you must first remove the battery. A sim card slot may be seen on the side of newer phones.

Before you start using your phone, ensure sure the sim card and the sim card slot are free of damage or debris. If this is the case, you’ll need to get a replacement SIM card from your carrier.

2. Restart your phone

Try restarting your phone’s system if the SIM card does not display any visible symptoms of damage or dirt A quick restart may sometimes cure the SIM card not provided problem. This issue might have occurred because the phone took longer than normal to connect with your SIM card, or because the phone’s system experienced minor glitches.

3. Enable Airplane Mode 

If rebooting your smartphone does not solve the problem, try switching to Airplane mode. Airplane mode turns off your phone’s network connection. To reconnect your phone, tap Airplane mode once again. Your SIM card may not be enabled if you continue to get Sim not provisioned mm2 or Sim not provided errors on your phone.

4. Try to use the SIM card on a different phone.

However, if it is detected by the other device, it indicates that the SIM card is functional. If it’s not recognized and it’s a fresh sim card with no visible damage on the exterior, it’s probable that your carrier hasn’t activated it or there’s a defect in your sim card slot.

If you’re not sure if the problem is with the SIM card or the SIM card slot, there is a possibility. If you have a functional spare phone, you may try placing your SIM card into that phone. If you use a postpaid phone with a different carrier, your sim card will not function, and you will see an error message that says “SIM not valid” or “SIM not supported.”

5. Contact your provider to activate your SIM card.

Is your SIM card a recent purchase? Do you have an old SIM card that you’re using in a new phone? A new SIM card takes 24-48 hours to activate, as we explained before in this post. If this is the case, all you have to do now is wait for the SIM or phone to be activated within the time frame specified Fresh phones often arrive with a new SIM card that is pre-registered with the phone. You should also double-check that your phone is compatible with your previous SIM card If you’re using an old SIM card on a new phone, you’ll need to let your carrier know so they can register it and get it activated with the new phone.

Conclusion

It’s worth noting that this problem only affects SIM-enabled mobile handsets. These repairs will work as long as the SIM is compliant and fits into the slot. You should now be able to figure out why your phone is exhibiting the “SIM not provided MM2” problem. If you have any other ways to fix the said error, let us know in the comment section below!

If you have a used or secondhand phone that is still connected or linked to the previous carrier, you may get the “Phone Not Allowed MM 6 Error” after inserting a new SIM card on a regular basis. This article will assist you in resolving the Phone not permitted for voice error.

Many smartphone manufacturers are producing new and advanced smartphones, and as a result, many customers are switching from old to new devices. These obsolete gadgets are reconditioned and sold to others all over the world. Even though refurbished cell phones aren’t brand new, numerous components and software are replaced before they’re sold to another person.

Many secondhand or refurbishment businesses repair and sell obsolete cellphones. While being utilized, these phones may generate a variety of problems. The MM#6 Error is one of the most prevalent issues seen by secondhand users.

What Are Phone Not Allowed MM 6 Errors?

When you try to contact or message with a locked phone, the MM#6 error appears, which is most common on recently purchased second-hand or refurbished phones. It’s possible that your phone is still connected to another device and locked to a certain carrier. It’s critical to double-check that the smartphone you’re buying is untethered or properly unlocked. In addition, the SIM card you’re using isn’t supported by the carrier.

That concludes the fundamentals. Let’s get started looking at the remedies for MM#6 issues on cellphones.

What Causes the MM#6 Error?

There are two reasons for this error:

• The device is Blacklisted
  
• The device may not be used with SIM Card inserted (not because of carrier lock but because the IMEI was not authorized to be used with this specific SIM Card yet)

Many smartphone manufacturers partner with carriers, and your network will be restricted to a single carrier. This allows smartphone manufacturers to lower their costs while also allowing carriers to attract more subscribers. As a result, your network is restricted to a single carrier, and you are unable to add another sim card.

As a result, the phone is prohibited. The MM#6 mistake may be found on AT&T, Metro PCS, Attention, and other carrier providers, as well as mobile manufacturers like Samsung, Oneplus, Nokia, Huawei, and others.

Possible Ways to Fix Phone Not Allowed MM 6 Error?

Contact Your Network Operator

Contacting the same carrier’s service center and requesting that your device be DE-BLACKLISTED is the best and quickest option to remedy this problem

They need to contact the carrier to check for the reason for the blacklisting and have this resolved with them or they just need to contact their carrier and have their IMEI added to their account (with most carriers they can do this themselves in their online self-service portal) and it will work right away

After contacting the carrier, there is no guarantee that the issue will be resolved. However, you should attempt this approach first since they may unlock the phone from their end after verification.

Reinsert SIM Card

If you have the same sim card that was previously allocated to your mobile device, or if you’ve tried the first approach and are still having trouble seeing the network, use this technique to change your carrier name.

• To remove the sim card tray, use the sim ejector pin.
• Try switching the sim cards if your phone has a dual sim card slot.
• Restart your phone after reinserting your sim tray.
• Make sure the network is available

Use the Operation Menu.

If the first two option doesn’t work, dial *#78# from the dial pad menu. This number disconnects your handset from the carrier and unlocks it, although it does not work for everyone. Fortunately, if the method works, try using a different SIM card with the phone.

And, if that doesn’t work, try one of the other options below. Because not every carrier offers the same combination of digits to unlock the phone, this technique isn’t applicable to everyone.

Automating Network Selection

You may choose to pick your network manually or automatically on Android. By default, this is set to automatic. If you’ve made any changes to this option, try reversing them and restoring them to their default state. Here’s how to go about it.

• Select Settings from the notification bar by scrolling down.
  
• Select SIM & Network from the drop-down menu.
  
• Choose the sim card that is displaying the issue.
  
• Scroll down to “Network Operators” and click it.
  
• Set it to “Choose Automatically” using the toggle bar.
  

Update your device

As these mobiles are tethered to a single carrier operator or manufacturer, it is important to keep your device updated to receive and download any security or software patch that might be causing Error MM#6 on your device. Updating your smartphone is quite easy and you can update your android device using these simple steps.

• Open the Settings option by dragging the notification panel or selecting the Settings option from the App Drawer menu.

• Scroll down to the bottom and click the About Phone or Software Update option.

• Click the “Check for Updates” button.

• If any updates are available, click the Install Updates button and wait until the updates are successfully installed.
  
• Finally, Restart your device and try inserting the sim card again

Unlocking Your Carrier Lock

Typically, this indicates that the device has been blacklisted or carrier locked, however with other carriers, it may indicate that the customer must first add the IMEI of their handset to their T-Mobile/Metro/Sprint account before the SIM Card can operate with this device.

To Unlock your Device go to the Unlockbase website: https://www.unlockbase.com/unlock-phone/

• Select your service on your cellphone.

• Find your IMEI number by means of a four-digit code (*#06#).

• Order your unlock phone code (It has a 100% money-back guarantee)

• Enter the unlock code, and your phone is sim-free!

Conclusion

So, there were some practical solutions to MM#6 problems. If none of the above methods work, your only choice is to go to your phone’s manufacturer’s or network operator’s closest authorized shop.

Do you have an old Samsung Galaxy Note 3 that is no longer working? The display looks fine but it’s not responding even if you charge the battery? Well, before you throw that vintage beauty away, there’s a way to bring it back to life and even remove the sim lock from its carrier. And that is by replacing its motherboard. 

Disclaimer: Yes, you will have to tinker with your phone’s hardware. By following this guide, you acknowledge the risk and we will NOT take responsibility if any damage is done. 

Now that we have that cleared up and you still want to bring your Note 3 to life, here are the basic tools you will need to follow this guide: 

• Samsung Galaxy Note 3 
• A factory unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Motherboard (you can purchase it from third-party sellers, make sure to double-check the correct model number).
• J1 screwdriver

If you have all the tools needed, then let’s get started! 

Below are the steps on how to replace Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Motherboard:

• Carefully remove the battery, SIM card (if any), and microSD card (if any).

• Remove the IMEI sticker, and replace it with one that came with your replacement motherboard. If if didn’t come with a sticker, leave it blank.
• Take out all twelve screws.
• Remove the cover by prying on the side of the battery compartment.

• Disconnect all of the cables as indicated by the picture below.
• Slowly remove the motherboard from the phone.
• Slowly install the replacement motherboard. Work out all of the connectors, and ensure that they’re all above the motherboard.

• Reconnect the cables as indicated in the picture below.
• Replace the cover. Massage the entire edge of the phone. To ensure that the cover is snapped in place.
• Screw all twelve screws.

• Insert SIM, and/or micro SD card (if you have one).
• Insert the S-Pen and install the battery cover.
• Turn on the phone and ensure that it works!

If you followed all the steps of how to replace Samsung Galaxy Note 3 motherboard correctly, then your phone should work. This is one of the hacks that can factory unlock a previously locked phone otherwise if you have a sim locked Samsung Galaxy Note 3 that works just fine but you want to unlock or use it with another carrier, you can always have it unlocked through us! 

Give us a chat or go to our unlock phone page and choose your device and your carrier. Price may vary depending on your device model number, carrier or type of service, but we have the most competitive prices and the fastest turnaround times in the market! Over 8 million people worldwide have trusted us to unlock their phones! 

That’s it for this guide! If you think this helped you immensely, please return us the favor and share this with your friends! Just click on the share button for Facebook or Twitter at the end of this post. 

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Selling your old phone or just wanting to have a ‘fresh start’? If you want to ensure you your data is securely wiped out before you sell it to the marketplace or for any other purpose, then this is the guide for you. In this guide, we will be showing you how to do a factory reset and back up your data correctly on your Android phone.

What does Factory Reset mean?

As the term itself defines, factory reset is a method of restoring your phone’s original manufacturer settings. After doing a complete factory reset on your phone, you will realize that everything you have customized in it, like wallpapers, themes, languages, etc. will now be gone and the phone’s interface is back to when you had set it up the first time.

Related: How to sell your phone for the best price

A factory reset doesn’t involve tinkering on your phone’s hardware. It only resets the software and you can definitely do it correctly on your own through the Settings app on your phone.

A factory reset will erase all the data you have on your phone. That includes apps and all the data in those apps, pictures, music, downloaded files, etc. And that is the main reason why it is necessary for you to back up your data.

Android phones have a different settings place and terms used. If you are not familiar with your phone’s Settings app, you may visit this list of Android phone manufacturers and check out your phone’s UI (user interface).

Note that a Factory Reset is not the same as Factory Unlock. Factory unlock is a service that is also known as sim unlock where a certain service provider, like UnlockBase, removes the lock your carrier put on your phone so you can use another carrier’s sim card.

Types Of Reset

Aside from a factory reset, there are other types of resets that are available in many Android phones. In some Android phones you will have 3 different options for ‘reset’ and none of them directly uses the term ‘factory reset,’ and they are:

Reset Network Settings

Resetting network settings means deleting all the saved WiFi, Bluetooth, and Mobile Data information in your phone and restoring the default manufacturer network settings. If you are trying to resolve connectivity or internet issues on your phone, this is the option for you.

Reset All Settings

This type of reset restores system default settings without erasing any data. Its purpose is to help you go back to your phone’s default theme, keyboard, language, etc. This doesn’t erase your downloaded apps, pictures, contacts, messages, etc.

Erase All Data

This is the new term for Factory Reset, and as the term itself defines, going in this direction erases all the data in your phone. This includes your Google Account, downloaded apps, saved passwords, albums, downloaded files, etc.

It will completely wipe out everything that’s on your phone and restores your phone back to its default system state. If you are selling your phone, there’s no need to log back in again to your Google Account, because unless your account’s deleted, the new user won’t be able to use it.

Ways To Back Up Your Phone’s Data

If there’s anything more important than your phone itself, it’s the data it contains. There are three ways to back up your data: (1) Google Account, (2) Using external memory or another computer device (3) phone manufacturer’s Cloud account.

(1) Google Account Back up

What type of information does your Google (Gmail) Account save/back up for you? It will save your calendar, contacts, and other similar Google developed Android apps. It will automatically sync and back up every data from all the synced apps on your phone.

However, you have to make sure your Google Account is synced with your phone.

To know your Google account: 

• Go to Settings 

• Go to Accounts 
• Open Account username (email)

Tap on the “>” icon next to your email address and you will see all the synced apps under that account.

(2) MicroSD, External Memory Card Backup

What type of information can you save via an external memory card or computer?

You can save several phone-based apps such as Gallery/Albums, Notes, Contacts, Music, Recorded audio, and other downloaded files. If your phone has a memory card with an ample amount of space, you can move your albums and other downloaded files in this location.

To move files from your internal storage to your SD card:

• From your Home screen, open “File Manager” or go to “Local Storage”. Tap on the “Internal Storage” to open files saved in your phone’s own storage.

• Select all the items you want to “move” or save on your SD card or memory card.

• After selecting all items, scroll down and tap the “Move” option at the bottom of the screen.

• And then from the Local Storage section, go to “Memory Card” and tap the “Move Here” option.

If you want to save them to your computer, you can hook it to the computer via USB cable.  Allow USB debugging (option will pop up) and then just copy and paste all the file on your selected folder from your phone to your computer.

Internet-based apps like Netflix and Spotify most often save your data using their own secure server.

Samsung Smart Switch

For Samsung users, it’s more convenient to use Smart Switch. Samsung Galaxy S7 and later has this pre-installed, but if you don’t have it, you can download it on the Google App Store and the Galaxy Store. It allows you to transfer files Galaxy to Galaxy using a USB connector. According to their website, these are the ways on how to use the Smart Switch:

• Galaxy to Galaxy via a USB cable and connector.
• Android to Galaxy via WiFi Direct.
• iOS to Galaxy using a USB connector.
• iOS to Galaxy through iCloud.

Samsung Smart Switch offers a hassle-free file transfer between Galaxy phones, Android, and iOS.

(3) Cloud Account Backup.

What kind of data can you save on your phone manufacturer’s cloud account?

It will save many phone-based apps such as mentioned earlier. Most Android phone manufacturers have their own complimentary secure cloud-based storage service for free.

If you had signed up for it, you will be able to save your phone’s information through it but you will need a stable internet connection to do this successfully.

There are of course storage limitations, for example, Samsung Cloud only allows up to 1GB of data to be saved and specific file types. It is accessible through the Settings app on your phone and can save contacts, calendars, documents, Home Screen, Apps, Settings, Messages, Music, etc.

If you are selling your phone, log out of your phone’s cloud account and remove that phone from your account’s device list to prevent the new owner from accessing it without your knowledge.

Are you ready to reset your Android phone?

If you have already backed up your data, you are now ready to reset your phone. If you have plans on restoring the data back on the same phone, there are two things you need to remember:

• Your Google Account’s login information.
• Your phone’s unlock pin/password/pattern.

Make sure you have both information correctly. To confirm your Google account’s password, try logging in with your email and password on another device. If you can’t log in, you might need to request changing your password. Simply click on ‘Forgot Password?’ option and just follow the instructions after.

NOTE: If you just changed your password, you have to wait 24 hours before doing a factory reset.

So, are you ready to reset? Here’s how to do it:

• Go to Settings
• Click ‘Advanced’, in other phones ‘More Settings’
• Backup and Reset
• Erase All Data
• Tap on “Clear now” and wait for it to process the reset.

After the reset, you may restart your phone and restore your backed up files or just let it be if you have plans on selling it. You may still use it, but without logging in to your Google account you may not be able to fully utilize all Android apps and features.

Hard Reset: What Is It And How To Do It

There’s soft reset and then there’s hard reset. Soft reset means a factory reset via the Settings app. If you can’t do that because your phone’s software is malfunctioning, your screen is unresponsive, or for any other reasons, you can still do a factory reset using its power and volume buttons. This type of reset is called the “hard reset.”

The process may be different for each type of Android make and model, but with most here’s how to do it:

• Make sure you have enough battery power.
• Turn off your phone.
• Simultaneously press Power and Volume Up button. If the Android System Recovery screen is not up, you have to simultaneously press Power + Volume Up + Home Key button until the screen appears.
• From the options, tap on wipe data/factory reset.
• Tap on Yes (delete user data)
• Tap Reboot System Now.

Your phone will boot up on its own and you can proceed from there. 

Summary

If you’re selling your phone, it is imperative to perform a factory reset to erase all your data because you run the risk of being hacked. There are a lot of horror stories over the years about people who sold their phones only to become the target of others who take advantage of their now compromised personal information.

Even if you’re just giving it to a family member, there will still be important information that could be stored somewhere you might have unchecked; like your saved passwords, bank information, messages, etc. A factory reset does not only delete photos, files, etc. it deletes synced account data that is stored in cloud-based servers either with Google or with your phone’s maker and only a factory reset can delete all of your secure login information successfully.

How To Sell Your Phone For The Best Price: All You Need To Know

Are you planning to sell your old phone so you can upgrade? Your carriers’ trade in program sure sounds tempting, but they are not always the best price. There are many buy and sell websites that give higher offers than most carriers.

Ebay’s Instant Selling, for example, almost always offers better rates than AT&T, T-Mobile, and other carriers who offer trade-in programs.

An AT&T-locked iPhone X 256 GB in excellent condition (no dents, no scratches, perfect screen) best offer is only $450 with AT&T but you can sell it on Ebay for at least $600* even without the accessories. You can sell it for more if you include the accessories that came with it.

Moreover, an UNLOCKED iPhone X in excellent condition, can be sold for at least $700 on Ebay even without the accessories. That difference adds up and can earn you a lot more money than trading your phone with your carrier.

Of course, if you want to sell your phone for the best price, you have to keep it in an immaculate physical condition and ensure it passes standards that would make it worth all the money.

Here are five ways to increase the market value of your phone:

1. Unlock it. Factor number 1 in buying and selling is knowing whether the phone is locked to a certain carrier. If it’s locked, that’d hugely diminish the number of people who would be willing to buy it because it limits their options. It will start off with a lower bid price compared to phones which can be used with any carrier all over the globe.

Unlocking your phone from its carrier doesn’t always involve having to ‘jailbreak’ or ‘root’ the device. If you’re using an iPhone, there is an easy, fast, and SAFE way to unlock your iPhone without breaking your warranty or bricking the phone itself. For phones coming from T-Mobile or MetroPCS, you can safely unlock your phone permanently through the Device Unlock App.

Your carrier can also help you unlock your phone for a FEE provided your account meets certain standards. Otherwise, you’d probably be asked why you’re unlocking it and if there’s a chance you’d be switching to another carrier, which, of course, would in one way or another, harm your pocket, or worse, your credit score.

As mentioned earlier, UNLOCKED phones have more perceived value than those which aren’t because it doesn’t limit the users with their options for carriers.

2. Include the original packaging and accessories with the phone. Selling your phone together with the original packaging, headset, charger, and other accessories that came free with it will drastically increase the retail value.

Ebay and other buy and sell sites for used electronics offer higher for sellers who include the accessories and the original packaging (only if they are still in good condition). Buying phone accessories such as the headset and the charger also comes at a price, so if you sell your phone with it, you’ll have better offers than when you don’t.

However, there are buy and sell sites that don’t require you to include them, like Gazelle, and won’t pay you more if you did include them in the package. It’s best to just keep your accessories for your own use or sell them somewhere else.

3. Start off with a higher price point. Be wary of used phone resellers who will low ball you to the core. When priced fair and just, you will never run out of genuine interested buyers. On buy-and-sell or trade-in websites where there’s no fixed price point and people can haggle or bargain with you, it’s best to start off with a higher price point (but still within a fair price range, of course).

When someone tries to haggle, they will try to knock down the price, but you can still negotiate to the price point you wanted. They’ll think they had a good deal and you got the price you wanted. Win-win.

If you’re not strapped for cash, stay firm, the right buyer will come your way.

4. Add more proof. Often times, listings don’t get noticed because of the lack of photos or videos to prove its legitimacy. When you’re selling a phone, uploading pictures and videos that show the condition of the device is the best way to attract potential buyers. If you’re not selling your phone in trading sites, you can also try Facebook Marketplace.

Warning: you’re not protected by Facebook in case you are scammed by the buyer. In the Facebook Marketplace, you’re all on your own. Uploading more photos or videos that shows the phone’s condition will increase the chances of having more interested buyers. It’s best to sell the phone to someone who’s within your area so you can personally meet and they can check the phone while you’re with them. The video/photo proof will also reduce the perceived risks that prevents people from buying.

5. Try selling on other platforms. There are a lot of legitimate platforms that allow you to sell your phone or other gadgets. Aside from your carrier, you can also sell your phone on Swappa, Glyde, Gazelle, uSell, Apple (for iPhones), Best Buy, Amazon, NextWorth, and many more.

The only difference among these platforms is that, Ebay and Best Buy sends you vouchers or gift cards, and the rest asks you to go to the store, or mail your phone for a physical check- up.

Where Should You Sell Your Phone? We compared each platform.

We tried several gadget trading/selling platforms and here are their offers for an iPhone 8 64GB, GSM, Silver, USED but in excellent condition with complete accessories (headphones, original box, and charger and cable) as of April, 2019.

Although, Ebay’s offer is the highest, they won’t be paying you with cash. You have to reconsider whether you need an Ebay voucher or not.

Do’s and Don’ts Before selling your old phone

1. Take the old SIM card and the memory card out. You don’t need to delete your memory card’s data unless you’re selling the card together with the phone. Take out your old SIM card as well, although you might not be able to use it, there are still data being saved on your old SIM card like your contacts list, messages, and call logs. You surely don’t want those on another person’s hand.

2. Make sure you delete all your personal data. Saved password, emails, Drive or Cloud information, deleted videos and pictures, cache, IDs, etc. You’re not only protecting yourself from data theft, you’re also increasing your phone’s market value. If you’re using an Android, you can also backup your phone’s existing data to your Google account. If you can bring back the phone to its default, ‘almost-new’ functionality state, it would drastically increase its memory and power efficiency.

3. Do a system check. If you’re selling an old used phone that has not been used for the last 3 months or so, it’s necessary for you to do a system check before you even start selling. It could have a drained battery or it might be in need for a system update. Try using the phone for at least one day to see whether you encounter any issues while using it.

4. For Android users: Sign out of your Google account. You need to sign out of your Google account, otherwise the new user will not be able to activate it since he/she needs your password.

Conclusion

There are other ways to increase the market value of your phone, but it all boils down to how you maintained the phone’s aesthetic value and functionality. When you sell, be honest about your phone’s true condition and don’t let down the person on the receiving end.

AI is now the main technology ingredient behind Apple’s iPhone range

In September this year, when Apple unveiled the latest iPhones, Tim Cook introduced Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a game-changing roadmap component behind almost every aspect of the device. Apple manufacture 15.6% of the world’s phones, but capture more than half of the industry’s revenue. Their strategic focus on AI is a worthwhile reminder of the importance of the opportunity that AI represents.

It’s not just Apple, however, who stand to benefit from this new, ubiquitous technology. With AI continuing to be the technology offering the most potential of our time, and mobile now a key part of every digital customer interface, there is no industry which can expect to be free from the need to find a way to garner AI’s benefits.

AI as a concept has been around since the idea was first generated by John McCarthy in the late 1950s. Today, well beyond claims of ‘hype’ it is fundamentally redefining every industry, starting with mobile.  Source: Medium

It’s no exaggeration to suggest that AI in Smartphones will redefine the field of mobile technology.

According to Gartner, 80% of Smartphones will have AI capabilities by 2022. AI is paving new ways to meet both specified an unspecified customer expectation and turbo charge the use of mobile technology in research.

AI’s success is derived, most fundamentally, from 3 things.

• First, it can be applied, in various forms to any industry, something we haven’t seen in many years– since air conditioning, indoor plumbing, the jet engine and other innovations of the 20th Century were rolled out.
• Second, it thrives on computing power and big data sets, two things which we now have in quantities never before seen.
• Finally, AI automates the most important aspect of the cutting edge of computing interfaces, personalization. Here are some examples of how those important AI principals are being applied to mobile.

AI and the IoT (Internet Of Things) – A match made in heaven

The internet of things (IoT) is the name given to the concept of cheap sensors and computing capabilities being embedded in to everyday aspects of our lives – everything from smartwatches, to smart buildings, rubbish bins and even children’s backpacks. Information from those now connected products is delivered through mobile phone (cellular) networks connected to the internet with increasingly cheap data plans.

In some senses, the Internet of Things is just at its beginning. Forbes suggest that 45% of business are aiming to implement IoT sensors in the machinery in their organizations. This is the first tranche of the rollout – since these sort of industrial implementations offer the fastest payback for an IoT investment.

We take it for granted that our desktops and selves are connected to the internet with laptops and smartphones respectively. Over the next decade, every other physical asset worth more than $50 will also be added to the mix. Just like our computers and phones, these artifacts will start to generate huge quantities of information about their status and environments.

Early implementation of IoT will affect industry, where paybacks are fastest. However, B2C – Business to Consumer applications will also occur in the next decade. Source: Statista

In this IoT world, AI assists in picking the signal from the noise of data which are generated by newly connected devices. Combined, of AI and the IoT helps means that the information obtained from such a broad array of sensors, can be filtered and put to good use.

The results will improve efficiency where, currently, we don’t have information to realize how we could optimize.

As usual, Google are ahead of the curve, and have applied AI algorithms to their data centers, optimizing them with invisible AI algorithms to cut the power used by an incredible 40%.

 AI and Digital Conversation – An altogether different experience

We take for granted that our current interface with mobile technology is the common touchscreen, introduced most famously, again, in the original iPhone back in 2007. This may not be the case for much longer, however, and AI is, again, the tool which is bringing these new interaction methodologies to the fore.

Now, people are getting used to ‘talking’ (or having real time Instant Messaging ‘chats’) with chatbots which answer their queries in much the same way a human would.

Most people have interfaced with one type of ‘bot’ even now. If you’ve talked to Siri or said ‘OK Google’ to perform a search with your voice – you’ve been dealing with a ‘personal assistant’ – a specific type of Chatbot.

Now, the same technology is being rolled out by banks, phone companies and even government departments to manage the huge volume of calls and chat requests they receive from people every day.

The beauty of chatbot is the ability to communicate with a large number of people at the same time – importantly – at a zero marginal cost. Over time, these bots are much, much cheaper than employing people to do the same thing.

Chatbots have started to become a crucial aspect of customer relationship management, learning from mistakes, providing more accurate answers to the most common questions and getting better at the root of the problem from a computing / AI perspective – establishing a user’s intent from what they say ( ‘utterances’ in techno-speak.)

History of Chatbots. Source: SmartSheet

Does using chatbots work? More than 95% smartphone users feel that customer service has seen improvement since the inception of AI fueled chatbots.

AI and mobile technology – A lethal weapon for research

AI-powered tech may well be the key component driving the future of every form of mobile research.

80% of research is spent compiling and analyzing the information required. A great deal of the most useful research undertaken starts with a deep understanding of human needs and behaviors. The data available from mobile devices, aligned with AI to sort the wheat from the chaff, has now made that information easier to collate.

Consider the amount of information a smartphones gathers. Simply studying people’s movements using the GPS feature on a phone can be useful for research purpose. Other device sensors (most phones contain accelerometers, GPS, microphones, RF antennae and so on) can be used to gather information on people and cross reference that with other variables, either established through the phone data or derived from another source, to reach a research objective.  

One specific, work undertaken at Dartmouth University, used data collected from students’ smartphones, to determine their levels of depression, stress and loneliness. Their movements, audio signals and position information were correlated with survey questions asked directly of the students using one of those targeted apps. The results could be used to predict psychological wellbeing on other students phones (those who had not answered the questionnaire.)

Further, the strict mathematical models behind AI can also be used to practically remove human bias from the research process, something hard for humans to do but which can materially and negatively impact the value of any research undertaken.

AI and smartphone security – Two sides of the same coin

Finally, AI is catering to the biggest concern of the mobile economy – security.

Security is a difficult subject to contend with for those developing any consumer product, especially when it’s used to address the needs of mobile users.

The nature of security solutions is that they offer an uncomfortable trade off – between the safety of and the convenience of access to information. It’s an important balance to get right, given the quantity of personal information that the average smartphone now contains.

AI ‘fuzzy’ pattern matching is allowing developers can predict vulnerability levels and app security. The technology will keep a eye on ‘suspicious’ (note how vague that term is) activities, identifying them from the coalescence of similar patterns in the past – and raise an alert when ‘unusual’ behavior (of the sort which might indicate a ‘hacker’ is working) is encountered.

AI has the potential to find the loopholes and reduce the risk of intruders attacking the smartphone of the customer through their apps.

Bringing it all together

Most fundamentally, AI helps computers behave in a more human manner, delivering more personalized experiences in an automated way. When your phone recommends a song playlist you love, containing tunes you’ve never heard before, when your mobile interface to Netflix guesses a show you’ll enjoy or when Amazon show you products that you might like to consider – AI is behind those suggestions and transforming the experience you have with your mobile technology.

Artificial intelligence is slowly revamping the entire economy, including its mobile component with its immense power to connect the facilities we’ve listed above. The IoT means more data is collected, often in real time for analysis. AI makes collecting and analyzing it more secure. It offers better ways of interfacing with technology than our current screen technology, in the form of chatbots and voice agents ‘why’ act on our behalf.

In the name of having fun or just being “in the trend,” a lot of people unknowingly download apps that are actually harming their device, and even their privacy.

Recently, Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg has been under fire and was asked to testify in the Senate and in the Congress regarding multiple massive data breaches that may have affected the US election on 2016.

Collected as he was during the interview, the young Silicon Valley billionaire admitted that there was a failure on their end to track how investors and advertisers access and use the data gathered from Facebook’s pool of over 2 billion users.

While people innocently think that the information they share on Facebook don’t matter because they aren’t celebrities, one should still be vigilant and informed about the things that is going on in the whole world of Social Media and not just on Facebook.

If you’re an avid Facebook user, here are a few of our tips to improve your privacy in this particular social media platform.

1. Don’t just say ‘Yes’ to app permission pop-ups. Carefully examine what you are permitting access to the app.

We all seem to be too used with just clicking yes on every privacy policy we see nowadays. And since we don’t seem to have any other choice at all but say yes, we skip reading, skim while scrolling fast, and absentmindedly click on ‘I accept’ without essentially knowing what we are accepting in the first place.

Ooops. #guilty.

If you haven’t been reading the privacy policies all along, you are putting yourself at risk to so many harmful things. Yes, they can use the data you shared for their own goals, which could be something they don’t want you to know, or they are selling it to an entity you don’t want anything to do with.

To cite an example, many developers warned the people about the viral Chinese app Pitu that lets people insert their faces in a “Wuzetian” cosplay. The app is thought to be “harvesting” a lot of data that is not related at all to the use of the app. It can record audio, know your exact location, and get phone logs that might contain private information like your password.

Before this, there was also a viral flashlight app that records conversations and that sends the recordings to Beijing. Quite alarming.

2. Personality Quizzes are fun, but it comes at a price.

We love getting to know ourselves and so it seems perfectly harmless to know “Which friend secretly loves you?” or “If you were a food, what will you be?”

Crazy questions like this plus a dash of little creativity, and then bam! You are going to see this for the next 5 days on your timeline. Everyone seems to do it, so what’s the harm in trying, right?

If you remember, once you click on a specific personality quiz you are redirected to a page outside Facebook, and you will be asked to either “log in through Facebook” or create an account.

Of course the Login button is right there screaming at you, and who likes the hassle of creating an account, creating a new password, etc? Besides, we have enough passwords to remember and this is just a personality quiz, so what’s the big deal?

You talk yourself through it for about a second and then you just allowed the site to “have access of your public profile, friends, photos, etc etc.”

Wow. Is it making sense?

3. Don’t click random suspicious videos even if they are sent by friends.

This is pretty obvious but Messenger, the official messaging app by Facebook, is being used to spread videos that when clicked are actually going to download a spyware or malware that may harm your computer or mobile phone.

Aside from potentially harming your device, some of these Messenger viruses also harm other people in your friends list or contact list by sending the same message to their Messenger coming from you.

If you receive any of it, just delete the conversation to get rid of it once and for all, or if you can’t for some reasons, just get out of the page and inform your friend who sent the message to tell other people in her friends list.

4. Don’t put your birthday, phone number, and email address publicly on Facebook.

We like to announce and share publicly many of our important life events, including our birthdays. Also, searching using phone numbers was one of the most convenient ways to find someone on Facebook to get in touch with old friends, family, etc.

However, these things put your privacy at risk. Because of that, Facebook has been an easy tool for phishing. You could have your identity stolen and the next thing you know it has ruined your life miserably.

Yeah, it’s nice to receive greetings from many people during your birthday, but if they truly care, you never have to tell them nor let Facebook notify them about it.

Conclusion

All the drama that’s going on in the US Senate right now with Mark Zuckerberg in the spotlight is not just about his or Facebook’s privacy failures. It also puts into light, how lightly people nowadays take their privacy, and how they are risking themselves to so many threats even to their knowledge.

‘Free’ Apps or things come at a price. Be sure it’s not your privacy.

UnlockBase always aims to open new doors of opportunities and success for small and medium size businesses. Continuing our aim, this time we have integrated with a point of sale software that is heartbeat of many businesses. Yes we are talking about “RepairDesk” which is one of the top notch cloud-based CRM & POS software, especially tailored for cell phone repair shops.

It works to bring efficiency, ease and chances to raise revenue in lives of shop owners with the help of seamless user interface, trouble-free repair booking and powerful integrations. What would you get? Well, here are the benefits that we bring to you.

Easy-To-Go User Friendly Interface

One of the major features which define RepairDesk as the best POS software is its simple yet remarkable user interface. To book a repair job is just a matter of few clicks. Moreover, setting up your business on RepairDesk will take less than a day.

Customer Follow-ups

CRM is one of the most popular features RepairDesk offers. It allows you to send follow up emails and SMS regarding new offers and packages to your customers all at once without doing much effort.

Repair Ticket Management

View all types of repair job assigned to different employees and keep track of available slots while you focus more on growing your business. Order repair parts and accessories, export tickets to CSV and keep a log of all jobs with centralized ticket history.

Robust Inventory Management

It’s time to get rid of manual inventory management as RepairDesk lets you manage and track all of your inventory with features like low stock alerts and serialized inventory. Real-time analytics help you to forecast future business decisions too.

Multi Store Environment & Concise Reporting

Managing all of your store locations is now hassle-free as you can run your business with accurate stock, precise reporting and productivity reports. It lets you creates multiple reports including sales summary, cost of goods sold and employee productivity.

RepairDesk iPad App

That’s not it! RepairDesk has also launched the first ever iPad app for cell phone repair shops recently. The new RepairDesk iPad app gives you the opportunity to get rid of PC‘s and lets you create repair tickets and convert into invoices within a minute.

With Stripe integration, you can accept credit card payments and split them into multiple tender types easily.

Provide exceptional customer experience by in-taking customer signatures with your store’s terms & conditions.

Impressed? Download RepairDesk iPad App now and start running your repair shop like a pro.

With RepairDesk integration, now you can boost your unlocking business efficiently and effectively. To learn more on how to setup this integration, please click here.

RepairDesk is tested by many owners and loved by every one of them. Are you ready to try a known POS name in the industry of cell phone repair? Signup now and get free 14-day trial, no credit card required.

It’s been more than five months since Apple launched the iPhone 8, the iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone X back in September last year. Amidst all the fanfare, there is only one major disturbance, or scare, if that better suits the public’s reaction. iPhone X’s Face ID element has introduced troubling scenarios about the product miscalculating the process of identifying its owner’s face in order to unlock the gadget.

So how does the face recognition process commences? Here it goes:

1. Apple X’s flood illuminator detects the face.
2. The infrared camera captures the image.
3. The iPhone’s projector releases around 30,000 invisible dots.
4. Based on the infrared image and the dot pattern, neural networks form a mathematical model of the face.

Or are the steps should be the other way around? Just teasing to ease off everyone’s concerns. How about some light-hearted moments about Apple’s latest security feature, for now?

Here Are Top 10 Compilations of “This Person Tried to Unlock Your Phone” Memes with Apple Face ID:

1. Wait! Which face is it?

2. Whoa! Even a ghost can access your expensive iPhone!

3. Is that an oversized banana or did conehead just made a comeback?

4. Want to make your iPhone super hard to unlock? Try a groufie!

5. So much for security. Can’t even dial 911 to rescue MJ.

6. Smile fellas! You’re on the FBI’s big screen now 24/7.

7. Just a plain iPhone. All it needs is your face.

8. News Flash: Demand for cosmetic surgeons on the rise

9. Lots of makeup kits and accessories in the garbage. Tnx iPhone X.

10. Ooops! Wrong boyfriend!

Got some funny “This Person Tried to Unlock Your Phone” memes not on our list? Feel free to add them on the comments!