When you first purchased your Cricket plan, it’s possible that you didn’t take advantage of all of the possible features you could have added. Cricket offers a lot of terrific features that can make your life easier or add to your enjoyment of your phone. Here are a few of the features you may want to add to your plan:

 

Deezer From Cricket

Deezer is Cricket’s exclusive music streaming and download service, which you can access at any time from your Cricket device. You can use this feature to listen to millions of different tracks ad-free, and you can even download tracks directly to your phone. This feature is free for the first 30 days for new customers—and for the first 15 days if you already have a Cricket plan—and $6 per month after that.

 

Mobile Hotspot

When you’re on the go, you can use your Cricket device to have your own Wi-Fi source no matter where you are. You can use this feature to provide internet service for a tablet, a laptop, or any other device that can use Wi-Fi. This feature is available anywhere Cricket service is offered in the United States.

 

Cricket International and Cricket International Extra

Do you want to make sure that you can make calls to other countries whenever you need to? With Cricket International, you get unlimited calls to 36 countries for $5 a month. With Cricket International Extra, you get unlimited calls, picture messages, and video messages to 36 countries and 1,000 minutes of calls to 32 countries for $15 a month. You’ll need to have at least a $40/month plan to use these features.

 

Cricket Protect

What would you do if your phone was lost, stolen, or damaged? Cricket Protect provides you with protection against loss or accidental damage, allowing you to get your phone replaced with a similar or identical model as fast as possible. Cricket Protect provides you with peace of mind for only an additional $7 each month.

 

If you’d like to learn more about how to update your current phone plan in Tucson, AZ, contact Direct Cellular. Whether you’re looking for a new monthly plan or one of the latest Cricket accessories, our staff will be happy to help you at one of our nine locations in Southern Arizona.

If you’re already a Cricket customer and you want to replace your old phone, you’re in luck. You can keep the same Cricket plan and enjoy all of the same benefits while switching to a newer phone with more features. Here are the answers to some questions you might have about upgrading your phone.

 

How do I upgrade my Cricket phone?

Upgrading your Cricket phone is a simple and easy process. All you need to do is visit a Cricket store in your area and tell the staff what you’re looking for. If you prefer, you can also upgrade your phone by signing into your Cricket account online.

 

What do I need in order to upgrade my Cricket phone?

To upgrade your phone, you need to have a current account with Cricket and a rate plan of at least $30 per month. For example, if you have Cricket’s $25 Talk and Text plan, you will need to change your plan before you can upgrade. However, you can switch your plan to a different rate after your upgrade is complete. There is a charge of $25 for every phone upgrade, and you should keep in mind that you can only upgrade your phone once in a 90-day period.

 

Does Cricket Protect cover my upgraded phone?

Cricket Protect is a special insurance plan that covers your phone in the event that it is lost, stolen, or accidentally damaged. If your new device is eligible for Cricket Protect and you have already purchased the plan for your account, it will automatically cover your new device as soon as it is activated. You also have the option to add Cricket Protect when you upgrade your phone if you don’t already have it.

 

If you’re ready to upgrade your Cricket phone, visit Direct Cellular at one of our many locations in Tucson, AZ. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be happy to help you find the right option to fit your needs. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us today.

In 2015, nearly 190.5 million people owned smartphones in the United States. Undoubtedly, one of the most beloved cell phone options has to be the iPhone. Whether you’re a loyal Apple fan or you’re exploring your choices for cell phones in Tucson, there are likely a number of hidden iPhone features you aren’t taking full advantage of. Below, you’ll find a few of the most helpful iPhone tips and tricks you should become more familiar with.

Automatically back up your photos

Manual backups can be a real pain, which is why so many people simply forget to do them. And unfortunately, glitches do happen, which is why you should have a backup fail-safe. More than likely, if you lose everything you’ve stored on your iPhone, you’ll be most upset about the photos. Rather than relying on a manual backup system, set up your iPhone to perform an automatic online backup to the cloud, an app, or other platform so you can always access your snaps when you need them. Don’t forgo manual backups completely; just add one of these options on top.

Turn off data usage for certain apps

Do you hate getting those annoying data overage messages from your cell phone provider? Even if you have one of the best cell phones in Tucson, they’re never really a welcome text to receive. But sometimes, you may not even know why you’re going over your allotted data for the month. If you’ve been roaming and using apps that eat up a chunk of data, you may end up paying a hefty price. There is a way to prevent this, though. Go into your iPhone’s Settings app, tap the “Cellular” tab, and scroll down through the “Use Cellular Data For” list. By default, all of these apps will probably have their cellular data turned on, but you probably won’t need to use your data for many of them. If you’re getting close to your data allotment for the month, just turn all of their permissions off. Otherwise, pick and choose which apps require internet access on-the-go and switch off the ones you don’t use often.

Save your battery

At some point, you may find yourself with very limited access to a charger and a quickly diminishing battery. If you’re running low with no way to recharge, there are a few steps you can take to preserve what you have. First, turn off the auto-brightness and adjust your screen to the lowest possible brightness you can stand (you can find this option in the Settings app, where you can tap Display and Brightness). You should also turn off your Location Services (found under the Privacy tab in your Settings app) unless you need to have navigation access. Turn off Bluetooth, WiFi, and your vibration settings, too. You may also want to turn off your Background App Refresh (found under the General section in Settings) and the Fetch New Data option under your mail account. Finally, switch on the Low Power Mode option in the Battery section of the Settings app. This can make the difference between a dead iPhone and one that will last you until you can find a charger.

If you’re looking for cell phones in Tucson, the iPhone is often the top option for many consumers. But you’ll get much more out of your smartphone if you’re able to use it… well, smartly! For the sake of your battery and your monthly bill, don’t be afraid to deviate from your iPhone’s default settings.