Mrs. Mecomber's Scrapbook Talking technology, computers, and the Internet… for the average computer user

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Wow! Have you heard the good news? You can now get Android on Straight Talk!

A long time ago, I used to shy away from the “no contract” or “pay as you go” phones because the phones seemed, well, kinda clunky and awkward. I like the smartphone concept. I do a lot of traveling and online business work, so I do need to be able to connect to my email, the web, Twitter and all the other things associated with the Internet. The only problem with going with the contract cell carriers is that they charge an arm and a leg for the service and then they have the gall to charge another arm and a leg for the data plan!

Straight Talk is appealing to the savvy cell phone user who wants a smartphone AND who doesn’t want to spend hundreds of dollars every year for service. The plans are very impressive. There’s an unlimited monthly service for $45, which includes all calls, unlimited text and pictures messaging, and web access. Then there’s the “All You Need Plan” which is more than enough for most users: 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 30MB web access. NO contracts, no activation or termination fees, no extra costs. It’s a win-win plan. 411 calls are included and you can Call a friend long distance for a very low price.

Here is a testimonial video of some satisfied customers.

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I’m pleased with the choices in cell phone service we consumer now have. Check out Straught Talk, you’ll probably fall in Hook, line and sinker!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Net10 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Is there really anything more aggravating in our modern culture than “talking” with customer “service” on the telephone about our outrageously large cell phone bills or errors on the bills? I try really really hard to keep my cool, but after waiting on the phone for 20 minutes to speak to an Indian across the globe who can’t understand me and I can’t understand them…. it’s an adventure, I’ll tell you what. It’s really just too much, not worth the struggle.

That’s what I like about the “no contract” phones. What you see is what you get. Everything is up front. You pay for your phone outright. You pay for your minutes outright. You pay for your service outright. No extra fees, no activation or termination or sensation or aggravation!!!

Net10 Unlimited is a GREAT plan. Nationwide coverage for $50. You get unlimited talk, text messaging, AND — unbelievably! — unlimited data!!! Net10 also has the pay-as-you-go service, which is great for kids, I think. The phones are very nice– they even have Qwerty keyboards and smartphones. Sweet.

Net10 is really pumping their service, and no wonder. They interview Real NET10 customer and put the videos online. Here’s a Cute NET10 commercial:

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Check them out, the price just cant be beat. And no more hollering through the phone to a customer service agent a million miles away!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of UPromise for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

It’s the Tenth Anniversary for Upromise, the college rewards program! To celebrate, Upromise is giving away a total of $20,000 to winning participants! Folks who share their stories that tell how a parent or parents helped a child with a dream can win $1,000 or the grand prize of $10,000. That’s a pretty good chunk of change for college!

It’s very easy to enter the contest. Go to the www.upromisetodream.com link and click the orange button “Share Your Dream.” Write a quick summary and a paragraph of 50 to 700 characters. It’s very, very easy. The website offers s few tips for writing a winning entry, too. Avoid including personal information such as names and locations. Just write about your dream. Every parent has one. As a parent, I want to see my kids using their talents and education to help others and spread the gospel, maybe as A medical missionary.

You can also upload a photo, and then enter your nickname, email address, etc. Friends and family can click on your dream when they “Like” your entry. The contest ends September 29, 2011, so get yours in soon. The entry with the most votes wins the grand prize! See the dream wall official rules for more details.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Lots of groaning going on about the contract cell phone companies. As the value of our dollar gets smaller and smaller and as people are looking for ways to save as many as possible, those frivolous cell phone contracts are looking meaner and meaner. And that’s not to mention all the various expensive fees and surcharges and all the extra baggage that comes with a contract phone.

Enter Straight Talk. I am more and more impressed with this cell phone plan. Lots of moms are getting these kinds of phones for their kids because the plans are so uncomplicated and risk-free. Hey, we all know that mom knows best.

Straight Talk is just that– STRAIGHT. They give you everything you need with a very simple, wysiwug plan. No extra charges. No fee this and fee that. No surprises. Hey, who doesn’t like simple?!

The basic plans are an unlimited and a 1,000 talk/text/pic text plan. Unlimited is just $45 a month!!! That’s really phenomenal. The phones are very, very nice. The kids and I tend to be picky about our phones, and Straight Talk has some nice models from the major brand names. Smartphones, qwerty keyboards, touchscreens, the works. Very nice. call a friend in Europe because long distance charges are low and 411 calls are free.

Looks like a lot of folks appreciate Straight Talk:

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Definitely check it out. Let’s give those meanie contract carriers a run for their money!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of globaleyeglasses for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Ouch! Eyeglasses prices are CRAZY! My daughter bought a pair from a retail optician… her single lens prescription isn’t very strong, and she paid over $200 for the glasses! Unreal. Good eyeglasses are a NECESSITY for some folks. Why oh why are they so horribly expensive?

Well, thank God for the Internet. GlobalEyeglasses.com is just another great example of the power of choice on the web. Need eyeglasses for a reasonable price? GlobalEyeglasses.com has it. Their selection starts at $6.95!!! You can search for the perfect pair and use the special “virtual mirror” to try them on your face. Share the image with your pals and family to get their input, too. The technology behind all this is really amazing, I think.

GlobalEyeglasses.com offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee, or your money back. They also offer prompt and courteous shipping and customer service. That’s also something that tends to be missing from local retailers.

The selection of frames is very extensive. I’m impressed. The prices are just amazing, too. Of course, when you buy glasses online, you need your prescription and your Pupillary Distance (PD) measurement which is only available from an eye doctor. I got mine from my doctor easily enough.

Check out the “site” and see the “sights”! The prices are literally “eye-popping”!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Net10 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

It seems that cell phone service plans are traditionally very limited. There’s the BIG USER AND BIG SPENDER plan, the contract carrier customer who spends extravangant amounts of money every month. Then there’s the FRUGAL PAY-AS-YOU-GO no-contract customer, who buys a service card with so many minutes and that’s that. I’ve seen little in between these two.

AH, but I just learned about Net10 from a Cute NET10 commercial. The ad features a Real NET10 customer and showcases the beauties of a Net10 phone. It seems that Net10 blends the benefits of a contract phone (no buying minutes, get unlimited service) and the flexibility and freedom of a pay-as-you-go plan (you can still buy minutes and airtime as you need them).If you are a big talker, there’s a nice, simple plan of unlimited talk, text and data for $50 a month. They also have lower levels for lesser amounts. The phones are very nice, featuring such brands as Motorola, Kyocera, LG, and Samsung. Net10 even allows you to switch between plans WITHOUT penalty, so you can adjust your phone needs according to your budget and preferences.

Plus, the Net10 website has link where you can petition the FCC to stop taxing cell phone service. I think I love these guys already.

Check out the 10GOODREASONS why Net10 rocks. The company also has a Facebook page and Twitter account, too, so they are very involved in the customer base.