IMEI Number:How To Track and Block Lost or Stolen Mobile Phone

If you have lost your mobile phone or if its stolen, then you can recover it or at least block it if you know the IMEI number of the phone.

The procedure to get back the stolen mobile phone will take some time so you must be patient. First you need to go to the police station in your area and file a FIR that your mobile phone is stolen.

Then take the copy of this FIR and the IMEI number of your phone and contact the service provider of your phone. They will then help you track the mobile phone location.

They will also block the mobile phone, making it useless until it is found. Once you find it, you can request your service provider to white-list it again.

This procedure will work even if the SIM card of the phone is changed because all service providers use the same blacklist database.

How this works? You probably already know that each mobile phone has a unique IMEI number. Whenever a mobile phone is switched on, this IMEI number is sent to Equipment Identity Register database. This database categorizes each phone in one of three categories: while listed, grey listed and black listed.

Your mobile service provider can block any mobile phone by putting its IMEI number in the black list. Once blacklisted, a mobile phone is useless as it cannot be used at all.

Your operator can also track the exact location of the mobile phone using its IMEI number using the Global Positioning System, thus helping you find the lost or stolen mobile phone. However, since a lot of phones get stolen these days, mobile operators will track a phone from its IMEI number only in the case of some special situation.

Note that when you contact your mobile service provider to block the mobile phone with its IMEI number, don’t forget to ask them to block your SIM also.

Also note that there are some specific apps that help you track lost or stolen mobile phones. For example, check the anti theft alarm for Windows phone. There are similar apps available for iPhone and Android phone as well and I will post reviews of these apps soon. Please post your comments below if you have any questions regarding tracking of lost or stolen mobile phones.

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How To Set Up Your Android Tablet

Having problems setting up your new Android Wi-Fi tablet? Here's how to connect to a wireless network, set up a Google account and connect to a wireless printer.

Tablets are really useful personal computing devices, but unlike a laptop or desktop PC, they tend to be a little bit fiddly to set up, especially now that there are so many different brands you can buy.

We've put together a simple step-by-step guide to help you troubleshoot setting up a Android tablet, including connecting to the internet to install key updates.

Setting Up Your Tablet From Scratch

Turn on the tablet using the "On" button and follow the instructions on the screen provided by the Android setup wizard.

Setting up an Android tablet does not require a Google account but it makes things a hell of a lot easier if you do have one.

If you don't want to create a Google account specifically to use your tablet, then you can by pass that part of the set up and still use the tablet to browse the web, read email, watch videos and read ebooks.

You won't however have access to Google Play, meaning you won't be able to access the hundreds of thousands of games and apps available there.

Therefore we reckon it is worth the few minutes it takes to set up a Google account - which you can do here.

As well as giving you access to Google Play, you will also get a Gmail account and Google+ profile when signing up - though this may not be seen by some as an advantage.

If you have an Android smartphone, a Google account will also sync all your contacts across all Android devices, which is useful in case your phone is stolen or damaged.

Troubleshooting: If you didn't add a Google account during the initial set up don't worry, you can add one at any time using the Settings menu.

Go to Settings>Accounts & Sync>Add account. Here you will be able to add a range of accounts including a Google account, by simply tapping 'Add existing account'.

If it doesn't work, here are some troubleshooting steps you can take.

Troubleshooting: Some Android tablets do not have a very strong antenna, so placing the tablet right next to the wireless router will help the tablet to connect.

If moving the tablet closer to the router doesn't work and you definitely have the right passwrod and a working internet connection to your router, then another way to fix the problem is to turn your smartphone into a hotspot and share your phone's 3G/4G mobile data or Wi-Fi connection (known as "tethering") in order to get the tablet online just to download the first update.

Connecting to the Internet

While a tablet can do a certain amount of things without an internet connection, with one it is transformed.

Again this is something you will be asked to do when setting up the tablet for the first time. When prompted, select the correct Wi-Fi network and enter the password.

While connecting to the internet is not vital in most cases in order to use your tablet, some will require you to connect to a wireless network immediately so that important software updates can be installed.


Connecting to a Wireless Printer

A quick way to connect your tablet to a wireless printer that is already set up to a computer, is to either download a cloud-based printer's dedicated app from Google Play, or use Google Cloud Print. Here's how to print using Google Cloud Print, which is a fast and easy way to print.:

    Download the Google Cloud Print app from the Google Play app store on your tablet.

    Once the Cloud Print app is installed on the tablet, go back to your computer and open the Google Chrome Web browser (if you don't have it, click here to get Chrome). Make sure you are logged into your Google account by clicking the top right menu, selecting Settings and signing in with your username and password.

    In the Settings Menu in Chrome, click on the Show Advanced Settings option at the bottom of the page. The Settings menu page will expand – click the Manage button under the "Google Cloud Print" section.

    Under "Devices", select the "Add Printers" button. Google will ask you to sign into Google Cloud Print with your Google account, then attempt to add all the printers currently linked up to your computer.

After this is set up, you can use the Cloud Print app on your tablet to print out documents.

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How to set up an Android phone for the first time

 

If you got a shiny new smartphone or tablet (perhaps you treated yourself or received it as a gift), you probably want to start playing with it immediately. But first of all it must be set up, and not everyone knows how with Android. In this beginners article, we'll explain step-by-step how to set up your new smartphone. You’ll see: it's easy!
Each Android device is different, and each manufacturer gives its own devices little extras that make it stand out from the crowd of competitors. But deep down Android devices are ultimately quite similar. Here's what you need to do to get going:

1. Select Wi-Fi network

If you find yourself within range of a wireless network, you can now make the connection. Simply select your network from the list and enter the password if required. Then tap on Connect.

2. Insert the SIM card and enter your PIN

If you have a working SIM card already, enter it into the smartphone before your turn it on. You will then be asked in the first step to enter your PIN number, which usually comes in the SIM package. Entering your SIM card can be tricky depending on your device. Sony devices usually have flaps that you need to open, while Nexus phones require a pin to open the slot. Samsung has you enter the SIM under the battery so you need to open the device carefully.

3. Select a language

After the SIM has been inserted and you finally boot up the phone, the first step is choosing a language. A tap on the default language opens a list of all available languages for the system. Select your language from the list and touch Start to continue.

he first thing you see is the choice of language and Wi-Fi networks. © ANDROIDPIT


4. Set up/login to Google account (optional)

In order to use your smartphone with Google's apps and services, you need a Google account. For example, if you want to download apps from the Google Play Store or use Gmail for emails. If you already have a Google account, you can enter those details now. Then you will be asked to agree or disagree to some Google services like sharing location data and backing up your information.

ou can opt to make a Gmail account later, log in with an existing account, or create one on the spot. © ANDROIDPIT

If you don't already have a Google account, but would like to set one up, just follow the steps to choose a username and set a password. Make your password memorable, but be sure it's not easy to guess either (usually a mix of letters, numbers and symbols make strong passwords). Remember, you don't need to have a Google account to use the phone, but you will have less functions available to you if you don't, like not being able to install apps from the Play Store (which you will almost certainly want to do at some point). If you would rather not install apps from there, you can also install free and paid apps from alternative app stores.

Some manufacturers, such as Samsung, ask you during the registration whether you want to create an extra account. This is only necessary if you want to use some special services from the company. You can simply skip this step if you don't want an additional account.
Sign into other services (optional)

Many smartphones come with pre-installed software, such as cloud storage services like Dropbox, Box or Google Drive. If you use these services you can now log into them with your existing account, or you can set up an account with them and sign in with that. When you sign up with a cloud service, you'll usually get a few gigabytes of free storage space in the cloud. If you don't use these services, now might be a good time to start because they offer a great way to easily secure valuable content like photos and emails in the cloud, ready for instant access whenever you need them, even if you don't have your phone with you. It’s often wise to backup your data because phones aren’t foolproof and you might delete something accidentally.

Download apps from the Google Play Store (optional)
The initial setup of the smartphone is now complete. Many smartphones have some simple tutorials to help get you oriented on the phone. For an overview of the apps that have already been installed on your device, have a look at the app drawer. The app drawer is a sliding list of icons for all the apps on your phone. Chances are you'll find it at the bottom of the home screen (the first screen you come to after setup is complete). Look around the app drawer, and if there's any apps you don't have that you want, you can go to Google's Play Store to download them – it will be installed on your phone already. Installing apps is a simple process, and the handset will walk you through anything you need to do (like signing in).

Install software and Android updates

When your Android is turned on for the first time, it might not be running the latest version of the software available for your specific model. For example, your phone could come with Android 4.4.4 KitKat out of the box, but the Android 5.0 Lollipop update is already available for it. It really depends on the phone.

    Android 5.0 Lollipop update: which phones will get it and when?

To check to see if an update is available, if it doesn’t prompt you to update, you simply go into the settings of your phone. This is found as an app in the app drawer or by going through the notification shade and tapping on the settings icon (usually a cogwheel or a set of tools of some sort). Find the ‘’About Phone’’ tab which is usually located at the bottom of the settings menu and tap on this. It will look different depending on your manufacturer, however you will likely tap on something along the lines of ‘’Check for software updates’’. Make sure that when you do this, you are connected to a Wi-Fi connection and that your battery is at least 50% full as it could take up to a half hour to download and install the entire software update.

The reason why you want to update is because it (usually) always provides much improved functions and features, cleaner-looking designs, and often compatibility with more apps and external devices, like Chromecast or headphones.
Personalize your phone

If you do not like the background image that came with your device, do not despair - every smartphone offers a selection of different backgrounds from which you can choose. The way to do this changes with manufacturer, but look for a Display or Wallpaper option in the Settings Menu. Quite often, if you press on the home screen anywhere for a couple of seconds, a window will appear that lets you change your wallpaper. You can even choose a live wallpaper that moves (and consumes more battery!). You can also add your own images or use photos taken with the camera: perfect for reminding you of the moment you unwrapped your new smartphone!

On some devices, you can also change the font and style of symbols. If none of the options are to your liking, you could try out a new icon pack or test some other backgrounds - of which there are a lot on the net. And if that is still not enough for you, you could try out an alternative launcher which will change the look and functionality of your phone to match your preferences and even your habits. In addition to launchers, there are also lock screen alternatives.

You might want to take baby steps and slowly and not install launchers and lock screen alternatives right off the bat, but don't be afraid to explore the different capabilities that your phone has to offer.

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How to Link Your Google Account to Your Android Tablet

 

You don’t have to add all your online accounts during the Android tablet setup-and-configuration process. If you skipped those steps, or when you have more accounts to add, you can easily do so. With your tablet turned on and unlocked, follow these steps:

The Home screen is the main screen on your tablet. You can always get there by touching the Home icon, found at the bottom of the touchscreen.

The Apps icon is found at the bottom of the Home screen. It looks similar to the icon shown in the margin, although it has many variations.

When you touch the Apps icon, you view the Apps drawer, which lists all the apps available on your tablet.

Choose the Settings icon to start the Settings app.

You may have to swipe the Apps Drawer screen left or right a few times, paging through the various apps, to find the Settings app icon.

After touching the Settings icon, the Settings app runs. It shows commands for configuring and setting tablet options.

Choose the Accounts category, or look for the Accounts heading.

On some Samsung tablets, you have to touch the General tab atop the Settings app screen to find the Accounts category. Otherwise, scroll down the screen by swiping upward with your finger to locate the Accounts category or heading.

Some tablets may show the category as Accounts and Sync instead of Accounts.

The icon may appear as a plus sign, shown in the margin, or it may be a button that says Add Account.

Choose an account from the list that appears.

Don’t worry if you don’t see the exact type of account you want to add. You may have to add a specific app before an account appears.

When you’re done, touch the Home icon to return to the Home screen, or you can continue adding accounts by repeating these steps.


Follow the directions on the screen to sign in to your account.
The steps that follow depend on the type of account you’re adding. Generally speaking, you sign in using an existing username and password.

Viewing the web

When you first open the web browser app, you’re taken to the home page. That may be the tablet manufacturer’s home page, the cellular provider’s home page, or a home page you’ve set. For the Chrome app, you see the last page you viewed on the app, or you may see Google’s main page.

Here are some handy Android tablet web browsing and viewing tips:

Pan the web page by dragging your finger across the touchscreen. You can pan up, down, left, or right when the page is larger than the tablet’s screen.

Pinch the screen to zoom out or spread two fingers to zoom in.

Double-tap the screen to zoom in.

Long-press the screen to see a magnification window, which makes it easier to read items and to touch links.

You can orient the tablet vertically to read a web page in Portrait mode. Doing so may reformat some web pages, which can make long lines of text easier to read.

To stop a web page from loading, touch the Stop (X) icon that appears by the Address box.

Many websites feature special mobile editions, which automatically appear when you visit those sites using a device like the Android tablet. If you’d prefer not to automatically visit the mobile version of a website, touch the Action Overflow or Menu icon and choose the command Request Desktop Site. After that item is selected, the web browser app no longer shows the mobile version of a website.

Visiting a web page

To visit a web page, type its address in the Address box. You can also type a search word or phrase if you don’t know the exact address of a web page. Touch the Go button on the onscreen keyboard to search the web or visit a specific web page.

If you don’t see the Address box, touch the web page’s tab atop the screen. The Address box, along with the various icons left and right, appears on the screen.

You “click” links on a page by touching them with your finger. If you have trouble stabbing the right link, zoom in on the page and try again. You can also long-press the screen to see a magnification window to make accessing links easier.

The Go icon might appear in the Address box while you’re typing a web page address. If it doesn’t, check the onscreen keyboard for the Go key.

To reload a web page, touch the Refresh icon. If you don’t see that icon on the screen, touch the Action Overflow or Menu icon to find the Refresh or Reload command. Refreshing updates a website that changes often, and the command can also be used to reload a web page that may not have completely loaded the first time.

Browsing back and forth

To return to a web page, you can touch the Back icon at the top of the screen. If that icon isn’t visible, you can also use the Back navigation icon, shown in the margin.

Touch the Forward icon to go forward or to return to a page you were visiting before you touched Back.

To review web pages you’ve visited in the long term, visit the web browser’s history page. In Chrome, choose History from the Action Overflow menu. Other web browser apps may show your web page history on the Bookmarks page: Choose Bookmarks from the Action Overflow menu and touch the History tab.

To clear the history list in the Chrome app, touch the Clear Browsing Data button while viewing the web page history. Ensure that there’s a check mark by the Clear Browsing History item, and then touch the Clear button.

So what to do if your WiFi doesn’t work? Consider these two essentials:

Turn on. Nearly every laptop with WiFi capabilities has a physical switch on the case or a soft switch in software that enables or disables the transmitter/receiver. If your WiFi doesn’t work, the first thing to do is check to see if it's turned on. Consult the instruction manual or support desk for assistance if necessary.

Tune in. Just because you have a WiFi card doesn’t mean you’ll find a signal everywhere you go. And just because you find a signal doesn’t mean that the transmitter owner will allow anyone to sign on and share the bandwidth.

Now, what happens if you’re a subscriber or an authorized user of a private network or are attempting to sign on to a public network and have no success? Check to make sure that the WiFi adapter is switched on. Then check to see if the Device Manager under Windows shows a hardware failure or fails to note the presence of a wireless adapter. Many laptop manufacturers also provide a specialized WiFi control utility that may include a troubleshooting utility.

If you determine that your WiFi system has failed, you may be able to replace the module. However, some manufacturers require that this repair be done at an authorized repair facility to comply with Federal Communications Commission rules to shield against unintended interference. One way around this expensive solution is to use a PC Card WiFi system as a workaround; those require nothing more than plugging in to the slot.

What to Do When You Can’t Connect to Your Wireless Network

Connecting to a network wirelessly can be as simple as turning on your laptop and tuning in to the WiFi signal, but it can also be very frustrating if the conditions aren't right or the settings are improper.

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MULTIPLE CALLS AT ONCE ON AN ANDROID PHONES

 

The first person is put on hold.

Dial the second person.

You can use the keypad or choose the second person from the phone's address book or from a recent call found in the call log.

After you connect with the second person, the Galaxy Note touchscreen looks like it does when you're on two calls.

Touch the Merge button.

The two calls are now joined: The touchscreen says Conference Call. Everyone you've dialed can talk to, and hear, everyone else.

Touch the End Call button to end the conference call.

All calls are disconnected.

When several people are in a room and want to participate in a call, you can always put the phone in Speaker mode: Touch the Speaker button.

Apparently, you can add a fourth conversation to the mix, as shown by the enabled Add Call button. I've not tried this option to see whether it works

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Android Phone:How to Forward Calls

Call forwarding is the process by which you reroute an incoming call. For example, you can send all your calls to the office while you’re on vacation. Then you have the luxury of having your cell phone and still making calls but freely ignoring anyone who calls you.

The options for call forwarding on your phone can be set by using either the Android operating system itself or the controls set up by your cellular provider.

Call forwarding may affect your phone’s voice mail service.

Forward calls using Android settings

To confirm that call-forwarding options can be set by using the Android operating system, follow these steps:

Open the Phone app.

Touch the Action Overflow icon.

On some phones, touch the Menu icon instead to see a list of commands.

Choose Settings or Call Settings.

The Call Settings command might be found on a second screen; choose Settings first, and then choose Call Settings. Eventually you’ll see the call settings screen.

Choose Call Forwarding.

If the option isn’t available, use your cellular carrier to forward calls.


Set the forwarding number.

Or you can edit the number that already appears. For example, you can type your home number for the Forward When Unreached option so that your cell calls are redirected to your home number when you’re out of range.

Touch Enable or OK.

The Call Forwarding status icon appears atop the touchscreen whenever you’ve activated an Android operating system forwarding option.

To disable call forwarding, touch the Disable icon when you’re given the opportunity to type a forwarded phone number (refer to Step 6).

Choose one of the following options:

Always Forward: All incoming calls are sent to the number you specify; your phone doesn’t even ring. This option overrides all other forwarding options.

Forward When Busy: Calls are forwarded when you’re on the phone and choose not to answer. This option is normally used to send a missed call to voicemail, although you can forward to any number.

Forward When Unanswered: Calls are forwarded when you choose not to answer the phone. Normally, the call is forwarded to your voicemail.

Forward When Unreached: Calls are forwarded when the phone is turned off, out of range, or in airplane mode. As with the two previous settings, this option normally forwards calls to voicemail.


Forward calls by using your cellular provider

Some Android phones are forced to use the forwarding methods provided by the cellular provider rather than by the Android operating system. For example, the cellular provider Verizon in the United States, uses the call forwarding options described in the table.

Also follow these instructions

To confirm that call-forwarding options can be set by using the Android operating system, follow these steps:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Touch the Action Overflow icon. ...
3. Choose Settings or Call Settings. ...
4. Choose Call Forwarding. ...
5. Choose one of the following options: ...
6. Set the forwarding number. ...
7. Touch Enable or OK.

Call Forwarding Instructions

You can forward calls from your existing phone to another phone by changing the settings in your existing phone. You can use either a Network Operator Short Code to forward calls or you can use instructions specific to your handset brand.

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Verizon Call Forwarding Commands

To Do This    Input First Number    Input Second Number

Forward unanswered incoming calls    *71    Forwarding number

Forward all incoming calls    *72    Forwarding number

Cancel call forwarding    *73    None

So, to forward all calls to (715) 491-316, you input 0754-491316 and touch the green Phone icon on your Android phone. You hear only a brief tone after dialing, and then the call ends. After that, any call coming into your phone rings at the other number.

You must disable call forwarding to return to normal cell phone operations: Dial 100.

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What is the cost to forward calls?

There is no cost to set up forwarding of calls, however there may be a cost per minute that you incur. The cost to forward a call to another number will vary depending on your service provider. Please contact your service provider to find out the cost. You will need to tell them the number that you are forwarding calls to.

Setting up Call Forwarding on your iPhone

1. Open the Settings App
2. Select Phone
3. Select Call Forwarding
4. Turn call forwarding on
5. Enter the number you would like to forward your calls to

Setting up Call Forwarding on your Android Phone

1. Open Settings
2. Select Call Settings
3. Select Call Forwarding
4. Turn call forwarding on

Setting up Call Forwarding on your Windows Phone

1. Open Settings
2. Select calls+sms
3. Select Call Forwarding
4. Turn call forwarding on

Setting up Call Forwarding on your Legacy Phone

For brand specific instructions select from the list below

• Blackberry
• Motorola
• Nokia
• Siemens
• Sony Ericsson
• Siemens
• LG
• Samsung

Setting up Call Forwarding with shortcodes

1. Dial **21* followed by the number you wish the calls to forwarded to, followed by #
   for example **21*13106565655#
2. Press 'yes/ok/send'
3. You will either see a message on your screen or receive a text message saying that forwarding has been enabled
4. Restart your phone
5. When you wish to stop forwarding your calls, dial ##21# to disable call forwarding

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