The end of BlackBerry is near…what do you do? Follow my five tips below to get yourself prepared for aftermath of the BlackBerry meltdown! Enjoy!
1. Back up your data- No matter which way you look at it a new phone is inevitable for you. Start by backing up your data and contacts now so you can port it over to your next device sooner that later. I recommend starting with your contacts first. The Google sync app for BlackBerry will backup up your contacts directly to your Google account. If you go with Android for your next device the sync will be just a simple log in. If the iPhone is your next move you will have to sync your Google account with iTunes which is not too complicated. Gmail will also handle all your calendar and appointment inputs as well. Finally use the BlackBerry desktop software to make one last final back-up from your device.
2. Start shopping- Choosing a new smartphone is very similar to choosing a new car. Ideally you want to get something that gets the job done, is reliable, and something you ultimately like and can afford. When making the jump away from Blackberry you will be presented with 3 new mobile operating systems; Android, iOS, and Windows Phone. If your Blackberry is primarily for work make sure you check with your IT professional to determine which OS they support or recommend for your network. While shopping for a new phone you will be given a variety of options, features, and form factors which at times can get overwhelming. My favorite tool to use for narrowing down my selection is the phone finder tool at GSMarena. This tool will give you tons of options to pin point exactly which phone is right for you. You can narrow down screen size, resolution, camera, operating system, and even the CPU of the device. Once you have narrowed it down to a few choices it is time to get some prices. A simple Google search should point you directly to the carrier or a 3rd party vendor like Amazon or WireFly. Once you have your models chosen head to the store for some real hands-on time. I would not buy a car without a test drive, so make sure you give your next device a proper handling before you fork over the cash.
3. Trade-in- Once you have selected a new phone, you can now prepare your phone to be traded in to cover some of the cost of your new device. Just like when buying a new car people look to trade-in their old car to get some cash back. The better condition of your car, the more you are going to get back. Well the same goes for phones. Give that Blackberry a good scrub and remove all the grime and sweat built up from over the years. I recommend Zaggfoam from Zagg which is a gentile cleaner made just for gadgets. Next you should gather up all your original accessories (charger, battery, cables, etc..) and box if you have them. Finally head to Gazelle.com and lock n your trade-in offer for your device. Our offers are good for 30 days. We will then send you a free shipping label and most of the team even a box. Package it up and you should get paid with in 5-7 days. Payment options include check, PayPal, and an Amazon gift card (5% more).
4. App up- If you are switching to Android or iPhone you can rest assured all your BlackBerry apps will be on board. On top of that there will be another 150k apps that will blow your mind. Start looking into apps that interest you or apps that you need for work. You have also now entered a brand new world of mobile gaming when ditching your old BlackBerry. Everything from sports and RPG to first person shooters and puzzle games are just a click away.
5. Build your eco-system- Now that you have made the switch over it is time to get fully integrated. For those with an iPhone, getting emerged in the Apple eco-system is very simple. Your iPad, iPod, Apple TV are all on the same page as your iPhone now thanks to iOS and the Cloud. Share content with other Apple devices like your iPad and Apple TV over the cloud and sync all your devices with iTunes. Streaming your movies, music, and images between all your Apple devices in the house is simple with AirPlay as well. For those on Android, Google is now your new best friend. Use the Google Play store and Google drive to purchase content, store and share images, and game all in one place. Stream content from your device or home network to the Nexus Q or other DLNA enabled devices. The options are endless with your new smartphone. Enjoy it and customize how you see fit!
So there you have it, my 5 key points when ditching the Berry for an Apple or Droid. Which ever you choose just make sure you are happy with the device, and it can handle what ever you throw at it. Some advice I like to tell my friends when they are looking for a new phone is “buy the device that you will use in 2 years”. Technology changes very fast and keeping up with the latest and greatest can become expensive. So make sure the next phone you buy is not missing anything you might need down the road. Good luck and enjoy!
