You Asked, We Answered: Can I use Bluetooth® for more than hands-free calling?

At some point, you’ve probably heard someone refer to “using Bluetooth®” when discussing their cellphone. Most people know it simply as the feature that lets you make hands-free calls on your phone, using either a headset or a system in your car. But it’s actually much more versatile and widely used than you may realize.

Bluetooth is a class of technology, rather than a specific brand or product. It allows several devices to connect at the same time using radio waves instead of wires or cables. Bluetooth powers speakers, headphones, and other wearable devices, which give you the flexibility to communicate, listen to music, or even watch movies without relying on any hardwired connections. You also get to place speakers in any room or convenient space where you want to use them.

You can use Bluetooth to share contacts or photos between phones. Look for the “Export via Bluetooth” option in your phone’s Settings to take advantage of this. It’s also a great way to transfer your contacts from an old phone if you’re not able to use its SIM card to do so.

Many fitness trackers and watches connect with Bluetooth as well, letting you monitor your steps or heart rate. It also can be used to print wirelessly—many home printers are now equipped with Bluetooth, allowing you to print photos or documents directly from your phone.

Bluetooth doesn’t consume any data, and while it does use up a lot of battery, that’s easily managed—just turn it off if you’re not using it. And don’t be afraid to use it—as you’ve learned here, it offers lots of conveniences just about anywhere you go.

Finally, about that name: Bluetooth is named for a 10th century Danish King, Harold Gormsson. As the legend goes, King Harold loved blueberries so much that his teeth were perpetually blue! More significantly, he was also famous for uniting Scandinavia, making his name a natural for this groundbreaking technology. After all, Bluetooth literally unites your devices into one well-connected wireless family!

30 Thoughts on "You Asked, We Answered: Can I use Bluetooth® for more than hands-free calling?"

  1. william h isely says

    I bought a new phone and followed the activate buttons on my account which said it was activated. The phone screen only says emergency service only even with a fully charged battery. It won’t dial cellular numbers including 611. I don’t currently have access to another phone. Any suggestions?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for posting, William. Please try turning your phone off, then turning it back on outdoors or near a window. This will allow it to connect to a tower nearby with a strong signal. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, please let us know here on the blog or via email at [email protected] if you aren’t able to call us. We appreciate you reaching out to us, and we hope you enjoy your new phone!

      • Mustafa Abdulah says

        This also happened to me (August 10, 2017), not good, being a new customer I was fortunate that I still had my old service on and called my son (a trouble shooter for Verizon) who told me to try a different location. Things like this should be in the manual so new customers (especially seniors) don’t get flustered because they have know idea what happened or what to do being stuck without a phone

        • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

          Thank you for posting, Mustafa. It is always a good idea to turn your phone off, then back on if you aren’t able to make calls of if you see a message of “no service”. This allows your phone to reconnect to a tower nearby with a strong signal. We’re also happy to assist and troubleshoot as needed at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you commenting, and we hope you have a great day!

  2. Daniel M. Cordosi says

    What do you offer in the way of ringtones?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for posting, Daniel. At this time, we don’t have ringtones available for purchase. If you have a smartphone, there are many options available for download, including apps to create ringtones of your own! We recommend searching the Play Store or App Store to find the perfect option. And of course, if you find one you like, be sure to let us know here on the blog! We appreciate you taking the time to reach out to us, and we hope you have a great day!

    • Meijke J says

      Hi Daniel. I use Zedge quite frequently and you can get that, if you have Android, on the play store. It has lots of different songs, notification sounds,and really great backgrounds you can all download for free!

      • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

        Thank you for sharing your suggestion, Meijke! We love it when our customers share their favorite apps.

  3. bill anderson says

    How can I get a operations manual for iPhone7 hard copy? I tried to get one online and it did not work.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We’re happy to help you with that, Bill. While a hard copy may be available elsewhere, we can offer you the digital version here on our website. If you find yourself needing help or guidance with a particular feature, we’re here to assist you at 888-345-5509. Our account advisors are a great technical resource! Thank you for posting today!

  4. arlaine robb says

    I wish to get a phone in order to use Bluetooth, what do I need to do now?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      That’s great to hear, Arlaine! There are a few ways you can get started. First, you can find our devices at a local Target store if you need one right away. Second, you can view the options and order a phone from our website here. And of course, we can help you over the phone at 888-345-5509. We can even talk with you about the features you want most, then make a recommendation for a perfect fit. Whichever option you choose, our nationwide coverage and unbeatable customer service will be there along the way. Thank you for posting, and we look forward to assisting you!

  5. Richard Stewart says

    Having difficulty setting up blue tooth in my car with my new duro phone. Is there a tutorial? I have just basic service; no text or internet. Is that a problem with setting up blue tooth?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      That’s a great question, Richard. You don’t need to have a text or data plan to use the Bluetooth feature of your Doro 626. First, go to your menu, then Settings. Select Bluetooth, and make sure it is on. You’ll also want to verify that the visibility is enabled, by going to Settings, then Bluetooth, then Visibility. Next, you’ll want to be inside your car so that you can connect. Go to Menu, then Settings, then Bluetooth. Select My Device, then Search new. You should see your car’s bluetooth connection appear. Select it, then select Pair. If you’re prompted by your car for a passcode, use 0000. Once you’re paired, select OK. That’s it! If we can help you with it over the phone, please call us at 888-345-5509 and we can troubleshoot any issues with you. Thank you for posting, and we hope you enjoy going hands-free!

  6. Mustafa Abdulah says

    I was sooo happy to get my new phone yesterday, then things started the downhill turn. The primary reason I use for a phone is to make & receive calls. The instruction manual started off with setting up the network, email, apps and Google. Making & receiving calls, setting up voicemail & text messaging , the more important things was at the end.

    Then when I tried to use the links in the manual ALL of them (and I do men all, including “consumercelluar.com” took me to the same page, which offered no helpful information, just a drop down menu of services that led no where. Try it yourselge type it into your address bar and see what happens

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us, Mustafa. The manual is provided by the manufacturer, and is meant to help you better understand all of the features of your device. I’m happy to pass your feedback regarding the order of features onto our partners. You may find our How-To videos to be helpful, and we have videos focusing on making calls, sending messages and voicemail that are specific to your phone. You can find them here on our website. And of course, if you have any questions as you’re getting to know your smartphone, please don’t hesitate to call us at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you posting, and we hope you enjoy your new phone!

  7. Christie says

    My question is about my previous iPhone with CC. I have had a 5S purchased from CC in Jan of this year, then recently upgraded to the 5SE for more storage options (16GB vs 32GB). I would like to gift my old 5S to a family member but need it “unlocked” so they can choose their own carrier. I have wiped the old phone of all my personal info & reset it via the “RESET” function in Settings. Do you guys need to do anything on your side to be sure the old phone is now available to use with any SIM card or carrier? PS – love my new 5SE. It’s similar enough to the 5S but now I don’t have to worry about all those pictures I take eating up my phone storage.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We’re happy to assist you, Christie! Please give us a call at 888-345-5509, and we’ll help you make sure all of your personal information is removed from your old iPhone, and that it’s ready to be passed on to your family member. Thanks for posting, and we look forward to assisting you!

  8. Pepper says

    We have a doro. What is best hands free device to put in our cars to be able to use phones habds free. We have older cars with no blue tooth capabilities.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      That’s a great question, Pepper. It’s always a good idea to go hands-free when you’re behind the wheel. There are a variety of Bluetooth transmitters out there, and some may work better depending on the type of car you have. A great option for any vehicle is a bluetooth headset, which allows you to answer and make calls easily. If you like, we can help you order one, and answer any questions you may have about using Bluetooth with your phone. Just give us a call at 888-345-5509. Thanks for taking the time to post today!

  9. RHONDA SEWARD says

    We have recently switched to Consumer Cellular. I have had my phone for 2 months and a couple of days ago, it completely died. It will not turn on even when connected to the charger. I have emailed Consumer Cellular help but no response. I am hoping that they will replace the phone since it has been such a short time, But if not, I would like to know so I can get another phone and/or service.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for reaching out to us, Rhonda. All of our devices come with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty. We can troubleshoot the issue you’re experiencing and help you start the warranty process if needed. Just give us a call at 888-345-5509 at your convenience. We appreciate you posting, and we look forward to speaking with you!

  10. Janice Beechick says

    For the last few days when I try to check my usage a screen pops up saying “Unfortunately My Consumer has stopped.”

    I can still make calls; just can’t see my usage. What is happening?
    At least I can still call in and check usage by dialing the number and using the recorded options.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for posting, Janice. It sounds like you’re experiencing some issues with the My CC app. Please try checking the Play Store for an update, or uninstalling the app, then installing it again. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, we’re happy to do some additional troubleshooting at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention, and for taking the time to comment. We hope you have a great day!

  11. Jane says

    Why do I need Foursquare?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for posting, Jane! Foursquare allows you to “check in” at certain locations, such as a store or a restaurant. Some people like to use this as a way to share recommendations or promote a business. If you don’t find it helpful, you don’t need to use it if it is currently installed on your device. We’re happy to answer any other questions you may have at 888-345-5509 if you like. We appreciate you posting, and we hope you have a wonderful day!

  12. Julie Sahli says

    I haven’t had a signal for over a week. My phone says that I am unavailable when someone calls. I live in Ventura co. And was wondering if the recent fire’s had anything to do with it? When will my service come backon

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for reaching out to us, Julie. First, please try turning your phone off, then back on again, preferably near a window or outdoors. This will allow your phone to reset the connection to the nearest cellular tower. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, we can do some additional troubleshooting or see if there are any outages in the area. We’re happy to help you at 888-345-5509 at your convenience. Thanks again for taking the time to reach out to us, and we hope you have a great day!

  13. Emily smith says

    How long does shipping usually take?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for asking, Emily! We offer priority shipping, which usually takes between 3-5 days depending on your location. We appreciate you posting!