It’s Easy To Be Hands-Free!

I’m always amazed by how much I can do with my cellphone without even touching it! Indeed, the ease of being “hands-free” has revolutionized how we use our phones—from safely making calls while driving, to following a recipe on the Internet without having to pull your hands out of the dough, you can do almost anything these days with just a few simple voice commands.

Bluetooth technology is the driving force behind much of this. It uses radio waves instead of wires or cables, which allows your phone to connect to a variety of devices with a strong, clear signal. This lets you dial, make and receive calls, or even stream music without being physically connected to your phone.

Plus, on any Android smartphone, you can use Google Voice to perform an Internet search for you. Look for the microphone icon on your keyboard or search bar, or hold down your “home” button and say “OK, Google” to get started. For smartphones operating on Android 6.0 and above, you also now have access to the advanced capabilities of Google Assistant, which integrates with all your Google apps to pull everything together with a few simple voice commands. It can even be used with iPhone, just download the app!

iPhone users have certainly gotten to know Siri, the friendly automated voice whom you can interact with to get answers to questions, send messages, and more. Just say, “Hey Siri,” and ask her anything. Siri will learn names, your favorite places, and other useful information, so her help becomes uniquely personalized.

Even text messaging has gotten automated! Depending on the messaging app that you prefer, you can tap a microphone button to dictate and send text messages, and completely avoid battling with those tiny keyboard letters!

Find out what which application best suits your needs, then sit back and enjoy the freedom of letting your phone do the work for you. Now, if they could just come up with a way to have it do my laundry…

32 Thoughts on "It’s Easy To Be Hands-Free!"

  1. Linda says

    I am not ready for Bluetooth.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      That’s okay, Linda. You don’t need to use Bluetooth to have a great cellphone experience. We’re always happy to answer any questions you may have about Bluetooth at 888-345-5509 if you like. Thanks for posting!

  2. Troy Stoker says

    I would like to know what apps use my data. Why do you not offer larger data plans?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for asking, Troy! I reviewed your account, and I see you’re using an iPhone. You can view the amount of data used by each app by opening the Settings app, then tap Cellular. If you scroll down, you’ll see the list of apps that require data, and how much they have used in the current period. You can also tap the slider next to each app to remove data access if you like. As for the amount of data we offer, our largest plan currently offers 5GB. If you find yourself needing more, you will be billed an additional $10 for each extra GB used. You may also experience slower data speeds after 5GB of use. The maximum amount of data available in any billing cycle is 12GB. We’re happy to answer any questions you have or review your plan options with you at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you taking the time to post!

  3. Clara Sill says

    I want to do the hands free. What all does this include. How much more would my total cost be each month. Do I have to buy the bluetooth ear phone?? I need details about how much this will cost me to get this.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Great news, Clara! It’s absolutely free to use Bluetooth. You may need to purchase a headset if you would like to make calls on the go or in the car, but it won’t use minutes from your plan. We’re happy to help you order a Bluetooth headset or answer any other questions you may have. Just give us a call at 888-345-5509, and we can get you setup quickly. Thank you for posting, and we hope you enjoy the convenience of going hands free!

  4. Bruce Kren says

    This is so great!!

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We’re glad you think so, Bruce! It’s certainly nice to have your hands free and use your phone at the same time. Thanks for commenting!

  5. Edna Madler says

    HI,

    Interested in Consumer Cellular. Where do I buy it? How much per Month? What does it come with? Do not use my phone often but want to upgrade from a flip phone. Your thoughts?

    Thank you,
    Edna

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for reaching out to us, Edna! You can sign up for service at your local Target store, on our website or over the phone at 888-345-5509, whichever option is most convenient for you. We offer a variety of plans depending on how much and how often you use your phone, and you can view all of the options here on our site. If you are ready to upgrade to a smartphone, we have the latest iPhone and Samsung options in addition to other smartphones, so you’ll be sure to find one that is the perfect fit. Our entire lineup can be found here, so be sure to take a look. If you’re not sure which plan or phone to choose, we can talk with you about your usage needs and make a recommendation, so please don’t hesitate to call. We’re sure you’ll find Consumer Cellular to be a great value! We appreciate you taking the time to learn more about us, and we hope to welcome you as a customer soon!

  6. Rosanna Morrell says

    Today I upgraded my phone to a Galaxy J3 with the help of Jim whom answered my barrage of questions. He was very professional and guided me to the perfect phone to meet my needs. I am always surprised when I deal with Consumer Cellular in how much they are willing to assist in making sure I am not paying for unnecessary minutes or data. It is a pleasure being your customer. Thank you.

    Rosanna
    Omaha, NE

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We love hearing stories like yours, Rosanna. Thank you for sharing, and I’ll be sure to make sure Jim is recognized for his excellent customer service. We appreciate you posting!

  7. Nancy White says

    Would like to discontinue use of hauwai pad. Don’t really use it. Love our two phones however

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We can help you with that, Nancy. If you would like to remove a line from your account, please call us at 888-345-5509. Our account advisors will be happy to assist you. Thanks for commenting!

  8. Jackie says

    Will I be able to get a Samsung 8 on the payment program. The bill is under Doug Hall

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We’re happy to see if that option is available, Jackie! You can select the option for EasyPay online when you place your order, or you can call us to get started at 888-345-5509. This is a great way to get the Samsung S8 for just $50 to start. Thank you for posting, and we look forward to speaking with you soon!

  9. Robertlokey says

    Why when I call cons.cell I have to wait 20 mins Or more. Robert Lokey

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We apologize for any wait you’ve experienced, Robert. Our team is growing, and we are actively working to hire more account advisors to make sure we can assist you quickly. If you have a question or need support, the best way to reach us is to call 888-345-5509. Thank you for your patience, and we look forward to speaking with you soon!

  10. Gretchen Christopher says

    Because I have always had Mac computers, I’m trying to the iPhone 7+ with Sprint, but I’m overwhelmed. May come to Consumer Cellular. Will I get the support I need? Who provides the towers for Consumer Cellular?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We can certainly help you, Gretchen! You can have the iPhone 7+ with Consumer Cellular if you like, especially if you already use and enjoy Apple products. We offer the best customer service around, and will make sure that you’re completely happy with your iPhone experience. As for our coverage, we use two of the largest nationwide networks, covering 99% of the population. If you like, we’re happy to take a look at the coverage in your area and other places you visit often. Just give us a call at 888-345-5509, and we will be ready to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for taking the time to find out more about us, and we hope to see you as a customer soon!

  11. Diane K Adams says

    I am not pleased with Zteavid828.
    Sound is not clear, phone keeps going into emergency call in town. Nservice

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We’re sorry to hear that, Diane. First, please try turning your phone off, then back on again. It’s best to do this outdoors if you can. This will allow your phone to reconnect to a nearby tower with a strong signal. You may also check to make sure the SIM card inside the phone is in place. If the issue persists, please give us a call and we will be happy to troubleshoot further. Our account advisors will be ready to help you at 888-345-5509. Thank you for taking the time to reach out to us today!

  12. Sue Caraway says

    I remember one time reading about a portable Hot Spot for my iPhone 5s. Can you direct me to that information? Thanks.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Absolutely, Sue! If you’re looking for a standalone hotspot to use with a laptop or other device, we have a great option available here on our website. You can add it to your current plan for just $10 per month. If you’re looking to use the hotspot feature on your iPhone 5s, we just need to adjust some settings to make that feature work properly for you. Please give us a call at 888-345-5509 and we will be happy to help you set that up. We appreciate you taking the time to post today, and we hope you have a wonderful day!

  13. Barbara Curtis-Jones says

    i have no service this morning 7/26 – what is going on please ? i paid my bill – hello?
    and no I have not already said that- this is first time on BLOG

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for reaching out to us, Barbara. It looks like there is a tower outage in your area, and that we were able to assist you over the phone this morning. We’re happy to provide you with more information and any updates if you give us a call at 888-345-5509. We appreciate your patience while this is resolved, and thank you once again for reaching out to us.

  14. Glenn says

    Do I have to have an app to do voice texting. I have a smartphone. Samsung J6. If I do use an app for voice texting was is the data usage on voice texting? How is it charged? By the word? Please Advise, Thanks

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      That’s a great question, Glenn. When you open your messaging app, you should see a microphone icon near the space bar. If you tap this, you’ll be able to dictate your text message, and watch it appear on the screen. This feature will not use data from your plan. If you are using a separate app to do so, you should be able to read the description within the Play store to see if data is required. If we can answer any other questions you have about messaging or your account, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 888-345-5509. Thank you for taking the time to post, and we hope you have a great day!

  15. Charles S. Simms says

    I thought Consumer Cellular was for Older Adults, but they have some Cool features like everyone else on the Market! It’s so easy to use. Thank Very Much Consumer Cellular!

  16. Gunnar says

    Hey, I have one of the older style flip phones from y’all, and was wondering how to get my calls to go through the earbud/speaker connection that plugs into the charging port? It won’t automatically connect when answering a call.

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Hi Gunnar, in order for the flip phones to be able to have calls play through earbuds, they will need to be plugged into the headphone jack, not the charging port. Once connected, the calls would automatically play on the earbuds whenever a call is answered or made. If you’re having trouble getting this to work, please give us a call at 888-345-5509 or chat with us here.