How to Install Google Maps on the LG 840G from Tracfone

How to Get Google Maps on your LG 840G

For some, loading Google Maps onto the LG 840G is a simple thing, for others, for some reason it is a challenge and I have noticed a few questions, so I wanted to share some information and resources for getting Google Maps installed on a LG 840G.

I could copy and paste the information I found from elsewhere, but It is better to get it from the source, so you can read all the information about it. So I will link you to the forum with all the information you should need to load the Google Maps app on your LG 840G.

--Update--
A visitor commented below with another, possibly easier method for getting Google Maps:

Go to boostapps.com/jump and enter 6944 to get the Google signed version of Google Maps 2.3.2. It'll load from the .jad. (from Anonymous)

If that works for you, then great, otherwise, here is another method below. Comment with any results or questions and we will try to help!

Let's get right to it.

1. Visit the forum post at Howard Forums detailing how to get the Google Maps app on an LG 840G

2. Then follow the information provided, including reading the posts on the second forum, Turk Forums.

3. As the post at Howard Forums recommends, read the information provided at Turk Forums, especially starting at post #887, which is 3/4 down the page. (posts are numbered at the top right corner of each post).

If you have questions or comments, leave em below or if they are more technical, try Howard Forums, where there is a large dedicated group of Tracfone users.

Want more info on the LG 840G? Read our LG 840G review!

Leave your thoughts and questions below, as well as any tips for downloading Google Maps or other great apps to the LG 840G.

LG 440G Review - Tracfone

A Feature Packed Flip Phone From Tracfone

The LG 440G is a compact flip phone that packs a nice punch with several great features.

Two of the most notable features for the LG 440G are 3G connectivity, and low price. Not only will surfing the web on the phone's mobile browser be fast, but you can get thise phone for less than $20.

The LG 440G looks like a simple flip phone, but with the impressive features, it is a nice upgrade from other, older Tracfone flip phones.

Let's look at the full feature list next.

LG 440G Features and Specifications

While WiFi and 3G are great features, there are several more features with this phone that are also useful.

• Mobile Web
• 3G Connectivity
• 1.3 MP Camera and Video Recorder
• MP3 Player
• Hands Free Speaker
• Voice and Sound Recorder
• Voice Dialing
• Alarm Clock
• 1000 Entry Phonebook
• Battery Life on Standby 7-10 Days
• Hearing Aid Compatible
• Airtime Balance Display
• Double Minutes for Life
• (Initially reported to have WiFi, but does not!)

Likes and Dislikes for the LG 440G

Let's begin with the Likes

The LG 440G comes with many great features for a flip phone from Tracfone.

We already mentioned the 3G feature.  The 3G means that the LG 440G uses a faster network than most older phones, making surfing the web on the phone's mobile browser quicker.

Another big like about this phone is the 1.3 MP camera. While certainly nothing fancy, it is adequate. And pictures can be sent to friends through MMS.

The 3G alone make the LG 440G stand out from other Tracfone flip phones. This is a nice step up from models like the Motorola W376G or other older flip phones.

At $20 retail, and often on sale for less, this phone offers great value for the money, and can easily be used as a backup phone with minimal money spent.

Dislikes for the LG 440G

While this phone does have some valuable features, it is not a fancy phone. If you are looking for a phone that you will use for surfing the web often, you might want to consider a phone with a larger screen, like the LG 840G, or even the Samsung S390G. Both of these phones also come with Triple Minutes for Life and WiFi, which the LG 440G does not have.

If you plan to use your phone for more than just a backup phone, you may want to consider a Tracfone with Triple Minutes for Life, instead of the LG 440G, which only comes with Double Minutes for Life.

The LG 440G has an advertised 7-10 days on standby, which sounds pretty good, and compared to most smartphones these days (which seem to only last 2-3 days), it is pretty good. But compared to say, the Samsung S425G, which lasts 12.5 days on standby, 7-10 days isn't as good.

The LG 440G was initially advertised to come with WiFi, but it turns ot it does not have it.

Finally, this phone does not have a MicroSD card slot, meaning you can't expand the onboard memory, or add very much music/games to the phone. But not many people are planning to use this phone for more than calling and texting anyway.

Overview and Recommendation

Overall, the LG 440G is a good flip phone from Tracfone. The 3G and low price are huge bonus features which give this phone a lot of usefulness.

However, unless you prefer a flip phone style, you may find other phone from Tracfone more appealing with larger screens, and full QWERTY keyboards. Visit our Cell Phone Reviews page to see some of the other options available.

But one of the biggest selling points for us on this phone is the low price. The LG 440G retails for $20 in most stores, but can often be found for much less, even $10 on Amazon!

This low price combined with the useful features makes LG 440G a superb value. For consumers interested in a good value for the money, and a flip style phone, this is a great buy.

View the LG 440G on Amazon to see if you can get it on sale for only $10!

If you're looking for a Tracfone that offers a lot more features, take a look at our reviews of the Samsung Galaxy Centura, ZTE Valet, Huawei Glory and LG Optimus Dynamic. These phones are android powered devices that offer lots of features and still use Tracfone's prepaid service.

Thanks for visiting, leave a comment with your thoughts or questions!

Tracfone Cell Phones with WiFi

A List of Tracfone Mobile Phones that Come with WiFi Internet

Upgrade to WiFi -MS

A WiFi enabled device is able to connect to the internet through WiFi networks for free without charging the user any units/minutes.

Thus using a phone with WiFi capability allows the user to surf the web, email, and much more without spending any money!

This can be a great feature for many people who like to use their phone for more than just calling and texting.

So below is a list of several phones from Tracfone that have WiFi Capability! Leave a comment if you know of other phones offered by Tracfone with WiFi.

WiFi Enabled Tracfone Devices:

Here is a list of the current Tracfone mobile devices that come with WiFi capability. Click the link to view our full review of each phone.

LG 840G - This touchscreen phone comes with lots of features, but most importantly Triple Minutes for Life, and WiFi. If you like touchscreen phones or want a modern device with decent sized screen for surfing the web, the LG 840G is a great choice. Check out our review of the LG 840G for full feature list and specs.

Samsung S390G - This phone comes with a compact full QWERTY keyboard making texting and typing fast. In our experience, full qwerty keypads are easy to get accustomed to and make for easy texting. Learn more about this phone by reading our full Samsung S390G Review.

$10 on Amazon!

LG 440G - A flip phone that offers another option to touchscreen and qwerty keyboards for those who like more traditional style phone. Another great thing about this phone is the low price - typically $20 but often on Amazon for $10! Get more infor about this phone by reading our LG 440G Review.

*Note: Initially Tracfone posted that the LG 440G would have WiFi, but it turns out it does not. However, it does use 3G networks, making surfing the web via the mobile browser faster than most other Tracfone Cell Phones, but you will be charged for it.

Let us know in the comments if there are more Tracfone mobile phones with free WiFi so we can add them to this list!

Visit our Cell Phone Reviews page to see all of our Tracfone reviews and don't forget about our Tracfone Promo Codes for getting free bonus minutes whenever you add minutes to your phone!

Tracfone Review - Alcatel A382G 'The Big Easy' Prepaid Phone

A Big Button Phone from Tracfone that is Simple and Easy to Use

Are you tired of touchscreens, flip phones or small keys? Are you looking for a simple phone that does calling and texting? Or maybe you just need a backup phone that will be easy to learn to use?

For a lot of people, the Alcatel A382G Tracfone prepaid phone is the answer.

It gives the user all the basic functions a cell phone needs, without adding extra features. buttons, or screens that can get confusing and in the way.

Features and Specs for the Alcatel A382G

This phone provides several good features that increase its usefulness, without making it more complicated. Here is the full list of features and specifications for the Alcatel A382G.

The Alcatel A382G

• Big Buttons with Lighted Keypad
• Larger Font Size
• Built-in Flashlight
• Caller ID, Call Waiting, Voicemail
• Hands Free Speaker
• FM Radio
• Background Noise Reducer for Call Clarity
• Alarm Clock
• Hearing Aid Compatible
• 1000 Entry Phone Book
• Double Minutes for Life
• Long Battery Life - 16 Days on Standby
• Weight: 4 oz.

Overview of the Alcatel A382G

This phone is made for simplicity and convenience in mind with its large buttons, long battery life and basic features. Let's look at some of the features in more detail to better understand this phone.

Big Buttons and Larger Font Size

The Big keys and font size makes it easier to not only see and read what you are looking at, but also to actually make punching in numbers less cumbersome for those who find small keys difficult to use. 

Even at night, the phone continues to be easy to use with a lighted keypad. Also included with the phone is a built in flashlight, giving this phone multiple uses! 

Long Battery Life

The battery on this Alcatel A382G is expected to last up to 16 days on standby, which is very impressive for a cell phone. Many smartphones only last a day or two before requiring a charge.

A long battery like makes this phone this phone useful not only to people who may forget to charge their phone, but also for anyone looking for a backup phone. 

Double Minutes for Life

While some newer Tracfone cell phones now come with Triple Minutes for Life, such as the Samsung S425G, the Alcatel A382G comes with Double Minutes for Life which is still a great deal. What this means is that for every minute you buy and add, you will get another minute for free! 

So if you buy a 60 minute refill card and add it to the phone, you will get 120 minutes total airtime! 

Final Thoughts on the Alcatel A382G

The Alcatel A382G is a phone made for people who want a basic cell phone that can keep them in contact with friends and family. It does simple tasks well, such as calling and texting.

Buy on Amazon

It is a very basic phone, and if you are looking for a fun feature-filled phone, this may not be the phone for you. 

The only drawback for this phone may be that it does not come with a user manual, but we have found a pretty good walk through of many of the features on this phone. Visit the Alcatel A382G Tutorial to learn more about using this phone.

Overall, the Alcatel A382G is a good option when considering simple prepaid cell phones. It makes communication easier for more people. But if you are looking for a phone with more features, consider some of the newer phones from Tracfone on our Cell Phone Reviews page.

The Alcatel A382G typically sells for around $30, but is often on sale on Amazon for $19.

How to Get Help For Tracfone Problems

If you Have Questions or Problems with your Tracfone Cell Phone, Here is How to Get Help

While being a Tracfone customer, I have had various problems over the years. Sometimes the problems I need help with are very simple and easy to answer, other times they can be very technical or challenging problems.

I had a Motorola W376G that I dropped once too many times, and had to get replaced. I was overcharged for a purchase i made, and needed to get refunded (which I was). Another time, when setting up a Family Value Plan, I had some questions about how it would work.

It is likely that at some point, you might need some questions answered or need some help with your Tracfone prepaid cell phone. Which is one of the reasons TracfoneReviewer exists, to help get questions answered, and get you the best deals for your money.

But, because we are in no way affiliated with Tracfone, we can't offer help on specific problems, such as transferring a phone number, or getting a new sim card.

What Can You Do If You Need Help with Your Tracfone?

Well, there are some good resources available to you, in fact, you could check out our previous post on Resources for Technical Questions About Tracfone to get started.

In that post, we highlighted several methods of getting help with questions or problems. Two good ways to get help were simply calling the Tracfone customer help line, and contacting them through an online form on their website, under 'contact us'.

Besides emailing Tracfone your problem, or calling them via their customer service number (which can sometimes take a while and be slightly frustrating) there is another option for getting questions answered and finding help that may be useful  for you.

Get questions answered and help with problems at the official Tracfone forums, where you can register, and post questions or comments on various topics. They have dedicated forum moderators who try to answer, or offer assistance to problems and questions posted there.

This is more useful if you have a problem that can only be fixed by a Tracfone customer service rep. And they don't always make thing simple or easy, but it is another way to get help if you have a problem with your phone.

Of course, you can always post a comment here with any questions you might have!

Tracfone Review - Samsung S425G

A 3G Slider Phone from Tracfone with Triple Minutes

The Samsung S425G has a sliding full QWERTY keyboard making texting and typing fast and easy.

Samsung S425G

This phone is also 3G capable, meaning that surfing the web is faster, as well as better coverage compared to older, 2G mobile phones.

As a GSM phone, the Samsung S425G primarily uses AT&T's 3G network, sometimes falling back on the 2G if coverage is unavailable. Be sure to check that you have good service for GSM in your area before purchasing this phone.

While this cell phone is also available through Net10 and StraightTalk, this review will be based on Tracfone's version of this handheld device

Now, lets look at the full list of features for this impressive mobile phone.

Samsung S425G Features and Specs

This phone comes with a lot of convenient features while maintaining good durability and battery life. The Features include:

• Triple Minutes for Life
• Full QWERTY Sliding Keyboard
• 2 Megapixel Camera and Video Recorder
• Mobile Web
• 3G Capable
• Bluetooth Wireless Technology
• MP3 Player (MicroSD card not included)
• Hands Free Speaker
• Voice Command and Voice/Sound Recorder
• Alarm Clock
• 1000 Entry Phonebook
• Voicemail, Call Waiting and Caller ID
• Battery Standby time of 12.5 days, Talk Time 6 hours
• Hearing Aid Compatible

Likes and Dislikes for the Samsung S425G

Beginning with the Likes:

The Samsung S425G comes with some really nice features that make it a very good prepaid mobile phone.

The QWERTY keyboard, MP3 Player and Triple Minutes for Life are just three of the many features that stand out on this phone.

The Sliding full QWERTY makes for fast texting, even faster than those experienced with T9. And when you complete your text, simply slide it closed and the phone becomes nice and compact, covering the keyboard. Texting with a full keyboard is very easy to get used to, and also convenient for anyone with little or no texting experience.

Another big Like about the Samsung S425G is the MP3 Player. It is sleek and improved from older Samsung phones, and allows users to load, and play music on the phone. To load the music, you will need to buy a MicroSD card(up to 32GB) separably, but they are pretty inexpensive. Read our guide on How to Play MP3's On Tracfone cell phones to learn more about that.

As with most newer phones from Tracfone, the Samsung S425G comes with Triple Minutes for Life. This means that for every minute you buy, you get 2 extra for free. This, by itself, is a big reason why many people are upgrading their older phones to this and other newer phones from Tracfone like the LG 840G and Samsung S390G.

Finally, several other features that are worth mentioning include the 2MP camera which is nothing fancy, but very adequate, the 3G capability, and the very long battery life.

Just how long is the battery life? Well lets compare it to the LG 500G which advertises 9 days on standby, 3.5 less than the Samsung S425G, and from our testing the LG 500G easily goes a week with minimal use, and 4-5 days with normal daily texting, calling, and music listening. Based on this, the Samsung S425G could easily go a week or more with one charge and normal use. Very handy to have a phone with long battery life!

Now, let's look at a few Dislikes: 

While this is a very good Tracfone, don't try to compare it with smartphones from other carriers. It is a simple phone for basic uses such as calling, texting, and minor web browsing. The extra features it comes with(mentioned above) are very nice, but can't really compare with modern smartphones. If you are looking for a smartphone, you will have to spend (much) more money, and look somewhere other than Tracfone.

With that said, the only other dislike have to do with how the phone charges your minutes.

When surfing the web on the mobile browser, you are charged based on the number of kilobytes/megabytes downloaded. So as long as you visit webpages that are relatively light graphics-wise, it won't cost very much. But visit a graphics-heavy site, and you might burn through 10 unites of airtime in a minute or two.

Another dislike for the Samsung S425G is the MMS picture messaging. It appears to cost 5 to 10 unites for one MMS message when it used to cost about 1 unit. This may be a bug, and Tracfone may have fixed it, so post feedback on this in the comments if it still exists.

Overall Opinion of the Samsung S425G from Tracfone

This phone has great call quality, very good durability, extremely long battery life and triple minutes, making it a really good buy for anyone interested in a sliding, full QWERTY phone.

TracfoneReviewer gives the Samsung S425G a high rating because of its overall solid performance and features. And while some might not be interested in buying this phone because, let's face it, a sliding keyboard isn't for everyone, it is a fine option when looking to buy a Tracfone.

The Samsung S425G typically sells for $59.99 in stores/online. Sometimes, the Samsung S425G can be found on Amazon at a reduced price, but this doesn't always last for long.

Interested in more Tracfone cell phone reviews? Visit our Cell Phone Reviews Page and see some of the other great options available. You might also find our recent post covering the Difference between GSM and CDMA Tracfone cell phones interesting.

How to Put Free Games on Your LG 500G

Get Free Java Games for Your LG 500G

LG 500G Games

Looking for some entertainment while waiting in line, sitting at a bus stop or any other place when you have nothing to do? Why not play a game on your LG 500G?

The LG 500G from Tracfone comes with two mediocre games pre-installed, but how can you add more games to your phone for free? It's very easy to do, just follow the steps below!

Note: This is for the LG 500G, and while these steps may work for other phones, the games themselves will probably not function properly. So try searching for games for your specific phone on Google, or check back in the future.

How to Add Games to Your LG 500G

Adding java based games to your LG500G is easy to do. Before you begin, you will need a MicroSD card that you can connect to your phone. Check out our previous post, How to Put MP3's on Your Tracfone, to learn more about what MicroSD card to use, and where it is located on the LG 500G.

Now we are ready to get some games:

Step 1 - Go to http://www.mobilerated.com/lg-lg500g-games.html and browse the games available there.

Step 2 - Download any and all games that look interesting. They have quite a range of games from puzzle games, to Tetris like games. Racing games and even hunting games. So find the ones that look fun to you.

Step 3 - Find the games you just downloaded, probably in your Downloads Folder, and move them to the "Games" folder on your MicroSD card. (which you should connect to your computer, if you haven't already). If your card doesn't already have a games folder, you can create one.

Step 4 - Put the MicroSD card back in your phone, If you don't know where it goes, refer to the picture.


Step 5 - On your phone, go to "Menu" then "My Folder" and then "Memory Card" and finally "Games".

Step 6 - Select which ever game you want to play, and allow it to install. It only needs to install once, after that you can find it in your "Games and Apps" location in the Menu. It may ask if you trust the game, or if you really want to install the game, and just hit 'yes'.

Step 7 - Once the game is installed, start it, play, and enjoy!

In our experience, not every game downloaded from Mobile Rated works. A few had errors for various reasons. So if this happens, don'r worry about it, just try another game.

Also, there are lots of other websites that provide free java games, but just be careful and make sure you trust the website before downloading things.

Got more questions? Ask 'em below in the comments are see our post about More Resources for Questions