Update

Good news! Unlock codes are now available for your donated Dell smartphones. Simply plug in the code to get your smartphone working on AT&T, T-Mobile, or many other networks. The phones work on MVNO carriers with a GSM network. That includes AT&T, T-Mobile, and a few others, but not Sprint or Verizon.

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New to TechSoup: 3G Windows Venue Pro smartphones (admin fee: $31) from the Dell donation program. Stay in constant communication with your team by adding smartphones to your nonprofit’s or library’s toolkit. With Venue Pro smartphones in hand, you and your staff can:

• Check your email from almost anywhere
• Access your calendars and daily schedule on the road
• Find directions (probably the app used most on my own smartphone)
• Create, edit, and review Microsoft Office documents
• Take donations by using your phone as a mobile credit card terminal
• Capture photos and video of your organization in action

Those are some of the obvious benefits. From personal experience, some other handy uses of a smartphone I’ve found often come from the convenience of having the internet right in your hand. You can search for contact information right on your phone (great if you think you’re at the wrong address), and show off your organization’s website to people you meet at conferences and events.

The Full Details

The Venue Pro includes the following software:

• Office Mobile: a suite of basic Microsoft Office programs including Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile, OneNote Mobile, and Outlook Mobile; Office Mobile applications are compatible with their desktop counterparts
• Internet Explorer Mobile: a mobile version of Microsoft's web browser
• Bing Maps: a mobile app for finding locations, mapping directions, and predicting traffic conditions; it can also integrate with other online services to overlay data on top of maps
• Bing Search: a web-based search engine app capable of filtering results to display only images, video, or local results

These donated phones include a Windows Phone operating system, 4.1-inch touch screen and slide-out QWERTY keyboard; 8 GB or storage; five-megapixel camera; and GPS.

Up to 20 donated Dell products may be requested within a fiscal year (July 1 to June 30). Check out our Mobile 101 article series to learn the basics of mobile devices, as well as how your nonprofit or library can benefit from them.

AT&T Service Is Required

These donated Venue Pro phones are only compatible with mobile services from AT&T. In order to use this smartphone, your organization must have AT&T service. You can enable service either via phone or in person at an AT&T store in one of two ways:

• Request a pay-as-you-go SIM card. This gives you the flexibility of not being locked into a contract. Two months' of service and an activation fee must be paid for on your first billing, then each month afterward. Pay-as-you go plans can be terminated via phone or in person at an AT&T store with no termination penalties.
• Apply the phone to an existing AT&T plan. This is as simple as replacing the phone(s) currently associated to your plan with the Venue Pro. AT&T will need to make this change.

If your organization is activating six or more phones under a group plan, you may be eligible for discounted rates. An AT&T representative can provide more information on rates and eligibility.

Let’s Talk About Apps 

When it comes to smartphones, apps are what many people think of first. An "app" is a small piece of software with limited functionality. Apps can be used online (a web app), on mobile devices (a mobile app), or as an add-on to other tools (widgets, plug-ins, templates, and so on).

There are many, many apps that could help you work more effectively on the go. One way to start is to look at the programs you use frequently, like your database or fundraising tools, and see if they have a smartphone app. Organizations can download many free and low-cost mobile apps via the Windows Phone Marketplace.

Head over to TechSoup’s App it Up! Project for lots of great resources for nonprofit and library apps.

Check out these 3G Windows Venue Pro smartphones from the Dell donation program.