Out Box Communications

If you love #countrymusic , @LaurenAlaina will be live @USCellular on their IG Story today, July 9, at 8 PM EDT for an #AMA session. Leave your questions for her in the comments.  U.S. Cellular is joining with country singer Lauren Alaina to create unique opportunities to showcase the artist’s voice, highlight the importance of staying connected and support the community and fans during these uncertain times. On Thursday, July 9, fans can see content from Lauren Alaina on the U.S. Cellular Instagram page where she will post stories focusing on how she spends her time and what she does to stay connected with family and friends while on the road and now during the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, there will be original footage produced by U.S. Cellular with Lauren and a 15-minute “Ask Me Anything” live Instagram session where she will answer questions and interact with fans at 7 p.m. CDT. “U.S. Cellular has a history of collaborating with music artists across the country to create

EMOTIONS, EMOTICONS AND EMOJIS – OH MY! U.S. Cellular shares insight on misinterpreted emojis to help people send the right message to celebrate World Emoji Day, July 17 Wearables, smartphones and hand-held devices operating on a fast, high-quality network make it easier than ever to quickly send and receive messages and updates. Saving additional precious seconds is the digital phenomenon everyone has come to know and love – the use of emojis to communicate emotion. But, as this visual language has continued to evolve and grow, users need to be mindful of the potential risk for miscommunication. Emoticons are hailed as the original emojis. These representations of facial expressions, dating back to 19821, used a combination of punctuation marks, letters and numbers to convey what people were feeling with a few keystrokes on desktop computers. The emojis more commonly used today emerged in the late 1990s2 and by 2011 had made their way into the mainstream after being adopted a

U.S. Cellular is actively providing resources to residents in Lynchburg, Elon and the surrounding communities who have been impacted by recent tornados. The company is donating $5,000 to the local Red Cross to help with recovery efforts. In order to keep local residents connected to loved ones, U.S. Cellular is providing free Wi-Fi, charging, battery packs and portable chargers at the following U.S. Cellular locations during normal store hours (while supplies last) at https://www.uscellular.com/support/disaster-response/index.html. WHERE: U.S. Cellular 3911 Wards Road Lynchburg, VA 24502 Phone: (434) 832-0808 Store Hours: 10 am – 9 pm, Sat. 10 am- 7 pm, Sun. 12 – 5 pm U.S. Cellular 3901 Old Forest Road Lynchburg, VA 24501 Phone: (434) 385-1641 Store Hours: 10 am – 8 pm, Sat. 10 am- 7 pm, Sun. 12 – 5 pm D.J. Electronics (U.S. Cellular Agent location) 308 Amelon Sq. Madison Heights, VA 24572 Phone: (434) 847-4712 Store Hours: Mon. – Fri. 9 am – 7 pm, Sat. 9 am

Staying in touch with friends and family while on the go is important, but being on your smartphone, among other distractions, while driving could be dangerous. In Maryland it is unlawful to use a hand-held cell phone while driving. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), about 4.57 million people were injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2017, and fatalities topped 40,000 for the third straight year. In Maryland, fatalities were up 7 percent year over year in 2017. Distracted driving is one of the top two leading causes of accidents. Many people recognize distractors including texting and using apps for directions when using a smartphone, but eating, grooming, smoking, adjusting vehicle settings, driving when tired or being lost in thought can be hazardous as well. Fortunately, there are ways that drivers can avoid many of these distractions, and parents can monitor teen drivers to ensure better safety using the latest in wireless technology. “This Distracted Drivin

Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia hosts celebration recognizing top three artists Mayor Sherman Lea joined U.S. Cellular to announce the winners of its 11th annual Black History Month Art Competition with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia at a celebration earlier today. The 10 finalists’ art was displayed in U.S. Cellular stores during the month of February, where the community voted for their favorites. Club members created original artwork in honor of influential African-Americans, including business people, sports figures, historical figures and celebrities for the contest in January. Over the years, U.S. Cellular has awarded $9,350 in gift cards and over 7,600 youth have participated in the annual program. “There is nothing like seeing an award winner’s face when they realize that they have been recognized by the community; it’s simply priceless,” said Bertram Daniels, area sales manager for U.S. Cellular. “This contest allows U.S. Cellular t

Vote in U.S. Cellular Stores Feb. 1 – Feb. 28 LYNCHBURG, Va. – The top 10 drawings from U.S. Cellular’s Fourth Annual Black History Month Art Competition with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Lynchburg are now on display in area retail stores. Local community members are encouraged to visit select local U.S. Cellular stores to vote on their favorite piece of artwork. In January, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Lynchburg members created original artwork in recognition of influential African-Americans, including business people, sports figures, historical figures and celebrities. The 10 finalists’ artwork was chosen by representatives from the Boys & Girls Clubs. Those creations will be displayed in U.S. Cellular stores through Feb 28, and anyone 18 and older is encouraged to visit the stores to vote for their favorite. Three winners will be chosen based on the voting results and will be announced in March. Prizes are gift cards in the following amounts: • $500 f

MORGANTOWN/CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (Jan. 15, 2018) – In honor of Martin Luther King Day this week, local U.S. Cellular associates joined youth from the Mountaineer Boys & Girls Club to get the 10th annual Black History Month Contest underway . At an event held today at the club, the youth were encouraged to create an original 8.5 x 11 piece of artwork in recognition of influential African-Americans, including business people, sports figures, historical figures and celebrities. Ten finalists will be chosen and the local communities will be invited to vote for their favorites in local U.S. Cellular stores. “Working with the Mountaineer Boys & Girls Club on this contest is always a highlight of our year, and it’s a great way for us to support volunteerism in this community,” said Teresa Amick, area sales manager for U.S. Cellular. “The creativity and excitement that the kids have when creating their artwork is inspiring, and it’s a privilege for us to showcase their work in ou

U.S. Cellular Offers Gift Ideas to Help Shoppers Stay Connected Within Holiday Budget ’Tis the season to make your holiday shopping list. After all, the average shopper purchased 14 gifts and spent $935 during the last holiday season, according to WebsiteSetup’s Holiday E-Commerce Shopping and Marketing Statistics for 2016. Smartphones are always among the hottest holiday gifts, and you can count on wireless carriers offering deals on the latest devices from Apple, Samsung and LG throughout the holiday season. In addition, wearable technology has become more affordable, fashionable, smaller and popular. U.S. Cellular’s annual consumer survey indicated that one in three consumers owned a wearable connected device, while about 40 percent were likely to purchase one within the next year.¹ And while the survey found that cases and chargers are the most frequently purchased accessories, there are a variety of other tech items that make fun and useful holiday gifts for the whole fam

U.S. Cellular shares tips on how to de-clutter your smartphone and tablet for holiday photos Smartphone users are spending more time using apps than ever before. According to App Annie, people worldwide spent nearly 1 trillion hours on apps in 2016, with most using nine to 10 different apps daily and 30 apps monthly. According to a U.S. Cellular survey1, one of the most popular app categories is entertainment, including photography, social media, video, shopping, gaming, surfing, music, TV, reading and sports. However, on average, we only use one-third to one-half of the apps that we have installed, which means we’re cluttering up our devices with unnecessary and unused app icons. “When using today’s smartphones such as the iPhone 8 or Samsung Galaxy Note8, downloading numerous apps over time can lead to a gridlocked device,” said Nathan Waddell director of sales for U.S. Cellular in the Mid-South. “Keeping too many apps will take up precious space and may require frequent u

According to the FBI, a home burglary occurs on average every 20 seconds in the U.S.1, fortunately, the latest connected home devices can provide holiday travelers with remote access to monitor and manage a variety of functions to help keep their homes secure, no matter where their journey leads. November is the start of a very busy season for many. With family visiting for Thanksgiving, football in full swing, Black Friday shopping and frequent traveling, it is easy to let things slide at our favorite place, our home. Worrying about your home is the last thing you want to do while spending time with loved ones, and with today’s connected devices that can be accessed from anywhere via smartphones such as iPhone X or the Galaxy Note8, homes can easily be protected and controlled. Almost one third of smartphone owners recently surveyed by U.S. Cellular said they use their device to control their home security system, lighting or other smart home technology at least once a day, with

As Halloween approaches, kids start dreaming of endless supplies of candy, and parents think about how to keep their Trick or Treaters safer as they roam the neighborhood streets. U.S. Cellular has tips on how to use smartphones to get into the holiday’s spooky spirit. In addition to important safety apps, there are some frighteningly good apps that adults can download to become more creative, and a better ghostbuster. “Halloween is a family-favorite holiday, and U.S. Cellular has ideas on how to use your smartphone – like the iPhone 8 or Samsung Galaxy Note8 – to have fun while also keeping tabs on kids as they Trick or Treat,” said Nathan Waddell, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in the Mid-South, “At Halloween – and throughout the year – U.S. Cellular’s reliable network makes it easier than ever to access and share information and engage in fun, enriching activities with family members.” Now, you can use your mobile device in a variety of ways this Halloween: • Famil

Pro Football Hall of Fame Quarterback Kurt Warner to Help Identify Coaches Impacting Their Communities ROANOKE, Va. -- U.S. Cellular’s Most Valuable Coach program returns this week to honor high school coaches who lead by example, strengthen their teams and give back to their communities. The winning coach will receive a $50,000 donation to the charitable organization of their choosing or their high school athletic department, a trip to Orlando, Fla., and on-field recognition at the Under Armour High School All-America Game. The programs begins now until 11:59 a.m. CT on Sept. 11, the community can visit TheMostValuableCoach.com to nominate their favorite current high school coach who is an inspiring leader not just among their players, but also in their school and city. “At U.S. Cellular, we want to celebrate the positive impact that high school coaches have on students and players and the communities that come together to support their teams,” said Nathan Waddell, director

The dark day is nearly here…are you ready to capture it? For the first time in 38 years, a total solar eclipse will occur in the contiguous United States on Aug. 21, with 14 states from Oregon to South Carolina in the path. Whether you are located in the eclipse’s path of totality or not, you can still get great photos and video of this rare moment with a smartphone or drone. U.S. Cellular has tips and tricks to safely capture and enjoy the total solar eclipse, which beats waiting for the next occurrence in the continental U.S. in October 2023. “We encourage people to grab their wireless devices and accessories to help enhance the memories of this special occurrence, while also keeping safety tips in mind,” said Nathan Waddell, U.S. Cellular’s director of sales in the Mid-South. “We want to ensure our customers can view and share this rare phenomenon, so we provide a strong network and the latest top-of-the-line devices to help them take high-quality photos and video to commemorate

U.S. Cellular Survey Shows Users and Those Around Them Have Different Opinions With the newest technology right at our fingertips, it can be easy to get caught up in the virtual world instead of staying in the present. While smartphone reliance increases, so does the importance of phone etiquette. This Cellphone Courtesy Month, U.S. Cellular is sharing its research findings that shed light on America’s most frequent and annoying cellphone habits, in order to help raise awareness of cellphone courtesy. According to a recent U.S. Cellular survey¹, 56 percent of smartphone owners believe that no one gets upset at them for their phone use, however, 71 percent of the same people get upset at others. In honor of Cell Phone Courtesy Month this July, U.S. Cellular is pointing out some of the top offending habits and some tips for practicing good cellphone etiquette. • Using the phone while driving: Not only is using a phone while driving a basic annoyance for 83 percent of smartp

The Internet is constantly evolving, as are the devices used to access it. High-tech smartphone and tablet users need to know how to avoid compromising their personal information online. Thus, there are many ways that individuals can safely use today’s technology. “As people continue to utilize smartphones, such as the iPhone 7 and Samsung Galaxy S8, for online purchases and other activities where security is paramount, it is important that they know how to stay safe and secure online,” said Nathan Waddell, U.S. Cellular’s director of sales for U.S. Cellular in the Mid-South. “We want to be a resource for customers, and we encourage safe online habits to reduce privacy risks.” In honor of Internet Safety Month in June, U.S. Cellular offers the following online and wireless device tips: • Password Protection – First and foremost, smartphones can be locked to require a pin or fingerprint to do anything other than dial 911. It is also valuable to have pins or passwords on any down

, According to a just released AAA report , travelers hitting the road will be at a 12-year high this Memorial Day weekend and with it, weather forecasters predict that weather could be stormy for areas in the central and eastern United States. So how do you best prepare? What resources do you use? The Internet, newspaper, radio, social media and television are great. Don’t forget about that device in your pocket or purse – a smartphone. A recent U.S. Cellular survey indicated that 93 percent of smartphone owners use their device to check the weather forecast once a month or more¹. During unpredictable spring and summer weather, people can rely on their mobile devices to stay informed, prepared and connected with a variety of apps and accessories when severe weather threatens or hits. “The weather can change in an instant. Smartphones, such as the iPhone 7 or Samsung Galaxy S8, can help you stay a step ahead of Mother Nature,” said Nathan Waddell, U.S. Cellular’s director of sal

-->  U.S. Cellular Recommends Popular Business Apps to Keep Professionals Organized and Accessible On the Go Virginia ranks as #7 out of the top 15 states named for teleworking jobs according to a  recent survey  by Flexjobs. According to GlobalWorkplaceAnalytics.com, there are 3.7 million employees (2.8 percent of the workplace) who work from home at least half the time, and the number of regular teleworkers has grown by 103 percent since 2005. There are a multitude of apps that can make work easier for those who work from home, the office or the road. “Today’s time-saving technology and a high-quality network can help business professionals enhance and simplify their work from wherever they are,” said Nathan Waddell , U.S. Cellular’s director of sales in the Mid-South. “Devices such as the iPhone 7 or Samsung Galaxy S7 can help teleworkers stay organized by accessing calendars and work documents on the go.” A recent U.S. Cellular survey indicated that 72