Out Box Communications

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

Every bride wants to be beautiful on her wedding day, and for many that image incorporates a vision of long cascading hair or a dream updo with thick, lustrous curls and other adornments to crown the perfect dress, makeup and veil. In fact, brides-to-be spend countless hours looking through social media sites and bridal magazines looking for inspiration and on average spend $500+ on hair and makeup for their wedding. "Many brides might think that if they weren't born with their ideal hair they are out of luck, but that's not true," says Jennifer Hutchens, Brand and Product Development Director with Barely Xtensions, "There are so many alternatives for women that want to add length, volume, and color to enhance their natural beauty -- whether it's for daily use or a special occasion. We make hair extensions easy-to-use, affordable and fun." Here are some simple tips to say "I do" and stay within your beauty budget: • DIY Hair. Wi

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