Crippling cards

Q: Can a memory card be disabled by a carrier so that I would not be able to send photo images from the card to a card reader for my computer? Disabling a memory card would force me to use the carrier's e-mail service and its Web site for my photos--both services being paid for monthly by me. That's not an option for me.
--Lorna

A: Unfortunately, this is a much more common problem than you might think. Take the Motorola V710, for example. This Verizon phone has a TransFlash card slot, but its use is limited. You can't use MP3s as ring tones unless you buy them from Verizon's Get It Now service and download them directly to the handset. Fortunately, Verizon allows you to transfer pictures on its new LG VX8100, but ring tones are still out.

I understand why you're hesitant to use your carrier's data service, but forcing you to do so is a big reason why card functionality is limited in the first place. If you can't use a memory card to transfer files, you're required to pay for a carrier's service. No, it's not particularly nice, but when it comes to multimedia features on a cell phone, carriers, too, want a piece of the pie; they're a business, and if they can't make money off a feature, they'll be hesitant to put in their phones. I'm sure that's been a huge issue blocking Motorola's much-hyped iTunes phone. As for alternatives, I'd suggest using cell phone syncing software.

London calling
Q: I would like to travel to Great Britain and presently have Sprint service; does Sprint have a phone and/or service that will allow me to receive and send phone calls from my current number?
--Scott

A: Since Great Britain operates on a GSM cellular network and Sprint uses CDMA, you'll need a GSM phone if you want to use a mobile on your trip. You can buy or lease a GSM-only phone from Sprint that will have your same phone number, but they're not available in Sprint stores, so you'll have to call customer care. This option will run you the price of the phone rental/purchase plus a $36 activation fee, a $6-per-month international dialing charge, and a roaming rate of $1.50 per minute in the United Kingdom.

Your other option is to buy the Samsung IP-A790, which uses both GSM and CDMA. Stateside calls operate on Sprint's CDMA network and count toward your normal calling plan, while calls made overseas switch to GSM using the included SIM card. Additional charges are about the same as that of a GSM-only phone. But keep in mind that either way, you won't have access to text and multimedia messaging or the wireless Web when you're overseas. For more information, see CNET's quick guide to world phones.

Ring a ding ding
Q: I want to make my own ring tones using clips of my favorite songs. Is this possible without buying them from my carrier?
--Jen

A: You have a couple of options, but unless you can transfer them from another device (via Bluetooth, an infrared port, or a USB cable), you'll probably wind up paying for some kind of service or software. I recently tried a service called Xingtone; for a one-time $20 fee, it allows you to convert and transfer audio files from your PC or Mac to large variety of cell phones from all carriers except Verizon. Once you've downloaded the software, you can create and edit your own files or you can purchase premade tones for a couple dollars. Ring tones arrive on your phone as a text message, which, of course, incur a charge as well. In addition, there are a variety of other Web sites where you can get ring tones, or you can buy cell phone syncing software.

Merger madness

Q: With the merger of Sprint and Nextel, I have had many problems with my Nextel. I have an older phone but, until the merger, had no problems. Is it the phone or the network?

A: I'd say your problem lies with the phone and not the network. While Sprint and Nextel have announced their intention to merge, the marriage is a few months from completion, so the carriers are still operating separate networks. The companies have said they hope to complete the merger by the end of the year, but it still has to win approval from the federal government and some states. When (and if) it's completed, we'll no doubt see some network changes, but it's unclear exactly what they'll be. In the meantime, I would try getting a new phone from Nextel.