Taking care of your mobile phone

Mobile phones are not invincible and so we put together a few handy tips to help make your phone last that extra mile.

Water and phones don’t mix

Don't let your phone get wet. Even slight amounts of water can corrode internal components, causing anything from the display to the memory to quit working. In most cases, water-damaged phones have to be replaced.

Be sure protect your mobile phone from the elements by keeping it away from water and sand. Although we don't recommend taking your phone to the beach, if you must, then make sure to keep it in its protective case.

Keep in mind that not only swimming pools pose threats to your phone. Phones can be damaged after being set on a wet bar or being dialed with wet hands.

If your phone does get wet, leave it to dry. Don't turn it on or off until it has completely dried, or you might short out some of its electronics. If it does not work properly, contact the product manufacturer. Water damage will usually void your product warranty.

Crushing defeat

Try not to drop your phone. Depending on what type of surface it lands on, dropped phones can suffer cracked screens or dislodged internal components.

The worst damage occurs when a falling phone is connected to an accessory such as a headset, as the impact often bends or rips out the jack where the accessory connects to the phone. While you're walking around, a good way to keep your phone securely at your side is to use a belt clip or a holster.

Another good reason to use a carrying case or belt clip is to keep the phone from being mashed inside a briefcase. Cracked display screens or broken antennas can result when someone tries to squeeze a handset into an overloaded briefcase.

The heat is on

As the summer in some countries can be quite extreme, don't subject your phone to harsh weather conditions. Just like you, your phone can cook and fry in the blazing heat of the sun.

If you use your phone in the car, it's a good idea NOT to leave it there on a sweltering afternoon. Extreme heat can damage the battery or transceiver, the part of the phone that pulls in radio signals and transforms them into voice.

Similarly, use caution when using the phone in extreme cold weather. Phones do not recover from frostbite. See your mobile phone manual for more detailed information about acceptable weather conditions for your phone.

Zapping the life out of it

A mobile phone can heat up internally if you leave it plugged into a charger or car adapter longer than the time recommended in your phone's manual. Daily overcharging can destroy a battery and melt internal phone components. Overcharging affects the various phone and battery models differently, but to be safe, it is better to completely discharge the phone's battery when it is low, rather than to partially recharge it.

If your phone has a NiMH battery it is very important to completely discharge it. If the battery is Li-Ion then this is not such a big issue. See your phone manual for more information about charging your phone.

Sticky fingers

Keep your eyes open and don't leave you mobile phone unattended to, no matter what company you are in. If your phone is stolen, call your network service provider immediately. As with credit cards, your provider will deactivate your phone number to prevent your account from being charged with fraudulent calls.

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