The following article was published in THE TIMES OF INDIA, Hyderabad edition on 29 Jan 2010 Fri
If you’ve lost one before, you’ll know how losing a cell phone can ruin a perfectly good day in seconds. First, there’s the whole feeling of loss, especially if it’s been gifted or you really liked it or you worked hard to get it. Then there’s the panicked searching, calling the number, maybe even going to the cops, who’ll laugh at you, the cancelling of the SIM, asking for a new one and buying a new, disgustingly cheap phone. Then you realise your entire social life – in the form of all your friends’ numbers – is gone and start mailing everyone asking them for their numbers. Finally, you break down when you realise all those photos, ringtones, and softwares you had so carefully collected over the last few months needs to be collected all over again.
Painful, isn’t it? Follow these tips and you can avoid the ordeal all together.
• Get a belt loop, the kind people use for ID cards. A little kindergarten-ish but a few smirks are better than 35k down the drain, and you get brownie points for innovation.
• Use a screen protector. Not just touch screen phones, but all phones need this – it’s all too easy to put it into a purse /pocket with your house keys or loose change and cry afterwards. On the same note, avoid decorative stuff that hangs off it – it’s very 14-yearold and will scratch the screen and surface as well.
• Get a sachet of silica gel – it’s those little grey packets in the pockets of new jeans, you can keep one in purse /bag. It absorbs moisture and keeps your phone dry.
• Choose the right covers. Too big, it’ll fall out. Too small, you’ll scratch it while struggling to get it out.
• Take it to proper service centres. When there’s a problem – they can check if it’s in warranty period and fix it for free. Local repairmen will not only charge, but also invalidate the warranty so the service centre can’t give you free service next time.
• Don’t buy phones from the grey market. There’s hardly any difference now. Keep the bill. Buy a five-rupee file and file it, shove it in the back of your cupboard. If it lasts, it lasts; but if the phone breaks down, it will hopefully break down within warranty period.
• Don’t accept anonymous bluetooth files. Evil programmers worldwide are dreaming up phone viruses in their spare time, and there’s no protection yet. A bad virus can not only wreck your phone’s software, but can jump to your friends’ phones as well.
• Keep it away from tables where there’s food / drink / coffee. Nothing like a nice dose of hot, greasy butter chicken to, um, add some spice to your phone’s death.
• Buy hands-frees, use the speaker when you can. You save your brain from being microwaved, and especially for people who talk a long time, you avoid cramped arms. Also, your ear sweats after a while, seeping into your phone. Don’t use the phone when you're sweating.
• Sand and dust particles will kill your phone like Uma Thurman killed Bill. It’s the worst thing to happen to slider and swivel phones; if you have one of these, use a cheap backup no-moving-parts spare phone when travelling, going to a seaside resort, outdoor trips – treks, picnics, excursions, etc. If you can’t do that, switch it off and leave it safe in the hotel room. The great beyond is filled with potential phone killers like water, dust, rain, sand, cold, snow, falls, heat, and sweat; leave the good phone at home, avoid it completely.
• Lastly, don’t forget to record your IMEI number. All you need to do is type *#06# into your phone and the serial number that appears is your IMEI number. If you happen to lose your phone, the police will be able to track it down with this number.
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