Whether it's spilling water or liquids on it, leaving it in the backseat of the cab, cracking the screen after dropping it for the umpteenth time, buttons that suddenly stop working or a battery that no longer holds a charge - we all have at least one cell phone horror story. These unforeseen, unintentional "crimes of the phone" leave owners desperate to retrieve, restore or revive their phones.
"We know that phone accidents can be a nightmare for our customers, so we've got their backs," said Eric Conlon, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in New England. "It's important that we get them reconnected to their family and friends right away by giving them rescue tips, tools and any technical support they need."
U.S. Cellular offers some preventive measures and helpful tips to give your horror story a happy ending:
Surviving a Dive
If your phone gets wet, grab a towel immediately and wipe as much excess water or liquids from it as possible. Remove any protective gear such as skins, covers or faceplates. Then, power it down, and take the battery out. If you have a flip phone, open it up, so air can reach the keypad.
Remember, hair dryers, microwaves, space heaters, ovens, etc. are not devices meant to dry out a cell phone. The intensity of the heat may further damage your phone. It's a tough request, but try leaving your wet cell phone powered off for a day or two to give the internal circuitry a chance to dry out naturally.
Back up, back up, back up
The instant that a cell phone is misplaced, lost or stolen, feelings of panic or anxiety may soon follow. Worried that the 500 or so phone numbers and email addresses you stored are gone forever? Taking a few easy steps before anything ever happens to your phone helps avoid these emotional episodes.
U.S. Cellular customers can download a free application, My Contacts Backup, so that valuable address book information is automatically protected and stored wirelessly. Check out your provider to see if they offer a similar service. Contacts can then be easily transferred to a new handset or remotely erased from a lost or stolen phone. U.S. Cellular also offers insurance that covers lost or stolen phones for a minimal monthly fee.
Can't stop the drop?
Many cell phones have met their demise after one too many drops to the floor. Equipping your device with protective gear such as skins, covers, faceplates and carrying cases can up your phone's durability factor.
Need more protection? Consider choosing a phone that can take rough and rugged handling like the Motorola Quantico. Designed to military specifications, this phone can withstand up to three-feet of submersion and has an exterior made of chrome, glass, mesh and rubber.
Time to take charge
It can be frustrating when a phone dies only hours after you charged it, or the time when you really need juice, the "low battery" message appears. No plug-in or car charger handy? Here's another lifeline. U.S. Cellular's industry-first Battery Swap Program allows its customers to go to any retail stores and swap out their battery for a fully-charged one, for free.
The doctor is in
When a cell phone malfunctions, bring the "patient" in, and let professional service technicians take a look.