Statistics show that around 88% of us don’t leave home without our mobile phones. Given that most of us rely on these ubiquitous devices every day losing one can be a disaster.

As mobile phones have become increasingly small and lightweight they’ve become easier to lose, drop or misplace. In 2008 around 200,000 mobile phones went into washing machines, around 600,000 were dropped down the loo and 55,000 were left in the back of taxis.

We must also consider the very real possibility that a phone may be stolen. More than 2 million mobile phones are stolen in the United Kingdom every year. This means that 1 mobile phone is stolen around every 12 seconds and this worrying trend is on the increase.

When a phone is lost there is, of course, the initial financial headache of getting a new replacement. There may be significant call charges amassed during the time between when a phone is stolen and when it eventually gets disabled. Then there are the problems that will arise as a result of losing contact details and other valuable data stored on the mobile phone.

It has been estimated that as few as only 1 in 5 mobile phone users bother to back up their SIM card data to a separate secure storage device. Although modern phones come with software that makes it simple to transfer data to a computer still people don’t take advantage of this simple facility.

So what steps can be take that will help protect us against loss or theft of our valuable mobile phones?

1. The first thing is to make it difficult for a thief to actually steal your mobile phone. Never leave your mobile phone unattended in the car and always keep it secure in a closed handback or backpack.
2. Make certain you record the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number of your phone. This is a number that is unique to every mobile phone and can be used to disable a phone if it’s been lost or stolen.
3. You might like to configure your phone to only work after you have entered a PIN. While it can be a nuisance to have to enter a PIN each time you want to use your phone this simple step will stop a thief from running up significant call charges on your account.
4. Another recommendation is to switch your phone to vibrate mode when in busy public places in order not to attract attention when your phone rings.
5. You may like to engrave your name and maybe your car registration details onto your phone and its battery. Alternatively there are systems for attaching unique serial number stickers (as provided by trackitback.com) to your phone which will help identify your phone if it is lost or stolen.
6. It is worthwhile establishing a backup routine, copying your valuable SIM card data to secure storage location as often as possible. If you are adding new contacts and appointments every day then you should be backing up your mobile phone data every day.
7. Finally, make certain that you have some mobile phone insurance that provides the protection that you need. Remember that not all mobile phone insurance policies are the same so be certain to read the details and ensure that you get the cover that you want.

By following these steps hopefully you and your phone will not become part of future lost or stolen mobile phone statistics.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You may also like to protect your income with income protection and don’t overlook the need to protect other devices with some useful gadget insurance.

Technorati Tags: cellphones, mobile phone insurance, mobile phones, protection