The beginning of a new year is a time to form new, positive habits in all aspects of our lives—including our phones. For many of us, our cellphone is our trusty personal assistant. It helps us connect with family and friends, reminds us about important appointments and it’s commonly used to access and store our personal information.
So it’s important we always keep them secure and running smoothly. Here are four helpful tips to make sure your cellphone is ready for a great 2015!
1. Secure your privacy by using strong, unique passwords
Although it’s convenient to use one easy-to-remember password for everything, this habit can leave your private information unsecure if your password is ever hacked. You can strengthen weak passwords by using numbers, symbols and capital letters in place of lowercase letters.
Having trouble remembering all your passwords? Get a helping hand by downloading a free password manager app like LastPass or 1Password. These secure apps keep track of all your passwords, helping to keep your personal information safe.
2. Protect your cellphone—inside and out
Smartphones contain our priceless personal data and memories, so having to replace your device is not ideal. If you’re an iPhone user, you can download the free Find My iPhone app, which can help you quickly locate your device and protect your information in the case of loss or theft. Another free, easy way to add security is by adding a customized lock screen with a pin or pattern. See our recent Tips and Tricks blog posts to learn how.
If you don’t already have a protective case for your phone, get one! A case is an inexpensive safeguard against accidental drops and spills, and they come in a variety of styles and colors to suit any taste.
3. Save your phone’s memory—and your cherished memories—by backing up your photos
Much of our, and our loved ones’, lives are captured in photos and videos on our phones. But all those treasured moments take up a lot of space (memory), which can slow down your phone’s performance. Plus, you’ll lose those photos and videos along with your phone if it’s ever misplaced or stolen. Give yourself some peace of mind and transfer your photos and videos to a computer.
Simply connect your phone to a computer using a USB cable or insert your phone’s SD card into the computer’s SD card slot. Then save the photos and videos to the computer’s hard drive. After they’re transferred, you can delete them from your phone, which will help it run faster and smoother.
Another great option for iPhone and Android users is cloud storage, which can be obtained for free through sites like Google Drive, iCloud or Dropbox.
4. Take advantage of our how-to videos and tips and tricks blog
With all of the bells and whistles available on phones today, we know how confusing it can be familiarizing yourself with your device’s functions and features. That’s why we’ve created simple how-to videos and posted quick tips and tricks to our blog. They’re both great ways to learn new features at your own pace.
And if you don’t know how to perform a particular function, we’re always here to help! Just give us a call at 888-345-5509 and we’d be happy to walk you through it, step by step, until you’re an expert. Here’s to a safe, productive and happy New Year for you and your phone!
I have names and numbers on both my SIM card and the phone, a Huawei 8800. If I purchase the Motorola Moto G EXT is there a simple way to transfer all names and numbers from both the SIM and the phone to the new phone? Thanks, Mike Puente
Great question, Mike. A very easy way to do this is to back your contacts up to a Gmail address, and then sync the same address on your new phone. You can also try the Moto migrate app on your old phone-just download it and it will help you move everything over to your new phone. If you run into any issues, feel free to call us at 888-345-5509, and we would be happy to assist. Thank you!
Does Consumer Cellular sell (Hot Spot Wi Fi) Thanks Wanda McClurg
Thank you for the question, Wanda. At this time, we do not sell Wi-Fi hotspots. Thanks!
how do i connect to the internet on the road.?
Good question, Leon. To use cellular data when traveling, you just need to make sure you have one of our Connect plans, and that the data function is enabled on your phone. If you have any questions about using data, feel free to give us a call at 888-345-5509. We would be happy to answer them for you! Thanks again for commenting.
Will Consumer Cellular be offering cellular data plans for iPad and/or PC tablets in the future?
Thank you for the question, Bonnie. At this time, we don’t have that offering, but we are always trying to keep up with the growing needs of our customers. Thanks!
Major thanks for the article.Much thanks again. Fantastic.