But we all know that when we lose our phone, the cost of the unit is the least of our concerns. Many of us store priceless information on our mobile phones. It's got the contact numbers of clients, associates, family and friends. It's got photos and videos from family vacations. It's got schedules and to do lists, which are a headache to reconstruct. And there's the hassle of having to replace the unit, recover all that information, and then?when the bill arrives?contest the cost of all the calls the thief may have made before you reported it.



That's where mobile phone insurance comes in handy. This type of policy was developed to address the needs of the digital society, where people use mobile phones and PDA's for practically everything. Plus, they bring it everywhere, making them more vulnerable to theft or even damage. Who hasn't experienced dropping the phone? Or what about the time you were caught in a really strong sudden downpour, and your bag (and the phone you were covering inside it) was drenched so badly that you had to get a towel to dry everything off.

Mobile phone insurance provides necessary protection against the loss of, or damage to, mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs). It can repair or replace a damaged or lost phone with a similar unit (if that unit is out of stock or has since been discontinued, you will be given a phone equal in value, after inflation). Mobile phone insurance can also help owners complain about unauthorized calls.

If you lost your phone, you have to call your communication company and the police within minutes?just to stop the thief from using your plan to make his calls. You should also look at the insurance's fine print to see their policy on how they replae a unit. Mobile phones can deteriorate very quickly in market value and you can't expect to get the top-of-the-line phone in exchange for an old model you bought two years ago.

You should also take steps to protect your phone. Don't leave it lying around. If you have a habit of forgetting to take it with you, then buy a unit that is small enough to fit in your pocket or even hang around your neck. If you don't like sporting your phone like a clunky necklace, you can also buy special belts that let you hang your phone around your waist. This is more unobtrusive and won't cramp your fashion statement.

Also program your phone for password protection, so that no thief can use your phone book or steal personal information (such as bank account numbers).

It's also very important that you avoid dropping or wetting the phone. You can buy protective sleeves or cases that will help protect the phone from scratches or dampness. Also backup your phone data periodically (once every month is good) so you have a hardcopy of the contact numbers.