Mobile phones may
be treated like playthings these days. However, these flashy gadgets can prove
dangerous if not handled with care. Several instances have been reported about
the phones blasting off suddenly, the latest victim of which was a 14-year-old
child of daily wage workers from Seoni. The blast was so bad that the boy
narrowly escaped death and ended up with severe disfigurement to his jaw, nose,
mouth and face. TOI tells you the do's and don'ts of handling mobile phones.
What are the things
to be kept in mind while buying mobile phones?
Buy a branded phone
as far as possible. Ensure that the phone has a proper IMEI number, which is a
code that identifies each phone. Check that the number on the phone corresponds
to that on the box and receipts.
It is considered
wise to check the accessories such as earphones, battery and charger. Make sure
the battery description such as voltage value matches with that of the charger
to avoid overcharging which sometimes lead to explosion of handset.
How and why do
mobile phone blasts happen?
The most common
reasons for a cell phone to explode are using it while the phone is being
charged and 'call bombing'. Charging puts pressure on the motherboard of the
phone, using it during charging increases this pressure manifold. This causes
the cheap electronic components in some mobiles to explode. Call bombing refers
to calls or missed calls received from international numbers. If one receives
or calls these numbers back and the call exceeds a certain amount of time, the
phone will blast. There is also a malware, or bug, found in some Android-based
smartphones, that can also cause explosion by exerting extra pressure on the
motherboard during charging.
What care should be
taken to ensure not much pressure is put on the phone?
Avoid using the
phone while the battery is being charged. If you wish to receive a call during
this time, disconnect the phone from charger before connecting the call. Ensure
it is not over-charged by removing the electric supply when the battery is
fully charged. If your battery seems to have swollen, replace it immediately.
Why is it dangerous
to buy cheap phones?
Most cheap models,
like those of Chinese make, use hardware and components that are not branded
and often substandard. The quality of vital accessories such as battery and
earphones are compromised which can have disastrous outcome. Such components
cannot be used continuously for as long as their high-quality substitutes.
Their shelf life is also shorter.
Is it more harmful
to surf internet or download anything on mobile phones?
Yes, because the
anti-virus softwares for mobile phones are not as effective. That is why one
should avoid downloading anything from a third party vendor, ie directly from
the internet browser. Instead use the in-built store or market application
provided by the operating system. Malware, which is software that creates a bug
in the operating system of the phone, often gets downloaded with third party
tools. The sites that you visit using the phone must start with an https (which
means they are encrypted or safe sites).
Avoid using public
or unsecured Wi-Fi connections. A hacker could access the mobile device through
a port that is not secured. Make sure the Bluetooth connectivity is not
switched on in public places as it can be used to send malicious files which
corrupt the operating system.
Are there certain
precautions that must be practiced while using a mobile phone?
While communicating
using your cell phone, try to keep the cell phone away from the body as this
would reduce the strength of the electromagnetic field of the radiations.
Whenever possible, use the speaker-phone mode or a wireless blue tooth headset.
For long conversations, use a landline phone.
Avoid carrying your
cell phone on your body at all times. When in pocket, make sure that key pad is
positioned toward your body so that the transmitted electromagnetic fields move
away from you rather than through you. Do not keep it near your body at night
such as under pillow or a bedside table, particularly if pregnant. You can also
put it on 'flight' or 'offline' mode, which stops electromagnetic emissions.
Avoid using your cell phone when signal is weak or when moving at high speed,
such as in car or train.
How to deal with a
wet phone?
After removing the
phone from water, dismantle it by removing battery, SIM and memory cards and
switch it off (only SIM card in case of an iPhone). Dry each component
thoroughly (but gently) with a towel until the phone is dry to the touch. Then
put all components in a bowl of uncooked rice in a way that all components are
totally covered. If you have any silica packets (the ones that come with
products like new shoes), put them in to the bowl too. Leave it there for 12-24
hours.
Never use a hair
dryer to try to dry the phone quicker. Drying it with a heated hair dryer can
cause important parts to melt, while forcing water further into the phone.
Drying it will a cold hair dryer will just force water deeper into the phone.
Why you shouldn't
hold your mobile in your mouth?
Using mobile phones
too close to your mouth regularly or holding cell phone in your mouth
frequently could lead to malignant salivary gland cancer and tumors in mouth.
Regular cell phone users who speak with the phone held too close to the mouth
face the problems of sleep disturbance, migraine and headache.
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