U.S. Cellular Phone Doctors Offer cell phone Winter Survival Tips

As the temperature falls, cell phone users should be aware that large temperature variations could damage their cell phones. Before heading out to enjoy winter sports or travel, there are precautions that can be taken so that communication isn’t cut off.

U.S. Cellular’s phone doctors, also known as cell phone technicians, offer these tips to improve the chances that your phone will survive a cold winter’s day or night.

Don’t expose to extreme cold — Temperatures below 40 degrees can harm the battery’s life and run down the charge more quickly. If your cell phone is exposed to cold temperatures, allow the phone to warm up to room temperature before using it.

You should keep your phone in a warm place, not in an outside pocket of your parka or backpack or in the car overnight. When out in the cold, carry your phone in an inside jacket pocket, keeping it close to your body for warmth.

Protect your screen — Prolonged exposure to the cold may affect the phone’s display screen. Handle your handset with care as the display cover can become brittle when exposed to cold temperatures for long periods of time. In this case, the liquid crystals within the display will literally start to freeze. The screen may be slow to respond when changing screens, may change tints or shadow lines may appear. The best thing to do is get the phone into a warm place and give it time to catch up to room temperature.

If your cell phone gets wet from the condensation, power it down right away. Once the power is off, remove the battery. Grab a towel or napkins to get as much excess water off the phone as you can. Remove any skins, covers or faceplates. If you have a flip phone, you should open it up, so air can reach the keypad. You should leave a wet phone powered off for a day or two to give the internal circuitry a chance to dry out.

Once you replace the battery, push the “on” button. If the phone turns on, you can breathe a sigh of relief. However, check your keypad. Keys that stick or don’t work all the time are signs of permanent damage. U.S. Cellular’s phone doctors say it will likely get worse with time. If you have phone insurance, most policies require you to report the damage within 90 days of the incident.

Get technical — U.S. Cellular service technicians might be able to help. You should bring a damaged phone to a service technician as soon as possible.

Don’t lose your contacts, too — If your phone can’t be revived, your old phone’s address book can be easily loaded onto your new phone if you have My Contacts Backup, a free service offered to easyedge customers.

Keep it charged — Charge your phone or smartphone frequently, so that it is ready to use when you need it most. It also helps to keep an extra battery charged for winter emergencies.

The 8,700 associates of U.S. Cellular believe a wireless phone enhances people’s lives and a wireless company should be in the business of bringing people together. U.S. Cellular has a wide range of monthly plans, including those with unlimited nationwide calling, unlimited free incoming calls and options to prepay. The company has a growing catalog of phones like the BlackBerry® Pearl and Curve, and the touch-screen Samsung Delve, which offer e-mail and Web access. Based in Chicago, U.S. Cellular is the nation’s sixth-largest wireless carrier, serving 6.2 million customers across the country. To learn more about the company visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com.

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For more information, contact:
Lauren Christ Jonathan Guerin
Public Relations Counsel U.S. Cellular
Cell: 865-640-1654 Cell : 773-399-4379
lchrist@moxleycarmichael.com jonathan.guerin@uscellular.com

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