Mobile technology is one of the most widely used technologies today and includes all forms of portable devices such as mobile phones, laptops and tablet devices. 25 years ago no one had anticipated that modern business would soon rely on mobile phone to increase productivity and profitability.

Unlike in the past when documents or important records have to be mailed or delivered which would take days to reach which can now be sent to any location through Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G connectivity. Smartphones have also made working from home possible or working while travelling thus opening up new possibilities of reduced travel time and increased efficiency.

There is a complete list of apps that help to increase productivity and enhance efficiency so that one can swiftly finish or manage work. Feedly, Google Drive, Quip, Pocket are few of the apps which can be downloaded apart from the native apps in the mobiles.

Smartphone is the best travel companion. The number of travel apps available in the market today is just awesome. These apps help you with your bookings, track your flight in real time, help you get around in your new surroundings and also serve as a good pastime during your free time. Smartphone can be a great personal development tool, helping you to connect to the internet, explore different languages, find word meanings and many more. Smartphones can help to manage tasks more efficiently as it works like your alarm, provided several notifications and hence is like a daily guide. Moreover it should be explored by ones who are more forgetful. So whether you are a staff travelling to properties to visit vendors, mobile devices can help them keep in touch, be productive and make better use of company resources.

Smartphones make ecommerce easy and trendy, whether you are a business owner or a customer your smartphone is a massive asset as it helps you make several transactions. You can avail the numerous advantages of online shopping. It enhances your productivity as it frees up more of your time allowing you more time for other tasks. Usage of mobile itself is believed to have generated around 20% sales in all verticals of industry business.

However it is believed that smartphone is one of the most underutilized gadgets of our age. Just like a human brain the smartphone carries with it a great amount of capacity. Life can be much easier and better with smartphone if we cared to find out how and explore it to the fullest.

You can waste your valuable time on your smartphone by texting friends, playing your favorite games or watching late night movies. But above all with the right tools and apps, you can use your smartphone to save time and be more productive, the choice is yours! Though there are useful but at times they mindlessly occupy time. Games, social networking applications, videos and web surfing are few such examples.

New devices can change the way your company does business and new technologies can lead to better ways of working thus offering better services to the customers. Tomorrow’s smartphones will play a greater role in our digital lives than they today, and we constantly need to keep discovering its abilities!

It is said that 75% of Americans use the phone in the restroom. There could be chances that it slipped out of your hand – into the tub or on the floor. It is also seen that the button suddenly stops working and the screen goes mysteriously blank. In any of these scenarios, an iPhone Protection Plan keeps you one step ahead of the breakdown or the accident. After expiry of the manufacturer’s warranty, your iPhone can still be covered form cracked screens, drops, spills and mechanical breakdowns.

With the high price of an iPhone, users should at least consider buying iPhone insurance that covers loss and theft or iPhone warranty that covers water damage and drop. The high end iPhone models can be as expensive as $849 when purchased off the contract.

AppleCare, is Apple’s extended warranty and support program which cover products outside the limited manufactures’ warranty. AppleCare provides an additional year of coverage for defects especially for iPhones. Accidental damages like drops, spills or any issues related to the misuse of the mobile, leading to a product failure are not included under AppleCare’s program. The AppleCare protection plan provides a repair or replacement coverage for iPhone device and battery including earphones and accessories. SquareTrade offers coverage plan called CarePlan, which is equivalent to the AppleCare program.

Between the different iPhones 6s, 6s Plus and SE, 6s is most preferred because it has nicely balanced screen size and usability. The feel of the 6s mobile is better and is easy to slip in and out of the pocket most easily. It also has a better camera and a longer battery life. Majority of the mobile phones in America have been bought in the last three years and most of them are smartphones. Millions of Americans now pay between $5 and $12 per month, depending on the model and the coverage plan purchased.

Mobile providers have insurance plans of their own, but there are third party insurance providers who cover your smartphone after the original purchase date which could be cheaper in the long run. They provide a variety of protection plans for all types of devices including iPhones. These plans have a fixed payable amount every month and a deductible amount for each iPhone claim made. These two amounts vary from one provider to the other.

Since damage without insurance comes with a hefty price tag, hence insuring your smartphone is a smart investment. Carrier plans are typically overpriced, both in its fees and deductibles but one does not get any accidental protection which is what most people want. The third party insurance plans offer customers, insurance beyond the device warranty and covers hardware and software malfunctions, accidental damage and replacement of a lost or stolen device and eGranary has made it very easy to purchase insurance plans of one’s choice!

After buying an expensive smartphone worth hundreds of dollar, one needs to evaluate the different risks associated with the device. As accidents and thefts cannot be avoided, buying a mobile insurance policy is the only option for ensuring a replacement of your valuable priced possession.

Finding a suitable mobile phone insurance policy is the main objective of any smartphone owner. With numerous insurance companies offering mobile phone insurance plans, carrying different risk covers and premiums, buyers need to study the plans carefully to understand the pros and cons. With insufficient knowledge of various mobile phone insurance policies, you might end up making a wrong decision. Usually after purchasing a smartphone, wireless companies give customers a 30 days grace period to buy the company’s insurance policy.

eGranary offers an affordable smartphone protection, Insurance and Warranty Plan to cover your mobile phone from various accidents like loss, theft and liquid damages primarily. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, eGranary is the modern form of protection against any disaster in this digital age providing affordable mobile phone protection plans. eGranary’s online platform allows customers to form their own collective protection groups which help to lower the future annual prices. Unlike other customers, eGranary takes only management/transaction fees. The majority of the profit is returned to the customers with transparency.

Visit the eGranary website and save 40% on your smartphone insurance plan as compared to other insurance plans available in the market. eGranary offers some extra benefits like easy claim process services, cover from drop, spills, malfunctioning, disasters and theft. Moreover they also provide easy way to cancel existing phone protection plans. You can avail Individual and Group Discounts up to 25%. After gauging the performance, majority of the company profit is returned to the customers. eGranary does not provide refurbished or second hand phones unlike other Insurance plans which generally replace your damaged phone with a refurbished equivalent model. eGranary offers protection plan for New Phones at just $50 a year and Used or Refurbished phone protection plans at $35 a year.

Budget is the main factor governing the purchase of mobile phone insurance. Lack of sufficient information on various insurance plans available in the market, prevent us from making the optimal choice. The popular perception is that an expensive plan would cover a wide range of risks, and a cheap policy would have a limited coverage. But it is surprising to discover that policies covering the same risks have different premiums. Get some of the best bargains on your smartphone Insurance Plans today from eGranary!

For more details about eGranary Insurance Plan, visit the site at https://www.egranary.net/.

Most mobile phones come with a one year warranty i.e. it provides coverage for one year. The Extended Warranty gives the customer an added layer of protection even after the expiry of the first year of warranty. A nominal premium for an extended warranty is highly recommended as it covers the high cost of smartphone repairs. The big carriers like Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile, also offer phone insurance. All the big carriers offer basically the same insurance under different names. Signing up for insurance or keeping oneself out of trouble is to protect against the things that are not covered by manufacturer’s warranty. Primarily insurance covers the accidental damages like cracks, drops, liquid spills and submersions, damage caused by accidents, mechanical and electrical failures, loss or theft of the mobile.

There are two main costs to insurance which one needs to figure out. The Insurance Premium paid monthly for a full 24 month contract, but one needs to check the carrier details. Secondly the Deductible Cost which varies but for a high end smartphone it might cost around $200. If the sum total of both these costs is less than the cost of a replacement phone, then insurance is worth it.

One must make sure to read the terms and conditions of the insurance service provider. If your device has issues during the first year, consider yourself lucky as the repair is likely to be covered. But if it craps out into your thirteenth month then you may be screwed. One does not exactly have the money to drop on a new phone right away.

Insurance through Third Party Provider like eGranary have some key differences though they are basically similar. The good thing about insuring with outside companies is that – after purchasing the device you can sign up for the insurance any time as long as it is functional with no prior damage or defects. Another advantage is that some of them offer a cash reimbursement option for your damaged phone instead of either repair or replacement. In addition these third party policies also cover the incidental issues like touchscreen failures, issues with wireless connection or antenna and display failures. But most carrier insurers will either repair or replace your smartphone and you will not get a new phone instead get a ‘refurbished’ one.

Taking care of the smartphone battery can evade you from several of the smartphone troubles. To extend battery life of your smartphones, close any unused applications if you are not using it. Turn off the location based services when you do not need them. These things eat up lot of battery when you are not using them. Reducing the brightness of screen will use less power. Also turn off vibrate option on your smartphone as it consumes more power compared to the ringer. Lastly turn off the mobile when you are not using it. These small tips can help you keep out of troubles related to your smartphones.

Insurance is an optional additional purchase but it’s presence gives you peace of mind against any of the mishaps that might occur anytime anywhere!

How much does it cost to lose a smartphone? The customer’s iPhone was stolen while she was on public transit. It did not have phone insurance and the renter’s insurance also did not cover the smartphone and she was told that if she cancelled her smartphone contract, she would be liable for a hefty early termination fee. Losing a smartphone without being covered can be expensive! Statistics say some 60 million smartphones are lost, stolen or damaged each year in US. Smartphone insurance is a complicated game between deductible amount, refurbished phone, annual premium and monthly fee. Hence one must scan the market before buying the best policy.

What does mobile phone insurance not cover? Here are some of the exclusions that can appear in your policy. Carelessness – In case of carelessness your phone will not be covered. The company will not pay the claim on the basis that you did not take reasonable care of the device. Theft without force – If you phone is stolen from your pocket in a busy pub or pickpocketed, then you are not covered either. Some insurance companies only cover if the theft is accompanied by force. Theft while unattended – If you leave you phone in the car or on a table in a café and misplace it, you probably will not be covered. Accidently leaving your phone behind – In case you leave your phone in a taxi, you insurance company will would classify this as ‘accidently’ leaving the phone behind and decline the claim. Delays in your phone stolen or lost – make sure you report you phone missing as soon as possible, may be within 24 hours from being lost or stolen. Water damage – One must check if your insurance covers you for water damages. Your claim might be declined because you have not taken ‘reasonable care’ of the device.

If you put your phone on the ‘lost and stolen’ list then the carrier will not activate the phone and will suspend the services. Once suspended your wireless service cannot be used to make or receive calls, forward calls, retrieve voice mails or access data services. Suspended wireless service means your phone number is still active and you will be charged the monthly recurring fee while the service is in a voluntary suspended status.

One needs to closely check the policy wording or ask the insurance company for clarification. While taking mobile phone insurance one must read the policy booklet carefully to ensure that there are no hidden surprises. Many policies contain vague wordings, which meant the customer often thought they were covered when they were not. One needs to check the policy wording like ‘loss’ and what it means about ‘forgetting’ your phone.

Phone insurances are not cheap and can add to hundreds of dollars a year to your annual phone cost but they provide the much required peace of mind. The insurance provider should try to bridge the gap between what the customer thinks they are getting and what they are really getting. It is important that insurance policies provide the level of protection that they promise and claim processes are fair. But are mobile phone insurance providers offering their customers a fair deal, yes eGranary is!

Statistics show that 12% of the 23 million Americans damage their phones during a sporting event. It is true that we are all addicted to our smartphone. Cracked, bent, dented and drowned – all kinds of bad stuff can happen to the smartphone. In the last two years, consumers have spent around 44 billion dollars on smartphone repairs and replacements. Studies have shown that an average iPhone was broken or damaged roughly 10 weeks from being purchased. Roughly 33% of the people either break or lose their smartphone. 3.1 million Smartphones are also stolen in a year. Anyone can have an accident with a smartphone.

An insurance policy can provide you the cushion that you need to have the time to grieve over your loss. There are many factors that decide how much insurance coverage is required. For a business owner, the smartphone can be an important business tool. Smartphone can open up your business to serious risks including cyber liability risks.

Smartphones carry a two year manufacturer’s warranty but that only protects against equipment failure. Manufacturers provide an additional extended warranty available on purchase of the smartphone. The big carriers offer phone insurance as an add-on to your monthly plan cost when you sign up with them.

What does smartphone protection plan generally cover? It covers Mechanical and Electronic Malfunctioning. It covers Accidental Damages like drops, cracks and damage caused by accidents. It also covers the Loss and Theft of you smartphone. Lastly it covers the Water or Liquid Damage which might be liquid spills and liquid submersions. Finally it is up to the insurance provider as to whether or not the claim is approved.

What are the things one must keep in mind? Most carrier insurers will either repair or replace your smartphone or provide a ‘refurbished’ smartphone as they call it, which might be a new one. Some insurers also provide cash payment for the replacement value of your smartphone. Problems related to data, software or damage caused intentionally through misuse or wear and tear is not covered under the smartphone protection plan.

Working in a high risk environment or living in an area susceptible to break-ins, then insurance can be worth considering. When it comes to insurance, it is the actual policy that counts, not colorful brochure you see. You can think twice and take insurance through an independent third party provider unrelated to your cell network. Get complete protection for your smartphone with eGranary!

Smartphones and tablets are long term investments and can be very expensive and inconvenient to repair. The extended protection plans provided by insurance companies are affordable and is an easy way to protect your mobile in case of accidental damages. One can buy an online insurance plan in less than two seconds. The plans are flexible and one can customize the coverage as per ones requirement.

In most instances the smartphones are covered under the manufacturer’s original warranty period of 12 months, but these warranties do not cover the accidental damages like – drops and spills. Once your manufacturer’s warranty runs out, you are not protected against mechanical or electrical problems. With eGranary’s Smartphone Protection Plan, you can stay protected from all of these issues depending on the plan you enroll. Cosmetic damages that do not affect the functionality of the device like cracked screens, pre-existing damages and intentional damages are not covered in the protection plans.

Your smartphone is more than an entertainment or communication device in your pocket. It is a powerful computer with all your personal and private data stored within it. Hence some essential tips to keep your mobile safe and secure.

• Set up a lock screen – There are many people who do not have a lock screen enabled. The password is the first line of defense in keeping your date secure and is the simplest security feature to be setup. Latest mobiles have fingerprint sensors for locking your phone.
• Setup Locate and Remote Wipe – All mobile operating systems have a mechanism of finding the phone. This service is useful when you misplace the mobile. In case the phone is stolen the feature can lock the thief out of the phone or it can even remotely wipe it off. To turn on the feature, navigate to iCloud Setting and make sure the ‘Find My iPhone’ is turned on. On Windows phone the feature is built-in and is enabled by default. For Android users it is called ‘Android Device Manager’ and go to Settings>Security>Device Administrators and turn it on.
• Use a Secure Password Manager – Mobile browser should not save your password as it becomes easy to get inside mails. Instead use a third party utility like LastPass or iPassword to save all your passwords and remember only the master password.
• Use Secure Protocols – Besides wi-fi there are other wireless protocols on your mobile that make transferring of data easy like Bluetooth. But they also open a door for the bad guy to gain access to your device and hence these features should be switched off when not used.
• Have Data Backed up – You definitely want a backup plan of whatever data you have on your phone. Each mobile platform has its own cloud storage service like iColud for iOS, Google Drive for Android or OneDrive for Windows Phone.

With a smartphone protection plan you will gain peace of mind knowing that if something unexpected happens, your mobile will be covered. These plans cost only 5% of the cost of the devise as compared to its benefits. It is very easy to get your smartphone covered with a great protection plan!

]]> http://www.egranary.net/blog/what-experts-say-about-mobile-phone-insurance-warranty/ Wed, 16 Mar 2016 05:12:08 +0000 http://www.egranary.net/blog/?p=198 Insurance and Service Warranties are both ways to protect your smartphone, but there are some major differences one should know to help make the right choice.

Under the protection service, the same amount of coverage is issued from the manufacturer for a longer period of time. The service warranty covers the device malfunctioning, in a scenario when the smartphone does not fulfill its intended function. Service warranties do not cover other losses like lost or stolen phones. Experts say that extended warranties are not a good deal for most consumers.

The best solution to protect your device from any situation is to pick up Smartphone Insurance. The insurances cover technical faults, accidental breakages and thefts of the devise. Each insurance company has their own terms and conditions and hence it is advisable to have a better look at the terms and conditions offered. Choosing the best smartphone insurance plan or warranty program can leave your head spinning. Now with smartphones as expensive as $600, you don’t want to be caught without a plan in the middle of a contract. Hassel free claims, prompt replacement and easy access to unlimited advanced technical support are some of the promises that all insurers make.

There are two ways of getting smartphone insurance. Either it can be purchased from your wireless carrier in which case you only need to pay as add on to your wireless bill or it can purchased from a third party insurance company like eGranary

Insurance generally covers devise malfunctioning, damage, loss or theft. Insurance providers provide top tier insurance called Total Mobile Protection (TMP) which covers the mobile phone from all type of damages, but has a $99 to $199 deductible depending on the smartphone. Mobile phone users are spending millions of dollars every year on insurance that does not pay out. Majority people own expensive smartphones or blackberry worth $600. Experts say taking to cover a valuable item in case of theft or damage is a sensible move.

Most policies impose strict rules on when you can make a claim. For example you cannot make a claim immediately within one month of purchasing insurance. One must inform the insurance provided within 24 hours of losing your mobile so that it can be blocked or file for a police report within 48 hours. Phone insurance policies are littered by get out clauses and loop holes. The insurer will not cover the cost of fraud calls made after the mobile is stolen. If you make a claim do not expect a new version of your old phone. Insurance plans will replace your phone with a refurbished equivalent model.

The amount and the type of coverage vary from program to program. Different insurance providers, provide different tiered insurance plans. Most mid-range to high-range phones come under tier 3.

Wireless Phone Protection (WPP) includes all the benefits of the TEC plan except that it does not include phone malfunctioning i.e. it does not cover devise defects. It covers accidental damages, loss and theft. There is also an Extended Warranty Plan – this phone warranty covers malfunction and defects after the first year coverage is finished or in other words it covers the out-of-warranty devise malfunctioning. Total Equipment Coverage (TEC) is a combination of the Extended Warranty and Wireless Phone Protection plan. Hence coverage includes loss, theft, accidental damage and out-of-warranty devise malfunctioning. Total Mobile Protection is the comprehensive protection plan for your mobile. It has additional benefits to that of the Total equipment coverage plan and comes under the top tier of the insurance plan.

Most people feel more comfortable knowing that they are covered. eGranary which provide expert support, is one of the most popular third party insurance provider and it is cheaper than most provider options.

There are companies that do not sell insurance directly to consumers but work with big US carriers as their official subscriber of phone insurance provider. Though most of the terms are mostly consistent but the cost, deductible and the coverage vary from carrier to carrier. These companies generally cover loss, theft, malfunctioning and accidental damages, as these are the areas people generally file claims for. Once the insurance claim is approved, the insurance provider elects to either repair or replace the smartphone. The more interesting areas are the reasons for denial of claims which include damages caused while attempting to repair a device or if insects or ‘vermin’ affect the phone. In case of a claim for a lost or stolen phone, the case number or copy of the police report, need to be submitted.

Is smartphone insurance a waste of money?

Some insurance providers have three deductible tiers 1, 2 and 3 with high end smartphones covered under tier 3 wherein the deductible amount is also more compared to tier 1 and tier 2. Mid-range smartphones are covered under tier 2 and low end devices get covered under tier 1. The monthly premium rate is also tied to the tiers. Some also offer cheaper plans but one needs to sign up for the plan within a certain time frame of the device purchase. The coverage terms vary with insurance providers as some give a bigger discount if you buy a 2 year policy as compared to a monthly policy. In such a scenario the warranty only covers accidental damage and malfunctioning. Some phone insurers do not deal with refurbished smart phones, instead they prefer to just pay off if they cannot repair your device. Another important step is to look out for reviews. Some companies have mixed reviews from policy holders as some companies have abnormally long turnaround time on claims.

There are no magic ways of getting fast, super cheap and all inclusive phone insurance. But the concept of phone insurance is a reality as lot of people drop, submerge or lose their $600 smartphone. Just to remember the phone insurance is a profitable business as companies take in more in premiums than they pay out in claims. That means most of the policies do not end up actually being utilized. Research has shown that one third of smartphone owners have damaged or lost their phones. Most Americas damage their phone during sporting events. An insurance plan can save your money over a new phone, but at the end one is likely to pay anything from $300 to $400 to get your phone replaced. So for any kind of insurance, it is a matter of weighing the risk against the cost of coverage. If you are in the fear of your smartphone being stolen or losing it, then in such a situation insurance will give you peace of mind. But the reality is one does need insurance as smartphone insurance is all about risk management!

Smartphone Insurance Plan in US

The popularity of smartphone protection plan in US is primarily because of the high cost of smartphone devices. According to recent data related to the US Smartphone market, 40% of the smartphones are iPhones and is one of the most expensive devices in the market. About 45% of high end, high demand and highly popular smartphone devices are insured. Hence insuring them is a better option and hence most of owners purchase insurance for their devices.

Players of the smartphone industry have their own protection plan be it OEMs, wireless carriers or insurance providers. OEM Protection Plan – Apple and Samsung’s OEM protection plan range from one year warranty to two years of device coverage. These cover mechanical and electrical breakdowns after manufacturer’s warranty expires and also accidental damages. Carrier Protecting Plan – These plans cover the gaps which OEM warranties do not cover like accident prone damage, device lost/theft or issues that occur after the manufacturer warranty expires. Third Party Protection Plan – Third Party providers like eGranary offer independent insurance plans focus on hardware protection like water damage or broken display. Theft and loss of device are also covered in the plan.

Hence to protect this precious belonging, the smartphone insurance industry is picking up speedily in US. Insurance plan has become more competitive and customizable. Mobile companies in advanced countries like US have moved towards trade-ins and upgrades as compared to traditional repairs primarily to provide a quicker turnaround time to their customers.

Smartphone insurers, OEMs and carriers need to improve their offerings as they are facing public pressure in the area of speed of processing claims. Today consumers expect additional value for your insurance programs. Protection against smartphone damage, malfunctioning and theft/loss are core of any program but customers also look for additional features like data back up and software related services.

With a rise in mobile phone usage, there is a growing need for mobile insurance. Smartphone is no longer a luxurious item but has become a necessity. With the growing smartphone industry, the insurance providers are adapting to the customer needs by creating tailored and specific plans for their valued customers. Much like smartphones, protection plans have matured over the years. There is no perfect cell phone insurance solution. But we wish there was a product that covered everything – theft, loss, destruction – with a cheap premium and low deductible that replaces your phone with no hassle. It is matter of weighing your risk against the cost of coverage. If you really feel that your phone will be stolen or would be lost, then insurance is worth it, for your peace of mind.