improving performance · things you can do to save battery life, but before you do so you need to...

of 6bbc.co.uk/webwise/accredited-courses/level-one/using-mobiles/lessons/improving/improving

Improving performance

Checking your mobile’s performanceSignal strength will vary from location to location. Your phone will normally have a display that indicates how strong the signal is and what type of connection the phone currently has. Signal strength can be affected not only by position, but also by being in a building. Certain phones will get a signal in places that others do not, so you’ll really need to experiment. Click the signal strength icon.


Battery drain can be a real hassle when you’re out and about. There are a few things you can do to save battery life, but before you do so you need to make sure that you’re aware of how much juice you have left. Click the battery strength icon.

Different phones connect to the network in different ways and this will affect the services that are available and how fast a mobile internet connection is. GPRS and EDGE technologies allow for faster connections than older phones, and 3G gives a high speed connection which will allow features like video calls. The drawback is that advanced systems often drain batteries more quickly.


Maintaining performanceIn order to keep that battery powered up, you can do simple things like reducing the screen brightness and closing applications when you’ve finished with them (rather than letting them run in the background). If you don’t need them on, then turning off the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi will also stop the battery draining quite so fast. Click ‘Yes’ to turn off Bluetooth now.

Good battery charging habits will prolong your phone’s life. The key point is to follow the maker’s instructions about charging the battery. There are different types of battery and so a range of approaches is needed. For all mobiles you should use the correct charger and not leave your phone charging for too long. Discharging a battery fully is also better than charging a half-full battery.


There’s no reason - despite what many phone companies would have you believe - that your phone can’t last for years, but to do so you need to take care of it. Regularly charge your phone to keep the battery topped up, give it a clean every once in a while, and if you are going to be keeping it in a bag or pocket you might want to invest in a case.

What to do when things go wrongInevitably, you may have problems with your phone. Many of these can be sorted out by restarting your device; others might involve getting more in-depth help from the manufacturer or the service provider. Some phones will have their own in-built help pages, or there will be details in the user guide or, failing that, tracking down the handset manufacturer online should provide you with further troubleshooting information. Click the search button to find the phone company’s website.


Mobile phones are similar to computers in many ways, and often one of the best ways to tackle a problem is to turn the device off and then back on again. This will solve some, but not all, technical issues and is always worth trying.

In order to make fixing potential problems easier, taking steps before problems emerge is important. To do this, regularly back-up your phone (in case the problem proves irreversible), also making a note of key phone details, such as the IMEI, should help if your phone is lost or stolen.


IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. It is a unique number used to identify mobile phones and can usually be found on a sticker underneath the handset battery. If your mobile is stolen, for example, your service provider can use the IMEI to block the phone on the network so that it cannot be used.

Why not try the practice to test what you have learnt so far.

improving performance · things you can do to save battery life, but before you do so you need to...

Documents