Disclosure

When you get to the point that your phone can no longer hold a charge for more than a day, it’s probably a good indication that it is time to break down and buy a new mobile device. Honestly, I was really looking for an excuse to snatch up the new iPhone anyhow so it all worked out for the best. As Scott and I walked out of the U.S. Cellular store, we talked about all the things we needed to do to get our new phones ready for use.

Sync and Back up your old phone

Sure you can start from scratch with your phone, but do you really want to enter all your contacts again? If you’re sticking with the same phone but simply upgrading to the newest version, the easiest thing to do when upgrading your phone is backup your old phone and restore from backup on the new phone. Set aside some time to log in to your various apps, social channels and websites that used to automatically log in for you. There is nothing more frustrating than going to post something or use an app only to discover you can’t remember your user ID and password.

Re-Pair Your Bluetooth Everywhere

This may seem silly but your car, portable speaker and wearable tech aren’t going to realize you upgraded. Double check your old phone to see what devices it has paired with then start the process of pairing your new mobile device.

Set Rules

If the phone is for a younger member of your family, be sure to set cell-phone ground rules on what is allowed and what is not. If mom and dad are getting new phones, it’s still a good time to open a dialogue with the kids about cell phone safety and etiquette.

Order a Phone Case

My personal favorite case is the Speck CandyShell Card. They didn’t have the color that I liked available on Amazon Prime and I didn’t want to wait to get it, so I ended up purchasing a different iPhone 6 case for now. Regardless of what type you purchase, it’s important to add a layer of protection to the outside of your new mobile device.

Protect the Screen

While protecting the outside of the phone is important, people tend to forget that the glass is the part that usually gets damaged. We’ve found an excellent solution with intelliArmor products. Not only does it protect the screen, but it also helps ward off fingerprints. Of all the things on the list, this may seem the most complicated, but it is actually pretty simple. We were able to prepare two different phones in under 10 minutes and that took into consideration the time we stopped to take photos.

First you clean all the dust and prints off the existing surface using the cleaning products included in your intelliGlass package. Once you have done that, give it an extra touch-up by removing the lint. Use a steady hand to line up and apply the intelliGlass onto the surface of your phone. Just like when you add a cling to your vehicle, take a little time to ensure the air bubbles are out from underneath. We tried it without the case on as well as with and both methods worked fine.

intelliArmor products are available for a variety of phones and tablets. There’s no reason to be walking around with a cracked screen when protecting it is so affordable. You can learn more about intelliGlass products by connecting with them on Facebook and Twitter.

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What is the first thing you always do when you get a new mobile device?