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Mobile Phone Tips

Safety and security

Safety

From 9 November 2009 there have been changes to the road safety rules about using mobile phones. See the Vic Roads website for more information.

Security

Remember smartphones have the same important information as your desktop / laptop and are extremely portable, making them a high security risk. Don’t leave your Monash smartphone unattended.

Monash recommends using a pin to lock the sim and keypad. Use this link for details on locking the keypad of the Blackberry.

Don’t leave your Bluetooth on and in 'visible' mode. Once you have paired your device with your Bluetooth peripherals change your Bluetooth to a secure mode or turn it off when not in use. Other devices can access your phone through Bluetooth and transfer files and viruses. For example the Cabir is a Bluetooth-worm that runs in Symbian mobile phones. The file reduces the phones battery life as it searches for other phones in range to infect. Cabir worm can only reach mobile phones that support Bluetooth, and are in discoverable mode. Use this link for more details about the Cabir Virus.

Care

Synchronise/backup your device regularly, to prevent data loss. Use this link for details on syncronising your PDA.

Smartphone devices tend to be less robust compared to a normal mobile phone; some have moving parts for keyboard or sensitive touch screens.  Take care with your smartphone, use a case and screen cover to protect it, and do not put it in a position where it could get damaged especially during transit.

Tips to maximising battery life

  • Turn off features you are not using like Bluetooth, Wireless and Event notifications such as vibrate for received emails.   
  • Reduce the device email synchronisation to 30 minutes or hourly - you can always request email from the server when you require it. 
  • Autolock the screen to reduce power when not in use. Turn off the screen rather than use a screen saver. 
  • Reduce the brightness of the screen.   
  • Shut down programs you are not using. The more software features your smartphone runs, the more battery life the device will consume.
  • Follow the manufacturer's recommendations to prolong battery life. Some phones need to be fully discharged then recharged.  Other batteries can be topped up as required.

Email

Monash recommends changing your email signature: most smartphones will not pick up your signature from the mail server and may display "sent from my ‘brand here’ mobile device." Update your email signature block and the email will look like it has been sent from a desktop client.

Work / life balance

Monash advocates a work / life balance and discourages working round the clock. Just because you have a mobile office in your hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week does not mean you have to work those hours too. Remember to have a fair work life balance. Utilising wasted time like in transit is a positive side to these devices but don’t let it rule you life. Turn off the notifications; stop the push email or shutdown the device when you are not working.

Disposing of your old phone handset

Monash supports recycling.  Mobile phone donation and recycling points are available at each of the Monash campuses and can usually be found at the Facilities and Services areas or at areas shown on our recycling map. The phones we donate or recycle are sent onto ARP (Ausie Recycling Program) where phones and accessories are reused, repaired or rebuilt and all left over items are recycled. More information about ARP can be found at arp.net.au.
Items that can be recycled include:

  • mobile phones (all components),
  • chargers,
  • holders and
  • phone batteries.

More information about recycling.