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December 17, 2012

Smartphone Users Racking Up Big Repair Bills

By Oliver VanDervoort, Contributing Writer

There are very few people who don’t use a smartphone these days. Whether talking about the iPhone or any number of different Android (News - Alert) models on the market, almost everyone has their own smartphone. Industry research company, SquareTrade has come out with a new report which shows just how much it costs to own a smartphone. This doesn't mean just the cost of the new phone, but rather the repairs and upkeep. The study shows that in the United Kingdom alone, repairs and replacement costs totaled almost $2 billion over the last five years.



Among other facts, 23 percent of iPhone (News - Alert) and Android users have reported dropping or otherwise accidently damaging their smartphones over the last year. The most disturbing trend among smartphone users is that it appears that they are 10 times more susceptible to breaking their phone than those who do not have smartphones.


Image via Shutterstock

One of the things that have led to higher repair costs is just how much a smartphone costs these days. The iPhone 5 isn’t a crazy amount of money when you are buying it under a new contract. If you happen to break your phone, the replacement cost can be as much as three times the cost of the discounted price. The study says that this is one of the reasons why eight percent of owners resort to extreme measures including walking around with a cracked screen.

Among the most hazardous users are people who use public transportation. More than 60 percent, who use the subway or a bus, report having broken their smartphone at some point. Among the other high risk smartphone users, one thing they all have in common is the frequency in which they use their phone. People who trade stocks and read their news on a smartphone often drop or break their phones.

Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO Miami 2013, Jan 29- Feb. 1 in Miami, Florida.  Stay in touch with everything happening at ITEXPO (News - Alert). Follow us on Twitter.




Edited by Brooke Neuman
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