Now that you have your new smartphone
All you need to get the most from your smartphone – from the basics, to setting up your phone and learning more about using data.
Smartphones made simple
What is a smartphone?
A smartphone is a mobile device that works not only as a phone but also allows you to access the internet, send and receive email, download apps and games, and enjoy social networking sites like Facebook.
Watch our video to see what your smartphone can do
Get the right data plan
With a smartphone you can do way more than just call and text. But using all these added features – like apps and maps – uses mobile data. One of the keys to getting started with your smartphone is to make sure you're on the right data plan for your usage. Check my plan.
What is an app?
A mobile app or 'application' is a piece of software that runs on a smartphone. The most popular apps are games, mobile versions of Twitter and Facebook, and news apps like RTÉ News Now – but you can get an app for almost anything. There are lots of apps to buy or download for free from Apple's App Store, the Google Play market for Android phones, Blackberry App World, or the Windows Marketplace.
Find out what apps are available in your smartphone's app store
Setting up your smartphone
Our simple, easy-to-follow phone guides show you in step-by-step detail how to set up and use your smartphone. Find out how to do all sorts, like:
- Writing and sending text messages
- Setting up your email
- Turning Wi-Fi on and off
- Setting up Facebook
- Uploading apps to your phone
Discover more – get the most from your smartphone
Your smartphone is more than just a phone…
Keeping in touch
Keep in touch – when you want, how you want, where you want. Email, social networking, uploading and downloading images, browsing the web… these are all made easier on your smartphone.
Browsing
Faster processor speeds, larger screens and touchscreen or QWERTY keyboards, make it easy to do so much more on the web – like shopping, banking and booking flights.
Multimedia entertainment
Larger screens and clearer sound make your smartphone perfect for music and video on the go. The built-in camera is a standard feature on all smartphones too so you can capture – and share – those memories wherever you are.
Apps
You can also add and personalise the features of your smartphone by downloading apps which will help you get organised, stay informed or simply have fun – all in one little smartphone.
Get smarter – get more out of your smartphone battery
Smartphones rely heavily on their battery. Bigger screens, better cameras and features like GPS all use more power and will run down a battery more quickly.
Typically, you will need to charge your battery every night.
You can extend the battery life of your smartphone by tweaking your phone settings (e.g. screen lighting) or turning off apps you’re not using.
Tips to keep your phone & content safe
- Set up a password and keep your phone locked when you're not using it
- Never store personal details like passwords or PIN numbers in texts or emails
- If your phone's stolen, tell us straight away. You should then change any passwords for online accounts you access through your phone as soon as possible
- Never allow files to be installed from unknown sources (e.g. for Android apps outside of Google Play)
- Be on the lookout– if you go on a mobile website and the URL looks suspicious, close it straight away
- Factory reset your phone to remove all personal data if you sell or give your phone away
- Set up a PIN for your voicemail inbox, so only you can access it – and never share it with anyone.
Backup your content on Vodafone Cloud
Vodafone Cloud allows you to upload, download and access your photos, videos, music and other files from your Android smartphone, Tablet, and PC – so that you can have peace of mind knowing that your personal files are safe and secure.
When you sign up to Vodafone Cloud you automatically get 5GB storage free and if you need additional storage we have a range of storage options available for you.
Taking care of your phone
- Keep your phone dry and dust free. Moisture and dust can damage it beyond repair.
- Use a cover, case or screen protector to help protect your phone against knocks, scrapes, dust and spillage.
- Don’t expose your phone to extreme temperatures. So for example, try not to leave your phone on the dashboard of your car or outside on a hot day.
- Insure your phone. Get generous cover for lost, stolen and damaged phones with Vodafone Stay Mobile Insurance.
If your phone isn't working try the following:
- Switch off your mobile. This is an obvious one, but if you simply switch off your mobile and switch it back on again, the problem may rectify itself.
- Check your SIM card. Remove the SIM card from your handset and wipe it and the SIM connection plate with a clean dry cloth or try your SIM in another Vodafone mobile.
- Try another charger. If your phone is not charging properly, try another charger that is compatible with your mobile phone or try your charger in a different electrical socket.
- Check for network coverage. If your mobile is losing signal or you cannot get coverage, check to see if this is location related on our coverage map.
Learn more about mobile data usage
Get the right data plan for you
- The amount of data you use will depend on how you use your smartphone (if you're using apps, browsing etc.) as well as how rich the content is.
- If you're on bill pay, the price plan you sign up to when you buy a smartphone should automatically have data included. Check your plan
- If you're on pay as you go, there are some excellent top up offers available which include free internet. Find out more
- Having the right data plan or top up offer enables you to start using your smartphone immediately without worrying about additional costs.
Understanding your costs
Data calculator
Our data calculator is a great tool for estimating your monthly usage & understanding things like how much five minutes of You Tube costs in data.
Visit the data calculatorMy Vodafone
Log in to My Vodafone regularly to keep track of how much data you've used this month.
Log in to My VodafoneExplain my bill
Having trouble understanding how you're being charged? Our helpful video demo explains it all.
Explain my billData usage video
Watch the videoGet smarter with your data. This simple usage guide will help you understand what you can do with 1GB of data on your phone.
Managing your data usage
- There are some really useful apps available which help you to monitor your data usage. The My Vodafone app and the Vodafone Data Monitor are great examples of these
- Many apps continue using data in the background even when they're not active, so close them down if they're not in use. There are apps that can be downloaded to make closing other apps easier. Task Killer, for example, should close most apps in one go
- Be aware that watching video clips or listening to the radio on your smartphone can use large amounts of data, as will downloading videos or music tracks. Sometimes it's best to do these activities when connected to a wireless network (Wi-Fi)
- Email or Facebook will frequently and automatically search for and download data unless they are set up not to do so. Using the settings menu, adjust each one for manual download or less frequent automatic checks
Using data abroad
- If you're travelling abroad, it doesn't have to be that expensive as long as you're signed up to the right offers. Find out more
- As always, be careful about the type of data you use when you're abroad. Video or content streaming of any sort is heavy on data and should ideally be restricted to Wi-Fi zones.
Other helpful online services
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