So its that time of the year again when the summer holidays are drawing to a close, the nights are getting longer and you’re starting to realise it’s a little bit too cold to be wearing that shorts and flip flops combo you’ve been rocking out all summer. For some of you though it means something else; sending the kids back to school.

Now that they are going back I’m sure many of you have already had to go out on the back to school shop, buying them their new stationary, getting them a new lunch box or even that fashionable backpack they wanted. Did you however think about adding a pay as you go phone to the list? It may sound like a peculiar purchase for the back to school shop but getting your child a new mobile can actually be one of the cheapest, useful and most valuable items they can take back to school with them.

Here at One Stop Phone Shop we have a fantastic and diverse range of pay as you go phones which are perfect for the younger generation; some of them starting from only £4.95. Kitted out with social networking capabilities and ideal for texting; you can give your kids a phone that not only is cheap, practical but incredibly useful. Plus it means you’re only a phone call or text away if they should ever need to contact you.

Take the Samsung B3310 for example; it has a slide out QWERTY keyboard so it’s great for messaging and socialising. It also has a built in MP3 player and FM radio so it can access and store all the latest tunes. You can get all this and much more for only £39.95 on T-Mobile, and what’s more if you top up £10 a month you can get unlimited texts as well. Get a messaging phone that you can rely on with the Samsung B3310 mobile phone.

With the Samsung B3210 Genio QWERTY you can again get the QWERTY keyboard to easily message and contact friends and family. You can even use it to message and communicate over all the popular social networking sites. The Samsung B3210 also comes with a 2.0-megapixel camera, FM radio, Bluetooth and is ready for the younger generation. For just £39.95 on T-Mobile you won’t want to overlook this back to school beauty.

So there you have it two fantastic phones to keep your kids happy and one easy solution to keep you better connected and in touch.

They say ignorance is bliss but when it comes to protecting your phone it’s a completely different story.  Now more than ever Internet users everywhere are exposed to the risks of electronic attack. With smartphones and high end mobile devices entering the market at an astonishing rate, they bring with them Wi-Fi and 3G capabilities which let you sync to other devices, networks and most importantly the internet.  The risks that once applied to just your computer at home are now becoming an increasingly pressing issue for mobile internet users everywhere.

At the One Stop Phone Shop we want to protect you and ensure you always have a secure and safe online experience.  That’s why we have compiled a list of 10 helpful tips and tricks to get you protected and stay protected.

1. The perfect password

Having a password or PIN for your phone is a must. However there is no point having one if it’s easy to guess. To get the perfect password use a combination of numbers and letters, preferably something that doesn’t relate directly to you such as your house number or birthday. Think long and hard to create your perfect password.

2. Look at your phone in a different light

Remember … It’s not just a phone! Mobile phones are getting more intelligent and can begin to do things that you could only do at your computer back home. If you can access your social network accounts and perform tasks like online banking then the same risks apply. Change your perceptions about your phone and treat it like your wallet.  Keep it on you at all times and don’t let it out of your site.

3. Avoid the tricks

When downloading from an app store or website make sure you know exactly what it is that you are downloading and where you are downloading from.  Have your eyes peeled for illegal or fraudulent apps/software. If something looks odd then the best thing to do is just leave it.

4. Be alert in busy areas

Take care in busy areas, especially when logging in to accounts or typing in sensitive information.  Think; are you the only person looking at your phone? You wouldn’t let someone look at your screen when you go to a cash point so don’t let them do it when you’re on your phone.  This is known as ‘shoulder surfing’.  That’s not all; avoid leaving your Bluetooth on as it is possible for someone else to hack in to your phone via your Bluetooth and make calls off of your phone.  This is known as ‘Bluetooth jacking’.   Switching off Bluetooth is simple and easy to do and only takes a few seconds, be alert, wary and you too can avoid this ‘costly’ mistake.

5. Are some details essential?

Ask yourself the question, do you really need to type in your home number and is it essential that your address is saved in your mobile’s satnav?  The chances are it isn’t.  Yet 59% of smartphone owners admit to storing their telephone number inside their phones.  If your phone along with this number falls in to the wrong hands then you can even be exposed to identity theft.

6. Get wise with Wi-Fi

It’s great when you can connect to a Wi-Fi hot spot, it gives you super speedy internet and what’s more; often than not it’s usually free.  However we strongly advise then when you do connect you know who you’re connecting to. Some networks can be a real danger zone for your phone and your personal details.  Wi-Fi networks can host viruses, redirect you to sites, or you can have your details grabbed out of the air by others.  Only trust established brands and subscribed services.

7. Keep your eyes peeled

Mobile phones naturally have a smaller form factor than your big PC or laptop screen at home.  This in turn makes it harder to read site details and the specific website address (URL).  Take the time to read where you are and if it is indeed the site you intended to land on. This is important as that favourite website you log in to or bank account you type your details in to could be a copy cat.  A copy cat site aims to look every part the same as these familiar sites that you would use all the time at home.  So keep in mind when you’re typing in your sensitive information that it might not be going to the person or site you intended.

8. Are you Recycle ready?

You’d be surprised the care that has to go into even recycling your phone these days.  It is becoming more and more essential to take the right steps when you recycle to avoid fraud and identity theft.  When you’re recycling cover your back by restoring the phone to its factory settings. Or to go that extra step, destroy or completely wipe your SIM card.  You are now recycle ready.

9. Phone Phishing

Don’t worry this isn’t a spelling mistake, Phishing (pronounced the same as fishing) is the criminally fraudulent act of acquiring your personal and sensitive information.  This is usually done by imposing as a trustworthy body through an electronic communication.  So be wary when following links or text messages, that spectacular prize you’ve just won could be a con.  As they say ‘if something is too good to be true, it probably is’.

10. Prepare against theft

If the worst should happen then you can at the very least take these few short steps to keep yourself prepared and one step ahead. Write a contact number on the phone of someone who is usually around or who might be able to help.  You can even put a sticker on, it may look tacky, but if it gets your phone back safe and sound who cares?  As soon as you realise your phone is lost then the first thing you need to do is to phone your provider and get them to disable the SIM as soon as possible.

So there it is, ten tricks and tips to give you peace of mind from a more secure and safer mobile life.