5 Options to Protect Your iPhone

Everyone seems to love the iPhone, and who can blame them? These high tech gadgets are incredible, with a ton of features, apps to customize it, and new ways to keep in contact with anyone around the world. You can organize your entire life with an iPhone, from work to your personal day to day, not to mention the many entertainment features that come both standard, or can be downloaded.

They are also incredibly expensive, not only to buy but to maintain. When you purchase an iPhone, you are making a real investment, one that it can be a real bummer to lose. Which is why you need to know how to properly protect it so you can have your phone for years to come.

Here are five ways that you can make sure your iPhone stays in your pocket, and not in the trash.

1. Warranties

The first step is to purchase a warranty with every iPhone. It will protect your phone from the things you know will happen eventually, whether you are careful or not. Spills, drops, cracks..they are just a part of owning technology, and they are the most frequent reason that we have to replace it. With a warranty, you will be able to lessen the cost of those replacements and repairs. The most popular warranty provider is probably SquareTrade, which has both two and three year programs for your iPhone, as well as other products from Apple and just about anyone else.

2. Insurance

Most service providers offer a insurance policy on all purchases from their company. This is for after the warranty you purchase expires, or to cover for accidents a warranty doesn't. Most allow one to three claims per year, charging you a fee per month or annually like any other insurance. Just make sure you enroll before the cutoff date, which is generally between 30 - 60 days after activation. Also read the fine print to know exactly what the insurance will get you, and whether they cover stolen phones.

3. Location Apps

Did you know there are apps out there that will allow you to locate your phone using the on-board GPS? Whether you leave it somewhere, misplace it or it is stolen, you can find our exactly where it is any time it is turned on. FindMyPhone is one that is free, and it also works with the iPad, iPod Touch and Mac. Or for additional features and coverage, try GadgetTrak for $3.99.

4. Privacy App

It isn't just the phone itself that needs to be protected, but the data in it. Just think of the many things you have connected to your phone: credit card details that pay for your service, email passwords, social media profiles, GPS locations to your home, work and frequented places. People could reconstruct your entire life and many details using what they find on an iPhone. Locking it down and protecting your privacy is important, and failing to do so could cost a lot more than the loss of your iPhone. Try Protect My Privacy, which will hide all personal information and keep the average thief from getting access to it.

5. iPhone Case

This should be a no brainer. Every iPhone should have a protective case to keep it from small amounts of moisture, keep it from getting too hot in high temperatures, and shelter it when it is dropped. But what case is the best? Cnet did an awesome roundup of a bunch of new cases for the release of the iPhone 5 and here's another list of cheap iphone 5 cases. It even mentions my favorite, the Gumdrop Drop Tech.

Conclusion

Protecting your iPhone is a must for any owner. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to do it. With the right combination, you can make sure you never have to go without your high tech gizmo, and provide yourself with some peace of mind. These are especially great for parents with teenagers that have an iPhone.

Do you have any other ways to protect a smartphone that you would like to share? Let us know in the comments.