Cell phone users and the general consuming public are currently divided over the viability of having mobile phones covered with insurance. Although the issue has not developed into a heated debate over the matter, it has affected the expected targets of insured units by the telecom networks, mobile phone manufacturers, and the insurance firms. The division is caused by one camp insisting on the advantages of insurance coverage while the other maintains that that this is just a ploy to increase profits by the insurance companies and the telecom networks. According to experts in the telecom industry and independent observers in the internet, both sides actually have valid issues. They said that the positive thing that can come out from the arguments is that the insurance and telecom companies will be pressured to continually improve their services.
Users who consider cell phone insurance as advantageous often point out to the fact that these gadgets are solid state and cannot be repaired by the owner or by any other shop, except for the authorized ones. Because of this, cell phone repairs can be very expensive, especially when valuable parts have to be replaced. Cell phone theft has also victimized many users. Law enforcement agencies throughout the country have declared that one of the most rampant petty crimes being perpetuated is the theft of mobile phones. In this circumstance and unless the phones are recovered, consumers will only have to accept that the fact that their investments are totally lost. With cell phone insurance though, theft and loss can still be solved.
Some consumer groups and individuals, however, say that there is more to lose in having cell phones insured. According to one prominent consumer group with advocacies in the telecom market said that the cell phone insurance is actually a waste of money. Although they admit that theft, damages, and loss do happen, they insist that these do not happen all the time and to all users. The fear of such incidents that many never occur to a user only prompts him or her to release funds monthly for insurance premiums without any certainty of benefitting from it. There have also been complaints about cell phone replacements being refurbished.
Telecom market observers said that in order to quell apprehensions over insurance coverage, users only have to understand clearly the finer details of the insurance policy. The policy, according to them, is a legally binding contract. If users feel that the policy puts them at a disadvantage, then they should not enter into such insurance agreement. However, if the policy totally benefits them, then the insurance coverage can be considered as the best option. The observers say that users only have to assert their rights as consumers if they feel that the insurance coverage is not fair.
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