In the past decade, BlackBerry has undergone a number of transitions.  Originally the corporate choice of mobile phone, BlackBerry’s popularity soared amongst the masses with the introduction of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM).  In recent years, however, the rise of the touchscreen smartphone has resulted in millions of BlackBerry users defecting to rival platforms like Apple and Android and therefore other messaging services such as iMessage and WhatsApp.  BlackBerry (formerly RIM) has seen profits plunge and in a last ditch attempt to win back users, the firm launched a new operating system, BlackBerry 10, in January this year.  Sales of the first phone – the fully touchscreen Z10 – have been lower than expected, so it was with baited breath we awaited the arrival of the Q10 here at NGO headquarters.  Here’s the low-down:

The headline feature of the Q10 is the full Qwerty keyboard.  Unlike previous models, the keys are arranged in straight lines rather than curved and go right up to the edge of the phone to make the most of the available space.

The phone is 120mm long and 67mm wide, so bigger than last year’s Bold 9790 but not quite reaching the dizzy heights of the Samsung Galaxy S4.  It is easy to hold in one hand and has a great screen to keyboard ratio, allowing easy navigation with the thumb.  We love the quality feel of the Q10 and it looks a lot more expensive than some of BlackBerry’s previous models – which of course, it is!

Like the Z10, the Q10 sports an impressive message hub, where users can access their Facebook updates, Twitter, emails, BBM, call register and texts without having to open separate apps.  The BBM app has also been improved to incorporate audio and video calls, as well as allowing you to share what is on your screen with someone else.  The call quality is superb.

If a great camera is one of your smartphone must-haves then this probably isn’t the phone for you.  The 8-megapixel camera is perfectly adequate for taking snap-shots, but results are a bit grainy and lacking in vibrancy.  The Q10 clearly can’t compete with the likes of the HTC One, Samsung Galaxy 4 and Nokia Lumia, which is disappointing given the high price tag at point of release.

When it comes to apps, BlackBerry is still struggling.  Both Android and iOS are stocked to the gills with hundreds of thousands of titles and even Windows 8 is beginning to catch up.  There is currently no sign of Netflix, Instagram or Spotify – to name but a few – and this is something that clearly needs to be addressed.  If your BlackBerry is just a tool for work use then this might not be a big issue, but if using apps is part of your daily life (whether social or professional) then be warned.

A 1.5GHz dual-core processor along with a generous 2GB of RAM gives the Q10 a strong serving of power, albeit not in the same league as the Samsung Galaxy S4 or the HTC One with their rock quad-core chips.  The browsing speed is excellent, though, and the battery life is pretty good too, with 13 hours of talk time.

All in all, it’s a good phone and if you prefer a QWERTY keypad then the Q10 is definitely the best on the market.  The one thing that really lets it down is the price although we do expect that to drop over the coming months.  BlackBerry still has a long way to go to offer up the sort of full lifestyle device currently being sold by rivals and compromising on apps and camera quality is going to be a deal breaker for many potential users.

Already got a Q10 or a Z10?  Let us know what you think!

Ten years ago, they were one of the flagships of the digital revolution, but MP3 players are rapidly losing market share with UK sales dropping by 22% over the past year.  The pace at which smartphones are replacing iPods, GPS devices and cameras is faster than consumers and even industry leaders may have expected, as the technology becomes increasingly sophisticated.

In a recent survey, listening to music was the 4th most popular activity for smartphone users, clocking up an average of 15.38 minutes per day.  Compare that with making calls (12.08 minutes per day) and it’s easy to see why the future of the MP3 player is looking very uncertain indeed.

But when it comes to choosing headphones with which to listen to your favourite tunes, it’s a minefield out there.  With so many styles, shapes and overall functionality to choose from – not to mention cost – there’s a fair bit to consider when it comes choosing a pair of headphones to go with your shiny new smartphone.  Here at NGO Consulting, we’ve taken a quick look at what’s on offer.

In-ear buds

On looks alone, the Marshall Minor FX earphones (approx £45) win hands down. From the makers of the iconic amplifiers, these stylish black and gold feature the signature control knobs on the backside of each earpiece. The fit is achieved by twisting the unit into the ear using a range of tips that slot into the various extrusions on your ears.  For the price, the crystal clear sound quality is immense, but the Minors are amongst the largest earbuds on the market and can quickly get uncomfortable for those with smaller ears.

Sports headphones

The loop-style Sennheiser PMX 680i headphones (approx £45) are a comfortable fit no matter what your choice of activity, and thanks to the sweat-resistant materials they won’t fall apart after a few months.  The in-the built volume control comes in handy when you’re pounding the treadmill and although the bass reproduction isn’t up to much, the overall sound quality is excellent.

Bluetooth

The Nove­­­­­ro Rockaway Bluetooth earbuds (approx £55) feature high on our list for three reasons: they produce a decent sound, provide wireless connection with a micro USB connector for charging and come in at a decent price.  The build quality may not quite match that of its higher priced competitors but for something wireless on the go that won’t break the bank, you can’t go wrong with these.

Noise cancellation

Pioneer’s SE-NC31C-K noise cancelling earbuds (approx £55) promise to remove per cent of ambient noise at the flip of a switch on its AAA battery-powered in-line module.  Compact and light-weight, these earphones are a serious alternative to the traditional bulky headphones normally associated with noise cancellation and feature a handy ‘monitor’ button which temporarily turns off the noise-cancelling effect to enable you to hear your surroundings when needed.

And finally …..

Protect your cable on your earphones and prevent tangling in your pocket with O Bud’s eye-catching fabric sleeves (£7.00).  Choose from an eclectic range of designs including diamante, skull & crossbones and liquorice allsorts or choose your own personalised message.

Most mobile phone contracts come with a limit on your internet usage.  But what do terms such as 500MB or 1GB mean in the real world and how much data do the most popular tasks and apps on your smartphone actually use?

What activities count towards my download limit?

Most activities on a smartphone will consume data, the main exceptions being making a phone call and sending a text message.  Even when you’re not using it, your phone will be consuming data in the background. For example, the weather widget on your home screen will update itself periodically by downloading the latest forecast from the internet and your e-mail application will automatically check for new messages.

My limit is 500MB.  Is that enough?

A typical smartphone user in the UK will consume around 10MB of data per day which is equivalent to 300MB per month. For this reason, a 500MB plan should be suitable for most users and will give you an adequate buffer against additional data consumption.  A word of warning, though…  On a 500MB per month limit, data-intensive activities should be kept to an absolute minimum.  These include:

• downloading music or listening to online radio
  e.g. using apps such as Spotify or Last.fm
• streaming or downloading video
  e.g. using apps such as YouTube, TVCatchup, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Sky Go and Ustream
• tethering your phone to a computer
  e.g. using your phone’s 3G connection as mobile broadband to connect to your PC
• using voice-over-IP applications
  e.g. using apps such as Skype, FaceTime and Google Talk

So what do 500MB and 1GB actually correspond to in real life usage?

It’s hard to give an exact figure.  For example as every web page differs in size depending on the amount of text, images and other multimedia content within it. Also, whilst most e-mail messages are small in size, they can also be fairly large if they include attachments such as photos. The following table gives “typical” values as provided by Vodafone:

How do I know when I’m approaching my download limit?

At NGO Consulting, we offer a service which sends a text to alert you when you have used 80% of your monthly allowance and again when you have used 95%.

Alternatively you can download the Onavo app which lets you set your data plan limit for the month and alerts you via notification status when you are nearing the limit.  It also­­ lets you restrict data guzzling apps to Wi-Fi only and set a data cap on roaming.  Available on iPhone and Android

Help, I need to reduce my data consumption!

If you’ve received a notification message to say that you’re approaching your download limit, you can restrict your data consumption by following these tips:

• Use Wi-Fi when you’re at home. Whenever you’re at home, connect to your Wi-Fi network. This will route your data through a home broadband connection allowing you to save your download allowance for when you’re out and about.
• Refrain from using bandwidth-intensive apps. If you’re not connected to a Wi-Fi network, refrain from streaming music or video content from the internet.
• Disable automatic application updates. Application updates can use up a large proportion of your monthly download allowance. If you receive 10 app updates per month, this is equivalent to about 60MB data usage. To further restrict data consumption, you can also tick the box for “Update over Wi-Fi only”.
• Disable bandwidth-hungry apps. On Android, it’s possible to see how much data each app is consuming. To do this, navigate to Settings > Data Usage. Consider uninstalling bandwidth-heavy applications or restricting their ability to use background data.

Can I use my download allowance abroad?

No.  Your inclusive download allowance can only be used within the UK.  If you’re travelling abroad, it is best to contact us/your current provider to discuss the most suitable options.  We have some excellent options at our disposal including using your UK tariff in Europe plus daily and monthly data additions for travelling outside Europe.

To discuss your tariff and options for Smartphone data usage, contact us on 01428 792222 or support@ngoconsulting.com

The iPhone 5 was quite possibly one of the most anticipated electronic products in history.  In the weeks leading up to its release, the rumour mill went into overdrive as die-hard Apple fans and technology experts jumped on every leaked design.  Exactly how much bigger would the screen be?  Would the camera really be able to capture 3D images and what about the rumoured smaller dock?

When it came to pre-orders, the iPhone 5 smashed records with over two million people around the world pre-ordering the coveted smartphone in the first 24 hours – that’s double the figure for the iPhone 4S.  Within just three days, Apple had sold over 5 million iPhone 5 handsets and the technology company had been voted the UK’s coolest brand, replacing Aston Martin, which had taken the top spot in six of the previous seven annual CoolBrands surveys.

So, five months after its release, was the current jewel in Apple’s crown worth the astonishing level of worldwide interest?  Here at NGO Consulting, we are continuing to experience unprecedented demand for the iPhone 5 and we’ve asked five owners for their thoughts on the hottest item on the high street.

33 year old mother of two:

“I love the improved camera features, especially the 240 degree panoramic option which gives really impressive results. The faster shutter speed means sharper pictures of moving objects and the camera performs a lot better in low light than the iPhone 4S.  The bigger screen means an extra row of icons which is useful, and battery life is slightly improved.  The only complaint I have is that the iPhone 5 is not nearly as durable as previous models.  My handset was scratched after less than a week which is not what you expect when you’re spending that sort of money on a Smartphone.”

53 year old Chairman of a FTSE 250 company:

“The iPhone 5 has a real quality feel about it – the weight distribution is spot on and I love its sleek, minimalist design in anodized aluminium. The display seems to perform better in sunlight and everything from switching on the handset to taking photos is definitely faster, which is a bonus.  When it comes to screen size, though, I would have still preferred a slightly larger screen, so it’s for that reason I will be sticking with my Samsung Galaxy S3”

50 year old local business owner:

“The iPhone 5 is noticeably thinner than the iPhone 4 – much more so than I was actually expecting – and its stark lines and two-tone matte-shiny back-plate definitely gives it the design edge on its competitors.  On paper, the slightly larger screen doesn’t sound like much of an upgrade, but I’ve found that it actually makes a big difference.  Movies look better, the gaming experience has moved up several notches and the extra row of icons is a real bonus.  I love it!”

14 year old avid Apple fan:

“At first, I was a bit disappointed that the iPhone 5 camera only had eight megapixels , but I soon realised that it’s loads better than the one on the iPhone 4S.  One of the best things about the iPhone 5 is that you can take a still photo whilst you’re shooting a video and the panorama photo option is really easy to use because it has an onscreen guide that helps you keep the phone level and move it at the right speed.  The camera is also faster which means I can take photos more quickly.”

25 year old Marketing Executive:

“This is my first iPhone and so far I’m pretty impressed.  The camera is great, (although my HTC performed slightly better in low light) and I love the Photo Stream sharing feature – you simply click on pictures from albums that you want to share then email an invitation to view just that selection.  The iPhone 5 speakers are a big improvement on those on my HTC although the headphone jack at the bottom of the phone takes some getting used to.  Like most people, I was expecting the battery life to be a bit better than it actually is, but all in all, the iPhone 5 gets a big thumbs-up from me!”

We’re really pleased to announce the appointment of our new Sales Director, Clare Hammersley, who will be joining us on the 1^st March.

Clare was most recently Head of Retail at Thomson Local and, prior to that, held the position of Sales Director at leading transport company CityFleet, a ComfortDelGro subsidiary, where she played a vital role in securing a number of large corporate clients.

Clare’s arrival comes at a time of significant growth and change for our business, with recent developments including the launch of Distinct which caters for high-spend individual mobile users looking for discretion, high security and the benefits of a personal concierge service.

Our CEO Nick Oldham believes now is the right time to invest in the newly created senior role at NGO Consulting, “We pride ourselves on providing a very high level of service which is why we have had success in winning and retaining many high ARPU mobile clients since first launching in 2006.  We are committed to growing the business and Clare’s wealth of experience and contacts in corporate sales fits well with our strategy to grow our mobile base.”

Clare, who joins the business on 4th March, added: “I am delighted to be joining the company at such an exciting time.  Having worked with some of the country’s leading law firms and finance institutions in the past fourteen years, I understand the demands placed on suppliers and I am very much looking forward to working with a team that shares my passion for excellent customer service.”

Heading off to the mountains this half term?  Don’t leave home without our guide to the latest ski-related apps and gadgets.

Ski Tracks, the world’s most downloaded ski and snowboard app, is an all-time favourite here at NGO Consulting.  Easy to use and packed with great stats to review after an action-packed day on the slopes, this is a must-have for all snow sports enthusiasts.  The app uses GPS not only to map where you ride, but also to calculate your speed, slope angle, distance covered and vertical feet skied along the way.  Ski Tracks runs in the background which means it requires very little power and allows you to still make calls, text or use other apps. Just open it when you arrive in the resort and let it run for the duration of your stay.  Available on iPhone and Android.

New Powfinder by Salomon is one of the best apps we’ve found for providing accurate snow forecasts for Europe and North America.  With user generated weather reports, Powfinder gives you all the latest snow conditions for your resort, including snowmaps to illustrate weather movements and info on where to find the deepest powder.  Free and available on iPhone and Android.

Traditionally designed to protect your eyes from the cold, snow and bright light, ski goggles have taken on all kinds of new roles over the past few years. The Buhel Speakgoggle G33 Intercom uses Bluetooth to connect to your mobile phone with up to four G33 Intercom units allowing users hands-free communication with each other up to a distance of 500m. The microphone is actually integrated into the goggle frame itself and uses bone conduction – essentially vibrations sent through your facial bones – to pick up your speech. The Speakgoggle G33 also enables users to automatically answer incoming calls, voice-dial and even listen to music and works at temperatures as low as -30C.

Capture your ski or snowboard action in 1080p video with Zeal Optics HD goggles. Combining an integrated HD camcorder, anti-fog high density UV optics and an impact resistant frame, these state-of-the-art goggles use a 170 degree wide angle camera lens for maximum coverage and automatically adjust light levels with infinite focus.  Other features include a built-in viewfinder for previewing shots along with glove-ready controls on the side of the frame.  A rechargeable battery provides up to three hours of running time.

Keep your Smartphone safe and dry on the slopes with a DryCASE, a flexible, crystal clear waterproof bag that allows unrestricted use.  Just pop your mobile – or your camera -in the bag and pump out all the air with the easy-to-use hand pump.  The bag will vacuum seal around the contents and become completely waterproof. The air tight seal guarantees that the contents of the bag will stay dry, even when submerged underwater.

Finally, for those of you who won’t be getting any real snow action this year, check out our app of the week, Ski Safari, which will see you riding on the back of a Yeti, soaring through the sky under the grip of an eagle and using a penguin as skis as you try to outrun a massive avalanche.  Available on iPhone and Android – and hugely addictive!

Some final words of advice; check your roaming arrangements before your ski trip.  At both ends of the usage spectrum, it can be really important:

• Make sure you can make that important phone call if you’re unfortunately stranded up the mountain
• Make sure it won’t cost you a fortune to update your Facebook with a photo of you enjoying a well deserved pint at après!

As the UK becomes the first country to release the Blackberry 10, we take a look at Blackberry’s new operating system and handsets.

It was once the leader in the global smartphone industry, but in recent years, Blackberry has lost a considerable amount of the market share to Apple and Samsung. Less than 12 million Blackberry handsets were sold in the last quarter, compared with 47.8 million iPhones and 63 million Samsung devices.

In what some experts see as a last ditch attempt to win back users, the firm has launched a brand new operating system, the Blackberry 10, along with two completely re-designed phone models.

First up and available in the UK from the 31^st January, the Z10 marks a departure from Blackberry’s traditional screen and keyboard approach to a total touchscreen experience, with a whole host of features to attract users more used to physical buttons.  These include a feature which learns the words and phrases the owner most often types and then uses this to suggest words which appear above the keyboard and can be flicked into place.

Another feature which has impressed critics is the message hub, where users can access their Facebook updates, Twitter, emails and texts without having to open separate apps.  The popular BBM messaging app can now also make audio and video calls as well as being able to share what is on one person’s screen with the other user’s device.

Blackberry has traditionally been seen as the corporate choice of smartphone and the new handsets include a mix of features designed to make them appeal as a crossover business-personal machine.

Blackberry Balance sets up a “work perimeter” on the phone so that data belonging to the user’s employer can be limited to approved apps, whilst photos and other personal information can be used across a wider range of software.  Companies are also given the option of being able to remotely wipe sensitive files.

So far, so good, but it looks like die-hard QWERTY fans are going to have to wait a little longer, as the Q10 featuring Blackberry’s trademark keyboard along with a touchscreen, is not expected to be released until April.  Some analysts have questioned Blackberry’s decision to release the Z10 ahead of the Q10, when the main reason so many users have been loyal to Blackberry is purely down to the physical keyboard.  In the last round of Blackberry 7 products, the keyboard-sporting Bold performed well, whilst the other full-screen touchscreen devices were largely ignored.  Only time will tell whether or not the Blackberry 10 platform is enough to put Blackberry back in the game, but there may be quite a few people holding out until the Q10 is released.

Here is some reaction from leading analysts:

Peter Misek, analyst, Jefferies & Co:

“This puts them back in the game. The big blow away factor for me is, you have a larger screen and you can do everything with one hand. As expected, as delivered, solid device and presentation. I’m looking forward to how consumers react, and how much buzz it generates, and whether the enterprise embraces it.”

Carl Howe, vice-president for Consumer Research Group, Yankee Group:

“The device stacks up well against iPhone and Android devices. I believe it will quickly gain ground with BlackBerry lovers and with business that have invested in BES enterprise infrastructures. Because BlackBerry controls its entire ecosystem including software, hardware, and services, it can move quicker than Android and Windows can. We see BlackBerry rapidly becoming a solid third ecosystem behind Apple and Android.”

Adam Leach, analyst, Ovum:

“The Blackberry 10 platform offers a differentiated user experience in today’s crowded and homogenous smartphone market. The Blackberry Z10 and Q10 will stand out from the Android masses and look distinct from Apple’s iPhone. The user experience of Blackberry 10 introduces some nice new features but importantly builds on Blackberry’s UI heritage and therefore will certainly appeal to existing Blackberry users. However, the challenge for the company will be to attract new users and those that have already moved to alternative smartphones. However, Ovum believes that despite a well-designed Blackberry 10 platform, that will certainly attract short-term interest from existing users the company will struggle to appeal to a wider audience and in the long-term will become a niche player in the smartphone market.”

Amazon Kindle Phone

Rumour has it that the internet giant is adding a phone to its range of Kindle readers.  The software will allow seamless integration between Amazon’s Appstore, MP3, Cloud Player and Kindle books and, according to PC Magazine, is likely to be very competitively priced as Amazon is expected to subsidise the cost of the handset and the monthly price plan.

Nest Smartphone Thermostat

Designed by two former Apple employees and described as the ‘iPhone of thermostats’, the Nest connects with your smartphone via Wi-Fi, allowing you to control your heating – even when you’re not at home.  It also takes notes each time you turn the dial up or down in order to build a detailed schedule based around your temperature preferences.  The Nest is already available in the US and is expected to arrive in the UK mid-2013.

Leap Motion

Gesture control on a tablet has been around for years, but Leap Motion takes it to a new level.  This clever little device, the size of a USB drive, sits next to your computer and can detect your hand movements with astonishing accuracy.  Without touching your screen, you can flip through photos and even reach into a 3D diagram and manipulate objects.  Available to pre-order now.

Google Smart-Glasses

It looks like Vuzix is about to beat Google in the much-hyped race to release internet-enabled smart glasses, with the imminent launch of Vuzix Smart Glasses M100, a hands-free smart device that consists of a virtual display eyepiece, integrated WiFi and Bluetooth, a 720p HD camera and motion sensors.  Using the device, which is worn like a Bluetooth headset and can be paired with a smartphone for on-the-go network connectivity, users can make hands-free voice calls, capture images and video, browse the internet and access SMS and email messages.

Bendy Screen Smartphones

Samsung looks set to become the first tech firm to release a smartphone with a flexible display that can be bent, twisted or folded.  Using a plastic polymer instead of glass, the bendy screen smartphone will be lighter and more durable than traditional smartphones as well as cheaper to manufacture.  Although there’s still no official date for release, sources within Samsung have reportedly revealed to The Wall Street Journal that the flexible phone should be on our shelves within the first half of 2013.

The Apple iWatch

Sources from China claim that Apple is poised to turn the watch industry upside down with the release of the iWatch, a smartphone that you wear on your wrist.  According to the latest rumours, Apple paired up with Intel to work on the James Bond-style gadget which could debut in the first half of this year.  The iWatch is said to have a one-and-a-half inch LED screen that lets users text, email and access Facebook as well as communicating with the owner’s iPhone and other devices via Bluetooth.

Don’t let your perfectly-timed morning routine get thrown off course by an icy windscreen.  Winter Wake-up (iPhone and Android) is a free alternative alarm clock that wakes you earlier if there’s frost or snow on the ground.  The app uses your location to find out the weather in your area and determine if you need those all-important extra minutes to defrost your car and still get to work on time.

According to a new survey, 98 per cent of Brits will have made a New Year’s resolution this year.  So whether you’re trying to cut back on your spending, change your eating habits or even just spend more quality time with family and friends, check out HabitStreak (iPhone and Android), a free app designed to help you create positive new habits – and break destructive old ones.  Simply type in the habit you want to create and the app sends you daily reminders to make sure you are meeting your goals.  The app also tracks your progress so you can see which weeks were better than others and learn to recognise habit-breaking triggers in your lifestyle.

If your new year’s resolution is to lose weight, then you are not alone; a recent poll carried out by thinkmoney.co.uk revealed that over 14.5 million adults in the UK have resolved to shed those excess pounds in 2013.  Make your smartphone your new workout buddy by using a mobile app to make it easier to eat the right food, drink less alcohol and exercise harder.  Our current favourite is MyFitnessPal (iPhone and Android).  which has a massive database of over 2 million foods and includes a barcode scanner.  With an easy entry system that calculates your daily calorie intake and monitors your exercise schedule, sticking to a New Year diet has never been easier.

With summer still a long way off, what better way to cheer yourself up than planning a weekend getaway.  The Hg2 iPhone city guide app (iPhone only) promises to revolutionise the way you travel with hotel, restaurant, sightseeing and shopping recommendations written by the best editors and insiders in the business.  Playlists inspired by each city and compiled by world-famous DJs are also available to download or stream.

Looking for a bargain in the sales?  Don’t buy anything until you’ve checked the price on Skinflint (iPhone), an independent price comparison app that allows you to compare prices on the go. Just scan the barcode to locate the product you’re thinking about buying and the app will then locate nearby stores stocking the item and display the varying prices, allowing you to find the cheapest.  Skinflint can sort the results in order of price, product rating or number of offers and is fully integrated with Facebook and Twitter so that you can share your bargains with friends.

Finally, if you’re suffering from the flu and reading this from your sick bed, “nothing will make you feel better like finding somebody to blame.” Well, that’s the sentiment that powers Help: My Friend Gave me The Flu, a new Facebook app that tries to work out which friend gave you the virus.  The app looks at your news feeds to see which of your friends also have flu-like symptoms and then cross references that information with the people you have recently seen.  It then gives you a list of suspects, ranked in order of how likely they are to have given you the flu, each highlighted in red and labelled with the word “Quarantine!”  Bet that’s cheered you up already!

Nomophobia (noun):  the fear of being out of mobile phone contact.

How much time do you spend each day responding to email, checking Facebook, sending and reading texts or surfing websites?  Do you reach for your smartphone before you even open your eyes in the morning?  Perhaps you make one last move on your iPad chess app – even after you’ve turned out the lights.  In other words, how much of your day is spent doing stuff online that doesn’t – if you’re completely honest – add a tremendous amount of value to your life or indeed anyone else’s?

Sound familiar?  Don’t worry, you’re not alone!

A recent survey revealed that a third of Brits would rather give up sex than their smartphones! Seventy per cent of people would give up booze for a week to keep their phone and 63 per cent would stop eating chocolate.  One in four people were found to be sleeping with their phones not silenced and one in ten woken at least a few times a week by calls, text or emails.

According to Wired Magazine, nomophobia (a term coined by the Post Office who commissioned a UK-based research organisation to look at anxieties suffered by mobile phone users), is now on par with treatment for a root canal when it comes to stress levels!

So is it time to take a step back?

Believe it or not, trend forecasters are alreadySo it may come as a surprise to all you nomophobes reading this, that there’s a small but growing number of people who are now craving short bursts of technology-free time out from their multi-connected lives.  Across the country, email is being turned off, friend requests are being ignored and smartphones are falling silent whilst people literally “switch off”.  According to experts, 90-minute switch-off periods work best as this is the length of time for a basic wave of renewal and it fits with our physiological rhythm.  Research suggests that taking time to turn-off first thing each morning, when you typically have more energy, can even help set you on the path to a more focused day.

In Sleeping with Your Smartphone, Harvard Business School professor Leslie Perlow provides a step-by-step guide to introducing changes in the way you use your smartphone.  She shows how, by following a few simple rules, you can devote more time to your personal life and accomplish more at work. http://leslieperlow.com/book

And if you still need convincing that is really is OK to turn your phone off occasionally, just take a look at the results of a recent survey commissioned by the British Psychological Society in which stress levels were seen to increase based on the number of times individuals checked their phones for text messages, missed calls and emails.

So if you are currently one of the thirty per cent of Brits who would rather give up sex for a week than go without their mobile phone, maybe it’s time to switch off once in a while!