Windows Phone Thoughts: The Utility Of A Smartphone During An Emergency

"It shouldn't be a surprise when someone comments that your Windows Phone is a great communications tool. From using the Phone as a phone to call friends, family and associates to checking your email to updating your Facebook Status, your Windows Phone keeps you in touch. While the abilities and capabilities of communications is tremendous during day to day life, it can also be very helpful in times of crisis. I personally discovered how useful my Windows Phone can be during recent events in my home State."

George Ponder over at the wpcentral website has written a thoughtful article on dealing with an emergency and the usefulness of a smartphone. If you were to stop and think about it, you would probably identify these uses fairly readily, but it is the sense that he experienced a true crisis and reflected upon how you can help cope with a trusty electronic companion that gives the piece such a nice touch. Some of the uses he refers to include basic voice communications, texting (which benefits from short data bursts, important when the carrier signal is sporadic), weather monitoring, alert tracking, and even using the phone as a portable flashlight. He has some good points about sources of power to recharge your phone (e.g. your car battery) when power is out. Hit the Read link and take note of some good tips you will hopefully never have to use (but will be glad you know about if ever needed).