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Today the guest post is offered by Chris Martin, a freelance writer who writes for numerous websites and is also a ghostwriter for several blogs. He is sharing some killer tips on how to solve smartphone problems online.

So you’ve made the leap and bought yourself a brand new smartphone. Congratulations! You probably can’t wait to get home or to the office and start setting it up, playing around with it, and seeing how it can make your life better. It’s probably the closest feeling you’ll get to being a kid opening up presents on Christmas morning

But almost as soon as it’s out of the box, your smartphone starts giving you difficulties. Either it’s not doing what it’s supposed to do, or you’re unable to figure out how to make it work like you want it. Your mood quickly changes from delight to frustration, and you might even start cursing the evils of so-called “advanced technology.” Talk about a buzzkill.

You can’t find help in the abbreviated instructions that come with the smartphone, and you don’t want to spend an unknown amount of time on the phone with tech support. So the obvious solution is to go online to find the answer to your problem. You’ll browse the Web, locate what you need, fix your smartphone, and be back on track. Right?

Not so much.

3 Out of 4 People Don’t Find a Solution Online

A new study released by WDS, a managed services company in the wireless industry, reveals that “three out of every four people who try to use their computers to solve their smartphone problems do not achieve a satisfactory result.” In other words, smartphone companies, who ostensibly are on the cutting edge of technology, are failing to properly utilize the Internet – arguably the most user-friendly information source available – in order to help their customers

Smartphone problems vary widely, but the five most common ones are

• downloading apps
• using the built-in camera
• connecting to the Internet
• importing contact lists
• setting up email

This failure to satisfy customers could present a long-term conundrum for the smartphone industry. After all, if users feel that upgrading their devices is problematic, frustrating, and time-consuming, they will be much more likely to put off purchasing new smartphones, shy away from more complex models, stick to lower-tiered service plans, and utilize computers, music players, tablets, and other devices instead of smartphones.

Tips for Locating Your Solution

If you are having trouble with your smartphone and are turning to the Web in an attempt to find answers, here are some tips for you

1. Only spend a few minutes on a search engine. Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other search engines tend to be the first place that most computer users go for information on just about anything. And when looking for smartphone troubleshooting, that can indeed be your first stop if your issue happens to be a common one. However, you shouldn’t look past the first couple of search engine pages hoping to find what you’re looking for, nor should you try to plug in every possible search term. If you don’t locate your answer quickly, then don’t waste your time. Try another one of these options.

2. Go to the website of your smartphone manufacturer. This will at least narrow your search parameters to the device you own. Ericsson, Nokia, Sony, Samsung, and other device makers should have pages dedicated to helping people with their smartphone issues. Check the FAQ pages and the support forums; if necessary, submit a question to their support team yourself.

3. Go to the website of your wireless carrier. Like device manufacturers, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, and other wireless service providers have online resources that can assist you. These pages may focus more on email, downloads, cloud computing, and other areas that have to do more with software than hardware. Again, peruse through the support forums and/or FAQ pages, and don’t be afraid to contact the company’s support department directly.

4. Check out some online forums. Granted, there are lots of online forums on the Web with varying degrees of helpfulness. But there are a handful that tend to be pretty useful depending on which smartphone you own. These include:

• All About Symbian
• Android Forums
• Apple iPhone Forums
• CrackBerry (for BlackBerrys)
• PreCentral (for Palm devices)
• Windows Phone Thoughts
• Howard Forums (for all types of smartphones)

5. Consider an online support package. This is probably your last resort, since it will cost you money. But if you own or work for a company that tends to have numerous smartphone issues, or if you’re willing to pay between $10 and $50 a month just to keep your blood pressure down when dealing with smartphones, then this is the way to go. There are companies (like SupportSquad) that provide round-the-clock, one-on-one assistance with all of your smartphone issues – and they also handle other electronic devices as well. It’s like having your own personal IT department.

As a Last Resort…

Today, people are used to getting whatever they want online with a few clicks of a mouse. Unfortunately, most people are coming up empty when they turn to cyberspace to resolve their smartphone difficulties. So if none of the abovementioned options are sufficient for you, then you may have to actually pick up your home or business phone – or worse, drive to a store – before you can fix your problem. That’s the cruel truth: Sometimes, low-tech options are more effective than their high-tech counterparts.

Image credit: siliconangle.com

Chris Martin is a freelance writer who writes for numerous websites and is also a ghostwriter for several blogs. In addition, he is an accomplished voice actor and an experienced sportscaster. Martin has also worked as a radio DJ, a traffic reporter, and a public address announcer for sporting events.