Necessity versus luxury is an old debate that has been going on for eons. Half a decade ago, cell phones were owned by the very few and mostly in the upper economic strata. Now the whole world is cellular connected including the Third World developing nations. With the falling prices, prepaid mobiles and the higher technology penetration in daily lives, unlocked cell phones are a lifeline for millions while at the same time are important status symbols. Take the example of the digital kids and their parents. Parents give cheap prepaid GSM unlocked cell phones to their children for security and their own peace of mind (a modern day necessity); the kids in turn zone in on the cool games and Internet access that comes with the latest handsets and show off to their friends (status). Also SMS text messaging is a hip socializing tool. So owning a cell phone today is simultaneously a must-have and makes a statement about your position in life – depending on your viewpoint. Does this extend to other items in the US cellular accessory arena as well; to something as small and on the fringe as your cell phone cover? Darn right it does.

Unlocked phones are real assets; they need real protection

The prices tags of new 3G GSM unlocked cell phones in US cellular markets hover at between $250 and $900 per unit. Google phone, iphone, Blackberry Storm and Nokia N97 – smartphones in every sense of the word - provide access to the wireless Internet and all kinds of applications (like the iphone weather widget, Nokia 5800 Musicxpress, Google Maps and Gmail). That is, provided they are working. Yes, in the end it all comes back to a very basic need: The personal satisfaction and business functionality of all users depend on prepaid unlocked phones or postpaid unlocked mobiles working well and staying physically in one piece.

Enter the vital need for cell phone protection while the handset is being carried, used or just left to rest. This is a wide ranging topic starting at cellular insurance for accidental and water damage, electrical failure, lost or stolen, and ending simply with physically looking after the device. Even so, they all tie together: Something as small as the mobile unit cover impacts your cell phone insurance in a very big way. Careful scrutiny of the formal exclusions in your cell phone policy will reflect that most insurers expect cell phones to be cover protected before a claim will be recognized. In effect, they expect you to do everything you can to look after your new or refurbished GSM 3G cell phone; anticipate it being dropped, banged, dropped on, or water damaged, to name just a few everyday threats to functionality of the device. Cell phone insurers explicitly state in most policies that the cell phone should use protective accessories supplied. Negligent use, including not using a provided cell phone cover, could well result in defective internal circuitry related to display, wireless Internet and signal receiving capabilities - making the cell phone inoperative aside from being a net frustration. Worse than this, it may result in claims being denied by the exclusion being enforced in your insurance for unlocked cell phones.

To comply with the insurers standards in the US cellular insurance arena and reduce the impact of any physical damage, there are many varieties of cases or covers for mobile phones available on the market in different materials. The younger generation, mostly teens but also many adults, have taken this basic need to the next level and are driving the move to buy covers that not only protect but make a fashion statement as well.

Name brand mobile covers for iPhones, Nokia N96, Blackberry Storm and others

Many manufacturers provide cases as genuine accessories for the high-end as well as cheap unlocked mobile phones. You can find a wider range of cell phone covers outside of this even. As examples, hard snap on phone covers for the LG Voyager provide the much-needed protection this somewhat delicate 3G network-supporting phone requires. Zebra voyager covers especially the zebra case for LG viewty are very popular. A big contributor to this is availability in a variety of colors. The trend is for the basic non-aesthetic hard rubber cases to be mixed in with designer qualities to attract new customers. Samsonite Nokia cell case covers are a case in point: They are made of genuine leather directed at those who give precedence to protection but want a good look; Rubber NV2 cases are positioned in a similar way.  

It is not only the mobile manufacturers that provide covers; prominent fashion names in other fields have also jumped on the bandwagon. The younger set and adults equally go for Disney’s tinkerbell phone cases adorned with cartoon characters. Dooney and Bourke cell phone black purse PDA is a hot choice among fashion conscious groups, being one of the most sought after names in handbags and purses. The bottom line is that it is possible to have protection and fashion at the same time – without losing on either aspect. It has gone further than this even: With the cult following on Prada LG phones and recently the popular pink phones for women this has naturally overflowed to something as small as the phone’s protective casing. Now, certain hard cases contain an even higher end fashion orientation: A hot button item is the clear transparent silicone skin snap-on cover hard case cell phone protector for Samsung m540 rant - a perfect combination of style and protection in its true sense and the best among available rant rubber cases. Also, look at the rubber hard case for Nokia N96 and hard rubber cover for Blackberry Pearl 8110 as options providing good protection as well as hot colors for these specific smartphones.

In the modern world, functionality is not the only thing buyers of 3G GSM unlocked or locked phones will be happy with. There has to be a blend of status appeal and alignment with self-image. The cover for your mobile phone is a really good way to achieve this. Ensquared, an authority on insurance of unlocked cell phones looks at things from all angles. Check out UK phone thefts are a guide for GSM cellular insurance in USA as an expansion of need for good cell phone coverage