It’s shocking, but it’s true: an alarming number of touchscreen phones have begun to go bad.

For some time now, these mobile devices have repeatedly visited service centres at the ICT market and sales outlets that have warranty for them after developing one fault or the other.

Engineers have been able to provide explanations for the faults which they claim are usually minor and fixable, yet analysts fear this would not nip the growing ugly situation in the bud.

Touchscreen phones are sophisticated mobile devices which are able to execute many tasks at lightning speed. Users of the mobile deviced have only to flick their finger tips across the sensitive surface and commands are carried out.

However, it is this touch control function of the phone that is the first to be plagued with faults. About eight out of every ten cases of touchscreen phones needing repairs have been as a result of sudden loss of touch screen sensitivity.

The fault completely cripples the function of the phone especially if the device had come with no hard key pad. In other words calls cannot be picked and messages cannot be read or sent — the two basic functions of a mobile phone.

Questions have arisen on the possible cause of these problems. As mobile phones age, one of the early tell tale signs to be observed are streaks and scratches on the screens.

This is where trouble looms for touchscreen phones as a single scratch or streak on the screen could have serious effects on the functionality of the phone. In most cases, the scratches have been unintentional.

But there have been reports that pointers that come with the phone are occasionally chewed on; the pins in their rough and jagged shape are then  rubbed against the touch screens. This inflicts scratches on the phone which eventually damages the touch sensitivity.

In other cases, female users who wear long, curved fingernails inadvertently scratch at the screens as the tips of their fingernails flick across the surface. Damage is done.

There has also been repeated incidents in which the phones are dropped on hard surfaces.. The shock on impact to the hard surface could inflict fatal damage on the mobile device. — Charles Mgbolu