LG P690B User Manual

USER GUIDE

LG-P690b

ENGLISH
FRANÇAIS

P/N : MFL67322419 (1.0)

www.lg.com/ca

LG-P690bLG-P690b User Guide

This guide helps you get started using your phone.
If you need more information, please visit www.lg.com/ca.

Some of the contents of this

•
manual may not apply to your
phone. This depends on your
phone’s software and your service
provider.
This handset is not recommended

•
for the visually impaired because of
its touch screen keyboard.
Copyright ©2011 LG Electronics,

•
Inc. All rights reserved. LG and the
LG logo are registered trademarks
of LG Group and its related entities.
All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.
Google™, Maps™, Gmail™,

•
YouTube™, Talk™ and Android
Market™ are trademarks of
Google, Inc.

English

Contents

For Your Safety ....................... 5

Safety Guidelines .................. 12

Important notice ................... 36

Getting to know your phone . 46

Installing the SIM card and

battery ................................ 48

Charging your phone ............ 49

Installing the memory card ... 50
Formatting the memory card . 51

Your Home screen ................ 52

Touch screen tips ................. 52

Lock your phone .................. 52

Unlock screen ...................... 53

Silent mode ......................... 53

Home ................................. 53

Adding widgets to your Home

screen ................................. 54

Returning to recently-used

applications ......................... 55

Notifi cation drawer ............... 55

Viewing the status bar .......... 56

Onscreen keyboard .............. 58

Entering accented letters ...... 58

2

Google account setup ........... 59

Creating your Google account 59
Signing in to your Google

account ............................... 59

Calls ...................................... 61

Making a call ....................... 61

Calling your contacts ............ 61

Answering and rejecting a

call ...................................... 61

Adjusting call volume ........... 61

Making a second call ........... 61

Viewing your call logs ........... 62

Call settings ......................... 62

Contacts ................................ 63

Searching for a contact ........ 63

Adding a new contact ........... 63

Favourite contacts ................ 63

Messaging/email .................. 65

Messaging ........................... 65

Sending a message .............. 65

Changing your message

settings ............................... 66

Setting up your email ........... 66

Microsoft Exchange email

account ............................... 66

Other (POP3, IMAP) email

account ............................... 67

Composing and sending

email ................................... 68

Working with account folders 69
Adding and editing email

accounts ............................. 69

Camera ................................. 70

Getting to know the

viewfi nder ............................ 70

Taking a quick photo ........... 71

Once you’ve taken the photo 71
Using the advanced settings . 72
Viewing your saved photos ... 73

Video camera ........................ 74

Getting to know the

viewfi nder ............................ 74

Shooting a quick video ......... 75

After shooting a video ........... 75

Using the advanced settings . 76
Watching your saved videos .. 76

Adjusting the volume when

viewing a video .................... 76

Multimedia ............................ 77

View model .......................... 77

Timeline view ....................... 77

Using SmartShare ................ 77

Music .................................. 78

Playing a song ..................... 78

Transferring fi les using USB

mass storage devices ........... 79

How to save music/video fi les

on your phone...................... 80

Moving contacts from your old

phone to your new phone ..... 81

Sending data from your phone

using Bluetooth .................... 81

Utilities .................................. 83

Setting your alarm ................ 83

Using your calculator ............ 83

Adding an event to your

calendar .............................. 83

Changing your calendar view 84

Voice recorder ..................... 84

3

Contents

Recording a sound or voice ... 84
Sending the voice recording .. 85

The Web ................................ 86

Browser ............................... 86

Using the web toolbar ........... 86

Using options ....................... 86

Settings ................................ 88

Wireless & networks............. 88

Call settings ......................... 89

Sound ................................. 91

Display ................................ 92

Location & security .............. 92

Applications ......................... 94

Accounts & sync .................. 94

Privacy ................................ 95

Storage ............................... 95

Language & keyboard .......... 95

Voice input & output ............. 96

Accessibility ......................... 97

Date & time ......................... 97

About Phone ........................ 97

Wi-Fi ................................... 97

Turning on Wi-Fi ................... 98

Connecting to Wi-Fi .............. 98

4

Sharing your phone’s data

connection ........................... 98

USB tethering & portable Wi-Fi

hotspot settings ................... 99

To share your phone’s data

connection via USB ............ 100

USB tethering and data

sharing .............................. 100

To share your phone’s data
connection as a portable Wi-Fi

hotspot .............................. 101

To rename or secure your

portable hotspot ................. 101

Software update ................. 103

Phone software update ....... 103

DivX Mobile ....................... 103

Accessories ........................ 105

Technical data..................... 106

Troubleshooting .................. 107

For Your Safety

Important Information

This user guide contains important
information on the use and
operation of this phone. Please
read all the information carefully
for optimal performance and to
prevent any damage to or misuse
of the phone. Any changes or
modifications not expressly
approved in this user guide
could void your warranty for this
equipment.

Before You Start

Safety Instructions

WARNING

To reduce the possibility of electric
shock, do not expose your phone
to high humidity areas, such as the
bathroom, swimming pool, etc.

Always store your phone away
from heat. Never store your

phone in settings that may expose
it to temperatures less than 32°F

(0°C) or greater than 104°F
(40°C), such as outside during
extreme weather conditions or in
your car on a hot day. Exposure to
excessive cold or heat will result
in malfunction, damage and/or
catastrophic failure.

Be careful when using your
phone near other electronic
devices. RF emissions from

your mobile phone may affect
nearby in adequately shielded
electronic equipment. You should
consult with manufacturers of any
personal medical devices such as
pacemakers and hearing aides to
determine if they are susceptible
to interference from your mobile
phone.

Turn off your phone in a medical
facility or at a gas station. Never
place your phone in a microwave
oven as this will cause the battery
to explode.

5

For Your Safety

Safety Information

Read these simple guidelines.
Breaking the rules may be
dangerous or illegal. Further
detailed information is given in this
user guide.

Never use an unapproved

•
battery since this could damage
the phone and/or battery and
could cause the battery to
explode.
Never place your phone in a

•
microwave oven as it will cause
the battery to explode.
Do not dispose of your battery

•
by fire or with hazardous or
flammable materials.
Make sure that no sharpedged

•
items come into contact with the
battery. There is a risk of this
causing a fire.
Store the battery in a place out

•
of reach of children.

6

Be careful that children do

•
not swallow any parts such
as rubber plugs (earphone,
connection parts of the
phone, etc.). This could cause
asphyxiation or suffocation.
Unplug the power cord and

•
charger during lightning storms
to avoid electric shock or fire.
When riding in a car, do not

•
leave your phone or set up the
hands-free kit near to the air
bag. If wireless equipment is
improperly installed and the air
bag is activated, you may be
seriously injured.
Do not use a hand-held phone

•
while driving.
Do not use the phone in areas

•
where its use is prohibited. (For
example: aircraft).
Do not expose the battery

•
charger or adapter to direct
sunlight or use it in places
with high humidity, such as a
bathroom.

Never store your phone in

•
temperatures less than -4°F
(-20°C) or greater than 122°F
(50°C).
Do not use harsh chemicals

•
(such as alcohol, benzene,
thinners, etc.) or detergents to
clean your phone. There is a risk
of this causing a fire.
Do not drop, strike, or shake

•
your phone severely. Such
actions may harm the internal
circuit boards of the phone.
Do not use your phone in high

•
explosive areas as the phone
may generate sparks.
Do not damage the power cord

•
by bending, twisting, pulling, or
heating.
Do not use the plug if it is loose

•
as it may cause a fire or electric
shock.
Do not place any heavy items on

•
the power cord. Do not allow the

power cord to be crimped as it
may cause fire or electric shock.
Do not handle the phone with

•
wet hands while it is being
charged. It may cause an
electric shock or seriously
damage your phone.
Do not disassemble the phone.

•
Do not place or answer calls

•
while charging the phone as it
may short-circuit the phone and/
or cause electric shock or fire.
Only use the batteries, antennas,

•
and chargers provided by LG.
The warranty will not be applied
to products provided by other
suppliers.
Only authorized personnel

•
should service the phone and its
accessories. Faulty installation or
service may result in accidents
and consequently invalidate the
warranty.

7

For Your Safety

Do not hold or let the antenna

•
come in contact with your body
during a call.
An emergency call can be made

•
only within a service area. For
an emergency call, make sure
that you are within a service
area and that the phone is
turned on.
Use accessories, such as

•
earphones and headsets, with
caution. Ensure that cables are
tucked away safely and do not
touch the antenna unnecessarily.

Memory card information
and care

•

Always insert/ remove the
memory card while the handset
power is off. If you remove it
while the power is on, it may be
damaged.
If a damage cannot be fixed,

•
format the memory card.

8

The memory card cannot be

•
used for recording copyright
protected data.
Do not write forcefully on the

•
memo area.
Carry and store the memory

•
card in its case.
Do not allow the memory card

•
to get wet.
Do not leave the memory card in

•
extremely hot location.
Do not disassemble or modify

•
the memory card.

FCC RF Exposure
Information

WARNING

Read this information before
operating the phone.

In August 1996, the Federal
Communications Commission
(FCC) of the United States, with
its action in Report and Order

FCC 96-326, adopted an updated
safety standard for human
exposure to radio frequency (RF)
electromagnetic energy emitted
by FCC regulated transmitters.
Those guidelines are consistent
with the safety standard previously
set by both U.S. and international
standards bodies.

The design of this phone complies
with the FCC guidelines and these
international standards.

CAUTION

Use only the supplied and
approved antenna. Use of
unauthorized antennas or
modifications could impair call
quality, damage the phone, void
your warranty and/or result in
violation of FCC regulations. Do
not use the phone with a damaged
antenna. If a damaged antenna
comes into contact with skin, a
minor burn may result. Contact

your local dealer for a replacement
antenna.

Body-worn Operation

This device was tested for typical
body-worn operations with the
back of the phone kept 2 cm
(0.79 inches) between the user’s
body and the back of the phone.
To comply with FCC RF exposure
requirements, a minimum
separation distance of 2 cm
(0.79 inches) must be maintained
between the user's body and the
back of the phone.
Third-party belt-clips, holsters,
and similar accessories containing
metallic components should not
be used.

Body-worn accessories that
cannot maintain 2 cm (0.79
inches) separation distance
between the user's body and the
back of the phone, and have not
been tested for typical bodyworn

9

For Your Safety

operations may not comply with
FCC RF exposure limits and should
be avoided.

Vehicle Mounted External
Antenna (optional, if
available)

A minimum separation distance
of 20cm (8 inches) must
be maintained between the
user/bystander and the vehicle
mounted external antenna
to satisfy FCC RF exposure
requirements. For more
information about RF exposure,
visit the FCC website at www.
fcc.gov

FCC Part 15 Class B
Compliance

This device and its accessories
comply with part 15 of FCC rules
and ICES-003 Class B digital
apparatus requirements for
Industry Canada.

10

Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:

(1) This device and its accessories
may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device
and its accessories must accept
any interference received,
including interference that may
cause undesired operation.

Cautions for Battery

Do not disassemble.

•
Do not short-circuit.

•
Do not expose to high

•
temperature: 140°F (60°C).
Do not incinerate.

•

Battery Disposal

Please dispose of your battery

•
properly or bring to your local
wireless carrier for recycling.
Do not dispose in fire or with

•
hazardous or flammable
materials.

Adapter (Charger)
Cautions

Using the wrong battery charger

•
could damage your phone and
void your warranty.
The adapter or battery charger

•
is intended for indoor use only.

Do not expose the adapter or
battery charger to direct sunlight
or use it in places with high
humidity, such as the bathroom.

Avoid damage to your
hearing

Damage to your hearing can

•
occur if you are exposed to loud
sound for long periods of time.
We therefore recommend that
you do not turn on or off the
handset close to your ear. We
also recommend that music
and call volumes are set to a
reasonable level.

If you are listening to music

•
whilst out and about, please
ensure that the volume is at a
reasonable level so that you are
aware of your surroundings. This
is particularly imperative when
attempting to cross the street.

11

Safety Guidelines

TIA Safety Information

Provided herein is the complete
TIA Safety Information for Wireless
Handheld phones. Inclusion of
the text covering Pacemakers,
Hearing Aids, and Other Medical
Devices is required in the owner’s
manual for CTIA Certification. Use
of the remaining TIA language is
encouraged when appropriate.

Exposure to Radio
Frequency Signal

Your wireless handheld portable
telephone is a low power radio
transmitter and receiver. When it
is ON, it receives and also sends
out radio frequency (RF) signals.
In August, 1996, the Federal
Communications Commissions
(FCC) adopted RF exposure
guidelines with safety levels for
handheld wireless phones.

12

Those guidelines are consistent
with the safety standards
previously set by both U.S. and
international standards bodies:

ANSI C95.1 (1992) *
NCRP Report 86 (1986)
ICNIRP (1996)
Those standards were based

on comprehensive and periodic
evaluations of the relevant
scientific literature. For example,
over 120 scientists, engineers,
and physicians from universities,
government health agencies, and
industry reviewed the available
body of research to develop the
ANSI Standard (C95.1).

* American National Standards

Institute; National Council
on Radiation Protection and
Measurements; International
Commission on Non-Ionizing
Radiation Protection

The design of your phone
complies with the FCC guidelines
(and those standards).

Antenna Care

Use only the supplied or an
approved replacement antenna.
Unauthorized antennas,
modifications, or attachments
could damage the phone and may
violate FCC regulations.

Phone Operation

NORMAL POSITION: Hold the
phone as you would any other
telephone with the antenna
pointed up and over your shoulder.

Tips on Efficient
Operation

For your phone to operate most
efficiently:

Do not touch the antenna

•
unnecessarily when the phone
is in use. Contact with the

antenna affects call quality and
may cause the phone to operate
at a higher power level than
otherwise needed.

Driving

Check the laws and regulations
on the use of wireless phones in
the areas where you drive. Always
obey them. Also, if using your
phone while driving, please:

Give full attention to driving

•

- driving safely is your first
responsibility;
Use hands-free operation, if

•
available;
Pull off the road and park before

•
making or answering a call if
driving conditions so require.

Electronic Devices

Most modern electronic equipment
is shielded from RF signals.

However, certain electronic
equipment may not be shielded

13

Safety Guidelines

against the RF signals from your
wireless phone.

Pacemakers

The Health Industry Manufacturers
Association recommends that a
minimum separation of six (6”)
inches be maintained between
a handheld wireless phone and
a pacemaker to avoid potential
interference with the pacemaker.
These recommendations are
consistent with the independent
research by and recommendations
of Wireless Technology Research.
Persons with pacemakers:

Should ALWAYS keep the phone

•
more than six inches from their
pacemaker when the phone is
turned ON;
Should not carry the phone in a

•
breast pocket.
Should use the ear opposite

•
the pacemaker to minimize the
potential for interference.

14

If you have any reason to

•
suspect that interference is
taking place, turn your phone
OFF immediately.

Hearing Aids

Some digital wireless phones may
interfere with some hearing aids.
In the event of such interference,
you may want to consult your
service provider.

Other Medical Devices

If you use any other personal
medical device, consult the
manufacturer of your device to
determine if they are adequately
shielded from external RF energy.
Your physician may be able
to assist you in obtaining this
information.

Health Care Facilities

Turn your phone OFF in health
care facilities when any regulations
posted in these areas instruct you
to do so. Hospitals or health care
facilities may use equipment that
could be sensitive to external RF
energy.

Vehicles

RF signals may affect improperly
installed or inadequately
shielded electronic systems in
motor vehicles. Check with the
manufacturer or its representative
regarding your vehicle.

You should also consult the
manufacturer of any equipment
that has been added to your
vehicle.

Posted Facilities

Turn your phone OFF in any facility
where posted notices so require.

Aircraft

FCC regulations prohibit using
your phone while in the air. Turn
your phone OFF before boarding
an aircraft.

Blasting Areas

To avoid interfering with blasting
operations, turn your phone
OFF when in a ‘blasting areas
or in areas posted: ‘Turn off
twoway radio’. Obey all signs and
instructions.

Potentially Explosive
Atmosphere

Turn your phone OFF when in any
area with a potentially explosive
atmosphere and obey all signs
and instructions. Sparks in such
areas could cause an explosion
or fire resulting in bodily injury or
even death.

15

Safety Guidelines

Areas with a potentially explosive
atmosphere are often, but not
always, marked clearly. Potential
areas may include: fueling areas
(such as gasoline stations); below
deck on boats; fuel or chemical
transfer or storage facilities;
vehicles using liquefied petroleum
gas (such as propane or butane);
areas where the air contains
chemicals or particles (such as
grain, dust, or metal powders);
and any other area where you
would normally be advised to turn
off your vehicle engine.

For Vehicles Equipped
with an Air Bag

An air bag inflates with great
force. DO NOT place objects,
including either installed or
portable wireless equipment, in the
area over the air bag or in the air
bag deployment area. If in-vehicle
wireless equipment is improperly

16

installed and the air bag inflates,
serious injury could result.

Safety Information

Please read and observe the
following information for safe and
proper use of your phone and to
prevent damage. Also, keep the
user guide in an accessible place
at all the times after reading it.

Charger and Adapter
Safety

The charger and adapter are

•
intended for indoor use only.

Battery Information and
Care

Please dispose of your battery

•
properly or take it to your local
wireless carrier for recycling.
The battery does not need

•
to be fully discharged before
recharging.

Use only LG-approved chargers

•
specific to your phone model
since they are designed to
maximize battery life.
Do not disassemble or impact

•
the battery as it may cause
electric shock, short-circuit, and
fire. Store the battery in a place
out of reach of children.
Keep the battery’s metal

•
contacts clean.
Replace the battery when it

•
no longer provides acceptable
performance. The battery can be
recharged several hundred times
before replacement.
Recharge the battery after long

•
periods of non-use to maximize
battery life.
Battery life will vary due

•
to usage patterns and
environmental conditions.
Use of extended backlighting,

•
Media Net Browsing, and data

connectivity kits affect battery
life and talk/standby times.
The self-protection function of

•
the battery cuts the power of the
phone when its operation is in
an abnormal state. In this case,
remove the battery from the
phone, reinstall it, and turn the
phone on.
Actual battery life will depend on

•
network configuration, product
settings, usage patterns, battery
and environmental conditions.

Explosion, Shock, and
Fire Hazards

Do not put your phone in a place

•
subject to excessive dust and
keep the minimum required
distance between the power
cord and heat sources.
Unplug the power cord prior

•
to cleaning your phone, and
clean the power plug pin when
it is dirty.

17

Safety Guidelines

When using the power

•
plug, ensure that it is firmly
connected. If it is not, it may
cause excessive heat or fire.
If you put your phone in a pocket

•
or bag without covering the
receptacle of the phone (power
plug pin), metallic articles (such
as a coin, paperclip or pen) may
shortcircuit the phone. Always
cover the receptacle when not
in use.
Do not short-circuit the battery.

•
Metallic articles such as a coin,
paperclip or pen in your pocket
or bag may short-circuit the +
and – terminals of the battery
(metal strips on the battery)
upon moving. Short-circuit of
the terminal may damage the
battery and cause an explosion.

18

General Notice

Using a damaged battery or

•
placing a battery in your mouth
may cause serious injury.
Do not place items containing

•
magnetic components such as
a credit card, phone card, bank
book or subway ticket near your
phone. The magnetism of the
phone may damage the data
stored in the magnetic strip.
Talking on your phone for a long

•
period of time may reduce call
quality due to heat generated
during use.
When the phone is not used for

•
a long period time, store it in a
safe place with the power cord
unplugged.
Using the phone in proximity to

•
receiving equipment (i.e., TV or
radio) may cause interference to
the phone.

Do not use the phone if the

•
antenna is damaged. If a
damaged antenna contacts
skin, it may cause a slight burn.
Please contact an LG Authorized
Service Centre to replace the
damaged antenna.
Do not immerse your phone in

•
water. If this happens, turn it
off immediately and remove the
battery. If the phone does not
work, take it to an LG Authorized
Service Centre.
Do not paint your phone.

•
The data saved in your phone

•
might be deleted due to careless
use, repair of the phone, or
upgrade of the software. Please
backup your important phone
numbers. (Ring tones, text
messages, voice messages,
pictures, and videos could also
be deleted.) The manufacturer is
not liable for damage due to the
loss of data.

When you use the phone in

•
public places, set the ring tone
to vibration so as not to disturb
others.
Do not turn your phone on or off

•
when putting it near your ear.

FDA Consumer Update

The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration Centre for Devices
and Radiological Health Consumer
Update on Mobile Phones.

1. Do wireless phones pose a

health hazard?

The available scientific evidence
does not show that any health
problems are associated with
using wireless phones. There is
no proof, however, that wireless
phones are absolutely safe.
Wireless phones emit low levels
of radio frequency energy (RF) in
the microwave range while being
used. They also emit very low
levels of RF when in the standby

19

Safety Guidelines

mode. Whereas high levels of RF
can produce health effects (by
heating tissue), exposure to low
level RF that does not produce
heating effects causes no known
adverse health effects. Many
studies of low level RF exposures
have not found any biological
effects. Some studies have
suggested that some biological
effects may occur, but such
findings have not been confirmed
by additional research. In some
cases, other researchers have
had difficulty in reproducing those
studies, or in determining the
reasons for inconsistent results.

20

2. What is the FDA’s role
concerning the safety of
wireless phones?

Under the law, the FDA does not
review the safety of radiation
emitting consumer products
such as wireless phones before
they can be sold, as it does with
new drugs or medical devices.
However, the agency has authority
to take action if wireless phones
are shown to emit radio frequency
energy (RF) at a level that is
hazardous to the user. In such a
case, the FDA could require the
manufacturers of wireless phones
to notify users of the health hazard
and to repair, replace, or recall
the phones so that the hazard no
longer exists.

Although the existing scientific
data do not justify FDA regulatory
actions, the FDA has urged the
wireless phone industry to take

a number of steps, including the
following:

Support needed research into

•
possible biological effects of RF
of the type emitted by wireless
phones;
Design wireless phones in a way

•
that minimizes any RF exposure
to the user that is not necessary
for device function; and
Cooperate in providing of

•
wireless phones with the best
possible information on possible
effects of wireless phone use on
human health.

The FDA belongs to an
interagency working group of
the federal agencies that have
responsibility for different aspects
of RF safety to ensure coordinated
efforts at the federal level. The
following agencies belong to this
working group:

National Institute for

•
Occupational Safety and Health
Environmental Protection Agency

•
Occupational Safety and Health

•
Administration (Administración
de la seguridad y salud
laborales)
Occupational Safety and Health

•
Administration
National Telecommunications

•
and Information Administration

The National Institutes of Health
participates in some interagency
working group activities, as well.

The FDA shares regulatory
responsibilities for wireless phones
with the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC). All phones that
are sold in the United States must
comply with FCC safety guidelines
that limit RF exposure. The FCC
relies on the FDA and other health
agencies for safety questions
about wireless phones.

21

Safety Guidelines

The FCC also regulates the base
stations that the wireless phone
networks rely upon. While these
base stations operate at higher
power than do the wireless phones
themselves, the RF exposures
that people get from these base
stations are typically thousands of
times lower than those they can
get from wireless phones. Base
stations are thus not the subject of
the safety questions discussed in
this document.

3. What kinds of phones are the
subject of this update?

The term ‘wireless phone’ refers
here to handheld wireless phones
with builtin antennas, often
called ‘cell’, ‘mobile’, or ‘PCS’
phones. These types of wireless
phones can expose the user to
measurable radiofrequency energy
(RF) because of the short distance
between the phone and the user’s

22

head. These RF exposures are
limited by FCC safety guidelines
that were developed with the
advice of the FDA and other
federal health and safety agencies.
When the phone is located at
greater distances from the user,
the exposure to RF is drastically
lower because a person’s RF
exposure decreases rapidly

with increasing distance from the
source. The so-called ‘ cordless
phones,’ which have a base unit
connected to the telephone wiring
in a house, typically operate at
far lower power levels, and thus
produce RF exposures far below
the FCC safety limits.

4. What are the results of the
research done already?

The research done thus far has
produced conflicting results, and
many studies have suffered from
flaws in their research methods.

Animal experiments investigating
the effects of radiofrequency
energy (RF) exposures
characteristic of wireless phones
have yielded conflicting results
that often cannot be repeated
in other laboratories. A few
animal studies, however, have
suggested that low levels of RF
could accelerate the development
of cancer in laboratory animals.
However, many of the studies
that showed increased tumor
development used animals that
had been genetically engineered
or treated with cancer causing
chemicals so as to be predisposed
to develop cancer in the absence
of RF exposure. Other studies
exposed the animals to RF for
up to 22 hours per day. These
conditions are not similar to the
conditions under which people use
wireless phones, so we don’t know
with certainty what the results

of such studies mean for human
health. Three large epidemiology
studies have been published
since December 2000. Between
them, the studies investigated
any possible association between
the use of wireless phones and
primary brain cancer, glioma,
meningioma, or acoustic neuroma,
tumors of the brain or salivary
gland, leukemia, or other cancers.
None of the studies demonstrated
the existence of any harmful
health effects from wireless phone
RF exposures.

However, none of the studies can
answer questions about longterm
exposures, since the average
period of phone use in these
studies was around three years.

23

Safety Guidelines

5. What research is needed to
decide whether RF exposure
from wireless phones poses
a health risk?

A combination of laboratory
studies and epidemiological
studies of people actually using
wireless phones would provide
some of the data that are
needed. Lifetime animal exposure
studies could be completed in a
few years. However, very large
numbers of animals would be
needed to provide reliable proof of
a cancer promoting effect if one
exists. Epidemiological studies
can provide data that is directly
applicable to human populations,
but 10 or more years follow­up may be needed to provide
answers about some health
effects, such as cancer.

This is because the interval
between the time of exposure to
a cancer-causing agent and the

24

time tumors develop - if they do
may be many, many years. The
interpretation of epidemiological
studies is hampered by difficulties
in measuring actual RF exposure
during day-to-day use of wireless
phones. Many factors affect this
measurement, such as the angle
at which the phone is held, or
which model of phone is used.

6. What is the FDA doing to find
out more about the possible
health effects of wireless
phone RF?

The FDA is working with the
U.S. National Toxicology Program
and with groups of investigators
around the world to ensure that
high priority animal studies are
conducted to address important
questions about the effects
of exposure to radiofrequency
energy (RF). The FDA has been a
leading participant in the World
Health Organization International

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)
Project since its inception in 1996.
An influential result of this work
has been the development of a
detailed agenda of research needs
that has driven the establishment
of new research programs around
the world. The project has also
helped develop a series of public
information documents on EMF
issues. The FDA and the Cellular
Telecommunications & Internet
Association (CTIA) have a formal
Cooperative Research and
Development Agreement (CRADA)
to do research on wireless phone
safety. The FDA provides the
scientific oversight, obtaining
input from experts in government,
industry, and academic
organizations. CTIA funded
research is conducted through
contracts with independent
investigators. The initial research
will include both laboratory studies

and studies of wireless phone
users. The CRADA will also include
a broad assessment of additional
research needs in the context of
the latest research developments
around the world.

7. How can I find out how
much radiofrequency energy
exposure I can get by using
my wireless phone?

All phones sold in the United
States must comply with Federal
Communications Commission
(FCC) guidelines that limit
radiofrequency energy (RF)
exposures. The FCC established
these guidelines in consultation
with the FDA and the other federal
health and safety agencies. The
FCC limit for RF exposure from
wireless telephones is set at a
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of

1.6 watts per kilogram (1.6 W/kg).

The FCC limit is consistent with
the safety standards developed

25

Safety Guidelines

by the Institute of Electrical and
Electronic Engineering (IEEE) and
the National Council on Radiation
Protection and Measurement.
The exposure limit takes into
consideration the body’s ability to
remove heat from the tissues that
absorb energy from the wireless
phone and is set well below
levels known to have effects.
Manufacturers of wireless phones
must report the RF exposure
level for each model of phone
to the FCC. The FCC website
(http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety)
gives directions for locating the
FCC identification number on
your phone so you can find your
phone’s RF exposure level in the
online listing.

8. What has the FDA done to
measure the radiofrequency
energy coming from wireless
phones?

26

The Institute of Electrical and
Electronic Engineers (IEEE) is
developing a technical standard
for measuring the radiofrequency
energy (RF) exposure from
wireless phones and other
wireless handsets with the
participation and leadership of
FDA scientists and engineers.
The standard, ‘Recommended
Practice for Determining the
Spatial- Peak Specific Absorption
Rate (SAR) in the Human Body
Due to Wireless Communications
Devices: Experimental Techniques,’
sets forth the first consistent test
methodology for measuring the
rate at which RF is deposited
in the heads of wireless phone
users. The test method uses a
tissuesimulating model of the
human head. Standardized SAR
test methodology is expected to
greatly improve the consistency of
measurements made at different

laboratories on the same phone.
SAR is the measurement of the
amount of energy absorbed in
tissue, either by the whole body
or a small part of the body. It
is measured in watts/kg (or
milliwatts/g) of matter. This
measurement is used to determine
whether a wireless phone
complies with safety guidelines.

9. What steps can I take to
reduce my exposure to
radiofrequency energy from
my wireless phone?

If there is a risk from these
products - and at this point we
do not know that there is - it is
probably very small. But if you are
concerned about avoiding even
potential risks, you can take a
few simple steps to minimize your
exposure to radiofrequency energy
(RF). Since time is a key factor
in how much exposure a person

receives, reducing the amount
of time spent using a wireless
phone will reduce RF exposure.
If you must conduct extended
conversations by wireless phone
every day, you could place more
distance between your body
and the source of the RF, since
the exposure level drops off
dramatically with distance. For
example, you could use a headset
and carry the wireless phone away
from your body or use a wireless
phone connected to a remote
antenna. Again, the scientific data
do not demonstrate that wireless
phones are harmful. But if you are
concerned about the RF exposure
from these products, you can use
measures like those described
above to reduce your RF exposure
from wireless phone use.

27

Safety Guidelines

10. What about children using
wireless phones?

The scientific evidence does
not show a danger to users of
wireless phones, including children
and teenagers. If you want to
take steps to lower exposure
to radiofrequency energy (RF),
the measures described above
would apply to children and
teenagers using wireless phones.
Reducing the time of wireless
phone use and increasing the
distance between the user and
the RF source will reduce RF
exposure. Some groups sponsored
by other national governments
have advised that children be
discouraged from using wireless
phones at all. For example, the
government in the United Kingdom
distributed leaflets containing such
a recommendation in December

2000. They noted that no evidence

exists that using a wireless phone

28

causes brain tumors or other ill
effects. Their recommendation
to limit wireless phone use by
children was strictly precautionary;
it was not based on scientific
evidence that any health hazard
exists.

11. What about wireless phone
interference with medical
equipment?

Radiofrequency energy (RF) from
wireless phones can interact with
some electronic devices. For this
reason, the FDA helped develop a
detailed test method to measure
electromagnetic interference
(EMI) of implanted cardiac
pacemakers and defibrillators
from wireless telephones. This test
method is now part of a standard
sponsored by the Association
for the Advancement of Medical
instrumentation (AAMI). The final
draft, a joint effort by the FDA,