A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of a mobile computing device to: provide a phone application and a second, different application (14A-14N) on the mobile computing device, wherein the phone application is executable to process phone calls using the mobile computing device, and wherein the second application (14A-14N) is executable to perform one or more tasks not related to processing phone calls using the mobile computing device; the computer-readable storage medium characterized in that the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors of the mobile computing device to: initiate a first mode of operation when the mobile computing device becomes locked; prohibit user access to the second application (14A-14N) during the first mode of operation when the mobile computing device fails to wirelessly detect a presence of an external device and has not received user input specifying an access password; allow partial user access to process phone calls using the phone application during the first mode of operation when the mobile computing device fails to wirelessly detect the presence of the external device and has not received user input specifying the access password; initiate a second mode of operation when the mobile computing device wirelessly detects the presence of the external device and has received user input specifying an access password, wherein the mobile computing device allows complete user access to both the phone application and the second application (14A-14N) during the second mode of operation; and initiate a third mode of operation either when the mobile computing device has received user input specifying the access password and fails to wirelessly detect the presence of the external device, or when the mobile computing device wirelessly detects the presence of the external device and has not received user input specifying the access password, wherein the mobile computing device during the third mode of operation allows complete user access to process phone calls using the phone application and prohibits user access to the second application (14A-14N). provide a phone application and a second, different application (14A-14N) on the mobile computing device, wherein the phone application is executable to process phone calls using the mobile computing device, and wherein the second application (14A-14N) is executable to perform one or more tasks not related to processing phone calls using the mobile computing device; the computer-readable storage medium characterized in that the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors of the mobile computing device to: initiate a first mode of operation when the mobile computing device becomes locked; prohibit user access to the second application (14A-14N) during the first mode of operation when the mobile computing device fails to wirelessly detect a presence of an external device and has not received user input specifying an access password; allow partial user access to process phone calls using the phone application during the first mode of operation when the mobile computing device fails to wirelessly detect the presence of the external device and has not received user input specifying the access password; initiate a second mode of operation when the mobile computing device wirelessly detects the presence of the external device and has received user input specifying an access password, wherein the mobile computing device allows complete user access to both the phone application and the second application (14A-14N) during the second mode of operation; and initiate a third mode of operation either when the mobile computing device has received user input specifying the access password and fails to wirelessly detect the presence of the external device, or when the mobile computing device wirelessly detects the presence of the external device and has not received user input specifying the access password, initiate a first mode of operation when the mobile computing device becomes locked; prohibit user access to the second application (14A-14N) during the first mode of operation when the mobile computing device fails to wirelessly detect a presence of an external device and has not received user input specifying an access password; allow partial user access to process phone calls using the phone application during the first mode of operation when the mobile computing device fails to wirelessly detect the presence of the external device and has not received user input specifying the access password; initiate a second mode of operation when the mobile computing device wirelessly detects the presence of the external device and has received user input specifying an access password, wherein the mobile computing device allows complete user access to both the phone application and the second application (14A-14N) during the second mode of operation; and initiate a third mode of operation either when the mobile computing device has received user input specifying the access password and fails to wirelessly detect the presence of the external device, or when the mobile computing device wirelessly detects the presence of the external device and has not received user input specifying the access password, wherein the mobile computing device during the third mode of operation allows complete user access to process phone calls using the phone application and prohibits user access to the second application (14A-14N).