| Every 3 minutes, a mobile is lost or stolen in the UK. | | | | which accept a SIM card, and you can download up |
| Do you have a backup of the priceless numbers | | | | to 200 records into the memory. They very cheap at |
| stored in your SIM and handset? What SIM backup | | | | around £5 and can fit onto your keyring. On |
| options are available to the millions of mobile phone | | | | the downside, they are easily lost or damaged, |
| owners in the world today? | | | | unreliable and cannot be accessed remotely. True you |
| 1. Paper | | | | can bring with you, but if you lost your phone you |
| There's nothing like the old fashioned paper method. | | | | could not access the data without using another SIM |
| Keep an up to date list in a safe an memorable place | | | | card. |
| somewhere in your house. It's a free option and | | | | 5. An online backup service |
| provided you keep the list up to date is reliable. On | | | | These are online backup services which are login and |
| the down side, your list can get lost, could fall into | | | | password controlled. You either purchase or subscribe |
| the wrong hands and is not accessible remotely. | | | | to their services and can enter your phone numbers |
| 2. E-Format | | | | online by filling in details manually or via text message. |
| Because most of us use a PC, you could keep a | | | | The quantity of data you can enter varies from a |
| backup of your contact list in a spreadsheet or | | | | 100 numbers to unlimited. Some also allow you to add |
| document and save it on your PC or floppy disc. | | | | details of handset, SIM and battery serial numbers. |
| Again this is a free option and as reliable as the | | | | Some also have a WAP service which means you |
| previous one. It is more secure than paper as you | | | | can access your backup remotely. On the downside |
| are less likely to lose the list and it is less likely to fall | | | | with some you have to add the details by hand |
| into the wrong hands. On the down side, there is a | | | | which can take 10 or 15 minutes depending on how |
| risk you could lose the data if your PC crashed or | | | | many numbers you need to add and some you have |
| was damaged, the data could become corrupt as | | | | to pay to access your numbers. |
| often happens with some files, the floppy could | | | | 6. Network Provider Service |
| become damaged, and the data is not accessible | | | | Most major network provides will offer backup |
| remotely. | | | | services at a cost depending on the level of service |
| 3. Spare Phone | | | | you want. This might allow you to wirelessly transmit |
| Some people backup their numbers onto a spare | | | | address book data, text messages, photos and |
| handset. Again this option is free because you | | | | videos which will be stored on their server. If you |
| already own the spare handset. You may also be | | | | need to restore your data to a new handset with |
| able to restore contact details direct to your new | | | | the same network, this can be achieved quickly and |
| handset by transferring the backup SIM card into the | | | | wirelessly. On the downside, this can be expensive, it |
| new phone and extracting the data. On the | | | | is also dependent on the type of handset, it might |
| downside, the spare phone is easily lost and is not | | | | not be portable to another network, so your data |
| accessible remotely unless you carry it around with | | | | might be lost if you switch provider and it is not |
| you. | | | | accessible remotely in the sense you would be unable |
| 4. SIM Backup Device | | | | to lookup a number from a PC or WAP phone. |
| These are small electronic mass produced items | | | | |