Smartphones should always be backed up just like computers. After all, they store a large amount of important data, including all your contacts! Losing your phone to theft, misplacement, or to damage, would mean the loss of valuable information if you don’t have it backed up.
When a phone is lost or damaged, you can lose not only your personal contacts, but your photos, videos, call history, text messaging, personal application settings, as well as short reminders or notes that you may have saved on your phone.
You don’t realize how much you depend on your smartphone’s data until it's no longer available. For these reasons, many popular smartphone devices have simple backup capabilities that you should get into the habit of using.
Apple iPhones
Apple iPhones are very easy to backup. Apple uses its iTunes system to backup all your Apple devices in one location, and it's very user friendly.
Simply plug in your iPhone through the USB port to your computer. iTunes will automatically detect your device and begin first by checking for any updates in software to your iPhone, then will begin syncing all your data.
You have a choice of the data that you wish to have synced, such as mobile applications, contacts, pictures, videos, notes, and calendars. It also saves your recent phone call lists, as well as text messages in a unique file. In the event you need to replace your device, iTunes allows you to restore your data onto a new device.
Apple also offers an iCloud system if you are mobile and work from a laptop or tablet in addition to your smartphone. There is a free trial period, but will cost you a yearly fee if you decide to keep the service.
Android
The Android smartphone uses a “cloud” backup system through Google. All Google information, such as Gcal and Gmail can be saved in one location. The only thing is with backing up contacts, if you don’t save your contacts on your phone as “Google Contacts”, the system won’t be able to backup this information.
Android unfortunately doesn’t use a computer to backup your smartphone information. There is the option of using a third party to setup a backup file for you. This may cost you a fee, but will be worth it if anything happens to your smartphone.
All you need to do is sign-up with the third party backup service, plug in your phone through an USB port, and it will automatically process the backup.
There is also the option of backing up your smartphone’s information to a SD card, so it can always be transferred to another device with the same capabilities. Once you have the application downloaded on your computer, you will be given the options to “Delete”, “Restore”, or “Backup” information.
Blackberry
The Blackberry uses a desktop system to back up your mobile device. The application is simply installed on your computer for use. Once you have this installed, choose “backup”, then choose “options” to designate data you want to backup.
By simply clicking “backup” again, you are set. It will automatically save your Smartphone information in a file, so you can either save on your computer or an USB device.
