How long did you spend inputting all of your contacts into your cellphone? Wouldn’t it suck if one day you turned your phone on and they were all gone? What about when you get a new phone and you’re told that they can’t transfer your contacts to a new phone, that’s a lot of fun isn’t it? Been there, done that it sucks…
There are numerous products on the market that help you to backup your contact list from your cellphone but the majority of them are expensive and usually just for one particular model of phone, and they’re usually not very easy to work with either.
Today for review I’ve got a cool little product that makes all the other backup systems out there obsolete, it’s called the Backup-Pal and it’s extremely easy to use, compatible with pretty much every phone out there and essentially future-proof as well, it’ll work with any phone you get just by adding a new connector tip. This also means you can easily transfer your contacts from one phone to the next with no hassles or worries, and with the option of a PC connectivity kit and software you can even edit your contacts as well. So continue on to check out this great new product…
Review: Backup-Pal
Reviewed by: Kristofer Brozio
Sponsor: Advanced Wireless Solutions
Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:
One-Touch, Portable, Battery-Operated Cellular Phonebook Backup Accessory
Backup-Pal is an Award Winning innovation, receiving some of the highest accolades in Tech community such as CTIAs "Best Mobile Accessory Award", "Top Ten Picks" at 2007 CES show and many more. By a simple press of a button your contacts are effortlessly backed-up or restored/transferred onto a new phone without the need for a PC, software installation, cables or any monthly fees to your provider for such services. With Backup-Pal there is no longer a need to manually re-enter your contacts onto a new phone, your contacts information is in your hands and not somewhere in the database of your service provider and, lastly, your life will never be complicated by a lost cellular phone and the toiling efforts to replace your valuable phone book contacts. Anyone who owns a cellular phone will appreciate and benefit from Backup-Pal.
Introducing Backup-Pal, the world’s first consumer based portable and universal cellular phonebook backup device that does not require a personal computer, software installation, or monthly subscription to a carrier’s data service. At the touch of a button, the battery-powered Backup-Pal instantly saves a backup copy of the user’s contact information from their cellular phone.
Universal Connectivity
Universal Connectivity via Interchangeable Adapter
Backup-Pal is easy to use and requires no technical expertise or software installation. Everything needed comes with Backup-Pal and its removable adapters, which are designed for each individual phone available on the market.
Attach the unit to the adapter that corresponds to your phone, plug it into the handset, and you’re ready to use Backup-Pal.
Transfering Data between Cellular Phones
Backup-Pal works with virtually any cellular phone and has been carefully designed to accommodate new phones as they come to market. When switching carriers or phones, Backup-Pal allows hassle-free transfer of contact data from one cell phone to another without the complexity of additional software, PC use, lengthy setup or internet connectivity. All you need is your cell phone and Backup-Pal.
Product Highlights:
-High Product Demand
Upon losing a cellular phone, 67% of cell phone users are more concerned with losing their phonebook contacts over replacing the lost cell phone handset
-Simple and Reliable
One-touch Backup. One-touch Restore. Very easy to use!
-Saves Frustration
Eliminate the aggravation of manually re-entering contacts one letter at a time into a new phone
-Quick and Easy Transfer
Transfer contacts from one cell phone to another, regardless of the cell phone manufacturer or wireless carrier
-No Thinking Required
NO PC use required. NO software installation required. NO expensive cable purchase required
-Safe and Secure
You stay in control of your backed-up contacts
Product Specifications:
Power: three AAA batteries
Size :diameter: 2.7" (68.0mm)
:height: 1.0" (25.5mm)
Weight: 2.75 oz (78 g)
Interface: IrDA, Serial, USB
Memory: Stores up to 2,000 Contacts
{amazon id=’B000RZ8WIK’ align=’right’}
Supported Phone Brands:
-Nokia
-SonyEricsson
-Siemens
-Samsung
-Motorola
-Audiovox
-LG
-Kyocera
-Sanyo
-other popular brands
Pricing:
Backup-Pal will cost between $39.99 and $49.99, depending on your phone model and the number of detachable tips included in the package. The PC Connectivity Kit will not be included in every package, and will either be sold separately or as a pre-bundled package depending on the retailer you purchase Backup-Pal from.
A Better Look at Things
:
The Backup-Pal comes packaged in a semi-cylindrical plastic package, the front is round while the back is flat… On the front you can plainly see the Backup-Pal itself through the window in the package, and there are some selling-points listed there. The back has a bit more information along with the numerous awards listed that the Backup-Pal has received already.
Opening the package up we find the Backup-Pal unit itself, two adapter tips for Motorola phones, a quick-start guide and a guide specific to Motorola phones.
The Backup-pal comes with a mini-USB connection, so if your phone uses this you’re all set and won’t need the adapters at all.
On the front, or top of the Backup-Pal there are three buttons and an LED indicator. The main, large orange button is the backup button, while there is a very small ‘reset’ button and an oval shaped ‘restore to phone’ button.
The cable attachment part comes off as you can buy different sets of connections for different phones, you won’t need to buy a whole new unit for a new phone just the cable setup.
On the bottom of the Backup-Pal is the battery compartment, but also a reminder about the LED status, and it’s essentially a quick-start guide as well, or a reminder of how it works…
Installation, Testing and Comparison
Sadly, of the two phones I have neither is supported just yet, but I was told they are always adding support for phones all the time.
So I asked a friend of mine if I could borrow his phone for a review and in return he gets to keep a cool product for himself. He was more than happy to help me out, and he was actually interested in the Backup-pal itself once I explained it to him. He thought it sounded like something very useful that he would be more than happy to own himself.
So I used his Motorola W385 cellphone for this review.
Since his phone comes with a mini-USB connection we didn’t need to use any of the special tips, just plug it in and back it up. According to the instructions you need to restart your phone before you use the Backup-Pal, and as I was reading the instructions I was asking Ron if he knew where this function was or that function on his phone, he really didn’t know. The guide mentions that you may have to set the phone to a data connection for the Backup-Pal to function properly, but I didn’t have to do that with this phone.
When I hooked the Backup-Pal to his phone it displayed that it was charging, then I pressed the Backup button and waited about a minute and a half for the Backup-pal to complete its work, when finished the LED was solid green.
I’ll be honest my friend Ron really isn’t computer savvy or very gadget oriented, but he was extremely surprised at the ease of use of this product. Originally he didn’t think it was going to be as easy as it was to use this little gadget, but yes he was honestly surprised with it, and happy to receive it as well.
At the time of this review the Backup-Pal website lists compatibility for Samsung, Nokia and Motorola models of phones, but they will be adding more as time goes by. You can also go to the site and submit a request for a particular phone as well if it’s not on the list…
Summary:
I’ll be honest, I’m amazed… The Backup-Pal is a product that does exactly what it says it does, and does it well and extremely easily. What more could you ask for? Push a button and your contacts are all safe and sound ready to be restored at a moments notice if need be.
Some products out there boast about their awards but might not quite deserve it, but the Backup-Pal truly deserves the awards it has gotten, I don’t think I’ve come across a gadget that is so easy to use and yet so useful…
DragonSteelMods gives the Backup-Pal a 5 out of 5 score and our Recommended Award as well.
Pros:
-Small, lightweight, portable
-Very easy to use
-Future-proof
-All you’ll ever need to save and secure your contacts
Cons:
-None really
I would like to thank Advanced Wireless Solutions for the chance to review the Backup-Pal and for their support of DSM.
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