55% of Nokia users backup to their desktop

Published by David Gilson at 11:46 UTC, June 23rd 2010

Nokia Conversations have announced their results from the poll they opened last week, asking how users back up their phones. While Nokia Conversations did not publish a full set of results, it appears that around 55% of those who responded are not using the cloud, but instead using Nokia's desktop software. This 55% of desktop users is made up by the first and second places in the poll. Ovi Suite came in first with 36% and 19% answered 'Nokia PC Desktop'. It's good to see that more desktop users are using the more up to date Ovi Suite than the older desktop software.

The third most popular answer was 'other' (percentage not given), of which many voters reported they were backing up on to SD cards. This clearly shows that most users are choosing to use local backups rather than cloud storage. Hopefully Nokia Conversations will run another poll on this. Local backups are good, but the user is still responsible for looking after their data. Particularly so with the 'backup to memory card' option, in which all the data is still stored in the phone and would still be lost in the event of damage or theft. The result may indicate a technical barrier that people find with integrating a cloud solution. Alternatively, it could indicate trust issues, whereby users are avoiding cloud services because they don't like the idea of their data flowing through the air and being stored on a system they have no control over.

Correspondingly, 'SyncML' and 'Web Services' (possibly the same thing) took fifth and sixth place in the poll (percentage not given). Nokia Conversations stated that many people reported using the open source SyncML alternative, Funambol. While clearly in a minority, it is good to see this application getting some attention. Funambol is important for users who do want to sync, but want choice and flexibility. Nokia are currently pushing out their 'Ovi Sync' application via firmware updates. On paper, this is an advancement from the basic Sync application in Symbian phones. Thanks to its scheduling feature, users no longer need to manually synchronise their phones. However, Ovi Sync is hard-wired to only sync with the Ovi services, and no other PIM system. This is where Funambol steps in, users can set up their Funambol profile to synchronise with any service they like, either on a regular schedule, or even by accepting push-sync requests.

Lastly, the fourth most popular result was the 10% of users who never backup their phones. There are two types of people in this world, those who backup, and those who don't know how painful it is to lose personal data!

David Gilson, AAS

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News Discussion

deadkenny

Problem is, this poll only captures those users who are technical (or care) enough to find and take the poll online.

I suspect the amount who actually backup at all, or even remotely connect their Nokia phone to a PC or web is actually rather small. At least if you include basic and feature phones and not just smart phones.

Unregistered

The article says "Local backups are good, but the user is still responsible for looking after their data".

True enough. On the other hand, when using remote facilities such as OVI Sync and its ilk, the small text always says things to the effect of "if we lose your data that's tough luck", so a local backup of some kind is necessary anyway.

IanD

Good points from the commentors. Our audience is very wide, but yes - it stands to reason that you have to be pretty passionate about a brand to (a) read its blog and (b) submit a poll vote. So these are the creme-de-la-creme. Also, like any other form of backup, people are probably more negligent that they admit to.

So 10% not backing up at all is a bit shocking, really.

Unregistered

the ovi backup nokia conversation said in the pool were cloud backup

it's the ovi backup on the cell phone using the nokia ovi id.

Unregistered

I don't bakcup at all. I don't use contacts, I don't seem to need to.

I lost a phone once. Got a new one and carried on. Not a big deal .

davidgilson

In response to IanD & the first unregistered ...

I agree that 'best practice' is to keep a local & up-to-date copy of anything you have in the cloud. In fact, I use Memotoo.com, whom makes it incredibly easy to download a backup of all your data; Therefore, I have my data on the phone, in the cloud and on my laptop. This fits perfectly with the maxim "If you don't have at least three copies of all your data, then you don't have your data".

That being so, this is one of the big reasons I don't use the Ovi Services, because I cannot find any import or export function on their website. I think this is desperately needed.

Are there any Nokia/Ovi developers out there who fancy forming the Ovi equivalent of the Data Liberation Front?

Unregistered

I love my N97, but I really hate Ovi Suite and Ovi Player/Music. It's slow, unreliable, heavy and just plain frustrating to use.

I use the good old PC Suite, that works!

jamessmith01

Quote:

It's good to see that more desktop users are using the more up to date Ovi Suite than the older desktop software.

Why is this good to see? It's strange that you should make that comment without qualification. On the contrary, many/most users I've discussed this with say they much prefer the old PC Suite to Ovi Suite. PC Suite is fast, functional and concise, where Ovi Suite is slow, clunky and bloated.

Unregistered

I back my phone to desktop but have to go through hoops:
1. Back up phone memory to removal memory
2. Create disk image of removal memory.

Unfortunately Nokia haven't create a back up solution for OSX.

Unregistered

I use ovi.com, and PC suite. You cant even use your calendar with the current Ovi suite software!

Jejoma

Quote:

Originally Posted by slitchfield