The IT Nerd

This is going to make things difficult for Danger/Microsoft as well as T-Mobile. This message was posted on the T-Moblie support forum yesterday:

Regrettably, based on Microsoft/Danger’s latest recovery assessment of their systems, we must now inform you that personal information stored on your device – such as contacts, calendar entries, to-do lists or photos – that is no longer on your Sidekick almost certainly has been lost as a result of a server failure at Microsoft/Danger. That said, our teams continue to work around-the-clock in hopes of discovering some way to recover this information. However, the likelihood of a successful outcome is extremely low.

Ouch. That’s not good. I expect a flood of lawsuits to be filed on Monday over this. I also expect users not to have a current backup of their data, so they’re doubly pissed. Oh speaking of pissed, T-Mobile has a huge problem in the form of Perez Hilton. Just check his Twitter feed to see how angry he is:

@tmobile_usa I can’t say this enough: F*** YOU! Shame on you for telling Sidekick users in the past they didn’t need to back up their data!

Shame on you T-Mobile for not letting Sidekick customers who lost their contacts/data cancel without a fee! U r a bulls*** company! SHAME!

I am seriously talking to my lawyer over ALL of this. Hopefully others are too! #TmobileSucks

PS T-Mobile used to tell Sidekick users they personally didn’t need to back up their data. They did it for us. That’s why I never did. 🙁

T-Mobile along with Danger/Microsoft are really in deep trouble here, and I’m guessing the one free month they offered isn’t going to help matters much. This can only go downhill for both companies from here.

Oh, I’ll mention here that if you rely on your smartphone, always make sure you have a current backup or you might end up like these unfortunate Sidekick users. It’s too late for them, but maybe others can avoid such a disaster.

I’m guessing that T-Mobile must be feeling the heat as the news that all Sidekick users will get a credit of one month because of their ongoing outage is starting to filter through the Interwebs. Phone News has a copy of the message that was posted to T-Mobile support forums by Jim Alling, Chief Operations Officer at T-Mobile:

I understand that this data service disruption is very frustrating to our valued Sidekick customers. For many years, the Sidekick has been, and continues to be, a cornerstone device for T-Mobile. And we believe Sidekick customers are among the most loyal customers anywhere. Recognizing that, and to address any inconvenience Sidekick data customers are experiencing, T-Mobile will automatically credit one month of data service to customers who subscribe to T-Mobile Sidekick data plans. There is nothing you need to do to get this credit – T-Mobile will post the credit to these accounts in the coming days.

Great. But I think that this is too little too late for T-Mobile. Why? Check some of these posts on Twitter:

Go with the iphone because #tmobilesucks ….they are the worst, my data dropped 2 days ain..err

Just bought an iphone and AT&T service. Now to canceling my #tmobilesucks plan.

#tmobilesucks …time to switch service but da question is which one??..

LOL don’t matta 2 me im gettin a BB *peace #TMOBILESUCKS *

So the defections from T-Mobile begin. Sucks to be them. Sucks to be Danger/Microsoft too as they stand to lose as well. But it’s great news for Research In Motion and Apple as they are about to get a bunch of new customers. You can bet that execs in both of those companies are jumping for joy at the moment.

Another day, and still no service for T-Mobile Sidekick users. The rage from Sidekick users is growing louder by the day with Twitter being the main source. Here are some examples of what users think of this circus:

Sidekick data service has been down for FIVE days! Warning – do NOT use T-Mobile‘s Sidekick. It’s a DISASTER!

So T-Mobile thinks that giving me a month’s free of internet access will make up for their crappy sidekick service. um, no T-Mobile. No!

T-Mobile sucks and so does the Sidekick..I had that phone for 29 days then I went back to Sprint n got a Blackberry

really t-mobile? its been like 6 days now and still no working sidekick?!

All of those were posted to Twitter in the last hour. And none of that includes #tmobilesucks which has been one of the top trending topics on Twitter over the last few days. If this isn’t a PR disaster for T-Mobile as well as Danger/Microsoft, I don’t know what is. Oh, in case you’re wondering what those two are saying, you can check out the official word from T-Mobile on this via their forums (which by the way have a large number of unhappy campers posting messages). The Hiptop site (run by Danger/Microsoft) pretty much mirrors what T-Mobile said. That’s in my opinion is a major PR fail for both parties.

The longer that this continues, the more I sense a great disturbance in the force. Likely caused by thousands of sidekick users running to buy another smart phone that’s not made by Danger/Microsoft on a network that isn’t T-Mobile.

Oh the horror!

Every T-Mobile Sidekick user in the USA has been without data access on their smart phones this past weekend, and they are angry as hell. Why? Sidekick users are unable to use any services that pass through Danger’s servers. That would be email, IM and, perhaps worst of all, contacts. About the only thing you can do with a Sidekick at the moment is make a phone call or send a text message. A check of Twitter shows that this is a hot topic that is being tweeted. Not only that, celeb blogger Perez Hilton who uses one of these devices is mad. Just check his Twitter feed for all of the details:

@TMobile_USA STILL without access to my address book/contacts. I don’t care if it is Danger fault. It’s YOUR problem! And you have failed!

and

T-Mobile stock will likely go down on Monday. Yes, Sidekick service is still down. Major fail!

Ouch! T-Mobile has some explaining to do methinks. For their sake, I hope they have things up and running today. Otherwise this could snowball in a hurry.