The IT Nerd

Don’t jump up and down just yet, but there are reports on the T-Mobile Sidekick forum that contacts have returned to some users devices:

“I was just on my phone and when I got off my phone all my contacts returned. I do not know if this will last for long but the site of my contacts returning is encouraging.”

“The same thing happened to me…I shut my phone off several times without removing the battery…voile’! My contacts returned!”

“Got my contacts back too! My phone froze up on me and since I have already lost everything anyways, I just took the battery out and put it back in. Once my phone was on about 5 minutes later I checked my address book for some reason and they were all there. I saved all my contacts to my simcard.”

I could go on, but you get the idea. The interesting thing is that a T-Mobile rep then gets involved at this point:

Hey guys,

Awesome to hear that your contacts returned. We would like to collect some examples of this. Can I have those of you that have had your contacts return, please PM me with your:

* Sidekick username

* IMEI

* Model

Thanks for all your help.

I’m guessing that T-Mobile never saw this coming. I’m also guessing that a bunch of T-Mobile execs are hoping that a large number of their customers get their contacts back, and thus are praying to the gods of their choice to ensure this happens.

In the meantime, I would recommend to Sidekick users who get their contacts back, back up their contacts ASAP or save them to their SIM card. Because who knows what the next plot twist in this story will be.

I guess T-Mobile must really be afraid of Perez Hilton or the impending class action lawsuits that are sure to be filed. Or perhaps, they’re afraid of customers defecting to another carrier? I say that because a statement was posted on the T-Mobile support forum that points to one of those conclusions. Here’s the part that you care about:

In the event certain customers have experienced a significant and permanent loss of personal content, T-Mobile will be sending these customers a $100 customer appreciation card.  This will be in addition to the free month of data service that already went to Sidekick data customers.  This card can be used towards T-Mobile products and services, or a customer’s T-Mobile bill.  For those who fall into this category, details will be sent out in the next 14 days – there is no action needed on the part of these customers.  We however remain hopeful that for the majority of our customers, personal content can be recovered.

I guess that means that the personal content of Sidekick users is only worth $100 to T-Mobile. Granted they aren’t the cause of this as this is clearly a Danger/Microsoft mess that T-Mobile is forced to clean up, but still you think they could do better than $100.

Perhaps Perez Hilton has the right idea and Sidekick users should consult their lawyers and sue T-Mobile and Danger/Microsoft. I know that the contacts and personal data on my smartphone are worth way more than $100. I’m sure that is true for users of Sidekicks as well. Perhaps T-Moblie and Danger/Microsoft didn’t get the memo.

At least T-Mobile seems to be getting a clue.

After Sidekick users lost their data due to the fact that there was apparently no working backup, T-Mobile seems to be trying to placate customers by giving them three options according to Gizmodo:

An exasperated tipster who just spent some quality time on the phone with an equally exasperated T-Mobile rep told us what he was offered:

• I’m released from the contract if I want (Yeesh, of course I better be. I can’t believe I had to ask).
• I can get a G1 for $129 (not sure if that’s the normal contract renewal pricing or not; doesn’t sound like a great deal to me).
• They also suggested Blackberries etc, but I didn’t get the pricing (since those are design disasters compared to SK or iPhone).

That’s something I suppose. At least it’s better than the one free month that they offered. I don’t think that this will stop mass defections to other cell phone carriers though. Nor will it stop the lawsuits that are sure to come.

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.