Backup Assistant

I just downloaded the Backup Assistant application from Get It Now in
response to the e-mail I had received promoting free use of it if I am a
member of "My Account." (May I assume that most, if not all, of the
participants in this group are Verizon subscribers, and as such had also
received the e-mail?)

The website CLEARLY warns in at least two places that although the $1.99
monthly fee is waived for "My Account" members, standard TXT messaging
rates DO apply -- the AutoSync feature has the server "wake-up" the
mobile phone with updates that originate from my PC by sending the phone
a TXT message.

In four separate phone calls to Verizon -- and also a trip to my local
Verizon store where I spoke with someone who claims to have worked with
Backup Assistant for the past couple of years (before it was offered as
a free service), I was told by both Customer Service reps and Tech
Support reps that TXT messaging charges are NOT levied because Backup
Assistant does not use TXT messaging -- that the website warning is
WRONG.

However, I still have an uneasy feeling that, even though the updates
themselves may not involve messaging, the AutoSync "wake-up" feature
DOES.

I realize that no one has had a chance to try the *free* feature yet,
but can anyone confirm whether Backup Assistant AutoSync incurs TXT
messaging charges?

Tiffany S. wrote:
> In four separate phone calls to Verizon -- and also a trip to my local
> Verizon store where I spoke with someone who claims to have worked with
> Backup Assistant for the past couple of years (before it was offered as
> a free service), I was told by both Customer Service reps and Tech
> Support reps that TXT messaging charges are NOT levied because Backup
> Assistant does not use TXT messaging -- that the website warning is
> WRONG.
>
> I realize that no one has had a chance to try the *free* feature yet,
> but can anyone confirm whether Backup Assistant AutoSync incurs TXT
> messaging charges?

I'm 99% sure it doesn't. I've been using Backup Assistant for 2-3
months now, and while I don't review all my individual msg listings on
the bill, I don't remember ever seeing any that I wouldn't have placed,
and certainly not on a daily basis. What happens with my phone is,
every day at 2:30, the external display lights, and if there have been
changes to my Contacts list, there is a momentary message about
updating. If no changes, then it doesn't do anything else. It's almost
invisible.

Jeb Hoge wrote:

>> I realize that no one has had a chance to try the *free* feature yet,
>> but can anyone confirm whether Backup Assistant AutoSync incurs TXT
>> messaging charges?
>
> I'm 99% sure it doesn't. I've been using Backup Assistant for 2-3
> months now, and while I don't review all my individual msg listings on
> the bill, I don't remember ever seeing any that I wouldn't have placed,
> and certainly not on a daily basis. What happens with my phone is,
> every day at 2:30, the external display lights, and if there have been
> changes to my Contacts list, there is a momentary message about
> updating. If no changes, then it doesn't do anything else. It's almost
> invisible.
>

I noticed that the fee for backup assistant is waived if you have a "My
Account" account. I also noticed that "My Account" talks about paperless
billing and autopay. Is this something that becomes mandatory?

I pay the bill via an electronic payment already but that is a push
payment from my bank. I would never authorize any vendor to do a pull
payment. I like the paper billing and often use it as a reference but I
can always log into my account and get that information.

"Tiffany S." <NiceTiffany@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:16329-457046FC-500@storefull-3233.bay.webtv.net...
>I just downloaded the Backup Assistant application from Get It Now in
> response to the e-mail I had received promoting free use of it if I am a
> member of "My Account." (May I assume that most, if not all, of the
> participants in this group are Verizon subscribers, and as such had also
> received the e-mail?)
>
> The website CLEARLY warns in at least two places that although the $1.99
> monthly fee is waived for "My Account" members, standard TXT messaging
> rates DO apply -- the AutoSync feature has the server "wake-up" the
> mobile phone with updates that originate from my PC by sending the phone
> a TXT message.
>
> In four separate phone calls to Verizon -- and also a trip to my local
> Verizon store where I spoke with someone who claims to have worked with
> Backup Assistant for the past couple of years (before it was offered as
> a free service), I was told by both Customer Service reps and Tech
> Support reps that TXT messaging charges are NOT levied because Backup
> Assistant does not use TXT messaging -- that the website warning is
> WRONG.
>
> However, I still have an uneasy feeling that, even though the updates
> themselves may not involve messaging, the AutoSync "wake-up" feature
> DOES.
>
> I realize that no one has had a chance to try the *free* feature yet,
> but can anyone confirm whether Backup Assistant AutoSync incurs TXT
> messaging charges?
>

Just installed it on the two phones in my family plan. Got billed 10
centavos for one TXT message.

Butch

Butch Haynes wrote:
> "Tiffany S." <NiceTiffany@webtv.net> wrote in message
> news:16329-457046FC-500@storefull-3233.bay.webtv.net...

> > I realize that no one has had a chance to try the *free* feature yet,
> > but can anyone confirm whether Backup Assistant AutoSync incurs TXT
> > messaging charges?
> >
>
> Just installed it on the two phones in my family plan. Got billed 10
> centavos for one TXT message.

Ahh, you know, I think that there may be one TXT sent when you initiate
the service, but I don't remember for sure. That might be what the note
on the website was referring to.

On 1 Dec 2006 11:42:22 -0800, "Jeb Hoge" <jeb.hoge@gmail.com> wrote:
: Butch Haynes wrote:
: > "Tiffany S." <NiceTiffany@webtv.net> wrote in message
: > news:16329-457046FC-500@storefull-3233.bay.webtv.net...
:
: > > I realize that no one has had a chance to try the *free* feature yet,
: > > but can anyone confirm whether Backup Assistant AutoSync incurs TXT
: > > messaging charges?
: > >
: >
: > Just installed it on the two phones in my family plan. Got billed 10
: > centavos for one TXT message.
:
: Ahh, you know, I think that there may be one TXT sent when you initiate
: the service, but I don't remember for sure. That might be what the note
: on the website was referring to.

My own experience suggests that your analysis is correct.

Thank you for your responses, everyone. I think I understand it now.

AutoSync is a server-induced function. It "pushes" updates from the
server to the phone whenever the *update* button on the website is
activated *or* whenever the webpage is closed. It does involve TXT
messaging.

The updates that are done automatically each day are induced by the
*phone's* application and are NOT part of the AutoSync function. TXT
messaging is *not* involved.

Changes made from the website to the server's version of the list can be
transferred to the phone without charge if they are manually "pulled"
over with the *phone's* application.