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Backing up to a remote storage device is one of the best ways of securing important files. With some advanced backup features, one can even backup and restore device settings, applications and personal customizations along with media files and other necessary elements. While backup operations is often likened to the use of PCs, it has become even more necessary to backup the content of our smartphones in order to secure crucial business and personal data, including apps which all underlines the need to have an effective smartphone backup facility. In an answer to this, major utility software and app developing companies have continued to develop and improve on their services in order to accommodate and satisfy this need. If you are using iPhone, here are the best online backup applications you should check out.

iCloud

iCloud is a cloud storage and computing service from Apple Inc. With this service, users are allowed to store media files and other data on remote storage devices (computer servers) which they can restore across supported iOS devices, and computers running on OS X or Microsoft Windows. Following the announcement and launch of iCloud, Apple stated that they will discontinue MobileMe by the end of June, 2012. Hence unless you are still using one of those older iPhones, iCloud offers you the opportunity to enjoy Apple’s cloud computing service with which you will enjoy reliable syncing (backup and restore operations) for email, contacts, calendars, bookmarks, notes, to-do lists and other data.

Features of iCloud

iCloud is one of the best backup application for iPhone and other supported smartphones, and PC users. It has gained more than 125 million users on board in less than 13 months of launch. Yes, everybody will wonder what Apple has in stock with the iCloud services but the announcement of the proposed discontinuation of the popular Apple’s MobileMe, which though had a little flaw from launch but had became more stable and a crucial app that people love and use with millions of users, personally moving to and exploring what options exist with iCloud seemed the best choice. With Apple’s iCloud, the following features awaits you

Backup and Restore Your iOS Device: Using iPhone or any other iOS device, iCloud will help to secure your data including contacts, photos, other media files and personal customizations to a safe remote server where it can be restored to your iPhone or any other supported device at any time. If you have used a backup service before, this is not so different than those few buttons you click to initiate a normal backup or restore operation.

Find My iPhone: This is a service that you may have used with Apple’s MobileMe which allows users to track the location of their iPhone with GPS coordinates. Fortunately, while planning to discontinue MobileMe, Apple has moved the Find My iPhone service to their iCloud services. Yes, it still works by revealing the approximate location of the iOS device on a map while allowing the owner to remotely display a message, play a sound (works even if the device is on silent), set a new password or erase  the entire content on the device. If your device runs on iOS 4.2.1 software update, you will get this service free of charge.

Photo Stream: Photo Stream is a basic feature on iCloud with which users can store their most recent photos. Users can store up to 1,000 recent photos on the iCloud servers for up a month at no additional cost. If you have Photo Stream enabled on your iPhone, photos taken will automatically be uploaded to the iCloud servers and sent to all your registered devices. With the Apple TV integration, you can even view your recent photos with their HDTV. Additionally, you don’t have to carry a loaded iPhone every minute before you can have access to the songs and TV shows you probably have purchased. The iTunes Match will make a library of these items and make them accessible with any of your registered devices.

Pros

• iCloud is free
• iTunes Match provides access to purchased media files wherever you go without stacking up your iPhone
• Enjoy a better photo streaming service
• Backup and restore your entire OS, calendar, emails, to-do, personal customizations and any other data from your device to a secure remote server
• Access to your backed up data with any other supported device order than your iPhone
• Enjoy the Find My iPhone service free of charge

Cons

• Not compatible with competitor apps
• Turns all apps on the device ON; which may be annoying if the apps are many and may have to be manually turned off

What Users Say About iCloud

With over 125 million users already, there sure has to be a lot of feedbacks on this app. While most users were grateful for the free Find My iPhone/Find My Mac service that came with the basic iCloud services, including the iTunes Music Match that has no equal in the industry, some, while not denying these benefits, pointed out certain features they wish could be improved. Among this is the fact that iCloud requests for the un-installation of competitor apps during installation. One of this is the Google Sync. Apparently, it appears that the quits between Google and Apple has extended beyond their partnered mapping services. However, as Apple continues to build and refine their iCloud services by acting on users feedbacks, we hope to have a better cloud computing and storage service that appeals to the needs of every user with no discrimination.

Mozy

Mozy is an online storage and backup app compatible with iOS devices like iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch with version 4.0 or later and Android devices with version 2.0 or the newer, including PCs running on supported OS. What Mozy does is simple; it allows you to backup your data from your PC or to send them as an email attachment with your mobile device while granting you unlimited access to all your data on mobile anytime anywhere. Hence with your iPhone, Mozy allows you secure access to your files, with an option to change their mode of display to suit your taste at the time. Just like iCloud, you don’t need to carry an iPhone loaded with music if you are using Mozy. I stored away all the music on my PC on MozyHome and found that I can play them right on my iPhone without even downloading. Additionally, Mozy allowed me to quickly view the contents of other folders on my backup like photo thumbnails. Imagine I want to send a friend a picture; it is just a matter of clicks before I pull it out from Mozy against carrying it around on my iPhone. Cool!

Mozy Coupon

Features of Mozy

Mozy was first rolled out to iPhone and iPad users in North America, but now supports global users and available in three levels, MozyHome, MozyPro and MozyEnterprise. It supports encryption and variety of devices including desktops, iOS and Android devices. In details, here are some of its features.

File Access: Mozy allows users to see and access all the files they protect from their mobile device. The content of all backed up computers are clicks away from your use; you can search or browse the file system hierarchy. This is great for business proceedings; you can backup and protect your delicate business data from your desktop while in the office and securely pull it with your iPhone while having a dinner with a client in a restaurant.

File Download: Don’t just see your files, download and read them on another device that supports that file type. This way, Mozy encourages versatility and team work in the office or while in the field. I imagined this; you don’t need to drive back to the office to pull a file, and you don’t need to give away your mobile device if that of your colleague can read the file type.

Mozy Is Social Friendly: It allows users to preview their photos, view them in gallery and in full-screen mode. Additionally, you can share your full-resolution photos on facebook.

Security: Yes, this is one of the procedures that I enjoy with this app. And all you who may at some point protect some delicate personal or business file with Mozy, these security protocols will soon come handy. The app supports encryption, login and logout capabilities, including an optional 4-digit passcode to reinforce the security of your data. Additionally, if you are using MozyPro or MozyEnterprise, you can grant your organization access to this app from the Admin Console which helps facilitate business processes.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Social friendly
• Grants users access to the contents of all their backed up machines
• Supports encryption and other security details
• Good for enterprises and businesses

Cons

• Comes with some financial price

What Users Say

I can only describe their statements in few words; the app does exactly what it is said to do. Many users were satisfied with Mozy’s simplicity, its attention to security details and the fact that they were able to access files from all their machines with a single app.

SOS Online Backup

SOS Online Backup is one of the cozy online backup apps that deliver to the claims of the developers. It was designed to provide both personal and business users secure data transfers and storage with a full featured control panel that delivers every single turn-key for any operation. It supports Macs, iPhones, iPads and Android devices while allowing backup for up to 5 computers.

SOS Online Backup Coupons

Features of SOS Online Backup

Despite supporting up to five computers and variety of devices, here are some other features of SOS Online Backup that may interest you.

Unlimited Versioning: This backup service provides users access to all the versions of their files. Hence if you encounter a situation where the older version of a file applies, you can just pull it out from SOS without any stress. Additionally, it also allows users to share large files making it ample for special personal or business situations when there may be need to get a rather large file urgently across to somebody.

Backup In Real Time: If you are like me, you probably don’t like any backup operation that may require you to manually schedule and implement backup operations. I found that SOS does not only automate the process but backs up selected files and data in real time; meaning that even the slightest changes like change of file name, a word or a paragraph in a file, and many other minor or major alterations are securely transferred to a remote storage server by the Live Protect.

Global Access: You can backup and access your backed up files anywhere in the world using an app on your iPhone. If you are rather on your PC, you can access your files on your favorite web browser which makes SOS flexible enough.

Reliable Security: SOS supports a detailed security process that encrypts (with the 256-bit AES and 128-bit) and secures all data while in transit and while sitting on a remote storage device. Hence the privacy of your data is assured as you push or pull them with your iPhone. It also supports passcoded login and logout – termed the SOS UltraSafe.

Pros

• SOS is easy to use and comes with a simple user interface
• Can handle large files
• Great attention paid to data privacy and security details, including encryption to protect your data even when it falls into the wrong hands
• Backup your mobile devices and access your data on the go

Cons

• Storage space limitation; maximum of 50GB or 100GB with the home plan

What Users Say

Users, among other features, were satisfied with the unlimited file versioning which is a top notch service associated with SOS.  Its flexibility has also allowed many people to access their files and data with different PCs and mobile devices without compromising the security of their data owing to the password and encryption supports. However, many people didn’t sound happy with the storage limitations but none has actually exceeded the space allotted to them. Overall, SOS Online Backup is a reliable, affordable backup service not only for your computers, but for those portable devices, like your iPhone that goes almost everywhere with you.

IDrive

IDrive is one of the best online backup tools with full backup features and a simple user interface that more than simplifies the backup process. It supports backup scheduling, versioning, multiple accounts, allows users to manage their bandwidth, solid backup tools and features. Being an app for personal and businesses uses, IDrive also supports encryption and other security protocols designed to enhance data privacy.

Feature of IDrive

Backup Scheduling: With IDrive you can schedule backups to take place in the day, weekly or monthly within your preferred time. You can also schedule to backup major and minor files and data changes in real time. If you’d like to backup while still using your device or computer, you are also allowed to manage your bandwidth with which to determine the bandwidth usage that won’t interfere with other operations. This will ensure that your device does not slow down or disturb your other works.

Versioning: IDrive allows users to save up to 30 versions of their files for about a month. This helps to secure files even when it may have been deleted from your handheld device or computer.

Supports Multiple Accounts: IDrive does not allow users to restore a file backed up with one device on another with a single account. Hence it supports multiple accounts which you can even control with a single account. With this, you can backup and restore files across devices at will.

Security Protocols: IDrive supports 128-bit SSL encryption for transfers and 256-bit AES encryption for storage all to the privacy of your data. This is the recommended encryption protocols in the industry which protects your data even when it may have mistakenly fallen into the wrong hands.

Storage Space: If you are using IDrive for business, you have up to 1TB of backup space while IDrive Pro for personal users are allotted 150GB and IDrive Pro Family Pack 500GB. This comes with an easy to use interface and a file manager that is as easy to use as your normal Windows OS file interface.

Pros

• Free 5GB account with an option for additional 5GB if allowed to promote through your email account
• Supports archiving and versioning
• Reliable security options
• Simple user interface

Cons

• IDrive is yet to be integrated with some social friendly features like those for file sharing

What Users Say

Users were mostly attracted to this online backup service because of its generous free 5GB backup space. Many of them have however upgraded to paid options and liked the price including the network share backup features, ability to save various versions and the reliable security protocol which is handy for business and other delicate data.