Register Hardware

Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/03/28/o2_handset_backup_report/

Phone loss equals social catastrophe, claims carrier

By James Sherwood
Published Friday 28th March 2008 10:06 GMT

Dropping your iPhone down the lav is bad enough, but losing friends’ numbers and downloaded music could be social suicide. A report by network operator O2 has uncovered that many of us are suffering as a result, simply because we don’t back up our phone content.

O2 questioned just over 1000 people, aged between 16 and 44, and found that 68 per cent had never backed up the content they keep on their mobile phones. As a result, 44 per cent had lost contact with friends and 40 per cent had lost memorable photographs.

Sorry seems to be the hardest word, though, because one in ten had also lost downloaded music.

The statistics get worse, because 19 per cent said they’d accidentally left their beloved mobile phones stranded on a bus.

We know drinking and driving don’t mix, but our mobile phone responsibilities also seem to go awry after a few pints - 14 per cent admitted to leaving their dialler in the pub, and 12 per cent to dropping one down the bog.

Spending quality time with your mobile can also be dangerous for the phone’s health too, with one of the survey’s respondents even confessing to destroying a mobile during a rollercoaster ride.

All’s well that ends well though, because some of those surveyed had the 'no point complaining' mentality, and used the loss of a mobile as good excuse for getting rid of old mates.

It’s also reason enough for buying a new and better handset. Hurrah!