Cloud-Based Backup, Tech Services Available For Smartphones

Safe Technologies International Inc., a cloud-based provider of mission-critical IT, backup and disaster recovery services, says its MobileRescue flat-rate remote smartphone support service can simplify the lives of enterprise IT technicians responsible for a company’s iPhones; BlackBerrys; and Android, Symbian and Windows-Based smartphones.

According to Christopher Kolb, president of Fla.-based Safe Technologies, "We designed MobileRescue to help our customers stay connected to their business and simplify their busy lives. Remote technicians use ‘over-the-air’ access technology to set up, install, configure and customize a broad array of smartphones. As part of the service, we also provide training and troubleshooting."??

He continues, "Mobile handsets are no longer just cellphones; they are fully functional computers. IDC predicts that, by 2012, 65 percent of support conversations will happen in the cloud. The SDS product line of cloud-based offerings is designed to provide an essential core of mission-critical business services that fully support the extension of?computing to mobile devices.”??

Here’s some of what MobileRescue can help technicians do:

• ??Remotely "take over" smartphones and eliminate step-by-step phone support?View current settings, transfer files, deploy scripts, chat, and resolve issues
• Streamline the troubleshooting process between smartphones and PCs and Macs?Help users anywhere and anytime with advanced remote control technology?Install a smartphone software client on a PC?
• Enable backup of smartphone data to a PC?
• Sync calendars, e-mail and contacts with a phone and a PC
• ?Troubleshoot sync software issues
• ?Set up e-mail, calendar and phonebook on smartphone using a remote-control client?.

The service is offered on a one-time basis in addition to the purchase of a Safe Technologies Smart Advanced Support package that offers a year’s worth of 24/7 remote technical support.

In separate but related news, a new survey indicates that one-third of America’s small-business owners are using smartphones, and most of them are putting the devices to work for business needs beyond e-mail and phone calls.

According to Discover Financial Services, while small-business owners may not be using smartphones themselves in great numbers, 19 percent have taken or are currently taking actions to make it easier for mobile users to access their businesses.

“Small business owners are clearly paying attention to mobile-driven consumer trends, and are looking for ways to adapt,” said Ryan Scully, director of Discover’s business credit card, who has been commissioning monthly surveys of American small-business owners for more than four years. “Being flexible and adaptable to a changing economy has helped small business owners succeed through the years, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see new entrepreneurs push the limits when it comes to mobility.”

The Discover survey also indicated that younger small-business owners are much more likely to use their devices for conducting business: 100 percent of small business owners ages 18 to 29 use their devices “somewhat” or “very much” for business, beyond phone calls and e-mail.