Backing up SMS: how do you do it?

Posted by Matt Thommes on 10/16/2008

I recently received an inquiry about backing up SMS. The person claimed they were tired of having to delete old SMS for their wireless device, just to make room for new SMS. Like a lot of people, they treat SMS as another "inbox," and with this perspective, there should be some way of backing up or archiving old SMS.

I didn't have a quick answer, but I immediately recalled treasuremytext.com, which aids in backing up your SMS online. Treasuremytext requires the ability to forward SMS from your wireless device. Not all devices support SMS forwarding, such as the iPhone. However, for jailbroken iPhones, there is an official Treasuremytext app, which is better than nothing.

I also asked others how they backup their text, via Twitter and other sources.

When syncing Treo's to a desktop PC, SMS is saved as a .pdb file. There is also a program that converts that .pdb file to a regular text file.

As an SMS application developer, I often use the TextMarks API to create custom SMS apps. If only there was a way to have people SMS you at the TextMarks shortcode, which could then be archived in a database, and then forwarded to your real number.

I'm curious how other people backup SMS from their specific device. Is there a quicker/easier way? Is it device independent? Please share.

About the author(s)

Matt is an independent publishing enthusiast, mobile blogger, content creator, informative writer, web developer from a suburb of Chicago. Never one to conform, Matt intends to promote the effect the web has on our lives, in an effort to intensify, instruct, and clarify all that is happening around us.

Comments

Note: Comments may be viewed by authors, but if you have a more specific question you'd like to ask them, please email matt.thommes@paininthetech.com.

# gary at 11/17/2008 10:05 am cst

For Sony Ericsson phones try MyPhoneExplorer at http://www.fjsoft.at/en/ Backs up messages and phone book.

Comment preview: