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SMS Backup to Gmail

D

dotfuz

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 26, 2006
22
0
Nottz, UK
Hi everyone!

So after searching the forums and Google and iTunes and just about everywhere I can think of, I still can't seem to find the app I need.

I just bought my iPhone 3G-S yesterday, after using android for almost a year, and the ONLY one app/function i can't seem to find is for my SMS to be backed up automatically to an e-mail account.

On android there's an app called SMSBackup, in which all you need to do is enter your google username and password, and then it backs up all your SMS automatically to your Gmail address as soon as you receive them. They appear under a label and are archived automatically, and when you go into that label you see them as threaded conversations. I can post screenshots if anyone would like me to.

I'm surprised that with the number of apps for the iPhone there isn't a single app that does this? At least from what I can see.

Does anybody know if there is actually an app that I've overlooked and that does what I'm looking for? Or if there's an app that is in development to do this? The android one is open source so I'm sure it can be done on the iPhone, no? And before I get flamed for this, I do know they are completely different operating systems and are developed differently.

Is it because of the one-app-running-at-a-time thing? Because surely that shouldn't stop it with the new app (i forgot it's name) that allows you to run multiple apps in the background.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance!

-fuz
 
svndmvn said:
itunes backs everything up, so if you don't jailbreak, just find the backup files and play with those..
Click to expand...

Merely "playing around" with backup files to find the SMS backup data would be pointless and extremely inefficient. You can look through the backup files but I'll give you some direction so you don't have to wander aimlessly through thousands of backup data files. Your iPhone backup files on Mac are located in Library > Application Support > MobileSync > Backup. If there are multiple devices synced with your computer there will be multiple backups in that folder. If you find more than one backup and you only sync one device, it's because iTunes has saved some old backups, but this shouldn't be the case as this is your first iPhone and you got it yesterday. Then, once you find your backup folder, there will be thousands of files in there. You should run a search for the file named "3d0d7e5fb2ce288813306e4d4636395e047a3d28" with the extension of .MDBACKUP or .MDDATA. Then go to this website and follow the instructions there, most of which will be a repeat of what I already mentioned. I'm sure there is an app somewhere, be it in Cydia or the App Store, that does this but rather than look through over 100,000 apps for you. I gave you a solution that actually will work. Let us know how this works out for you!

DPA
 
I would be really interested in an app that does this, I've just gone back to my iPhone after a brief flirtation with a HTC Hero - the BackupSMS app was a lifesaver - worked really well.

I'm very, very surprised something doesn't exist like this for the iPhone.
 
Switching Soon!!

I'm switching to the iPhone 4 soon and also use this app on Android. Has anyone found a similar app? I love to go back and search my messages in Gmail.
 
Bump...

BTW thanks DPA, sorry I didn't thank you when you originally replied!

Still looking for an app for this though, that method is really long.. It should be much simpler now, with multitasking allowing it to run in the background. Or even just an app that needs to be opened and then manually having to press "backup" would really help.
 
With ALL that AppStore crap it lacks of ONE but useful program which is FREE on Android.

Looks like we have to find some x-code guy, raise some money, and ask him to made it. Source of SMSBackup is available, but i'm not sure it will help.

Damn.
 
Still miss that app

I would PAY for this app too! Any iOS developers up for it? Do the proper APIs exist even? I have feeling they don't....
 
I talked with some developers.
They say all as one: "Oh, appple doesn't allow that, no way, no API, no AppStore, e.t.c."

When I say: "What about jailbroken phone?", they answers: "FROM $1000!, and several months of developing", lol.

We need to be lucky to find the developer who do this for a reasonable price.
We should force the idea of this program on a place, where most Cydia developers are hanging around. :)
 
Very interested

I've been waiting for this too. I won't make the move to iPhone without it. Has anyone heard anything more, or had any better ideas?
 
bump

I wanted to know where this stood? I am willing to finance development of this app ....
 
IPhone SMS To Gmail

Hi Fellow Mac Rumor Posters,

Yours truly (@nerdyhearn) here. The application is in final beta. If you're interested in beta testing the application please shoot me an email at t o m --AT__ nerdy () hearn.com. Thank for your interest in the application and we're hoping to have it final stage by end of this week or early next week.

Thanks,
Tom
 
Email sent! Very excited :)

nerdyhearn said:
Hi Fellow Mac Rumor Posters,

Yours truly (@nerdyhearn) here. The application is in final beta. If you're interested in beta testing the application please shoot me an email at t o m --AT__ nerdy () hearn.com. Thank for your interest in the application and we're hoping to have it final stage by end of this week or early next week.

Thanks,
Tom
Click to expand...
 
Always cool to see something like this come around.

I've got a google apps for education email, (AT.g.clemson.edu) I'm assuming the app in question would work with that as well?
 
Iphone 4 on Verizon is disappointing me, after first gen Android experience

I am actually seriously considering giving up my iPhone for the lack of this very simple yet vital app.

I had 1 android phone (The Storm) before getting my iphone 4 three months ago, and this is one app I absolutely hate living without.

I've had Pocket PC's and Blackberry's since 2003, and I liked The Storm but when Verizon got the iPhone, I grabbed one at my first available upgrade.

Now between the lack of MMS Backup and Google's GPS not seeming compatable with iphone, and still no 4G, honestly - I AM REGRETTING not just getting a better Android phone.

I love how aesthetically clean the iphone is both physically and software-wise. And I have no glitches, which did occasionally happen with the Andoid Storm phone.

But this lack of an SMS Backup is just the straw that broke the camels back in my mind of thinking iphone is better. I've got slower internet and a crappy GPS with the iphone.

Function is trumping form in my mind.

The only other thing that is keeping me on the iphone is that it links with ipad so seamlessly, and the Android tablets seem so clunky.

I'm going to go test some of the new Android tablets I think, since the last one I tested didn't even have a standardized power source. You had to buy a $90 proprietary Samsung power charger for your car - totally unacceptable. Anyone know if they've gotten better?
 
All your SMS messages are backed up on your computer or iCloud and you can easily search for messages right in the phone... I don't understand why its so crucial to have sms messages on your computer..... I still have messages backed up from my iphone 3G which was years ago.... I've never gone back and read these old messages but I can if I wanted to....
 
toshtego said:
I am actually seriously considering giving up my iPhone for the lack of this very simple yet vital app.
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat. Call it ridiculous but I know what you mean. I loved the fact that it was an automated process and then completely searchable in gmail. If i needed to find a specific text from months ago, I could easily just go into gmail and search it. Sometimes people would text me an address, or a phone number, etc... Sometimes I would just need to verify a date or know WHEN someone said something to me, etc.. I referred to these things ALL the time.

Maybe people who have never used the app before just don't realize what they've been missing. I bought an iPhone 4S when it came out because I'm an Apple fan and always wanted an iPhone, but in all honesty... it's things like THIS app that simply do not exist on iOS. I so badly wanted to like the iPhone but there is truly more functionality when it comes to tweaking and being an absolute tech nerd with Android. Call Photo Stream great but you can do the same thing with Android, but better. In fact, I used to have my camera AUTOMATICALLY upload all pictures AND VIDEO (something photo stream does NOT do) directly to my NAS located at my house. As soon as I took a picture, it ended up on my NAS. Can't do this on the iPhone....

Sorry for the rant, and getting completely off topic. I'm still an iPhone fan boy, just getting very frustrated as of lately.

Bottom line, is an SMS backup to Gmail tool coming anytime soon?

In response to why this is better than the iTunes backup... yeah, tell me how to search for a text message in a nice clean interface? Not to mention, let's say you lost your phone but still needed to see if anyone was texting you.... This solves this problem too. LOVED this app on Android. Blah!
 
And one more comment regarding the nerdyhearn app...

Sure, it works, but again, you have to plug your stupid phone into a computer... this is not the Android like solution....

Android SMS backup to Gmail would do it in real time. I don't want to have to sync my freaking phone every time I want SMS to go into Gmail. That's the whole point of Google services along with iCloud. Seriously, anyone with an Android phone... when is the last time you had to plug a data cable in for something to sync to a google service? Exactly.. never. It happens... in real time.

Also, the Android SMS backup to gmail along with the call log was free. Why, why, why are there no free options on iOS... just getting more frustrated. Very much considering going back to my old Android phone. BLAH! Someone help me not do it.
 
I was wondering if there is any movement on this issue? Any way to backup text msgs and/or call log to gmail or in general?
 
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