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IMAGE SOURCE: T-Mobile Meet the new Sidekick Web site
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First it was lost, now it’s been found.
Microsoft Corp. said Thursday it has recovered the data lost by many users of T-Mobile USA’s Sidekick.
What happened?
Microsoft said a minority of Sidekick users lost personal contacts, calendars, notes, tasks, and pictures due to a system failure in the core database and back-up system, reports the Wall Street Journal.
The company posted a statement of apology to customers on its Web site over the weekend.
Initially Microsoft said don’t hold your breath about recovering data.
“ …our teams continue to work around-the-clock in hopes of discovering some way to recover this information. However, the likelihood of a successful outcome is extremely low." But it says it has since recovered the lost data.
Recovered personal information should soon be restored after it is validated, and Microsoft says it has strengthened the stability of the Sidekick service and its back-up process.
Data is stored in a “cloud” on the Internet and not in a physical location. This outage is seen by industry experts as the largest failing so far for cloud computing.
The problem began a week ago with isolated outages, reports Consumeraffairs.com meanwhile T-Mobile has suspended all Sidekick sales and to lure customers back, T-Mobile is offering affected subscribers and a free month of data services and a $100 gift card, reports WSJ.
On Saturday, users can expect an additional upgrade. The phone is popular with teenagers.
The Sidekick is run by Microsoft unit Danger.
T-Mobile is a unit of Deutsch Telekom AG, the fourth largest wireless carrier in the U.S. the first lawsuit has been filed over the loss, which promises to become a class-action for failing to protect data and false advertising.
The Web site, ConsumerAffairs.com allows consumers to write in about their complaints with T-Mobile as well as other carriers. #