Carbonite released two new, free mobile apps, for iOS and Android on September 20, 2012. Carbonite is a well-known computer backup solution and they’ve had some beta apps around for mobile the last year or so. Now, the mobile apps are available for download at iTunes and the Google Play Store. For those of us already using Carbonite, it really makes sense to get this app, there’s no extra charge to use it (other than our yearly plan fee).

How many of us have taken pictures and videos on our phones and don’t even know how to get them off? Unfortunately, most of my non-tech friends and family have no idea how or what to do with the photos they take, much less even think about backing them up somewhere. According to a study by Wakefield Research and Carbonite, 57 percent of Americans have lost mobile phone data and 51 percent have accidentally deleted photos from their phone. The study also revealed that although people are upset when they lose their phones, most are more upset at losing what was on the phone rather than losing the phone itself. So for you techy relatives and friends out there reading this, be sure to reach out to your family and help them get some kind of backup going for their phones!

The Google/Android App Features

I don’t have an Android phone, so I’m not able to test this out, so I’m getting these screenshots from the Google Play website and listing the features. I am a Carbonite user and very happy with their service.

Features include:

• backup of photos, videos and documents on your phone. The app runs in the background (if you have data limits, you may have to watch this and perhaps backup only using wifi)
• if you install the app on all your devices and computer, then you can access your documents from any of your devices
• ability to play your music from the app
• ability to share your photos or files via email or post to Facebook, Picasa and some other social networks
• remote wiping and reset of phone (if it gets stolen)
• locate your lost device on a map and set off the ringer (even if it’s set to vibrate)

The iPhone/iPad App Features

I don’t have an iPhone either, so we’ll just have to look at the features listed on the iTunes store.

Features include:

• backup of all photos and videos on your iPad or iPhone
• browse your backed up items from any internet connected device
• you can program your devices to backup automatically from home, it won’t run in the background (this might be a benefit for those watching data plans anyway)
• no remote wipe feature, but it’s already built into the iPhone

Engadget published an article about Carbonite’s new Mobile App just recently, so if you’d like a little more information, here you go.

I have a Windows Phone 7 and there’s not an app for us. Really, this phone doesn’t need one since whenever I take a photo or video, it’s automatically synced to my SkyDrive camera roll. I could keep documents on my phone, but I use my Office and SkyDrive apps to store my documents so I can access them from anywhere. When I say ‘automatically’, I did have to get into the settings to tell them where to go .

If you are a Carbonite customer and have an Android or iPhone, why not get this free mobile app and get your pictures and videos backed up.

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