Lessons Learned from the Sidekick Debacle

By: JP Smith | Published: October 19, 2009

Categories: Safety and Security, Mobile

Last week, I shared my shock at how Microsoft/Danger, the companies responsible for maintaining the cloud-based solution that stored customer data for T-Mobile's Sidekick, had managed to lose the data for some 800.000 Sidekick owners. While it looks like, now, that the data is in the process of being restored, there are obviously some concerns raised by this incident that are sure to have a long-term impact on how customers will evaluate mobile device purchases.

I have seen several articles out there that are saying that this incident is a black eye on the whole notion of cloud-based computing.  However, I take a different view on this.  I believe that this should call into question what type of options a customer is given to maintain his/her own data.

What I really hope is that people realize that, while it's great that online data storage options are available, they should be a tool in your belt, not the only option.  I read horror stories of how people kept some pretty important data in the Sidekick's data service, some business-related, some of a more sentimental nature.  However, what amazed me about all of this is that there were so many people willing to allow an external service to hold all their data.  At some point, I don't see how customers didn't rebel, en masse, and demand a option where they could save their data locally. 

This could have been anything from demanding that the Sidekick be enabled to use SD cards or, at least offering a user the ability to download/sync their own data to their local computers.

In other words, consumers should be empowered to have more control over how their data is preserved.

Now, of course, T-Mobile is perfectly within its rights to say that, when it comes to the Sidekick, potential users can take it or leave it.  However, customers are also within their rights to leave it and select another device or another provider altogether.  I honestly believe that this incident is enough to make many consider the latter.

At the end of the day, it's all about choice.  I believe that many mobile users have had their eyes opened to what can happen when you don't have control of your own data and will pressure their providers to make sure that they are given the options they need.