Many companies are now offering services that allow you to back up, or sync, the data on your cellular phone to a server on the Internet. So-called cloud services such as Apple's MobileMe take it one step further by letting users access their data via a Web browser as well, albeit for a price of about $100 per year.
On Monday, consumer electronics retailer Best Buy launched a service it calls mIQ. Licensed from Seattle-based Dashwire, the mIQ client will be preinstalled on all mobile phones sold by Best Buy, but it is also available as a free download for devices purchased elsewhere. At this time, users must submit their e-mail address and phone model as a request on the service's Web site. As the service is rolled out, they will receive an e-mail with a user name and password to log on and download the appropriate client for their phone.
When the client is first run after installation, it will display a "claim code" that is to be used on the mIQ Web site from a PC or Mac. From here they are prompted to create an account with a user name and password; after that is done the installation is complete.
Our testing of mIQ went surprisingly smoothly. Synchronization after our account was created was almost instantaneous, although photos and videos took slightly longer. By default, the client syncs Contacts, Calendar, Messages, Calls, Photos and Videos. Each one can be selected and deselected individually, though. In addition, the synchronization can happen automatically whenever the data changes, or it can be set to manual and synced only as needed. Media files, which are typically large, can be configured to only sync when the phone has a Wi-Fi connection.
Although perfect for automatic backups, the mIQ service is much more robust. The Web site can be accessed from any browser and allows the user to view and manage their phone's data from a computer. Everything is configured in an easy-to-read, intuitive interface and everything that can be done on the phone can also be done via the Web site, including uploading photos and sending SMS text messages. These changes will be synced to the phone, making it easy to enter new contacts and calendar entries.
Users of social networks can link with mIQ to update their status on FaceBook and Twitter and share photos on both, as well as Flickr and FriendFeed. In addition, photos and videos can be shared via a personal url on mIQ's Web site. Finally, contacts can be called via Skype with a simple click of the mouse.
For a service that Best Buy claims is still evolving, mIQ worked flawlessly for us. The fact that it is free for everyone to use makes it even that much better. On some of the screens, specifically the one dedicated to phone details and settings, Best Buy provides links to various mobile accessories and the top sellers in Bluetooth headsets, etc. All the branding and links are unobtrusive and a small price to pay for the services functionality.
Currently, mIQ has clients for BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and Symbian S60 operating systems, with Android support planned for early 2010. Sorry, Apple fans, as of now no iPhone client has been announced.
