Verizon now CHARGES for basic Cloud backup of Contacts and Messages? HELP!

[Aflaaaak]

We have three phones on a Verizon plan, and up until a while, used the free allotment of Verizon Cloud storage for basic continuous back ups or our Contacts and text messages. We have never used them to back up photos or videos, so never needed to pay for extra storage.

A couple billing cycles ago, I noticed they now charge for the service, $5.00 per line, just to back up the basics . Not sure how Google back up works but is there a effortless way to continuously keep our text messages and Contacts backed up similarly to how Verizon Cloud worked? We have two Android phones (LG G4 and Samsung Galexy J7) and one iPhone SE, which I believe uses iCloud for backups. I just backed up Contacts lists to my G4's SD card, but need to set up something that will do all this automatically.

 

[Golfdriver97]

I don't think Google backs up text messages, but you can have your contacts synced to Google servers. Once it's done, shifting devices becomes less of a hassle.

Check this: https://support.google.com/contacts/answer/7199294?hl=en

It hopefully has become a one tap backup.

 

[Aflaaaak]

I don't think Google backs up text messages, but you can have your contacts synced to Google servers. Once it's done, shifting devices becomes less of a hassle.

Check this: https://support.google.com/contacts/answer/7199294?hl=en

It hopefully has become a one tap backup.

I have Google Backup turned on, but would need to back up Messages continuously as well.

 

[Golfdriver97]

I have Google Backup turned on, but would need to back up Messages continuously as well.

There are a couple apps on Play that can do that. Not sure how well they work...never had to use them.

 

[Aflaaaak]

There are a couple apps on Play that can do that. Not sure how well they work...never had to use them.

Verizon is getting greedier every year w.

 

[Golfdriver97]

Verizon is getting greedier every year w.

Sadly, everyone is. It's almost becoming not really a choice from the consumer point of view, but a view of 'Who do I hate the least to give money to?' And this isn't just cell carriers. Internet providers, electronics, etc.

 

[Aflaaaak]

Sadly, everyone is. It's almost becoming not really a choice from the consumer point of view, but a view of 'Who do I hate the least to give money to?' And this isn't just cell carriers. Internet providers, electronics, etc.

I know, the lack of competition is killing consumers. Lobbyists make sure the FTC plays hands-off with new mergers and company buyouts, so we end up with a couple choices that stink. My next fight is with Comcast. They jack my bill up by $35 a month, so then I have to call their Retention Dpt. and threaten to cancel my plan, so they give me a new two year "deal", so I can go through the whole headache again in two years. Rinse and repeat.

 

[Golfdriver97]

My next fight is with Comcast.

Sadly, for me, they are my only viable option for internet. I'm a gamer (that alone should scream high internet use), and I watch a fair amount of Netflix and YouTube. My choices are Comcast, a local internet company that offers the ultra fast internet speeds of 3.0 Mbps connection speeds, or Satellite internet. So, aside from Comcast, really slow internet (local), or decent with a data cap of 50 GB (really??).

 

[Golfdriver97]

Well....before we go down a rabbit hole....this was suggested by Android Authority: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zegoggles.smssync

 

[Almeuit]

Are you the account owner? They sent text messages to the account owner warning of the cloud changes and how they will no longer be free.

We have three phones on a Verizon plan, and up until a while, used the free allotment of Verizon Cloud storage for basic continuous back ups or our Contacts and text messages. We have never used them to back up photos or videos, so never needed to pay for extra storage.

A couple billing cycles ago, I noticed they now charge for the service, $5.00 per line, just to back up the basics . Not sure how Google back up works but is there a effortless way to continuously keep our text messages and Contacts backed up similarly to how Verizon Cloud worked? We have two Android phones (LG G4 and Samsung Galexy J7) and one iPhone SE, which I believe uses iCloud for backups. I just backed up Contacts lists to my G4's SD card, but need to set up something that will do all this automatically.

 

[L0n3N1nja]

Verizon notified me they were eliminating the cloud storage but never charged me anything automatically. I had no idea they eliminated contact backups.

 

[Aflaaaak]

Sadly, for me, they are my only viable option for internet. I'm a gamer (that alone should scream high internet use), and I watch a fair amount of Netflix and YouTube. My choices are Comcast, a local internet company that offers the ultra fast internet speeds of 3.0 Mbps connection speeds, or Satellite internet. So, aside from Comcast, really slow internet (local), or decent with a data cap of 50 GB (really??).

.

 

[Aflaaaak]

Verizon notified me they were eliminating the cloud storage but never charged me anything automatically. I had no idea they eliminated contact backups.

I had to add it back after I found out it was now a "add-on", but thought it was $5.00 for the account, not per line! I don't need 5GB or storage for photos or videos, just Contacts and Messages.

 

[Aflaaaak]

Well....before we go down a rabbit hole....this was suggested by Android Authority: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zegoggles.smssync

Thank you. I hadn't started looking into apps yet, but will check out SMS Backup+

 

[Aflaaaak]

Dumb question, but how can I tell if or which of my texts are SMS or MMS?

 

[Golfdriver97]

Dumb question, but how can I tell if or which of my texts are SMS or MMS?

SMS is anything that contains text. If a picture, video or group chat is sent, it's treated as MMS.

 

[Aflaaaak]

SMS is anything that contains text. If a picture, video or group chat is sent, it's treated as MMS.

90% of my text messages (I use Textra) are text only, though my wife and I do occasionally send photos. Do the text only messages go through as SMS and ones with text and photos go through as MMS, through the same method of sending?

 

[Golfdriver97]

90% of my text messages (I use Textra) are text only, though my wife and I do occasionally send photos. Do the text only messages go through as SMS and ones with text and photos go through as MMS, through the same method of sending?

Not sure about methods. It's all over cell service, because if you put your phone in airplane mode and try to send pictures over wifi, it won't work.

I'm wondering if choosing a different service may be a good idea at the same time. One where all you have to do is log in and your messages are there.

 

[Mr Segundus]

with a data cap of 50 GB (really??).

50GB??? Yikes! I used 957GB last month.

 

[Itsa_Me_Mario]

I don't think Google backs up text messages, but you can have your contacts synced to Google servers. Once it's done, shifting devices becomes less of a hassle.

Check this: https://support.google.com/contacts/answer/7199294?hl=en

It hopefully has become a one tap backup.

Google has started backing up SMS.