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Backup Assistant℠ Plus FAQs

General Information

  1. What is Backup Assistant℠ Plus?

    Backup Assistant Plus is a new service that integrates the features and capabilities of the following three services: Backup Assistant, V CAST Media Manager and Sync & Connect. The new service includes a secure, online storage cloud where you can back up contacts, photos, music, documents and videos, and also lets you synchronize your Google™, Gmail™, Yahoo!® Mail, AOL® and Windows Live® Hotmail® email accounts with your Verizon Wireless Backup Assistant Plus Email capable Smartphone and My Verizon website.

    Backup Assistant Plus ensures that your content is available virtually anywhere you want to play, manage or share it.

    The Backup Assistant Plus cloud can be accessed from a computer (Windows®, Mac®, Linux®), mobile phone, tablet, netbook and Web browser. All you need is an active Internet connection.

    Note: Any content identified as copyrighted is not available for sharing.

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  2. Can I subscribe to Backup Assistant℠ Plus if I already subscribe to Sync & Connect, Backup Assistant or V CAST Media Manager?

    If you currently subscribe to one or a combination of the above services, you will receive a free upgrade to Backup Assistant Plus. Once upgraded, you will continue to have access to all the features included with the original service(s), plus, you will have the option to activate additional features.

    For example, if you currently subscribe to Backup Assistant, once upgraded, you can activate the features originally included with V CAST Media Manager at no additional cost. If you choose not to activate the V CAST Media Manager features, then your Backup Assistant℠ Plus service will only include your original Backup Assistant features.

    A manual upgrade notification will be sent to each of the original service’s apps (desktop app, tablet app and mobile app). The Web browser app will automatically be upgraded upon access.

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  3. Does Backup Assistant℠ Plus cost more than Backup Assistant, V CAST Media Manager or Sync & Connect?

    No, the monthly rate you paid prior to upgrading to Backup Assistant Plus will be the same after the upgrade is complete.

    If you don’t already have V CAST Media Manager, and you activate its features after upgrading, you will be prompted to select an online storage level to store your pictures, videos, documents and music. There is a free offer that includes 500 MB of online storage, with the possibility of additional storage capacity for a low monthly charge.

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  4. How do I know if I am eligible to subscribe to Backup Assistant℠ Plus?

    In general, if you have an active Verizon Wireless account, you are eligible to subscribe to Backup Assistant Plus, regardless of the type of mobile phone you have. The Backup Assistant Plus service offers a wide variety of ways to access content you have stored in the cloud (e.g., computer, mobile phone, tablet, netbook and  Web browser). As long as you have access to the Internet and an eligible model or operating system of at least one of the device types mentioned above, you can subscribe.

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  5. How come some apps are called V CAST Media Manager, Backup Assistant and/or Sync & Connect and not Backup Assistant℠ Plus?

    The upgrade to Backup Assistant Plus will take place over the next couple of months; however, the original apps for desktop, tablet, netbook, Web and mobile are all compatible with Backup Assistant  Plus.

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  6. How do I download files to Backup Assistant℠ Plus on my phone?

    Downloading a file from your online storage takes just a few quick steps:

    1. Open the Backup Assistant Plus mobile application.
    2. Select the menu option of the content type (music, pictures, videos, documents) you would like to download or if you’re not sure, select the Browse All Files menu option.
    3. Navigate to the file, then long-press on it.
    4. From the available options, select Download.
    5. If multiple files have to be downloaded, press the menu option and select Select option. Then select multiple files and again press the Download option from the menu option.

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  7. Can I post files to Facebook® or MySpace® from the Backup Assistant℠ Plus mobile application and Backup Assistant℠ Plus web interface?

    Backup Assistant Plus allows you to post files to both Facebook and MySpace from both the Backup Assistant Plus mobile application and the Backup Assistant Plus web interface. Once you enter your credentials during the setup process, posting takes just a few steps…select the file and then select the desired location to post it.

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  8. Does it cost me anything to upload or download a file to my phone with the Backup Assistant℠ Plus mobile app?

    If you subscribe to an unlimited data feature, no additional charges are applicable when uploading or downloading a file between the Backup Assistant Plus mobile application and online storage. If you do not subscribe to an unlimited data feature, data transport charges will apply in accordance with the terms of your subscription.

    To learn about data transport pricing please see our Pricing Guide.

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  9. Can I use the Backup Assistant℠ Plus desktop application to upload a file to my online storage?

    The desktop application is fully integrated with the Backup Assistant Plus service.
    Connecting the desktop application to your online storage takes just a few quick steps:

    1. Open the Backup Assistant Plus desktop application.
    2. Click on Online Storage on the left and provide your My Verizon credentials to log into Backup Assistant Plus online storage.
    3. Drag and drop files from other sources on the left like “Local Media Content”, “Facebook” or your connected phone to upload files to your Backup Assistant Plus online storage.
    The Backup Assistant Plus desktop application also supports automatic backups to your online storage
    1. A simple and easy of use wizard allows you to scan your computer and back up the scanned content to your Online Storage. The wizard is automatically launched when you access the application for the first time. You can trigger the wizard anytime later also from the menu option Online Storage > Setup Wizard.
    2. To set up automatic backup, follow the menu option Preferences > Backup settings…

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  10. What file formats can I upload to Backup Assistant℠ Plus online storage?

    Backup Assistant Plus supports each of the major content types, including photos, videos, music and documents. Within each content type, the service supports a wide range of formats, including the following:

    Audio Formats Video Formats Photo Formats Document Formats
    AAC DV .jpg .doc
    AC-3 Flash Screen Video .jpeg .docx
    AMR-NB FLV .bmp .xls
    AMR-WB H.261 .gif .xlsx
    AMV IMA ADPCM H.263(+) .png .ppt
    DV Audio MPEG-1 .tiff .pptx
    MPEG Audio Layer 2 MPEG-2   .pps
    MPEG Audio Layer 3 MPEG-4   .pdf
    WavPack RealVideo 1.0   .txt
    WMA v1/v2 RealVideo 2.0   .rtf
      RealVideo 4.0   .dot
      WMV7   .html
      WMV8   .htm
          .xm

     

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  11. How do I upload files on my computer to Backup Assistant℠ Plus online storage using the Backup Assistant℠ Plus web interface?

    Using the Backup Assistant Plus web interface, you have the ability to upload single or multiple files; you also can upload a folder, playlist or album.

    To get started, select the Upload feature from the top panel. A window will open and the files you have saved to your computer will be displayed in the left pane; the display is similar to that of Windows Explorer. Next, select the file you wish to upload and either right click and select Upload or drag and drop the file to the transfer pane to the lower right. Click the Upload button.

    A visual indicator will be displayed, so you can see the progress and status of your upload.

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  12. What is a media transfer?

    The term media transfer is typically applied to describe the transfer of a file from one storage location on a computer or phone to another location. With the Backup Assistant Plus desktop application, media transfer occurs when the phone and computer are connected by a USB cable OR the tablet and computer are connected over Wi-Fi; and a file is transferred between the two. For the Backup Assistant Plus service, media transfer occurs when a file is uploaded or downloaded between either the phone, the tablet or the computer and Backup Assistant Plus online storage using the Backup Assistant Plus desktop application or web interface.

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  13. What kind of media can I share with Backup Assistant℠ Plus?

    One of the most exciting features of the Backup Assistant Plus service is the ability to share your media from either the Backup Assistant Plus desktop application, Backup Assistant Plus web interface or the Backup Assistant Plus mobile application. The service allows you to share user generated (or non-copyright protected) content; media is easily identified as copyright protected, because it has an “lock” image next to the name of the file.

    Backup Assistant Plus automatically creates the type of share based on the address of the share recipient you enter. For example, if you enter a cell phone number for the person with whom you wish to share content, the Backup Assistant Plus share composer will automatically create an MMS message, and if you enter an email address, an email share is automatically created.

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  14. Am I able to share a movie I bought using Backup Assistant℠ Plus?

    Backup Assistant Plus only permits user generated content or media files to be shared; files such as copyright protected movies, music or videos cannot be shared.

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  15. How do I know if my phone is compatible with Backup Assistant℠ Plus?

    Backup Assistant Plus supports a wide range of phone models; to check if your phone is supported, see our list of supported phones.

    If you don’t see your phone listed, check back from time to time, because support for more new and existing phones will be added on a regular basis.

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  16. What happens when I upload a file that has the same name as a file already saved to my Backup Assistant℠ Plus online storage?

    Backup Assistant Plus includes a versioning feature. The feature is automatically applied when you upload a file containing the same name as a file already stored in your online storage account. Backup Assistant Plus can store up to five different versions of a single file. Select Versions from the option menu next to the file name on the Backup Assistant Plus web interface.

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  17. Can I create albums or playlists using Backup Assistant℠ Plus?

    From the Backup Assistant Plus desktop application, tablet application and web interface, you can create new albums and playlists. To get started, simply select a photo or song and select the option to create an album or playlist. Once a playlist or album is created, you can add more photos or songs. You also can upload an album, playlist or even a folder saved on your computer.

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  18. How do I know if a file can be shared or posted with Backup Assistant℠ Plus?

    Files that are copyright protected cannot be shared or posted. Files that are copyright protected are easily identified with a lock icon.

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  19. Can I use my existing Facebook or MySpace credentials when posting from Backup Assistant℠ Plus?

    Yes, the credentials you use to login to Facebook or MySpace should also be used when you configure Backup Assistant Plus to support your desired connection.

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  20. If I get a new phone, what happens to the files I have saved to my Backup Assistant℠ Plus online storage account?

    Whenever you change phones, your online storage will continue to be available to you as long as the phone you change to is supported by Backup Assistant Plus. To check if the phone you have or are thinking about changing to is supported by the service, see our list of supported phones.

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  21. What happens if I cancel my subscription to Backup Assistant℠ Plus? Will I lose all the files I stored online?

    If you decide to cancel your subscription to Backup Assistant Plus, it is strongly recommended that you first download all your files to your computer or a portable storage device. Once your cancellation request has been processed, you will no longer have access to the Backup Assistant Plus service, including the files you had stored online.

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  22. I have thousands of songs; can I easily locate a file I have saved to my Backup Assistant℠ Plus online storage account?

    Backup Assistant Plus helps you quickly find a file you are searching for, by allowing you to search not only the name of the file, but also the other file attributes displayed (also known as metadata).

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  23. How do I know if a file is stored on my phone or in my Backup Assistant℠ Plus online storage account?

    The main menu in the Backup Assistant Plus mobile application includes an option called My Phone When selected, this menu option will display all the media saved to your phone. Other options on this main menu are titled “Pictures” or “Videos,” for example, and will display files of each media type stored online when selected.

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  24. How do I know what Backup Assistant℠ Plus folder uploaded files will be stored in?

    When uploading an individual file, Backup Assistant Plus will save the file to the online folder that supports the file type. For example, if a picture is uploaded, it will be saved to the “Pictures” folder. Then, when you access your online storage and select the “Pictures” folder, the file will be listed.

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  25. Am I able to create albums or playlists in the permanent Backup Assistant℠ Plus online folders?

    Yes, from within the “Pictures” folder, you can create albums, and from within the “Music” folder, playlists. Once a playlist or album is created, you can upload and add additional files to them.

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  26. When sending a share via Backup Assistant℠ Plus, how do I know if the shared content will be in an MMS message or an email?

    The message composer automatically generates the share based on the address of the person that you enter. For example, if you enter a cell phone number, Backup Assistant Plus will create an MMS share, if an email address is entered, then an email share is created.

    This feature is especially handy when sending a share to multiple individuals and some of the addresses are cell phone numbers and others email…simply select the share addresses from the integrated address book, enter the message and Backup Assistant Plus takes care of the rest!

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  27. Can I share a file as an attachment with Backup Assistant℠ Plus?

    Yes, simply select the file and click Send as an Attachment. Once you enter the email address, an email share will be sent with the selected file attached.

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  28. Am I able to share an entire folder via Backup Assistant℠ Plus?

    Backup Assistant Plus allows folders to be shared; simply select the folder and click "Share". Once you enter the email address, the share is automatically sent.

    Because copyright protected files are not permitted to be shared, if the folder you choose to share contains both copyright protected and non-copyright protected or “user generated files,” Backup Assistant Plus will remove the copyright protected files from the share.

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  29. Can I use Backup Assistant℠ Plus to print my photos at a retail location?

    Backup Assistant Plus has partnered with LifePics for retail print fulfillment. You can use an existing LifePics account or initiate the registration process by selecting the Configure link next to the “Send to Print Fulfiller” feature from the Backup Assistant Plus web interface.

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  30. Does Backup Assistant℠ Plus include an address book? Is it different from my Backup Assistant℠ address book?

    Backup Assistant Plus gives you the ability to manually enter an email address or cell number when creating a share or select a contact from the integrated Backup Assistant address book if you have configured one in advance. If you have a Backup Assistant address book, you can configure Backup Assistant℠ Plus to use that address book by default. Contacts you have stored locally on your phone or computer would need to be imported to Backup Assistant first before you will be able to use them with the Backup AssistantPlus service; you are not able to import contact lists directly to Backup Assistant Plus.

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  31. Can I download an album or playlist to my computer with Backup Assistant℠ Plus?

    Backup Assistant Plus supports the ability to download one file at a time or an entire playlist or album. When a playlist or album is downloaded, Backup Assistant Plus will ZIP the file and save it to your computer.

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  32. Do I have to wait for the entire movie to be downloaded to my phone by Backup Assistant℠ Plus before I can begin watching it?

    No, as soon as you select the movie, the movie should automatically begin to play within approximately 2 seconds.

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  33. Can I download a file to my computer that I uploaded from my phone with Backup Assistant℠ Plus?

    Yes, as long as the file format is supported by Backup Assistant Plus, you should be able to play back a file regardless of the location from which the file was originally uploaded.

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  34. How do I know how much Backup Assistant℠ Plus online storage I have consumed? How do I add more online storage?

    On the Backup Assistant Plus desktop application, web interface, mobile application and tablet application, a storage meter is available that describes the amount of online storage used, versus the amount of online storage in your subscription.

    If you would like to add more online storage, simply select the upgrade option and follow the prompts.

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  35. Can I use Backup Assistant℠ Plus to set the default location in which downloads are saved on my phone?

    If your phone supports both internal and external memory, you can select one or the other as the default download location.

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  36. Are the sign in credentials for Backup Assistant℠ Plus the same as I use when I sign in to My Verizon?

    Yes, to sign in to Backup Assistant Plus, use the same credentials as you use to sign in to My Verizon. If you change your My Verizon credentials, you will need to sign in to Backup Assistant Plus with the new credentials as well.

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  37. Can other individuals on my Verizon Wireless account access my Backup Assistant℠ Plus online storage account?

    No, each Backup Assistant Plus online storage account is tied to an individual mobile number. Only the person with the My Verizon credentials tied to that mobile number can access the Backup Assistant Plus account.

    If you want to manage the content of a different mobile number, you’ll need to sign in to My Verizon with that mobile number and password, or create a new My Verizon account if it doesn’t already exist.

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