Vufone is an application that lets you perform tasks that can be separated into three main functions.
1. Sync your PIM data such as contacts, calendar and notes.
2. Backup your text messages to their server.
3. Backup files such as documents, audio files, video files.
The application has support for many known manufacturers such as Nokia, LG, Samsung, HTC and more.
Signing up
Signup could only be done via a PC on their main website. Choose signup, enter your credentials, enter your phone number and a valid email for validation purposes. You then get a validation email which arrived in my mailbox instantly, very good. Clicking on it you get redirected to their website in which you can choose a password for your Vufone account. At the same time a text message is sent to your phone with the download link to the client application.
First View
The application launches quickly and the main screen has the sync status showing you when you last synced your PIM data, an upload and download file option and a backup and restore option. Pressing options gives you the ability to read a summary, change further settings and change your preferred access point.
Settings
There are three tabs inside Settings, namely Synchronization, Storage and Notifications. The Synchronization tab gives you different settings for what to sync: you can choose contacts, calendar and SMS. One neat thing is that you also can sync images, videos as well as audio files. You can also set the frequency of how often things should be synced and a roaming warning which I find very nice.
The Storage tab is quite obvious and here is where you choose from what memory to backup from. But I came across a little surprise here: I was expecting to be able to change the folder locations by pressing the Ok button to then type it manually in, which didn’t work. To be able to change folder locations you have to first press options and then change before navigating to your desired folder. It’s not that huge of a problem really and I do understand why they have done it this way. It simply makes the application more safe proof and more usable.
The Notification tab has two good options being turning on notification for billable events and a setting called Service Autostart. Why this is in notification I’m not quite sure of but I’ve left it on.
Vufone In Action
After setting up everything you can safely close the application. I was updating some contact information on my phone and shortly after that, Vufone launched itself and automatically synced my changes. No keypresses and I didn’t need to launch the application manually: great!
The Vufone service is overall a two-parted service, you have the option to backup to their server and restore your backup to your phone from your handset. The other functions such as synchronizing with Outlook and further editing options are found via their website. You can share your media files with social media networks and one of the more useful features is the ability to wipe out your phone data e.g. like if your handset gets stolen.
Vufone is a priced service and has a limited price of $ 9.99 for one year in April or you can get Vufone from the Symbian-Guru Store. With such a price you can’t really say that the service is expensive taking into account what it lets you do. I also like the subscription model as I can choose myself for how long I want a service.
Vufone can in my opinion replace other services such as Ovi Sync, sharing applications such as Shozu from all combination of phone client and website. Do you think so? If not what are the advantages or disadvantages with such a service?
