O2 to launch automatic data backup

REACTING TO customer demand, O2 is launching 'My Bluebook' which will eventually store all you handset's data online. For free. And it will be Outlook compatible.

My Bluebook has apparently been 'soft' launched so that existing O2 customers can already sign up to it. But the really clever bits - like the addressbook backup, aren't implemented quite yet.

O2's Russ Shaw told the INQ that his company wasn't going to charge for the service. However, he probably meant no charge for storing the data. We can't believe that users won't burn up their own GPRS data allocations while the information is uploaded in the background.

Anyway, the service should prove extremely attractive to the average Brit who normally loses all his or her stored numbers when they lose or have their handset stolen. Or drop it in the bath.

Shaw also showcased another O2 service - LookAtMe. This enables ordinary O2 customers to post their handset videoclips for others' amusement and get paid for their work if others download it.

One Rachel M has already earnt over £500 from this facility. Since each clip costs 10 pence and the author gets one penny, that's surely 5,000 downloads.

O2 maintained that Rachel clips don't represent any kind of adult entertainment or salacious content - merely slapstick comedy. We believe them. µ