Microsoft (MSFT) Failure Destroys T-Mobile Customer Data

“Regrettably, based on Microsoft/Danger’s latest recovery assessment of their systems, we must now inform you that personal information stored on your device – such as contacts, calendar entries, to-do lists or photos – that is no longer on your Sidekick almost certainly has been lost as a result of a server failure at Microsoft/Danger.”–T-Mobile customer service website.

T-Mobile customers just got news as bad as any that a mobile customer can get. All of the data stored on their handsets is gone forever.  T-Mobile has about a million users of the Sidekick although many of those may store some of their data locally on their devices.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is trying to challenge Symbian, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), RIM (NASDAQ:RIMM), Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) and other software and service providers in the wireless handheld market. The T-Mobile debacle may be a set-back from which the world’s largest software maker cannot recover.

Two years ago, Apple and Google were not even in the mobile market. Now, the iPhone is considered one of the most if no the most successful handset launch since the Motorola (NYSE:MOT) Razr. Google’s Android operating system is being used by every major carrier in the US and a number of companies overseas.

T-Mobile has a million nervous customers, all due to Microsoft’s failure. That is about as bad as PR gets.

Douglas A. McIntyre