Unable to download Backup Assistant_ Error (3332)
JR111
Newbie

I have tried for two days to download Backup Assistant on my Samsung SCH-u410.  It goes well until I try to download the catalogue of applications.  I get the following message:

 

"Unable to retrieve catalog.  Please try again later (3332)"

 

I want to upgrade my phone but want a backup of my numbers first.  I will appreciate any advise.

 

 

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Re: Unable to download Backup Assistant_ Error (3332)
alliekc
Newbie

call 611 and they should be able to do something, go to a local verizon, that usually is the best option. You could also keep trying, or use google to find some more answers!

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Re: Unable to download Backup Assistant_ Error (3332)
mwlimelite1
Newbie

Hi,

 

Were you able to get a resolution to your problem?

 

I am having the same problem... brought a refurbished Moto W755 and now I cannot download backup assistant, or access Get it Now at all ("cannot retrieve catalog... (3332)").  After several failed attempts at getting help from customer service, I finally got through to someone at tech support who told me that Verizon did some kind of update that basically disabled get it now apps for old "feature" phones (I guess this means non-smart phones) that did not already have them installed.  So, if you have purchased a refurbished phone, or did not download the app to your phone prior March 25 of this year, you are screwed.

 

Evidently a letter was send to verizon customers to alert them that this was going to happen... I certainly don't remember getting anything and I have 2 phones on my account that this could apply to.

I am screwed b/c the software on my old phone crashed so the only way I can access my contacts is through backup assistant! 

 

Are they going to stop selling feature phones altogether so that you are forced into a smart phone and data plan???  I am so ready to ditch verizon altogether!

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Re: Unable to download Backup Assistant_ Error (3332)
athenastardear
Enthusiast - Level 1

Vzw's current new / upgrade phone lineup has some great phones in both the talk category and text category, with features that are improved over prior models, approaching smart phone status, and Without a data plan needed.

 

It's surprising it took this long to cease supporting backup assistant on older model phones.

VZW gives us new phones every two years or less, so that we get the latest stuff, and so they can support the latest stuff on their network.  The lack of backup assistant support online isn't a deal killer for me.  It makes older phones less valuable on ebay though.

 

VZW stores will transfer contacts to new phones.  Backup assistant equivalent for older phones is a USB cable and PC software, example: "bitpm"  This is almost free these days, and been around longer than backup assistant.  I have both older phones and new phones in my family plan mix, using whatever backup method works.

 

The biggest surprise was that a newer phone with media center also stopped working with backup assistant downloads.  Bitpm works just fine for that one.

 

How about this- use a newer phone to download saved contacts from VZW backup assistant, transfer the contacts to bitpm, and then use bitpm to put the contacts back into an older phone.  Would that work?

 

Re: Unable to download Backup Assistant_ Error (3332)
geow
Newbie
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Re: Unable to download Backup Assistant_ Error (3332)
SuzyQ
Community Leader
Community Leader

 


mwlimelite1 wrote:

Hi,

 

Were you able to get a resolution to your problem?

 

I am having the same problem... brought a refurbished Moto W755 and now I cannot download backup assistant, or access Get it Now at all ("cannot retrieve catalog... (3332)").  After several failed attempts at getting help from customer service, I finally got through to someone at tech support who told me that Verizon did some kind of update that basically disabled get it now apps for old "feature" phones (I guess this means non-smart phones) that did not already have them installed.  So, if you have purchased a refurbished phone, or did not download the app to your phone prior March 25 of this year, you are screwed.  Even if you have / use the Pay as you Go data feature?  I know BA has been going through changes, and working inconsistently for several months, but it seemed to be expanding to include capability for more phones, not less.

 

Evidently a letter was send to verizon customers to alert them that this was going to happen... I certainly don't remember getting anything and I have 2 phones on my account that this could apply to.  We have several phones active on our account this would apply to, and at least one I am aware of that currently does NOT have BA installed; we did not receive any communication about this either.  Perhaps the rep was mistaken in his/her understanding of the "update"?

I am screwed b/c the software on my old phone crashed so the only way I can access my contacts is through backup assistant! 

 

Are they going to stop selling feature phones altogether so that you are forced into a smart phone and data plan???  I am so ready to ditch verizon altogether!


I am not ready to "ditch" Verizon, but some clarification of backup capability on older phones seems to be in order.  Does backup assistant still work?  Can it be downloaded and run as before on older feature phones?  Are there different versions for the older and newer phones?

 

 


athenastardear wrote:
... It's surprising it took this long to cease supporting backup assistant on older model phones. VZW gives us new phones every two years or less, so that we get the latest stuff, and so they can support the latest stuff on their network.  In some cases, the new phone (upgrade) is free, but those are basic, simple, feature phones mostly.  For the majority of upgrades, the "latest greatest" stuff is not free, and generally runs $150 - $200 or more to upgrade to a smartphone.

 

The lack of backup assistant support online isn't a deal killer for me. It makes older phones less valuable on ebay though. VZW stores will transfer contacts to new phones. Backup assistant equivalent for older phones is a USB cable and PC software, example: "bitpm" This is almost free these days, and been around longer than backup assistant. I have both older phones and new phones in my family plan mix, using whatever backup method works.  BitPim is a viable solution, for some folks.  USE WITH CAUTION, it can brick the phone and make it unusable if not done correctly, and will  void any warranty you may have on the phone.  I have used it successfully to get pictures off of an older inactive phone, so it does work.  Just be careful if you do decide to use BitPim.

 

The biggest surprise was that a newer phone with media center also stopped working with backup assistant downloads. Bitpm works just fine for that one. So Backup Assistant is still not working in all cases....


So it sounds like there are STILL some issues to be worked out with backup assistant, and there may be a lot of folks out there that THINK they have a good backup and have nasty surprise awaiting when they don't after all.  :::sigh:::

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Re: Unable to download Backup Assistant_ Error (3332)
mwlimelite1
Newbie

Hi again,

 

Finally got through to someone in VZW tech support who was helpful and determined to solve my problem!  Unfortunately, there wasn't much he could do about this particular problem but he did help me figure out a workaround.

What he explained to me is that Verizon did a network update a few weeks ago, and then discovered that a side effect of the update was that it caused some older model phones to lose connectivity to Media Center/Get it Now to download apps like Backup Assistant, music, games, ringtones, etc.   Contrary to what the first tech guy told me, they allegedly discovered this afterwards when people started calling in to report the problem.  There is a long list of phones that are affected by this, but that info is only available to Verizon insiders. 

 

My nice tech was dismayed to tell me that it doesn't appear that they are going to do anything to fix this.  I can't imagine it would take much more than a simple programming/software update, but I suppose it's not worth their time to help people keep using old phones rather than force you to upgrade/extend your contract.

 

I ended up downloading BA to an even older phone, an LG VX6100, which is one of the few older models that is not affected by this update issue.  Then I took both phones to the store and had them do the manual data transfer.  So it's fixed for now, I have my contacts back on my phone but I can't use BA to sync any changes I make and will have to keep track of them manually - just in case something happens to my phone again, like it crashes again or is lost or stolen.  SIGH.

 

Suzy Q - I assume that by "Pay as you Go data" you mean mobile web?  I can still access mobile web, and even get into my VZW account from my phone, so it looks like that is not affected - it's only the Mobile Media center where you would download apps and music, games, ringtones, etc.   The complete error message is "Unable to retrieve catalog.  Please try again later (3332)."

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Re: Unable to download Backup Assistant_ Error (3332)
SuzyQ
Community Leader
Community Leader

 


mwlimelite1 wrote:

Hi again,

... Verizon did a network update a few weeks ago, and then discovered that a side effect of the update was that it caused some older model phones to lose connectivity to Media Center/Get it Now to download apps like Backup Assistant, music, games, ringtones, etc.   Contrary to what the first tech guy told me, they allegedly discovered this afterwards when people started calling in to report the problem.  There is a long list of phones that are affected by this, but that info is only available to Verizon insiders . . .  SIGH . . .

Suzy Q - I assume that by "Pay as you Go data" you mean mobile web? Mobile Web, app downloads, anything that uses data and without a data plan, you are charged $1.99 per MB of usage.   I can still access mobile web, and even get into my VZW account from my phone, so it looks like that is not affected - it's only the Mobile Media center where you would download apps and music, games, ringtones, etc.   The complete error message is "Unable to retrieve catalog.  Please try again later (3332)."


Thanks for the update and clarification mwlimelite - so it isn't exactly a deliberate attempt to sideline older phones, it's a side effect that they don't seem particularly motivated to fix anytime soon, if at all.   :::sigh::::  I hear (and echo) your sigh!!!

 

 

...wondering if the LG-VX5400 or LG-VX5200 is on the "long list" of phones affected by the update?

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Re: Unable to download Backup Assistant_ Error (3332)
KellyW_VZW
Specialist - Level 1

Hello,

 

Thank you Community Members for posting troubleshooting tips and very helpful information.

 

JR111, were you able to download Backup Assistant and get it working?

 

If so, what steps did you take for it to work?

 

For more information on our Backup Assistant application, please visit the link below:

 

Backup Assistant

 

 

Thank you.

 

 

KellyW@VZWSupport

 

 

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Re: Unable to download Backup Assistant_ Error (3332)
saab900
Newbie

Excuse me bumping an old thread but am what I'm reading is there is no way for an older phone (ie VX8550) to connect to Get it Now to get back up assistant? I finally got my Chocolate back last night cause the LG Cosmos sucks, and now I can not even have full use of my Chocolate?

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