Text messages..

[FutureLE]

I was reading a story about the Detroit mayor and it said something about text messages being used in the case, dating back to 2002.. I was suprised they were still available..

Does anyone know how long they keep text message records?

[Spears]

I can't say that I know how long they are kept, but I imagine once the records are requested via a warrant, they are kept indefinently.

You could ask over at www.howardforums.com. I'm sure someone over there knows.

[mrc27]

I think it would be cool to get a file of all the text messages I've sent &/or received.

[Spears]

I think it would be cool to get a file of all the text messages I've sent &/or received.

hell no, I send/receive approximately 1500-2000 a month. I don't want that PDF file, nor the dead forests to prove it!

[Narco]

i heard they get purged after 72 hours from the phone company.

[vacop4274]

I have Sprint/Nextel and one of my coworkers was actually trying to get texts from his phone through them and they said they only keep them for 14 days. But each carrier may be different!!!

[kingsman]

Like the internet, nothing you text ever really goes away.

[nr5667]

Unless there's a law mandating records be saved, (and if there isn't yet, there will be soon) it probably varies.

[FutureLE]

I guess they had a warrant or something, so maybe the cell carrier was keeping them for them..

[jtaylor38]

I think it would be cool to get a file of all the text messages I've sent &/or received.

No thanks....I used to be pretty bad about drunk texting. I really don't want to see the stupid stuff I would send out.

Now I just don't drink much...so...problem solved, lol.

[WadsonF]

To those of you on the sprint network - Be advised, they store sprint text messages for 90 days.

Sprint Pictures - If you send and or recieve a picture on the sprint network, a copy will be stored on the the sprintpicturemail server for 2 years, or until you delete it.

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Verizon Wireless - Purges the network weekly of text message archives. Picture mail can, on request be stored on verizonwireless.com

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AT&T - Unknown
TMobile- Unknown
AllTell - Unknown


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iNPule - Verizon Network
Boost - Sprint network - They store pictures
Virgin Mobile - Owned by SprintPCS. - But does not store images.

[nogginbuster24]

don't text.

[Kieth M.]

The issue in Detroit may be one of the texting going on on a government-issued device, not a private one. I keep hearing ads on my local radio stations selling services while warning employers that they must keep e-mails, etc. stored for up to seven(?) years, due to Fed regulations. If the texting had been on privately-owned devices, Mr. Kwame Kilpatrick might still be the mayor....but I'm sure he got excited by the City-funded toy he was given to play with.

Like they said to us when they gave us MDT's (MDC's) and then LAN e-mail systems....if you don't want it printed out and used against you in a complaint investigation, don't send it!

[ManInTan]

As long as my mother isn't able to read them...

[CityCopDC]

I have Sprint/Nextel and one of my coworkers was actually trying to get texts from his phone through them and they said they only keep them for 14 days. But each carrier may be different!!!

Thats odd. As I am able to pull up my Sprint phonebill from 6 months ago on the net. I would think because a text file takes up such a miniscule amount of space, I would think they would keep text's for a very very long time till purged.