The phrase references the practice of creating a physical compilation, or record, of digital correspondence stored on a mobile operating system. This might involve transferring SMS and MMS data from a device to a computer, formatting it appropriately, and then printing the messages to create a tangible archive. As an example, a user might want to compile a history of communications with a loved one, or to preserve records of important business transactions conducted via short message service.
Archiving digital communications offers several potential benefits. It provides a secure, offline backup of important data, mitigating the risk of data loss due to device malfunction, software errors, or platform changes. Furthermore, a hard copy can be useful for legal or evidentiary purposes where verifiable records are required. Historically, similar methods have been employed for preserving other forms of digital communications, like email, reflecting a continuing need for durable archives despite the increasing prevalence of digital storage.
