Transferring phonebook data between mobile phones

At the weekend I managed to transfer a phone book or contacts database from a Nokia 6020 to a PC, and then to a new Motorola RAZR. But it wasn't easy. Not easy at all.

Its fairly obvious that phone manufacturers moves the phonebook from the SIM to the phone to make it much harder to transfer it. As long as it was stored on the SIM it was trivial. Of course they make it fairly easy to transfer data from an old model to a new model, but its excuciating trying to transfer information between different manufacturers.

What do others do? Just type in the new phonebook by hand? Always stay with Nokia? Work out how to make the transfer?

I type it in by hand, yes.

On my phone, though, you can also store it on the SIM card, you get to choose, but I prefer the cellphone phonebook because you can store more than one number per person.

Some handsets allow you to send/receive multiple contacts via Bluetooth or Infrared. So you can send your whole phonebook from the 1st handset to your PC, and then send them back to the 2nd handset.

I transferred my phonebook from a Sony Ericsson to a Motorola in that way. The only annoying thing was that I had to manually edit the file because the Sony Ericsson stored the names in a different format than the Motorola expected and they didn't get saved properly.

Well the names came through ok for me, but most of the numbers didn't. Had to edit the svg list generated by the upload to a comma seperated list to import it to the software for downloading to the RAZR.

For this very reason on my own phone I only have one number per entry. Anyway the multiple numbers are insifficient. what if you have friends that have multiple mobile numbers, for example for different countries or work/private.

So I just create an entry descriptive of what kind of number it is.

so you might find

Joe Blogs Ger mob
Joe Blogs Ger home
Joe Blogs Ch mob
Joe Blohs CH work

as entries in my phone book. And I don't split them into first name/surname either, the whole name gets saved as one word in surname.

Archaic maybe. Compatible definetly.

I have in the past got a little annoyed at phones that would NOT let me store multiple numbers per contact, but in fairness, I've never really had too much trouble transferring my phone book. Currently, I'm using a windows mobile device* and the contacts bit is well wicked, because it is Outlook. I love it. I'd find it really really hard to go back to my old Motorola phone now.

*yes, yuk, microsoft, how terrible. I know, I know, I'd be sooooo much better off trying to install some Linux thing wouldn't I eh? Or get a Mac. Hang on, wrong thread..

I keep all my contact data in MS Outlook. My last 3 phones have been an XDA, Motorola and a Sony Ericsson. They all had software to sync with Outlook so it made the process very painless. Not sure if Nokia has such software but I'd be surprised if they didn't or if there wasn't at least a 3rd party app to do this.

Yeah, I have never run into that though (running out of places to put different numbers). I also like to save e-mail address sometimes, which you can only do if you use the cellphone's phonebook.

Hmmm it would seem that my mistake was not to use outlook.

Nope that's not a mistake, I use Eudora for Email, and I'll never use any Email program that doesn't store attachment seperately from the mailbox. Eeek off topic.

As I don't send Email from my mobile, I don't see the value in having the Email address saved in the phonebook. I also tend to avoid writing letters on it, so don't need the postal address, another option with modern phone books.

Yeah I have some of those in there too. I just got too lazy to type them all in at some point.

Just wondering if someone knows how to transfer text messages from one phone to another. I would like to transfer them from a Nokia 6130i to a Nokia E65. Both have Bluetooth, I do have a program to do backups on the E65, but not for the 6310i as it is not mine. On the E65 if you backup data and then restore it, it also erases all data that was on the phone previously so I think even if I had the program and cable for the 6130i that wouldn't be an option (as I need the data that's already on the E65). Is there a way to send individual messages from one phone to the other using Bluetooth or infrared? I did try the menu but didn't find anything. Thanks.

Anyone know of any good apps for Mac that can convert a basic text (Word) document database with names, phone numbers and email addresses into a file that can be imported in to Apple Address Book? I've got one at the moment with about 200 contacts on it and there is no way i'm going to spend the next 4 days putting them all in manually.

All the phones I know give an option to store contacts on the SIM or in the phone memory. Before the copy process starts, move them either to the SIM card or store them in Outlook (not Outlook Express). All the phones I have come across sync with Outlook.

Word is a terrible choice for storing data. Use Exel.

SMS: These must be rather important 160 charcter messages that anybody needs to copy them to another phone. Typically one can download a software from the mobile phone manufacturer. At least you'll have these 160 charcater "treasures" on your PC.

I have the nokia 7310, with bluetooth, i guess the options will be similar to 6130i. In Contacts, select the Options for contact, and then there is a send option. - there select via Bluetooth.

I am not sure, but give it a try. Let me know if it works..

Not really important, I'd just like to have them all in one phone (as they're from the same timeframe) and seeing as my cellphone seems to have no space issues why not... if it's too hard to do I won't, I was just thinking maybe there is an easy way to do this just like I can send other files via Bluetooth from one phone to the other. One of the phones belongs to my best friend and I'll have to return it to her in a few weeks.