2009-03-06 06:01:00
The Siemens SL78H DECT cordless phone sports a very nice mobile-like feature set, including Bluetooth vCard syncing. Unfortunately this doesn't work with Mac OS X out of the box, but there's a work around.
Before you start off, pair your Mac and the SL78H in the usual fashion. Turn Bluetooth on for both devices, then on the Siemens go to Bluetooth > Find device. Go through the usual song and dance. Be sure to set your Mac to be discoverable.
Here's how you go from there.
1. In Address Book, make a new list of the contacts that you want on the phone.
2. Export this list of contacts as a group vCard (File > Export).
3. Make a backup of your Address Book (File > Export > Archive).
4. Remove all of your contacts. Then import the group vCard (File > Import).
Your Address Book is now empty, except for the contacts you want to transfer to the SL78H.
5. Download vCard blaster for Mac OS X.
6. Run vCard blaster and choose to send one vCard at a time, WITH acknowledgement.
7. Click Go and acknowledge each transfer.
You're now set and all your contacts are on the SL78H. You can turn Bluetooth off again.
8. Restore your Address Book from its backup (File > Import > Archive).
kilala.nl tags: other tech,
View or add comments (curr. 7)
Posted by Jools
Just got my SL780 and it's much easier to get contacts on the phone than you suggest. This is what I did:-
1) Created a new group in Address Book containing the contacts I wanted on the phone
2) Drag this group to the desktop (automatically creates a vCard)
3) Drag vCard onto Bluetooth File Exchange and send to phone.
Posted by Thomas
Then I guess that's a new option, because a few months ago OS X wouldn't do Bluetooth file exchange with the SL780. Thank you for informing us :) This makes life lot easier.
iSync integration would of course be even better ;)
Posted by stuart
Bluetooth sync works when you send the vcard file in 2.1 format. Doesn't work in v3.0
Posted by Thomas
That's great to know, thank you for the feedback Stuart. I'll look for a firmware update RSN and then I'll try to BT sync as well.
Posted by fake (website)
hi, there's quicksync for mac now:
http://gigaset.com/shc/0,1935,hq_en_0_163960_rArNrNrNrN_variation%253A-5_pageType%253Adownloads_imagePos%253A0,00.html#content
it seems to be working pretty well, though i haven't given it much testing yet. i only push my contacts to the phone, no syncing.
Posted by Thomas
Well, I've finally taken the time to get my SL78H working nicely with OS X.
First off I installed the QuickSync software for Windows under Parallels. Unfortunately the OS X QuickSync software still cannot do firmware updates, so it was a necessary evil. Oh well.
The QS software for OS X itself works pretty well, using Bluetooth. Syncing the contacts is a bit messy, as Fake suggested it's better to just empty the list on the Siemens and then push the list of contacts. Uploading a pictures as screensaver also is a bit messy. But hey, it works :)
All content, with exception of "borrowed" blogpost images, or unless otherwise indicated, is copyright of Tess Sluijter. The character Kilala the cat-demon is copyright of Rumiko Takahashi and used here without permission.
2009-03-06 07:13:00
Posted by Thomas
Two more things:
1. You won't actually have to go through the whole "sort-backup-delete-load-restore" trip if you want all of your contacts on your phone. It would've been much nicer if the dev of vCard Blaster had given you the option to upload a list of particular contacts, but hey...
2. This method should also work for other phones that are not supported by iSync, like the most excellent Samsung U600.