Never Re-Enter Contacts into Your Cell Phone

Darn it! You finally get most of your phone numbers loaded into your cell phone and – you lose it! Don’t let this happen again. Now you can back up all your data. Here’s how.

Solutions from Your Cell Carrier

Many cell carriers offer a backup service. Some allow cellular transmission of the data. Others require you to stop by one of their retail locations. Either way, the process is simple. Call (or stop by) your carrier and inquire. The fee tends to be $2 to $5 per month. We didn’t call all carriers, but we confirmed that Cingular, Alltel, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless offer the service.

Be aware that these services may not allow you to load your data into a phone that you get from a competing carrier. So, for example, if you upgrade from one Cingular phone to another – it works fine. But if you want to switch from Cingular to Verizon, or vice-versa, the carrier services probably won’t do you any good.

Alternative Solutions

Because you’ll periodically switch carriers, third-party backup options probably make more sense. Here are some software and hardware solutions that are getting good reviews online.

• Backup Pal: You don’t need a computer with this hockey-puck-shaped little gadget. Plug the device right into your phone and it makes a copy of your phone list. The data stays on the gadget until you decide to load it into a phone. It comes with interchangeable adapters for compatibility with virtually any phone in the U.S. market. Cost is $40 to $50. An optional kit allows you to sync the data with a PC. PC sync add-on is an additional $15. See www.backup-pal.com.
• CellStik: This is the brand name for a little piece of hardware offered by Spark Technology (Sparktech.com). One end plugs into your phone where the battery charger plugs in. The other end plugs into a USB port on your computer. Built-in software allows you to save a copy of your phone list on your computer. You can then load the data into a phone when needed. Works with most Samsung, LG and Motorola phones. Cost is $40.
• USB Phonebook Flasher: Yes, that’s the name. Very similar to the CellStik (above). Cost is $21. www.usbgeek.com
• SIM Card Readers: Several varieties of these are available and they all work basically the same way. You remove your SIM card (a tiny chip inside your phone, usually near the battery) from your phone, plug it into the reader device and do a backup. Some models available are:

1.                Universal USB SIM Card Reader and Writer. Cost is $29. www.suntekstore.com

2.                SIM Card Reader by Dekart. Cost is $33. www.dekart.com

3.                ZiO FoneMate SIM Card Manager and Reader. Cost is $20. www.smartdisk.com

4.                Clipper Gear SIM Saver Backup and Copy Unit. For GSM phones. Cost is $20. www.thetravelinsider.com.

• Data Pilot Universal Pro Kit: Comes with software and nine different connectors supporting Motorola, Nokia, LG, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Sanyo. Syncs with Outlook and Palm desktop applications. Allows you to dial up to the Internet using your cell phone as a wireless modem, and accommodates MP3 and MIDI files, wallpapers, pictures, movies, etc. Cost is $79.95. www.susteen.com
• FutureDial Snapsync II: Syncs your phone book and calendar data with PC software such as Outlook, Outlook Express or Lotus Notes. Cost is $29 to $35. Cables to connect your phone are extra and cost $30. Additional software available to sync pictures and other multimedia costs $19 to $25. www.futuredial.com
• Bluetooth syncing: If your phone and computer are both Bluetooth-capable, several software options are available for syncing wirelessly to your PC.
  • Motorola Mobile Phone Tools V4.0 is a good software-only option for Motorola phone users. Find it at www.cellphonemall.net. Cost is $18.
  • Mobile Action Bluetooth Data Suite MA-730 is another all-software solution. It works on a wide range of phones. www.mobileaction.com. Cost is $30 to $36 at www.amazon.com.

Want to avoid the inevitable burden of having to re-enter your contacts into your phone? You have many options to choose from. Use the Internet to do a little research on options that will work specifically with your phone. Then git ‘er done.