iSync and a Motorola RAZR V3m
Posted on November 8th, 2006 in iSync Plugins |
My brand-spanking new RAZR V3m is sadly not supported by iSync. So, I put together my own plugin and now contacts and calendar sync perfectly. My RAZR V3m is from Sprint, so I don’t know if the Verizon version works. Anyway, grab the zip, copy the “phoneplugins” folder to either ~/Library or /Library and try it out.
iSync-2.3 RAZR V3m phoneplugin [33 KB]
I don’t know if it is a quirk with my setup or it’s something all RAZR owners deal with, but after you sync, a “Voicemail” contact will be added to the contacts on your Mac. Don’t delete it or all further syncs will fail until the entry is put back.
Also, you can sync email addresses as well as phone numbers by clicking on the phone’s icon in iSync, and going to More Options…
48 Responses
It took two syncs, but it seems to be moving over selected contacts. One thing that fails is the iSync ‘delete data on the device and sync….” the razr has an error when iSync tries to delete the contacts- so I just deleted them on the razr itself and then selected ‘merge’ on iSync… but that is probably an iSync issue.
Also, you _have_ to enable DUN (when you bond the razr), which is how the BT sync works. At first I just selected iSync and didn’t enable DUN, but then the sync can’t work.
Just an FYI to others that set this up.
Also, you have to watch the razr and ‘grant’ DUN access when iSync starts up and begins to access the razr.
[...] These sites however, have fixes. Clockskew has nice phone plug-in available for download, that worked fine for me, until I updated the Sprint Software on the V3m. Then it stopped working (allthough the author seems to have it working with the latest Sprint firmware on his Razr….). Luckily the strange site Whopack (which seems to exist only to impart this exact bit of knowledge) has another working solution. Follow the steps at Whopack and you to can easily sync your contacts back and forth from the V3m and iSync. [...]
Hey folks. Works like a charm, but I got this error:
• The phone could not store some of your contacts. The following contacts will not be synchronized: Ralph Wxxxxxx - work (xxxxxxxxxx), Kent-Sxxxxx - work (xxxxxxxxxx), Barb Mxxxxxx - home (xxxxxxxxxx), Dave-&-Beth Gxxxxxx - mobile (xxxxxxxxx), Chicky - mobile (xxxxxxxxx), and 807 more.
Any idea why I might be getting this? I’ve got 1200+ contacts. Does the phone only support a limited number, and this was the cutoff?
[...] So I have a new phone, it’s razr, and I really enjoy, everything works, well everything worked after I updated the firmware on the razr, and then I could use iSync, I went to this site(http://www.clockskew.com/blog/2006/11/08/isync-and-a-motorola-razr-v3m) for info on how to get everything to work. So anyways, i’ve been using the cool mobile g-mail app, and the google maps tool, I’ve also been using the GPS application for the next 15 days, I have the power vision network for free for the month. I have a video that I’ve been editing about web 2.0 and the academic place. Talk to you later. [...]
Works like a charm on my MacBook Pro w/ latest firmware. Make sure you put the folder in ~/Library and not just the RAZRV3m.phoneplugin object. iSync must look for that folder.
Hey Dave,
Thanks for your response. I’ve reduced the amount of contacts I’m syncing to around 300, and it works fine. This includes contacts that were previously mentioned in the error message. I’m guessing it was just a reaction due to exceeding the phone’s limits, but if it happens again, I know where to start looking.
Best,
J
Just wanted to say thanks for the awesome plugin. It worked like a charm on its first try with my Razr V3m from Sprint on my new iMac 24″. Great job!
This worked great for me. My Sprint v3m synced first time.
Thanks! I was so bummed when I found out (after the purchase of the RAZR) that it was not compatible with iSync via Bluetooth. But now my MBP and RAZR are playing nice and on good speaking terms.
Thanks again!
I was wondering if anyone has a fix for the isync to a Motorazr v6?
The phone has paired OK but isync says it doesn’t support it.
Can your plugin be adapted to suit this new version?
Awesome! Can’t appreciate more! I have a few collegues who has the same phone and complained about it. Can’t wait to pass the good news to them. This is a life saver! Thanks again.
I love you!
First of all, thank you for posting your iSync patch for the Sprint RAZR–you are a big help.
I am having a problem, however. I can pair my RAZR just fine, and it shows as an iSync device; however, when I open iSync and select the RAZR, I have to select “Turn on device Synchronization.” However, once I do and click “Sync Devices,” iSync gives a message stating “No device activated…” In addition, the RAZR is showing up on the iSync panel as “unknown” with a red exclamation point icon next to it.
I have the latest firmware update from Sprint, as well as the latest version of iSync. I am running a new MacBook; I just purchased the RAZR from Sprint today.
Any suggestions? Help! Thanks again–
John
This works great. thanks for the fix!
First thank you for writing and publishing this plugin!
I have it working but when I sync my events it is deleting events in iCal instead of writing the events to my Razr v3m. Is there a way to get the iCal on my laptop to be the master and never to get events from the phone only push events from the laptop to the phone?
Just a quick note to let you know that I did this yesterday with a new Verizon V3m, iSync 2.3 and 10.4.8. I copied your folder to my personal Library directory (not the one at the root level). I turned on Bluetooth on both the phone and my MBP and then a Bluetooth button appeared in the Address Book window. I clicked that and it asked to bond with the phone — no apparent issue. I then synched and it failed. The error window was incredible. I decided to bail and just sync again without toggling any of the Bluetooth settings or power. It worked flawlessly the second and third times.
I didn’t think this would ever work and your plugin saved the day! Thanks for putting this together and letting us all have access to it and to your help!
Angus
Thank you very much bro. You kick major A!
I have been considering getting a RAZR V3m myself, but I can’t seem to find an answer to this question anywhere:
Does this allow you to sync mailing addresses to the phone as well?
Having this information with me has come in handy more than once. I currently use a smartphone, but want to get away from them (they don’t make very good phones), but I don’t want to loose this information.
Thanks
Graham
That plugin worked great - editing the plist didn’t help at all. WIth your plugin dropped into ~Library, I’m golden!
Well done.
OS 10.4.8, Moto Razr V3m, iSync 2.3
You’re the man!
I got my Alltel V3m finally working after i googled up your post and installed the plugin. It saved my sanity and made my weekend - thank you!
Jens K. Kiel
Dave,
I bought my new V3m so that I could sync my calendars, but it is not working for me. My friend bought one and didn’t even need a plugin. But, I’ve put your folder in my library and connected the phone through bluetooth. I choose “Set Up New Device…” in the Bluetooth control panel. I leave “Set up iSync to transfer events and contacts” checked. When I get to iSync and click on my phone, the Calendars checkbox is grayed out and it says “This phone does not support calendar synchronization.” My contacts sync just fine, but it won’t allow me to choose to sync my calendars. Any help?
Thanks!
Thank you!!!! We use iCal for all of our busy family’s schedules. I have calendar access on my BlackBerry but my wife had to carry around a printed version - until now. We’re syncing two V3Ms. One via bluetooth, the other by USB. Both ways work great.
This is HUGE for us. Thanks!!
Worked great, then I screwed it up somehow, possibly because I tried to subsequently sync with my work MacBook Pro after my home iBook, but then it didn’t work with either. I could use BT file exhange to push from the MBP. I deleted the BT devices from the Razr and the iBook, restarted both and was able to reinstall and sync.
Finally, 3 years after dropping and breaking my Motorola StarTac in half, a phone that synchronizes with my computer. That is the only feature I’ve wanted in a phone (camera, who cares? I have a 10x zoom on my camera) for years and thanks to you, I have it.
Importing ringers also worked well for a couple of songs, but not others. Not sure why. But at least I have 3 extra ringers completely of my choice, without paying for them.
Thanks so much!
I tried the plugin and got my phone (red v3m from Sprint) to sync -hooray! BUT… now my phone has gone crazy alerting me to my appointments from iCal! After I click to dismiss an appointment it just flashes right back up! I have even erased all the iCal appointments from my phone (after being so happy to get them synced)… has anyone else had this happen after using iSync and how did you stop it? I just updated my phone’s firmware, no help there…
Dave YOU ARE THE MAN! I’ve been using your plugin for over a month! Works great!
[...] Speaking of the RAZR, several members of my family just got them, largely on my recommendation, because I was impressed at how well the RAZR’s bluetooth functions with the Mac. So I was rather surprised and upset when I tried one out and found that their version (from Sprint) wasn’t supported by iSync, and didn’t seem to allow the sending of midi or MP3 ringtones, pictures, etc. However, it turned out that if you download this plugin, iSync will work with the Sprint RAZR. And it is possible to send files to and from the Sprint RAZR using bluetooth — it’s just a bit different than mine (a Cingular model). With mine, you can use the "send file" option of the Bluetooth File Exchange program to send files, but these were always rejected by the Sprint models. However, all you have to do is use the "Browse Device" option and you can drag and drop files with no problem. It sure beats paying for ringtones, or to get your photos and video off the phone. __________________ Visit Denki News — Macintosh and Video Game News and Commentary [...]
So thankful for this plugin and happy to find it. Contacts sync seems to be working fine with my new Razr (Verizon) and Mac PowerBook. iSync says that my phone does not support calendar synchronization. Is there a fix or anything to try that would allow the calendar to sync too?
Thanks again!
Thanks so much! This worked great! :thumbsup: \o/
Great plugin. One thing to note, though…
I’d been using this plugin with my Sprint v3m since I got the phone and doing it very successfully. I started having problems, and thought it was due to a firmware update I’d done on the phone. I finally got to the point where trying to sync screwed up so badly that my address book got wiped out in Address Book.app (thankfully not in the phone!).
When I called Sprint tech services to ask them to help me roll back to the original firmware rev they first had me do some fundamental stuff, and one of the things they suggested was no just power-cycling the phone, but also pulling the battery and leaving the battery out for over a minute.
I did this with the tech person on the phone (my land line), after which time I went through the whole bluetooth discovery process again. Whereas prior to the deep power cycle the phone would do the bluetooth bond but NOT respond as eligible to support DUN, this time it did, isync recognized it, and everything sync’d up perfectly.
The lesson to me is that I have to remember that the phone is not primarily a phone any more–it’s a computer that happens to have, as its killer app, phone capabilities. Since it’s primarily a computer, though, it should not surprise me that it will, on occasion, need a “cleansing reboot” to reset everything. The moral to the public at large should be that, if you’re having problems, try doing the battery-out-for-a-minute truck and see if things go better after that.
Awesome!!! Thank you.
Works perfectly. Thanks, man!!
Thanks! This is fantastic!!!!
Thanks! I’ve been going crazy trying to find a cheap multimedia phone compatible with my 12″ G4 Powerbook. Salespeople have had no clue.
Thank you providing some reviews & solutions! I’m buying a Razr V3M tomorrow & updating my Sprint Account!
Moved to the forum here: http://clockskew.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2#2
Thanks for this solution.
However, when I go to “Add Device” in iSync, the device is found (”1 device found”) but get an error that “iSync can not connect to this device.” BT is working and I can see the folder contents on the v3m (Sprint), but want to sync my contact in “Address Book” to the phone as well. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
hey guys, has anyone try to run the latest firmware upgrede for DST fixes? I will like to know if that will break or not the iSync connections. Any info?
Thank you!
I needed to use this plugin even after Apple published a new list (around March 17th) that listed newly supported phones for bluetooth and USB syncing. Even though the list includes the “Motorola V3m Bluetooth + USB” on this Apple list @ I could not get my macbook to sync with my Sprint Motorola V3m via bluetooth or USB. Now, bluetooth works to sync my address book. (I have not tried iCal, yet.)
It did take a couple retries and reboots of both devices to get it to work. I intalled the phone plugins folder into my user’s library folder, not the main library.
Thanks for the plug-in man, I got it and it works! I’ll waite untill the ical comes out of testing though, hope that’s soon!
Take it easy!
No you can’t sync the addresses to the phone.
From a Verizon user. Ran into the same RAZR V3m syncing issues (Add Book ok, iCal not ok) and switched to a KRZR. Apple’s iSync support pages showed the KRZR does sync, but it did not…same issues as the RAZR.
Here’s the response received today from Verizon tech support…it does not look promising for Mac users:
“Thank you for contacting our Verizon Wireless website. We are sorry to learn that you are having difficulty synchronizing your iCal with your Motorola Krzr. We will be happy to assist you with your concern.
Verizon Wireless provides our customers the ability to synchronize their Motorola Krzr phones to their Windows based PC’s. However, our software does not support the synchronization of your phonebook with any Macintosh operating systems. This applies to all of our handsets. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
Inconvenience? I paid for a fully functioning phone, and VZW has disabled a key feature.
Anyone having any luck with any other wireless carriers? Cingular/AT&T or Sprint?
Thanks.
Mike G.
Hello everyone,
I’m a G4 powerbook and still at 10.3.9 with iSync 1.5 and a Motorola Razr V3M. Can anyone tell me if this works with my current configuration or do I have to upgrade to Tiger? The G4 powerbook has Bluetooth. I tried connecting the phone with a USB cable and it shows up in Apple System Profiler but I’m unable to sync anything.
No luck with Bluetooth connection either. Any help is appreciated. Thanks
You need Tiger because only iSync 2.X works with plugins. Apple didn’t introduce the plugin framework until 2.X.
I have the same problem. If I make an appointment on the phone itself there’s no problem. However, anything on the razr calender that has been isynced from ical reminds me every few minutes. I’m going stir crazy. I’ve turned every sound preference to silent but no luck. (I still need to keep my ringer on vibrate.) Anybody else have a solution?
i am not understanding when u say drop it into the library can someone explain please?????
thanks for the plug-in. Saved me from returning a phone. The plug-in works for OS 10.4.8 (iSync 2.3), but does not work with 10.4.9 (iSync 2.4). Not surprised. iSync 2.4 broke a lot of phone sync that worked in 2.3. Phones that synced easily in 2.3 do not sync in 2.4 (including Ericcson T616).
So if you want to sync a Sprint V3M with OS-X, ensure that you DO NOT upgrade to 10.4.9 (iSync 2.4). Fortunately, I had an old 10.4.8 box sitting around to do the sync. Apple is at fault for breaking things.
Awesome, thanks!
I got my new Macbook Pro (10.4.10) synced with my Motorola Razor V3M (CDMA 1X-EVDO)with no trouble via bluetooth for the address book under isync without modding or hacking anything.
However, it comes up “calendar not supported.” I don’t care about that.
What I would like to do is hook up to Alltel Axcess Data (the $25/month unlimited usage plan) from the MacBook via bluetooth to the phone. Alltel doesn’t directly support it, and so far, all the work-arounds and scripts I’ve tried don’t work.
The trick apparently is to have the MacBook think it’s talking to a modem, via a script that emulates one, and to have the V3M think it’s connected to a compatible computer.
Anyone know exactly how to do this?
It works just fine on my Windows XP box on USB.
I’m on a g4 powerbook 10.4.11. isync 2.4 Motorola v3m. I’ve been messing with trying to make it sync for hours. Still no luck. The powerbook recognizes the phone via bluetooth setup but when I launch isync. I’m told it cannot connect to the device,.
I even tried the changing the Bluetooth preferences in the “Sharing” pane and changed the folder other devices can browse to “SynServices” as suggested by Brian.
The icon I get when I launch isync is of an old motorola phone not the razr v3m.
Any suggestions to make this work?
I even tried editing the Meta….plist within isync’s “Contents…..(long path Thanks