By Kent German
(January 23, 2006)

Though their primary use will always be to make calls, cell phones have become much more than simple communication devices. Using a single handset, you can take pictures, shoot videos, organize your contacts and daily calendar, send and receive messages, and play music. But managing those extra features can be a challenge. For example, after you take a photo with your camera phone, it doesn't do a whole lot of good until you can get it off your phone and onto your computer. Of course, you can always send multimedia messages through your carrier's data service, but that can be expensive if you're a frequent shutterbug. On the flip side, while using your phone's organizer won't cost money, inputting your information on a standard phone keypad is time-consuming and tedious.

A syncing feeling
Fortunately, there's a solution to your phone data doldrums. With cell phone-syncing software, you become the master of all that's on your cell phone by syncing your mobile directly to your PC (some applications also work with Macs). You can transfer pictures, messages, contacts, and ring tones from your phone to your computer, edit them on your PC using the software, then transfer them back to your phone. And best of all, while you have to buy the software, it's just a onetime fee, and you don't have to involve your carrier on an ongoing basis to use it. It should be noted that there are also some free applications and some options from handset manufacturers, but they are not as feature-laden.

What you'll need
Several different brands of cell phone-syncing software exist. For our Weekend Project, we're using Mobile Action's Handset Manager 9, as it offers a simple interface and a wealth of features. You don't have to use Mobile Action's product, but whichever software you choose, it's important to make absolutely sure that it's compatible with your cell phone. And not only does the phone compatibility of each product vary, all of the features won't be usable with every phone. Without proper research, you'll wind up with a worthless CD. For this Weekend Project, we're using a Sony Ericsson S710a.

Once you make the choice, you'll get everything you need in the box. Most products use a simple USB cable connection, but here again, make sure you're buying the cable that is meant for your phone. Some options such as Susteen's Data Pilot Universal kit come with multiple connectors, but that's probably over the top if you rely on one trusty phone. Alternatively, though some versions of Handset Manager utilize a Bluetooth or USB link, we prefer using a USB cable for the most reliable connection.

Sync your cell phone with your computer

After opening Handset Manager 9's box and examining the contents, your first step is to install the software. You must do this before connecting the cable, or else your computer won't recognize your phone. After inserting the software CD, you can choose to immediately install the software, or you can first view a demo or feature introduction to explain the software. Upon selecting Install and choosing your phone, you'll be prompted to plug in the USB cable, but be warned that the plastic casing around the plug is rather wide. Just make sure you have enough room on your computer's USB port. To complete installation, select Install again, follow the step-by-step prompts, and click Finish.

After installation, you're free to plug in the phone, but your computer will also ask you to install a driver before it will fully connect to your handset. Follow the onscreen prompts to install the driver from the software CD. When finished, your computer should detect your phone, and you'll receive a confirmation message. If not, repeat the process. Also, if you happen to disconnect the USB cable and reconnect it later, your computer may prompt you to install a new driver. If this happens, insert the CD and choose a driver from the pop-up menu. Do not, however, install the software again.

Now you can open Handset Manager to get it to work. Though the interface is spartan, it's easy to use, and your phone will charge from your computer when connected. It was bothersome, however, that we couldn't have two Handset Manager functions open at the same time.

If the CD doesn't start automatically when inserted in your computer, open your Windows Start menu, click Run, and select d:\install.exe from the pull-down menu. Exit all programs.

Sync your cell phone with your computer

Your contacts are the heart and soul of your phone, but sorting and editing them without a QWERTY keyboard can be a pain. But rest easy; Mobile Action's Handset Manager makes this process much easier. First, select the top button in the right-hand column for the Contacts feature. All contacts saved to your phone or SIM card will then automatically download to your PC. You'll notice that only one phone number will show up next to each contact, but you can view all digits (work, home, mobile, and so on) simply by selecting a contact.

You now can edit your contacts or save them to your computer for safekeeping. If you're inputting a new phone number, just remember to leave out any dashes or periods. When you're finished, all you need to do is upload new contacts to the phone, and your contacts list will update instantly. And don't worry about multiple numbers under a single contact; the phone will recognize separate numbers automatically. Our one complaint was that the software needed to download our contacts anew each time we opened it. Granted, this didn't take a lot of time, but it was bothersome nonetheless. You can choose not to download information (you're prompted each time you open the feature), but the contacts previously downloaded to your PC will be read-only.

You also can choose to sync your Outlook contacts and calendar with your cell phone using the SyncManager feature. To begin, right-click the Handset Manager icon on the lower-right corner of your display and select SyncManager. You can then go into the Settings menu to specify which contacts and which calendar events you'd like to sync. Alternatively you can choose to do automatic syncing each time your phone is connected to your PC.

Sync your cell phone with your computer

Have you ever wondered how to get text messages off your phone for safekeeping? The Handset Manager's messaging features can help you do so. Click the Messaging feature (the second button in the column), and you'll be asked if you'd like to download messages from your phone. Once you've done so, you save them to folders on your computer for permanent storage.

You can also forward messages and compose new messages on your computer that will be sent through your phone as a regular text message; just select the appropriate button at the top of the window, and you're set.

Handset Manager offers similar options for multimedia messages under the MMS feature (fifth button down on the main menu). The software comes with a number of templates for creating your own multimedia messaging, but you can also insert your own pictures, animations (see below), sounds, or smileys.

Messages composed on your computer will not be saved to your phone's Sent folder.

Sync your cell phone with your computer

In the era of camera phones, actually doing something with your shots is just as important as capturing them in the first place. This can be pricey if you use a carrier's data plan, but Handset Manager offers an alternative. Using the software, you can download pictures saved to your phone (but curiously not shots saved to the memory card) for safekeeping.

Begin by selecting the Album feature from the main menu; once it's open, select the download-from-handset icon on the top row of buttons. Be advised that downloads can take up to 30 seconds per picture, so if you have a lot of photos on your phone, you may be in for a long wait. To speed up the process, you can choose to download one picture at a time.

After downloading, you can edit pictures by cropping the image, adjusting the color, rotating or flipping the orientation, inserting clip art, and adding a number of effects. Sure, it's not like Photoshop, but it's still a cool option. If animation is more your style, you can select the New Animation button to create your own piece of work. The software comes with a number of preinstalled photos and animations to get you started.

Similarly, the Videos feature (sixth button down on the main menu) allows you to edit videos shot with your phone.

Unless you save the photos from your phone to your computer, it must download them again--a time-consuming process.

Sync your cell phone with your computer

Though the interface is decidedly minimalist, Handset Manager comes with a wealth of multimedia options through the Sound menu (fourth button down on the main menu). The first feature (New MIDI) allows you to write your own MIDI files. You can choose from more than 50 instruments and even select the individual notes you'd like to use. Though a trained musician may have the best hand at composing, it's still a bit of fun to write your own music. Once you're finished with your jingles, you can save them as ring tones to your phone.

If you don't have an inner musician to channel, you can clip MP3 files of your favorite songs to use as ring tones under the New MP3 Clip feature. Alternatively with the New Audio file option, you can be a DJ and mix different MP3s with each or with the MIDI files you created. The software comes with more than 100 MIDI files that you can use as well. The only caveat in this extensive functionality is that you can't edit any ring tones that came preinstalled on your phone.

During steps 5 and 6, you can refresh your folder at any time using the Refresh Folder option at the top-left corner.

Sync your cell phone with your computer

Step 7: File manager

The last feature in Handset Manager is File Manager. After selecting the bottom button on the main menu, you drag and drop pictures, sounds, and other files between your phone and your PC. Downloading the files can take a long time, but it's a convenient and user-friendly process.