Issue getting numbers on an iPhone 4S

GIZTO29 · 14 Dec 2011

The directors at our work have all just got 4S's on a group contract from Vodafone. They all have went from various Nokia's (mainly N86). Now the problem is only one of them had numbers on his laptop through Outlook Express when i synched his phone with the Nokia software ages ago. However my 2 other bosses have never done this so this is where the problems began. I managed to open up the drive on one of the Nokias and drag the contacts on to the desktop but when i went into Outlook Express which they use i could only import one .vcf file at a time!
He had 322 contacts so this wasnt ideal. I know when i got my 4S on 3 i registered it then the next morning my SIM numbers appeared on the phone which was crap! The numbers on my Sim were ancient and not even the numbers i had been using on my HTC. Also when i got my HTC you could only put a limited number on the SIM.

So what is the solution if you have alot of numbers? Can you import them all in one go somehow? If you go into a Vodafone store can they import all of your numbers if you take your old phone or sim?

The whole system of switching to an iPhone just seems crap!

Any help would be most welcome here.

Thanks in advance, Phil

Dale_tem · 14 Dec 2011

Can you sync contacts via Google?

Google can sync contacts with many sources, so you might be able to get them into Google and then from Google to the iPhone.

Another option is Exchange, but it sounds like they are only using Outlook Express, so no Exchange.

GIZTO29 · 14 Dec 2011

Dale_d3100 said:
Can you sync contacts via Google?

Google can sync contacts with many sources, so you might be able to get them into Google and then from Google to the iPhone.

Another option is Exchange, but it sounds like they are only using Outlook Express, so no Exchange.

I dont want to mess with their stuff really so i would just want to import them to Outlook. As i mentioned i could do this but you had to do one at a time and couldnt highlight all numbers! How bloody stupid...

Phil

mrgubby · 14 Dec 2011

Are you using Nokia PC Suite to get the contacts of the old Nokias ?

GIZTO29 · 14 Dec 2011

mrgubby said:
Are you using Nokia PC Suite to get the contacts of the old Nokias ?

As i mentioned in the OP the laptop i was trying to add the contacts to doesnt have Nokia PC Suite, the one that worked did. I plugged the N86 in and opened the drive then found the contacts folder and dragged it onto the desktop. In Outlook i clicked, FILE, then Import and opened the Contacts folder. It wouldnt let me highlight all but would let me do one at a time and as i did them they went straight onto the phone....
Ive jsut been talking to a friend who has just got the 4S and he got a Sim adapter with his whereas i have checked and didnt. I will look tomorrow at my bosses when i get to work. The problem still will remain i feel in that the Sim can only handle so many contacts....

How do the phone shops or Appe stores do it if you have loads of contacts?

Phil

boliston · 14 Dec 2011

The days when contacts were commonly stored on a phone SIM seems like ancient history.

GIZTO29 · 15 Dec 2011

boliston said:
The days when contacts were commonly stored on a phone SIM seems like ancient history.

Exactly but as i mentioned this was the method 3 used without my permisson meaning i had to wipe the contacts and start over. My bosses have all went to vodafone tonight lol
To top it off one of them has a Skoda Superb and the 4S is not compatible with factory handsfree installed.

Phil

mid_gen · 16 Dec 2011

There's a lot of nonsense spouted about 'the cloud'...but honestly....having all your contacts/mail/calendars/tasks synced with Google/Live/Exchange or something is a real step forward.

New phone? Add account -> Sync....done.

neil_g · 16 Dec 2011

GIZTO29 said:
As i mentioned in the OP the laptop i was trying to add the contacts to doesnt have Nokia PC Suite, the one that worked did. I plugged the N86 in and opened the drive then found the contacts folder and dragged it onto the desktop. In Outlook i clicked, FILE, then Import and opened the Contacts folder. It wouldnt let me highlight all but would let me do one at a time and as i did them they went straight onto the phone....
Ive jsut been talking to a friend who has just got the 4S and he got a Sim adapter with his whereas i have checked and didnt. I will look tomorrow at my bosses when i get to work. The problem still will remain i feel in that the Sim can only handle so many contacts....

How do the phone shops or Appe stores do it if you have loads of contacts?

Phil

is there a reason why you cant install Nokia Suite to a machine (i.e. yours) temporarily just for the sake of doing the export of contacts?

Phil V · 17 Dec 2011

Just an observation, but these users have failed to sync their contacts using their existing avenues and you're blaming Apple? :thinking:

Vodafone had a cloud service called 360 people, there's the Nokia suite and there's google which may be of some use. Even if they'd gone to another Nokia, you'd have been lucky to find the same file structure for a simple copy across. Any other make of phone and they'd have the same problem. What was their disaster recovery plan for losing a phone?

We all have to remember that our data needs evolve so keeping our data in a portable format and backed up is increasingly important. Take this opportunity to sort them out properly and you'll not be faced with the same problem in 2 years when they move to Blackberry or Windows phones.