Actually everyone who has a GSM or UMTS mobile phone and a MacOS computer should give it a try. This application is right for you, if you want to transfer contacts from your computer or from another phone and simply hate to type this data via the small mobile phone keypad!
This is especially important to companies who need up to date contact information on all mobile phones of their employees.
What are the costs?
This application is shareware ($10). You can use the whole application and give it a time-unlimited test drive. The "saving back" function is disabled in the unregistered version.
You won't be charged airtime fees while you are editing the phonebook, because there is NO information transfer over the GSM/UMTS network!
Pay online via the secure Kagi servers:
http://order.kagi.com/?5RZ
You will receive a serial number to use all functions of GSM Remote.
What are the main features of GSM Remote?
• Read all available standard phonebooks
• Export & Backup all standard phonebooks
• Editing of the SIM and mobile phonebook is a three click task.
• Very powerful but easy to use import function
• Support for a wide range of different mobile phones
• Automatic internationalizing of phonebook numbers for easier roaming
• Converts uppercase names into their better readable title case equivalent
• Extensive use of Balloon help; turn it on!
For experienced users only:
• AT Command Scanner with script import for predefined AT command sets
(a up to date GSM/UMTS script is available on request)
The AT Command Scanner is completely free.
What won't be ever done with GSM Remote?
• Extended phonebooks (a name with several numbers) do not work.
These phonebooks are common on Nokia WAP phones. There is no possibility for me at the moment to access these additional information. But you still can edit the first entry of each name.
• Calendar management - currently no way, sorry.
What will I see in the future of GSM Remote?
• SMS sending and management
• SMS Smart Messaging
(Nokia / Ericsson: Logos, WAP bookmarks etc.)
• Sony Extended phonebook support
(already available within GSM Remote, but in beta stadium)
• Ericsson GPRS phones Extended phonebook support (R520/T39 etc.)
• Siemens / Benefon extended commands
• more remote power via your computer over your mobile phone
Why should I pay the shareware fee of $10?
The $10 are invested for the costs which raise to develop GSM Remote.
By paying the shareware fee you will support not only the author but your self and other users, too. This Shareware makes it possible to buy and then support additional mobile phones. And when you are switching you mobile phone, your new one might be already fully supported. And switching your contact information from the old to the new one, gets a three click step!
Does my mobile phone work with GSM Remote?
Actually a good question which I can not answer completely, anyway give GSM Remote a try!
GSM Remote needs an AT command interface within the phone. These simple guidelines should tell you if your phone has it or not:
• Infrared (IrDA)
If you phone has infrared or can be upgraded with an infrared adapter then GSM Remote should work with it. If you are unsure look up the manual or ask your mobile phone manufacturer.
Unfortunately you need an Infrared (IrDA) MacOS computer, too. Only the PowerBook G4, all PowerBook G3, PowerBook 2400/3400 or the iMac Rev.A have IrDA. You need at least MacOS 8.6 or better and Apple "Infrared" installed. Look in the control panels if there is a "Infrared" panel. Otherwise you have to reinstall it. Ask Apple how to do that.
If you do not have an IrDA computer but an IrDA mobile phone you can buy a data cable from you mobile phone manufacturer (around 40 to 60 euro). -> see "Cable"
External IrDA adapters (with IrComm) are not available for MacOS.
(Nokia 61xx series has Infrared but no IrDA, it is not supported either over Infrared nor via cable connection. Nokia 61xx PC-Card adapters should work.)
• Cable
If your phone has IrDA you can buy a data cable (around 40 to 60 euro) from your manufacturer, too. Contact him for details.
You will then receive a data cable with an PC DB9 pin connector which needs some adapters to run on MacOS:
- USB MacOS computer:
Buy one of the following USB to serial cables. There are more out there but these are recommended:
Keyspan High Speed USB Serial Adapter (DB9)
http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/usa19w/
Keyspan USB PDA Adapter (DB9) - please consider: some features of a next version of GSM Remote might only work on High Speed serial!
http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/PDAadapter/
Keyspan USB Twin Serial Adapter - additional adapters needed! -> see "Serial"
http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/usa28x/
SoftRadius or SoftGSM - for non-modem mobile phones only
http://www.option.com/2/softradiusUSB.htm
http://www.softgsm.com/
- Serial (MiniDIN 8):
The Palm Serial Adapter (around 12 euro) should work with most phones - except with Nokia
You need a standard MacOS Modem cable (around 10 euro). Ask your local Mac dealer about this. And you need a "DB25 (female) to DB9 (male)" adapter (around 5 euro). Please ask a PC hardware dealer for this.
There are some direct DB25 to DB9 adapters out there but most are wired the wrong way. Even the Palm Serial Adapter is not as 100% correct as the above solution.
Not all phones have an internal AT command interface if they do not have IrDA: This is a small list of known non-IrDA phones which should work:
Benefon: Esc!, Q or Track
Bosch: 908, 909 Dual, 909 Dual S
Sony: MZ5, Z5, Z18, J5, J16, CD5
Trium: all GSM phones
• PC-Card
Look up the product specification of your PC-Card for your mobile phone. It must say somewhere: "supports GSM 07.07" - that means basic phonebook management is supported and it should work with GSM Remote.
With this combination nearly every phone works with GSM Remote. But these cards come at their price. If you do not have one already, you should think about buying a new mobile which GSM Remote supports directly.
I am confused now, does it work or not?
GSM Remote should work with every IrDA, GPRS, HSCSD or UMTS compatible phone. If you still have problems with such a phone or GSM Remote does not detect it, feel free to contact me.
These mobile phones were involved while building GSM Remote:
- Nokia 7110 via Nokia DLR-3 cable and MiniDIN8 adapters
- Nokia 6090 via MiniDIN8 adapters
A lot of Nokia phones which have IrDA should work with GSM Remote.
- Nokia 6150 with an OPTION GSM-Only PC-Card
Every OPTION Card should work with GSM Remote.
- Motorola Timeport 260 (GPRS) with bundled cable and via MiniDIN8 adapters
The Motorola Timeport 7089i and 7389 should work via IrDA.
- Sony Z5 via "PC-mobile" Data Cable and MiniDIN8 adapters
Please note: Only the "PC-Mobile" (http://www.pc-mobile.net/sonyz5.htm) and the original Sony EasyCom data cable is supported. Others might work, but these are not recommended.
Currently known problems:
- Nokia 6210 with Firmware 5.17; no numbers are displayed. This is a bug of Nokia.
You can query the Firmware version in idle mode of your Nokia if you enter: *#0000#
Workaround: Please go to an Nokia Service Center (NSC) and ask for a downgrade to version 5.02.
Only this Nokia model and this Firmware version is affected!
- Ericsson R520 or T39; the "Mobile phonebook" shows only around 20 entries. This is a bug of Ericsson.
There will be a workaround in the next release of either "GSM Remote" or Ericsson phone firmware.
Only these Ericssons models are affected and only the "Mobile phonebook".
How do I import my contacts?
1. Use the "Export to Text" function of your favorite Contacts management software (Word, Excel, Outlook Express, Entourage etc.).
2. Open GSM Remote, establish a connection to your mobile
3. Load a phonebook from your mobile phone which should be modified via the "Get" Button.
4. Select the "Open" menu item in the "File" menu.
5. Open the file which you just have exported from your contact manager.
6. A window will come up. If you are new to this, I recommend to turn Balloon help on.
7. Change the settings from the top to the bottom according to your contact manager file.
8. Have a look at the results which will be imported: click on the triangle.
Be patient and take your time with this window. There are a lot of options. Play around with them until you have the ideal scenario of importing everything you wanted.
If you want to restore a previous GSM Remote saved phonebook, you have to change NOTHING within this window.
Is it possible to send you the registration money directly to Germany?
No this is not possible. Please use Kagi http://order.kagi.com/?5RZ. They accept cash registrations, too.
What about a MacOS X version?
Not yet. Of course I would love to make one but there are a lot of problems currently. Stay tuned.
What about localized versions?
No. Personally I think there is not much text with "GSM Remote" to translate.
Minimum Requirements MacOS:
• 3 MB of free RAM
• 2 MB of free Hard disk space
• MacOS 8.1
• Any MacOS computer with either one free serial port, USB port or PC-Card slot
(with IrDA you do not need any further hardware)
Version history:
1.0.4 - improves: Benefon, Motorola (no-WAP Timeports) and 32k SIM card support
1.0.3 - improves: Benefon, Motorola (TP260), Siemens (S40) and Trium support; a lot of minor changes
1.0.2 - improves: Timeout handling / HEX charset / Titlecase function and Sony Z5 support
1.0.1 - fixes a problem with the save functionality
Isn't there any competition to GSM Remote for MacOS?
Yes there is. And I even recommended that you have a look on these tools, too. Because you deserve the best for your needs, not the best what I thought you need!
• SIM express & Message express by ID express Oy ($19)
http://www.idexpress.fi/simexpress/
• CardReader & ePage by Meilenstein
http://www.meilenstein.de/
• Siemens logobeamer by Thomas Bauer
http://www.nanuk.at/S35/
(only logo management for Siemens mobile phones)
If I forgot someone, please tell me.
One last thing and then you have read it - Thanks by the way:
If you have any improvements in mind, find a bug or anything else, feel free to contact me.
Have a nice day. And turn balloon help on!
Copyright Notice:
All mentioned company names and / or product names are copyrighted by their corresponding owners.
Alexander Traud has no rights on these (registered) trademarks.
