Tikkabik

So it's been a few weeks since I made the move to Verizon Wireless and a new LG VX6000 phone. With the PalmOne Treo 650 right around the corner it's conceivable that I may upgrade my phone again before too long, but I'm happy to report that I've made progress getting the VX6000 to talk with my Mac. First of all, the VX6000 doesn't support Bluetooth, and iSync doesn't support it -- so a seamless and wireless data connection between the Mac and the VX6000 is out of the question for the moment.

Fortunately a company called RPI Wireless sells an adapter cable for $20 that connects to the Mac's USB port and charges the cell phone's battery in the process, which is a nice fringe benefit. And an open source software application called bitpim enables you to upload data to the phone from your Mac. RPI includes a CD-R with the cable that has a bitpim installer on it; you can download a more recent copy from the bitpim Web site.

Bitpim is, by nature, a bit wonky. It's dependent on an object-oriented programming language called Python that's built in to Mac OS X v10.3 "Panther," and it's an open source app. So its user interface isn't nearly as elegant as an "aquafied" Mac OS X app. What's more, there's no transparency between bitpim and Apple's iApps or other Personal Information Management (PIM) apps.

It's worth noting, however, that bitpim does import data from Comma Separated Variable (CSV) lists, vCards, qTopia Desktop and eGroupware, so if your PIM software supports any of those formats you should be in luck. Good luck synchronizing your data as it changes, however. Bitpim seems to handle importing of some data, but when I tried to do a big dump (113 contacts from Address Book) it blew chunks.

Another fringe benefit of the cable that doesn't have anything to do with bitpim. Verizon's CDMA network supports 1xRTT data communications, and Apple's networking software recognizes the phone when it's attached. This means that I'll be able to use my cell phone as a modem for my PowerBook if I need to get online where there's no Wi-Fi access.