Import contacts to HTC Hero

So recently (today) I have become a proud owner of a HTC Hero. I am really amazed with its looks and menu. Since I have been a Linux enthusiast for quite a while, the Android OS got me hooked up straight away. By the way, I am a supporter of open source software and hardware and these deserve some attention :
http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Main_Page
http://www.open-pandora.org/
http://www.ubuntu.com/
http://www.mozilla.org/

So far I had a simple Sony Ericsson W810i which was simple to use and did not complain when it had to confront the floor or ground. I was really happy with it ( if I do not take into account the almost deafening clicking noise when changing songs) but I wanted to move on.

One of the first things to do when buying a new phone is to transfer your contacts from the old one. This procedure could be easy as one-two-three in some phones but a real headache in others.
In this situation, transfering the contacts from my W810i to the HTC Hero was not straightforward but not very difficult either.

Plan:
Extract all contacts from a Sony Ericsson W810i, import them to the HTC Hero.

Equipment:
SE W810i, HTC Hero, Connection cables for both, a PC (with Bluetooth, Infrared or USB),
HTC Sync Installed on your PC.

Constraints:
Too many contacts to fit in the SIM card. (Splitting them? Nah, too much hassle)
Sony Ericsson W810i will keep the old SIM card. HTC will use a new SIM card. (Or: I can't be bothered to swap SIM cards between phones)
Cannot send contacts through SMS or MMS (because of cost or the hassle.. your pick)
I do not want to upload my contacts ANYWHERE in the INTERNET (like google, memotoo etc.) for obvious reasons.

Problem:
Bluetooth cannot be used in HTC Hero to accept files (at least not "straight out of the box") thus sending all the contacts from W810i to the HTC by Bluetooth is out of the question.
Must be easy to do as one-two-three.

Solution:
1) Copy all the contacts from the W810i to your PC.
Choose an action:

By Bluetoooth:
Pair you W810i with the PC. Activate the PC to accept incoming Bluetooth files.
Go to "Contacts" in your W810i then in "Options -> Advanced -> Send All Contacts ->Via Bluetooth" and choose your paired PC. Save the single "wholephonebook.vcf" file on the PC.

By Infrared
Go to "Contacts" in your W810i then in "Options -> Advanced -> Send All Contacts ->Via Infrared". Make sure your W810i Infrared port is in direct line of the PC's infrared port. Save the single "wholephonebook.vcf" file on the PC.

By USB cable:
Go to "Contacts" in your W810i then in "Options -> Advanced -> Back up to M.S.". Connect your phone to the PC by using the USB cable your phone came with and choose "File Transfer" on your W810i. Browse to the following folder in the memmory card "PHONE CARD\MSSEMC\System\PIM" and choose your contacts file (PB_Backup.vcf). Save the single file on the PC.

2) Split the single .vcf file to many contact cards.(Using Windows Address Book)

This is required because the HTC (and other .vcf viewer programs like OUTLOOK) reads only the first contact and then stops. If you take a look inside the .vcf file with notepad you will see many more.

In your Windows (XP, Vista, etc) PC choose the Address Book which is in :
"Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> Address Book"
DO NOT USE OUTLOOK OR OUTLOOK EXPRESS. No need to.

Select "File -> Import -> Business Card (Vcard)"
Choose your phonebook .vcf file you saved in step no 1.
Sit back and let Address Book do all the work.

3)Upload contacts to HTC
Connect your HTC Hero by USB cable and make sure HTC SYNC "sees it".

Go to Sync Manager : "File -> Sync Manager" in your HTC SYNC application.

Choose "Tools -> Settings" in Sync Manager window

Choose "Categories -> Contacts" from the left, and check the "Synchronise this category" checkbox.

Select the "Windows Address Book- Contacts"

Choose "Conflict Policy" from the left, and check the "Keep Item in PC and overwite in mobile phone" button and click "OK".

Make sure you understand the Conflict policies and what happens when you synchronise before continuing. Contacts in you HTC Hero may be lost if you do that. Proceed only if your HTC does not contain any contacts.

Click on the "Synchronise Now" button.

Voila!!
You have transfered all your contacts from your old mobile to the HTC.

I am sure there are more ways and many differentiations on the above procedure, but this only takes 3 minutes to do.. Good enough for me!

Hello World

Hello World,

two little words that mean a lot to software developers, engineers and people of those species.

My first post is dedicated to those two words that make people of the prementioned species happy because they bear the proof that a system/software in now under their control. Plus, they are the first output of the first program of any person making a start with programming.

Since this is my first attempt to write a blog, or make a start with an alternative half duplex communication, I have found it fitting to start with Hello World as a title.

A few things about me:
I am an Engineer (although with no capital E in real life:-) ), and a person who likes problems. Not problems for that matter, but discovering solution to problems to be more accurate.

I have decided to write a blog for 3 reasons:
1) I am REALLY and I mean REALLY bored of updating facebook statuses, twitts etc.
2) I have an urge to let other people now of my problems
3) I like keeping things simple

Since facebook is not good for me and I still have an urge to let other people know I have decided that a blog is the best way to go.

No 3 on the list has more to do with the actual blog content rather than the reason behind it. Since this is my first attempt to express my digital self on the internet I have decided to keep it simple. So expect to see small problems at first (or probably little inconveniences) and small solutions to them.

To recap:

Hello World!