# Any phones that can be programmed from computer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 12, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-phones-that-can-be-programmed-from-computer/426156 "2007-11-12T18:28:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-phones-that-can-be-programmed-from-computer/426156/1 "2007-11-12T18:28:21Z")
Entering names and phone numbers for the address book in any wireless phone is a pain, using just the alpha/numeric keys. I’d love to have a wireless (not cell) phone that would connect to the USB port so one could just type in this info on a keyboard, or even better, sync with Outlook contacts. Anybody know if there is such an animal? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-phones-that-can-be-programmed-from-computer/426156/2 "2007-11-12T18:39:08Z")
Any windows-mobile based smartphone will do that (sync with outlook contacts). I think crackberries will too, but I don’t know that for sure. Also, Motorola PhoneTools (download from [Motorola.com](http://Motorola.com), cost $30ish US when I bought it) will allow you to do that with any Moto phone that has a USB port. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-phones-that-can-be-programmed-from-computer/426156/3 "2007-11-12T18:48:06Z")
Nokia phones support this, via “Nokia PC Suite” (free software). Nokia USB cable is about $20 in stores, and $6 on eBay. (I will note that on my phone, people are listed in alpha order by first name - grrr!. Presumably there’s some way to make last name the key - at it is in Outlook - but I haven’t really looked for it. Why first name should be the default is a mystery.) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-phones-that-can-be-programmed-from-computer/426156/4 "2007-11-12T19:11:23Z")
Add the Palm Treo range to the list. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-phones-that-can-be-programmed-from-computer/426156/5 "2007-11-12T20:07:46Z")
> [@](#): > > I’d love to have a wireless \*\*(not cell) \*\*phone that would connect to the USB port so one could just type in this info on a keyboard, or even better, sync with Outlook contacts. Uh, thanks guys, but if you will note above, my OP stressed that I was talking about wireless telephones, **NOT cellphones** or PDA/phones or other mobile units. Just old-fashioned (?) home phones that are not wired but have memory for names and numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-phones-that-can-be-programmed-from-computer/426156/6 "2007-11-12T20:18:40Z")
[QUOTE=KlondikeGeoff] Uh, thanks guys, but if you will note above, my OP stressed that I was talking about wireless telephones, **NOT cellphones** or PDA/phones or other mobile units. [/QUOTE] Well, color me embarrassed… To sort of answer your question, there are a bunch of phones available designed specifically for VOIP which accept dialing inputs from Outlook and such, but I don’t know of any which will retain numbers once you disconnect them. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-phones-that-can-be-programmed-from-computer/426156/7 "2007-11-13T03:01:20Z")
Sorry - I, too, missed that point. Since I’m a cellphone-only guy, I got nothin’. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-phones-that-can-be-programmed-from-computer/426156/8 "2007-11-13T03:13:25Z")
When searching, you want to look for “cordless” phones, not “wireless.” The [GLOBARANGE](http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Phones-Fax/Telephones/Globarange-Phones.list.75061_11002_7000000000000005702) phones from Panasonic look promising (look at the Technical Specs…they have “phonebook download service”) but I am not exactly sure what ALL they do. Looks like most of the search results for “cordless phone usb” comes up with VOIP phones…but that Panasonic one says it’ll do landline too. Might be that a landline/voip phone is what you need. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@Stan\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-phones-that-can-be-programmed-from-computer/426156/9 "2007-11-13T05:00:56Z")
\ Ya know what really grinds my gears? \ Amen, brother. I have a three pack of cheapo Uniden phones and you cannot even sync phone to phone. Best bet is to have people call YOU and be anal about saving the caller’s info & number from the caller ID (on each phone in my case). Seems like something the high end manufacturers might’ve done, but the high end people don’t program their own phones. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-phones-that-can-be-programmed-from-computer/426156/10 "2007-11-13T08:24:47Z")
Sorry, I missed that point too. Looks like the Panasonic [Gigarange](http://reviews.pricegrabber.com/cordless-phones/m/19958087/) (not sure if those are the same as the ones mentioned above) phones can do it > [@](#): > > You can copy the address book from one phone to the other, which is an essential feature, and you can import phone numbers from a CSV file through the USB connectivity and Gigarange utility. Every silver lining has a cloud though: > [@](#): > > …However, the phone only supports 50 numbers in the directory, which is strange because it can support a large number of pictures and ringtones. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-phones-that-can-be-programmed-from-computer/426156/11 "2007-11-13T10:05:10Z")
Many modern cordless phones have SIM card import, so you can transfer phone lists from mobile to cordless phone. We just got new cordless DECT phones, but I cannot remember the brand. 200 memories per phone and phonebook sync between phones. Just no SIM import, but that wasn’t that big a deal, really. Si ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-phones-that-can-be-programmed-from-computer/426156/12 "2007-11-13T15:44:43Z")
If you have Verizon there’s Backup Assistant. It lets you edit your address book online and then download it automatically to your phone. [Backup Assistant](http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/landingpages/backup.jsp)