Datatpilot Cell Phone Data Transfer Suite Motorola

List Price: $59.99

Features:

• Use DataPilot as a wireless modem to surf the Internet, check or download email, or communicate with friends
• Ring Tone composer/converter makes personalized ringtones that suit your preferences
• Import data from your Windows desktop to your celphone or handheld
• Powerful editing and manipulation tools for editing, altering and changing contact information
• Designed for Motorola model V60, 120, 70, 66, 270&720 phones

Customer Reviews:

DataPilot Not There Yet - Save Your Money [Posted on 2005-12-11]
I purchased the Datapilot software from Amazon/Global Phone Company for $42 + shipping. My intent was to transfer my Outlook contacts information as well as transfer some ring tones, as advertised by the software manufacturer Susteen, to my new Motorola E815 cell phone. On loading the software onto my PC, and installing the driver as required all was fine. After that it was all downhill. The software imports the Outlook contact list in a spreadshhet type format. If you have more than one phone number for a single contact, you must manually create another entry for that contact, only 1 phone number per contact prior to transferring to the cell phone. If you have two phone lists you want to merge, like a partial contct list on your new cell phone with your contact list from Outlook (in my case about 120 contacts), you will need to purchase the "Corporate Version" of Datapilot. Out of the 5 or 6 advertised functions provided by Datapilot, 3 cannot be used with my Motorola E815. I never succeeded in transferring the Outlook Contact list from my PC to cell phone because it could never locate the cell phone and the transfer always ended in an error - "cannot locate..." I am in process of requesting a refund from Amazon/Global - no response yet. I'll wait a see how reputable they are on this.

Delivered What Was Promised [Posted on 2006-01-12]
This product worked better than expected, though I bought it with low expectations. I was weary of purchasing it after reading all the bad review; however, it got better reviews than the software sold by Motorola at a higher cost. First off, I bought this software to merge an old T720 phonebook with a V557 to transfer the numbers to another V557. There were no issues at all, and it saved so much time and money. When I received the package, I feared installing the software, yet, when I did, it accounted for everything (e.g. - digital signature questions). Next, I hooked up the phone, and the application auto-detected it. Then, I downloaded the address book and saved it. I hooked the next phone up, auto-detect it, and merge the address book with the previous. It was very intuitive, though the direction explained everything. The user guide was larger than needed, but their covered it all. After completing my new phonebook transfer, I moved on to the other applications included. The image editor is cool, the calendar is nice, and the ring tone composer has already saved me over $40. The product was only $35, so it has already paid for itself. I feel this product is a solid 4 out of 5, but for meeting and exceeding expectations, I give it a 5 out of 5.

Just throw your money out the window now, it'll save time [Posted on 2006-05-08]
Too bad we can't give a negative number of stars.

First, recognize that I am an electronics engineer who works with (and sometimes designs parts of) computers every single day of my life, including using/installing incredibly complicated pieces of software that cost thousands of dollars. I am extremely computer savvy and technically literate. Also, recognize that my computer, my OS, and my phone were supposed to be 100% compatible with the Datapilot software.

That having been said, I've just finished spending approximately 6 hours trying to get the software to work with my phone, as well as rehabilitating my computer from the damaged caused by the attempts at getting Datapilot to work.

I've read every bit of the installation instructions. I've read every potentially related article in their "knowledge base". I've tried everything they recommend as well as everything else I could think of, reinstalling things many times over. I've completely verified, by other means, that everything on my end (computer, phone, USB connection, etc.) works just fine with other applications and when used in any other manner *except* with the Datapilot software. I've verified, time and time again, that the drivers are the correct ones according to their instructions, and that the drivers are being installed properly, and that there is absolutely no problem.

Except that Datapilot absolutely will not recognize my phone, no matter what.

I've never requested a refund on any piece of software before, and I've never posted a software review anywhere before, but this is an outrageously bad piece of software. (Or else their compatibility list is a lie.)

Aside from the software just not working, there are problems with various pieces of documentation conflicting with each other, also.

I've requested a refund (I bought the software directly from Datapilot, not through Amazon). However, in detailed searching of their Knowledge Base, I now find that they say that a refund of something bought via credit card may take up to 2 billing cycles (i.e. up to 2 months) to show back up as a refund, which is ridiculous. They also say that they are going to charge a $9.95 "handling fee" regardless of the reason for the refund. The price of the software alone, in downloaded version not on CD, was $34.95. So they are charging nearly 30% of the purchase price for "handling" of something that is not physical and doesn't require any re-stocking or anything like that. And that refund policy is not posted in the normal website any place where you might possible see it before you buy.

Although I've never requested a software refund before, and only once or twice in my life requested a refund on other types of products, at this point I'm prepared to take them to court and spend even more money just for the satisfaction of getting that extra $9.95 back. I've never been more livid about a purchase in my life.

If I don't hear back from them right away and get a full refund very quickly, I'm definitely reporting them to the Better Business Bureau in any case.

The bottom line is that it's a great idea. And you may get lucky (like one or two of the people here)and have it work for you. But for most people it's a complete waste of time and money.

Cell Phone Data Transfer [Posted on 2007-01-10]
This software gets the job done, but is not the easiest/slickest data transfer I have used. I prefer to not have to export my data to a comma delimited or other format in order to get it into my phone. Now that the bulk of my data has transferred, I will undoubtedly make future entries from the phone screen manually.

One More Negative Review [Posted on 2007-01-10]
I agree with the negative views of others.

My problem is that the program will not install at all, much less give me problems after installation. There is no installation!

I filled out a tech support "ticket" as requested by the website. It lay open for three weeks without any response from Susteen, until this week, when I was e-mailed a customer support number to call. When I called the number, the guy on the other end asked "Why are you calling me? This is a technical problem!"

Well, fellow, for one this is the number Susteeen gave me to call. For another, you are customer support. This is a technical product. What else would customer support do?

I have tried every trick on the Susteen website to correct my error. None of them worked. Customer support kept asking me to uninstall the product and re-install it. (Didn't I just tell him my problem was that it would not install in the first place?!) He asked for my e-mail early on, to verify my purchase, then, when he said he was going to get someone to e-mail some possible solutions, he asked for it again. Hello...

Are you listening at all, Susteen?

Given the restocking fee, plus postage, it is not worth the lost time sending the product back. I've a new grandaughter on the way. Maybe I can hang the CD over her crib. It's not worth much for anything else.

Don't buy this product.

Click here for more details and discount information...