Cingular Go Phone: Deluxe Kit for the LG Fusic includes a USB cable with Car and Wall Charger - Gomadic Brand w/ TipExchange Technology Review

I received this for Christmas -- asked for a car charger, got much more: Regular outlet charger, USB connector and cigarette lighter (car charger) converter. I got three "tips" that match my phone, one for the travel charger, one for the wall mounted charger and one for the USB plug. Also a data disk in the box, which held some of the info I have copied below for ya'll. Here's a couple of notes about the goods:

NOTE -- The USB cable I received is NOT one of those self winding cords - the one I received is a simple, old fashioned wound up cord about 15inches long that I can stretch to about 30 inches. It's fine though.

NOTE - I earlier got a USB converter to charge my palm pilot while traveling, and with this series of cables I think I actually recharged the phone using USB. Multiple ways to get juice into the phone -- that's always good.

NOTE - the USB may not work with your phone no matter what you do. Skip to the last NOTE if you don't need/already know the specifics of why this won't work.

Here's the details on the USB function: When I connected the USB cord and the install wizard wanted to go down the modem path -- yuk, I thought. Then I read this note on the accompanying data disk ---->
"While all Gomadic cables will support transferring information between your PC and phone, it requires additional software to do so. The cable that we sell includes the USB drivers and instructions on using your phone as a modem for dial-out access to the Internet. If you want to transfer information such as contacts, ring tones, images, etc., you need additional 3rd party software. The various alternatives are outlined below. "
<---- So those alternatives include downloading Bitpim, various websites for the phone company or manufacturer, or commercially avail software like Datapilot or Futredial. OK all that seemed really complex to me, and some of it incurs extra cost so I downloaded Bitpim. Found out that as of 01 Oct BitPim has now had over "Two Million" downloads! I suppose that is safe, but boy what a pain to work this. . . and then I finally got the Bitpim Program to connect to the phone and got this message ---->
"Access has been blocked. The phone has blocked access to the specified file or directory. There is nothing BitPim can do to get access as the block is on the phone itself. These blocks are usually because the carrier wants customers to update content via their services rather than using a program like BitPim. "
<---- So thanks to Sprint, I can't seem to use the USB connection at all. . . even with the cord that Sprint included with my phone, which I tried next! But this isn't a Sprint/LG review . . . ARRGGH!
----Bottom line: No matter what, right now Bitpim doesn't support the FUSIC and that route won't enable you to use the USB functionality to move data.

NOTE -- The design of the FUSIC's accessory jack and this cord tip makes it seem like it isn't fitting together flush when you plug in to the accessory jack. The door which covers the jack seems to get in the way, you may have a simliar challenge, but it does connect.

Lastly -- the price. It was a gift, and the receipt I got thoughfully had the price crossed out. But it wasn't $44 -- I can tell it was closer to $19, because that's not a 3 in the first column all blacked out! So shop around, OK?

Overall the cords work well enough, after a giving them a little love. Hence 4 stars. We'll see how long they last.

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Product Description:
This item is available exclusively through Gomadic Corp on Amazon. Gomadic products are custom designed by Gomadic engineers and are built using carefully selected high quality components. Only Gomadics products use our unique TipExchange technology which provides an inexpensive way to convert your charger to support a new mobile accessory. In addition; this product; like all Gomadic products; is backed by a lifetime warranty. WARNING: Please note that this product is sold only through Gomadic Corp on Amazon. Other Amazon sellers that may be advertising on this listing; are selling non-Gomadic imitations which are different than the item description and are not covered under Gomadics lifetime warranty.

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