I had been using a paid phone backup service provided by BSNL – that would backup contacts etc. (It seems to be an outsourced service provider of BSNL). However, when I changed my handset, I assumed that it should be an easy process – and – that I would be able to sync the contacts to the new handset.
However, that paid up service provider did not seem to update the compatible phone models. The only redeeming feature was that it provided an export facility of the contacts. This export of contacts was in the form of csv file.
I searched for a free service provider, and that I found in the form of Mobical. I would have even preferred any other paid service provider – but Mobical had the compatible phones in its inventory.
However, now the problem was, that Mobical supported import of contacts in vCard format (*.vcf file). And this was the most difficult thing. There was not a single free conversion tool that I could find. There was one site that provided free javascript conversion – however, that was a faulty conversion. And all other utilities available online were USD 20+ and there was no reliability that they would work. Some of them were truncated trial or demo versions.
I tried the Outlook Express – but that exports only one vCard file at a time ie one vCard for one contact – and that is limit of being ridiculous. (There could have been option of defining contacts or number of contacts for export in vCard format – but then Microsoft has its own ways)
Finally – I found that it was google that had this facility and it performed the thing in a superb manner. The gmail account has a tab of ‘contacts’. This contact feature provides for import and export of files in csv and vCard formats.
So, I imported the csv file to gmail contacts and thereafter exported it in vCard format. I laughed at myself at wasting a few hours searching for such tool on internet – when it was available on gmail – which I have been using for years now – but never looked at it seriously for the fabulous tools it has on offer.
thanks very much
thank you for sharing this solution
THANK YOU THANK YOU!
I need to add one extra thing : remember to paste the email address of each person into the email address field at gmail. then export them.
The way to do it: click into each contact name and use the already available email info. copy and paste in the email address field in gmail.
Thanks man that saved me from going crazy.
GREAT Thanks to your advise.
I also have searched so many ways to inport it.
Gmail is the best !!!
GREAAATTTTT!!! man thnxxxxx alotttttt
Thanks a lot for the help. I have been looking for the tool to convert .cvs contacts to vcard to import it to outlook, but nothing helped. Gmail has done a perfect job. Cheers