How do I transfer a phonebook from the iPhone to another device?

Question

Level 1

9 points

How do I transfer a phonebook from the iPhone to another device?

I have a new Panasonic phone system at home that provides a bluetooth link. It allows for the transfer of phonebooks from a linked cell phone selectively if the phone supports PBAP (phone book access profile). The phone system instructions refer the user to the cellphone instructions as to how to copy the phonebook. (The system does not have the capacity to store all of the entries in my iPhone phonebook, so I need to be able to transfer them by Group or otherwise selectively.) Does the iPhone support PBAP? If so, how do you select and copy Groups or individual entries?

iPhone 4, iOS 4.3.3

Posted on Sep 13, 2011 3:39 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 13, 2011 3:45 PM in response to fanghorn

According to this chart...

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3647

...iOS supports PBAP with some devices (iPhones).

So, it should be possible but I don't know how to accomplish precisely what you want.

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Answer 2

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Sep 13, 2011 3:48 PM in response to fanghorn

The iPhone does support PBAP, however there is no way, on your phone, to manually select what contacts will be available on the bluetooth device that you're pairing with. It's an all or nothing deal.

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Answer 3

fanghorn Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 13, 2011 3:58 PM in response to wjosten

If that's the case, it's a useless feature on the Panasonic. It does not use the cellphone's phonebook, it accepts transfers of data from it to the Panasonic's phonebook, which does not have anything like the capacity that would be required for my entire iPhone phonebook, especially since Panasonic treats each phone number as a separate entry.

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Answer 4

Sep 13, 2011 4:20 PM in response to fanghorn

In that case, can you back up your iPhone's current Contacts list and then create a subset just for the purpose of transferring to your Panasonic? You can then restore your backup to the iPhone.

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Answer 5

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Sep 13, 2011 4:24 PM in response to John Hammer1

Ah... PBAP doesn't work that way. The device has to be paird for the contacts to be available. Once un-paired, the contacts are no longer available.

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Answer 6

Sep 13, 2011 4:44 PM in response to wjosten

Yes, but that's not what fanghorn described for this particular device.

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Answer 7

fanghorn Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 13, 2011 8:13 PM in response to John Hammer1

This device includes a landline phone and supports up to two paired cellphones. According to its instructions, you can transfer phone numbers from either ot the paired cellphones, or even another cellphone, for use in placing calls, either on the landline or on one of the cellphones that is paired at the time.

Thanks for your thoughts. I have posed the question with Panasonic support. If they have a useful response, I will post it here.

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Answer 8

fanghorn Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 15, 2011 10:43 AM in response to fanghorn

The following is an edited compilation of two responses from Panasonic tech support:

Based on the information you have provided, we regret to inform you that iPhone does not support PBAP (PhoneBook Access Profile) for bluetooth connection. It not possible to transfer selected numbers from your cellphone to the Panasonic phone system.

The iPhone 4 is compatible for phonebook transfer. However, the iPhone 4 does not have the feature of selecting items in the phonebook. This is a feature limitation on theiPhone 4 but other compatible cellular phones can transfer phonebook items manually.

I infer that the iPhone supports PBAP, but not its component that allows for selective transfers. Thanks again for suggestions.

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Answer 9

Dec 13, 2011 8:44 PM in response to fanghorn

i found a way using a mac with bluetooth

before anything make a goup in your adress book of your mac with the contacts you whant to transfer. and export a Vcard of that group.

1. turn on bluetooth in your mac , select show bluetooth status in the menu bar-

set ad new device

2. in panasonic menu - transfer phonebook transfer - select ...

3. in your mac, in the bluetooth menu bar send file,and send the Vcard you export

4. select base panasonic

enjoy!

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Answer 10

TJfromRB

Level 1

4 points

Dec 15, 2011 8:47 PM in response to fanghorn

I'm in the same boat. I'm also trying to send my contacts to a Panasonic phone. There are two options, automatic and manual. Automatic doesn't work either because it will only upload my first 8 entries. There doesn't seem to be a way to convince it to load all of them.

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Answer 11

Quincy12

Level 1

0 points

Dec 23, 2011 5:45 AM in response to sarafrommexico

SaraFromMexico's solution works.

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Answer 12

ginadet

Level 1

9 points

Jan 13, 2012 5:06 PM in response to sarafrommexico

This is brilliant! Thanks!

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Answer 13

DLMartin

Level 1

48 points

Apr 11, 2012 7:20 PM in response to fanghorn

I have the same Panasonic phone and *accidentally* discovered that once you pair your iPhone, you can go to your Bluetooth settings, select the Panasonic phone there and this is where you have a ton of options for selecting your contacts and groups. Hope this helps.

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Answer 14

FraniPad

Level 1

0 points

May 14, 2012 8:45 AM in response to DLMartin

This worked for me. Created three groups, Doctors, Friends, Family. Transfered each group separately.

Thanks!!

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Answer 15

mareich

Level 1

22 points

Jan 5, 2013 12:40 PM in response to sarafrommexico

sarafrommexico's solution worked with my Macbook running Lion and my Panasonic KX-TG254 - my iPhone 4 could only send all or none of my contacts. This method allows for sending a subset of contacts to the Panasonic unit.

With my system, I did have to fiddle with the bluetooth settings on the Mac to actually pair it with the Panasonic before being able to transfer the VCF file to the phone. I think bluetooth on Lion works differently than earlier versions of IOS. And it takes quite a while for the transfer to finish (somewhere near a half hour for just 74 vcards).

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