connecting a Razr V3 to Mac

How are you trying to connect to the v3? Bluetooth or USB?

I know the file transfers only work with one, not the other.

Off hand, I think it's Bluetooth that works, but it's been a while since I last did it.

If I recall correctly, upload a mp3 file with the Bluetooth File Exchange app and the v3 will automatically ask if you want to use it as a ringtone.

Depends on how badly you want to transfer files to your phone. 🙂

Since Bluetooth is the only way to get files onto your phone. USB Bluetooth adapters are not expensive, but whether they're more or less than paying someone else for ringtones on your phone is something only you can decide.

Of course, once you do go Bluetooth you open up a whole world of possibilities in terms of wireless keyboards, mice, headsets, and more.

A) You can use recent Motorola phones are USB keys.
1) unplug your phone from USB
2) on your phone, go to Settings -> Connection -> USB and change from Modem to USB disk (or something like that)
3) plug it back

B) you can use Bluetooth "Browse device..." to browse your phone's memory if you have bluetooth on your Mac

C) note that some careers cripple their phones so you can't download/upload files (especially ringtones) from your computer to the phone and/or back. Also, some phones hide some of the files during such "external" browsing, but this generally applies when you want to get a ringtone from your phone to your Mac.

The best way to put files on your RAZR is to simply email them to the phone.

yourphonenumberincludingareacode@vzwpix.com

there are a lot applications that allow you to customize MP3 or MIDI files in order to play them on your phone. Check versiontracker.com

"the best" here might be overestimated.
The "best" way should be to directly push it from your computer to your phone without you having to use the career's network. And that's why some careers cripple the phones... so you have to use that sort of solution, generally paying a fee to this career.

"the best" is the most accurate being that the question is not theorhetical.

Obviously, using Bluetooth File Sharing is the most obvious and most likely the least inexpensive method for moving files onto a Bluetooth-enabled phone like the RAZR V3. But the trend by carriers is away from that method; as you note, they'd much prefer you (inexplicably) pay for their services instead.

(Verizon's new RAZR V3c phones are crippled with a new version of firmware and you cannot use Bluetooth file sharing to transfer files to the phone from a computer. I fully expect most carriers to adopt this practice as they continue to pursue revenue streams in content such as ringtones.)

You are certainly correct about Verizon's release of RAZR V3 units with disabled or missing Bluetooth files, but it's important to note that the release of earlier units with these profiles activated was truly an anomaly for Verizon Wireless. They have long sought to preserve the significant revenue stream from services like Get it Now, charging users for what would otherwise be 'free' file transfers. I have no idea how the initial hardware release ever got by their 'Bluetooth police!'

It's also important to note, however, that this is not a trend, and other major US carriers have not adopted this tactic. While each carrier has their unique set of annoying issues, only Verizon consistently disables or defeats the OBEX profile, and only Verizon has introduced V CAST, it's streaming technology which is—quite unfortunately—incompatible with the DUN profile, thus prohibiting users of V CAST devices from using their handset as a CDMA modem.

Cingular [once again to soon be known as AT&T,] Sprint and T-Mobile do not actively work to disable or defeat Bluetooth profiles, or introduce technologies which are incompatible with dial-up networking. T-Mobile even goes so far as to let virtually any unlocked GSM device to work on it's network, something Sprint does not do with its CDMA and iDEN handsets, and Cingular does only to a very limited extent with its GSM, but not CDMA or TDMA, handsets. Whatever the advantages—and there are many—offered by it's strong, high-speed network and advanced technologies, Verizon is the worst major US carrier when it comes to offering options to its customers. Absolutely, the worst.

Only a representative of your wireless carrier or another user on the same network can likely tell you how to exchange mail with your mobile handset. Procedures and specific address formats vary from carrier to carrier, and from one nation to another. So, pull out that user guide that came with your handset or contact your carrier.

Just get the USB plug in blue tooth device and then send the mp3 files to the phone. I have done this many times and put my own edited mp3 files as ring tones on my V3. Cost me $24 for the Bluetooth USB plug in doobie which I accidently dropped in the wastebasket when I opened it and had to paw thru snotty kleenix, crumpled bills, old packaging, etc all the way to the bottom to retirieve !!!
Works GREAT !

i just got a RAZR for free thru Verizon a week ago and -at first- i was able to email mp3 ringtones i made myself. i soon discovered the sound quality was crappy as the phone converts .mp3 to .cqt (or something like that). then i read on a forum just rename the mp3 with .mid and email that to yourself. it worked great... for awhile. now every time i try to email myself a ringtone i receive the msg. on the phone but there is no attachment. i called verizon not to complain but to ask why something would work before and then all of a sudden not work. since it is unsupported they could not and would not answer my question. the rep's only advice was that MAYBE verizon was filtering any attachments with mp3 or mid extension that get sent thru vzwpix.com gateway. he wasn't a jerk but he was not helpful. and frankly i'm tired of taking heat just because i own a mac and verizon barely supports them. even worse, i'm tired of verizon actively crippling features so users are forced into their pay-for model. i told them i hope this call was being recorded and that Verizon was falsely advertising the "3 ways to get ringtones onto your phone: V-Cast/Get It Now, ripping them from your own CD collection or using a ringtone service" that is mentioned on it's current commercials.

so does anyone know a work-around to this work-around??

I also recently purchased the crippled bluetooth version of verizon's razr v3c. But if you have a pc with windows xp or 2k you can hack into your phone and downgrade from S/W version GATW_01.0F.03 which has the crippled bluetooth to version GATW_01.0F.02 which has the full bluetooth capabilities, heres a link on how to do it http://whatsbruin.net/2006/03/25/software-downgrade/ if you do it correctly it should work like a charm and allow you to directly transfer files via bluetooth, hope thats helpful.