Question: "It seems like the only way I can get pictures from my phone to my computer is to email them, which costs about 75 cents a picture depending on the picture size (at least with my Cingular wireless service plan). Is there another way to transfer them?"

Answer: Yes, there are two other ways to transfer photos from your Razr phone to your PC (or vice versa) without paying any wireless provider fees:

  1. USB Data Cable
  2. Bluetooth

I'll discuss each of these approaches in this article.

Transfer Pictures To Your PC with a USB Data Cable

Cell phone manufacturers want you to transfer photos from your cell phone using email, because that way they can charge your for the data transfer. However, if you have a USB data cable or a bluetooth connector (discussed below), then you can transfer pictures, video, and ringtones directly without recurring carrier service fees.

You'll need software to recognize your cell phone and handle the transfer with a USB data cable. There are several affordable programs that will let you transfer photos, videos, and ring tones from your cell phone to your PC. They also let you copy them from your PC to your cell phone.

Motorola PhoneTools

Motorola's PhoneTools software is built specifically for Motorola phones like the RAZR or the new KRAZR.

PhoneTools allows you to transfer photos and videos directly from your Razr phone to your PC (or from a PC to your Razr phone). The PhoneTools' Multimedia Studio and File Transfer Studio let you see all your photos, audio and video clips in the same window. You'll see your computer on the left and your phone on the right.

Copying photos from your RAZR phone to your PC is as easy as highlighting them in the right-side window (representing your cell phone) and dragging them over to your file system on the left-side window. That's it - very easy to do.

Click for full size image of the Motorola Phone Tools softwareYou can also go the other way, and transfer existing pictures from your PC to your phone.

The usb cable it comes with charges your phone while it's plugged in, and there's even a ring tone mixer that makes it easy to personalize your phone with custom ring tones.

Don't get the PhoneTools software directly from Motorola though (they charge $49.99, which is too much IMHO).

You can get the Motorola PhoneTools software from Wireless Emporium (authorized reseller) for about half the retail price. That's a much more reasonable price for being able to easily transfer photos from your RAZR phone to your PC, and it's a program you'll use all the time.

Have a cell phone other than the Motorola RAZR?

Windows XP or Windows Vista don't come with software to recognize your phone and handle the file transfer, so you'll need a copy of DataPilot, which works with all major phone types.


Fire up DataPilot, and plug one end of the usb data cable into your phone and the other end into the usb port on your computer. DataPilot will display a list of the existing photos, ring tones, and videos on your cell phone.

Select the pictures on your cell phone that you want to move, and click the transfer button to copy them over to your PC.

You can also copy the other way, and use DataPilot to transfer photos or ring tones from your computer to your cell phone.

Here's a coupon code for DataPilot: Get 20% off DataPilot software. Enter code S0707CJ at checkout to receive your instant rebate.

Transfer Pictures To Your PC Using BlueTooth

If you'd rather stay wireless, then a BlueTooth adapter is your ticket.

Bluetooth has a 30-foot range, so you don't even need to have the phone right by you to be able to transfer files to it. In fact, you can keep your phone in your briefcase or backpack and still have no problems connecting to your laptop with Bluetooth.

  1. First you'll need to make sure your PC has a BlueTooth adapter, which will allow it to recognize other Bluetooth devices such as your RAZR phone.

    Bluetooth Dongle for Cell Phone File TransfersYou can find a Bluetooth Data Suite from the CellPhoneShop for under $30 that includes a Bluetooth adapter and software drivers for all phone types (the same one I use). It plugs into your usb port on your computer or laptop.

  2. Next you'll need to configure your phone's BlueTooth settings to make it visible to the Bluetooth Data Suite running on your computer. Open your Razr phone and select the following menu options:

    Settings --> Connection --> BlueTooth Link --> Setup --> Find Me

    You'll be prompted to enter a unique passcode of your choosing (I used 1234 for example), and the Bluetooth Data Suite will pair with your cell phone... meaning they will be linked together and can start transmitting data files over a wireless Bluetooth connection.

    You only need to pair your cell phone to your computer once. After that, your phone will be automatically recognized when you plug in the bluetooth adapter and have your phone within range.

  3. Once your computer and phone recognize each other, you can use the Bluetooth Data Suite to select photos from your phone and transfer them to your PC.

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