| Frequently asked questions (FAQ) |
 |
Do I use Bluetooth or Infrared?
No, you would need GPRS, WAP, 3G, EDGE or similar data channel provisioned by your mobile operator in your mobile before you can OTA synchronize with O-Sync, which is the same requirement for accessing the general Internet/Web with your mobile.
O-Sync is an Internet service leveraging on the SyncML standard protocol. You must be connected to the Internet via your mobile operator before you can start OTA synchronization.
Bluetooth and Infrared are short range in nature and subject you to physical proximity with a typical location based terminal in order to make any connections with a server/peer, and therefore limit your on-demand management needs for your mobile data that best fits your mobile lifestyle today.
What is an Access Point?
An access point is an IP network by your mobile operator providing the data channel to which a mobile device can be connected for accessing the Internet. Access Point Name (APN) describes the set of settings that are used for such connection.
How do I obtain an access point for GPRS, 3G, etc?
Your mobile operator usually had them already provisioned in your mobile when you purchase your device as a subscriber from them. Try to access the Internet/Web, and if you can, you should be able to use O-Sync.
If not, please contact your mobile operator to provision your mobile device for Internet access. Typically, you will receive from them as SMS configuration settings for install onto your device.
If possible, set or select your access point name (APN) to one that says INTERNET instead of WAP in the profile settings for O-Sync in your mobile device, It could make the service connection a lot more faster.
Do I need to install any software on my mobile?
No, you can use O-Sync with virtually any SyncML featured mobile devices, which will enable you for remote synchronization. This is because SyncML is a protocol standard that is ubiquitous in most of the popular mobile brands today, such as Nokia, SonyErricsson, Motorola, etc.
O-Sync is an Internet service. You must be connected to the Internet via your mobile operator before you can start OTA synchronization.
To use O-Sync, you therefore require a SyncML enabled mobile device (most mobiles feature SyncML or Remote Data Synchronization) with a working Internet connection (GPRS, 3G, WAP, EDGE, etc) via your mobile operator.
What is SyncML
SyncML is an open international data communication protocol standard, designed and optimized for wireless data synchronization. Its Industry-wide standardization effort is consolidated at Open Mobile Alliance (OMA). O-Sync speaks SyncML with virtually any SyncML enabled mobile devices without the user having to install any software.
How do I know if my mobile is SyncML enabled?
The best source of information as to whether your mobile device supports SyncML or Remote Data Synchronization is the manufacturer of your device, their respective websites, product labels and/or your user guide.
What is O-Sync?
O-Sync is a natural extension of your mobile.
O-Sync allows you to securely access and manage your mobile data online anytime anywhere with ease when you sync them over the air with our server, and have them both up to date with changes you made each time you synchronize with O-Sync, keeping you on top of your mobile lifestyle. No cables, no software, no hassles.
You preferably sync whenever you make changes on either O-Sync or your device, to upkeep your mobile data at the same pace and readiness at all times for your benefits.
It´s fast, easy and it´s free. You draw comfort in knowing that your mobile data is safe, accessible by you and up to date at all times.
Is O-Sync free for use?
O-Sync is free for all basic features used with virtually any SyncML enabled mobile.
O-Sync is an Internet service. As with any Internet services, your free use of O-Sync excludes the cost of Internet access or any other similar cost typically charged by your mobile operator for making mobile data call (eg. GPRS, 3G, WAP, etc) to the web. Typical data usages during synchronization are minimal.
Depending on your needs, additional features are available, which you only pay if you use.
Additional features include, but not limited to, client software, which you can purchase and download at a small fee, for use with non-SyncML aware sources such as Outlook / Express, BlackBerry, PDA, Smartphone, etc to sync with O-Sync.
You can continue to use O-Sync for free with virtually any SyncML enabled mobile even if you have no need for any such additional features!
Can I synchronize my Outlook / Outlook Express or other non-SyncML aware sources with O-Sync?
Yes. Depending on your needs, these are additional features, which you only pay if you use.
It is entirely up to you to choose if you want these additional features.
If not, you can continue to use O-Sync for free with virtually any SyncML enabled mobile even if you have no need for any such additional features!
Can I have more than one mobile device to the same account?
Yes. This may arise, for example, when you lost your mobile and requires your data on O-Sync to be automatically synchronized with your new mobile phone.
Simply set the same O-Sync user and server settings in your other devices and sync.
And yes, it´s FREE to use more than one mobile device to the same account, and knowing that you are protected!
Is O-Sync available in my country only?
No, O-Sync is global and operator neutral. You can continue to O-Sync from any countries with any mobile operators, as long as your mobile is SyncML compliance/enabled and you have a working Internet connection.
Are contacts saved on SIM-card synchronize?
No. Only contacts stored in phone memory can be synchronized. Your mobile device allows you to move contacts from SIM-card to phone memory. Please consult your respective device user guide for doing so.
Once the are moved to phone memory, simply sync again to have them all on O-Sync.
This may the reason why some contacts are not synchronized or appeared on O-Sync.
Can I attach photos to my contacts?
Yes, and it´s FREE!
The SMS settings for my O-Sync account did not arrive
It may be due to one of the followings:
- Your device is unable to correctly handle the OTA setting format received, thus did not generate any "message received" alerts.
- Your mobile operator does not support or may be blocking external OTA settings sent to your number.
If you encounter such problems, please try to the configure your mobile manually or contact us at support@o-sync.com.
My synchronization got interrupted frequently
There could be many various causes, some commonly faced problems might be:
- Insufficient device memory at runtime. Try closing certain applications.
- Poor mobile coverage, which is beyond the control of O-Sync. Try to sync from a different location, for example out of the tunnel, lift or specific area.
- Network congestion within your mobile operator; Try setting your access point to one that says INTERNET instead of WAP in the profile settings for O-Sync in your mobile device, It could make the service connection a lot more faster or less time out.
Please contact us at support@o-sync.com if you are unsure.
Why there are no listings of supported phones?
O-Sync speaks SyncML, which is an industry-wide open international data communication protocol standard, governed at Open Mobile Alliance (OMA). It allows O-Sync to work with virtually any mobile devices that speak correct SyncML.
Testing and maintaining an ongoing list of each and every phone in the market for compliance to OMA SyncML standards requires time, effort and resources, which we reckon that by allowing you to seek them out from device manufacturers, their respective websites, forums, product labels and/or your product user guide, we could better focus on delivering real values to you, and helping you in your case to identify if your specific device happens to "misbehave" in speaking correct SyncML which could possibly render you to experience unsuccessful synchronization that is external to O-Sync.
My settings are correct but I still experience Sync failure when I Sync
O-Sync uses SyncML, which is an industry-wide open international data communication protocol standard, governed at Open Mobile Alliance (OMA).
SyncML implementation and compliance of your mobile device is by its respective manufacturer. Some (not all) devices may "misbehave" due to various reasons not arising out of O-Sync, which may cause its owner to experience unsuccessful synchronization attempts with O-Sync.
Please contact us at support@o-sync.com to register your issue if you are faced with such problems, we´ll be happy to check things out.
What is an IMEI number?
IMEI is an acronym for International Mobile Equipment Identity. Every mobile device is factory assigned a globally unique serial number by its manufacturer. Your IMEI number(s) can be securely viewed from your account space once you synchronize your device(s) with O-Sync.
Alternatively, you can also recall the number from your mobile device by keying in *#06#
What can I do with O-Sync if I lost my mobile phone?
Logon immediately to O-Sync from any anywhere and change your account password. This is to prevent potential "unauthorized" synchronization from occurring. Nevertheless, your password will not be displayed in your mobile profile setting for O-Sync.
Your IMEI number can be securely viewed from your web account. Report your lost device IMEI number to your mobile operator and/or local authority if necessary.
How to I recover my mobile date onto my new phone?
Logon to O-Sync and update your web account with your new mobile number. Request the SMS based settings to be sent to your new number or manually setup your new mobile device for O-Sync.
Start sync to automatically download your mobile data in one go. No cables, no software, no hassles. It´s that simple.
When you edit your account with your new number (or any personal data), it will be immediately available to all your linked up friends in O-Sync, and they will automatically get your update into their mobile phone entry as soon as they synchronize their device. No need for you to mass announce or SMS to them all.
How it works with O-Sync? - A technical perspective
O-Sync speaks SyncML with virtually any SyncML enabled mobile devices without the user having to install any software.
O-Sync is an Internet service. To use O-Sync, your SyncML enabled device must establish connection to the Internet via your operator provisioned data call services such as GPRS, 3G, WAP or similar data channels, prior to start of synchronization.
A successfully synchronization with O-Sync takes place in the status order of:
Connecting »» Initializing »» Synchronizing »» Disconnecting
when you start synchronization with O-Sync.
Connecting
Your mobile device initiates a data call service to your mobile operator for acquiring a connection to the Internet.
Initializing
Your device initializes a session with O-Sync, by processing the authentication between your O-Sync user settings in your device and the server, indicating which databases (contact, calendar, notes, etc) are desired to be synchronized, protocol used and the exchange of service and device capabilities.
The entire process will break should authentication fails or your mobile coverage is lost or affected for any reasons. Any devices that "misbehave" in speaking correct SyncML will also cause the process to break, resulting in user experiencing a synchronization failure.
Synchronizing
If it is a first time connection to the server, your device will send all its information (Contact, Calendar and/or Tasks marked by you) to the server ("slow sync"). The server compares the received information with what its own database has (which could be entered by you prior to sync), and adds the entries that are missing. It then computes which information your phone is missing from its database and returns those.
In all subsequent connections, only changes (additions/deletions/modifications) are sent ("fast sync"), saving processing and connection time. For example, should you delete an entry in your phone, and a different entry added to O-Sync, the deleted entry will be dropped from O-Sync and the new entry will be added into your phone after synchronization.
Disconnecting
Synchronization completed and your mobile device automatically drops the mobile data call, disconnecting the device from the Internet.