Samsung :: Convoy U640 - USB Communications Overview

For those interested in accessing their Samsung Convoy (SCH-U640) via the USB cable from their Windows computer, here are some insights not apparent in the Users Manual. (I use XP).

The phone distinguishes three modes of communication via USB with a computer:
1. USB Mass Storage (Menu/9/2/8)
2. USB Media Sync, and
3. USB Modem.
The last two are chosen by a setting at Menu/9/9.

1. USB Mass Storage Mode (also see Users Manual pg. 138)
USB Mass Storage mode allows access to the external (microSD card, if installed) memory through Windows Explorer. No phone-specific USB drivers are required for this connection. You have some limited control over which files or folders are stored on the card. This is managed at Menu/9/8/1 or from a screen appearing at insertion of a card. None of the phone’s “built-in” files are moved to the card. Certain copy-protected files also cannot be moved to the card. For instance, none of the built-in ringtones or built-in pictures is present. Although it is possible to move your contacts to the card (Menu/9/8/2/7/Options/3/MarkAll/Done/Yes/OK), the phone is unaware of contacts on the card. Therefore “copying” contacts to the card can be useful for backup purposes, but if you “move” contacts to the card then the phone will show no contacts. (Note that pictures, including any associated with contacts, are managed separately and may be stored on the card or in the internal memory, your choice). It appears that in USB Mass Storage mode one can add contacts one at a time or en mass by copying contact vcf files from the computer to the my_contacts directory. Then, with the phone disconnected from the computer, move the new contacts to the internal phone memory (Menu/9/8/3/7/Options/3/MarkAll/Done/Yes/OK). I am not knowledgeable on what restrictions, if any, apply to vcf files acceptable to the phone. If you have inserted a microSD card and wish to upload pictures to your phone for use as contacts photos, then you can use the following format: jpeg, 72 dpi, 1600 or less (wide) x 1200 (high). In USB Mass Storage mode copy the pictures into the my_pix folder.

2. USB Media Sync Mode (also see Users Manual pg. 126)
USB Media Sync mode allows the computer, running VCast Music with Rhapsody, to manage music files on the phone. Installation is a two-step affair. First one installs a phone-specific USB driver (say from http://www.vzam.net/vcastmusic/Step2...nufacturerID=4 ). The Convoy (sch-U640) is not listed in that drivers table, so I chose the sch-U620 driver. The driver installer appears to be the same for many of the Samsung phones. With the USB driver installed, next one installs VCAST with Rhapsody.
Note: actually, the phone connects fine in USB Media Sync mode without the USB driver, and VCAST works, but one gets annoying “Found New Hardware” messages from Windows at connection and disconnection. One can access the device memory, in part, in Windows Explorer when the phone is connected to the computer in USB Media Sync mode. Only two music-related folders appear (Music, Playlist), and the Music folder is sorted into performer/album/ subfolders unlike when viewed in USB Mass Storage mode. Whether one sees internal or external memory depends on where the phone is storing music files.
Note: When one explores the phone without loading the USB driver, a third folder, “Albums” appears.
Note: It is apparently not possible, or at least not obvious how, to upload calendar items to the Convoy from the computer (say from Outlook) via the USB connection. This can be done, one item at a time, via Bluetooth (Users Manual pg. 93).
Note: the USB driver obtained here is not compatible with the software program BitPim, which does not find the phone at all in USB Mass Storage or USB Media Sync mode. But see below!

3. USB Modem Mode
This mode of communication is designed to use the phone as a USB modem to connect a computer to the internet via the cellphone network. For that purpose one must first install VZAccess Manager. The USB Modem mode, established at Menu 9/9 followed by plugging in the cable, does not cause the device to display any entry in Windows Explorer.
Note: Whether or not VZAccess Manager is installed on the computer, the USB Modem connection allows BitPim to interact with the Convoy. BitPim has not evaluated the Convoy, but several of the program’s features work when one manually selects the SCH-U750 (Alias 2) phone. However, I have not tried to write from BitPim to the phone.