Importing Verizon Backup Assistant Contacts to Outlook for Blackberry and other smart phone devices

(* Edited 11/20/2011 DS - Good news - this old posting from early 2009 can now easily be accomplished using Verizon tools: To sync Outlook to Verizon phone: (1) Set up Backup Assistant on the phone; (2) Use Backup Assistant to import Outlook contacts .csv; (3) sync should happen automatically. For instructions on generating a .csv from Outlook, see instructions below.*)
Recently, I posted the code I had used to import my Verizon Backup Assistant contacts into Outlook, so I didn't have to re-enter all my contacts manually. I originally wrote it because I needed it for my Blackberry Storm, but really it's usable for any phone that uses Outlook to sync up Contacts. Also the original script required Firefox, and I've rewritten it to be browser neutral.

I'll repeat the steps, revised for IE and non-Storm specific.

You will need MS Outlook, obviously, since that's what we're targeting. (that's what the Storm and many other smartphones use to sync contacts). And of course you'll have to have your old contacts backed up using Verizon Backup Assistant, since that's our source for contacts.

Here's a step-by-step overview of how to do it:

1. Make sure you are running Firefox Version 3 and above or IE Version 7 or above. (If you have earlier versions, You can still test them out for me, and I've supplied a feedback link).


2. Go to http://www.verizonwireless.com/backupassistant


3. Select "Print Address Book" (must allow popups)


4. Select all page text (Ctrl+a)

Edited 6/15/09 DS - Some browsers have problems processing the headers:
"I think the problem is you shouldn't do "CRTL+A" and get *everything*. Just highlight starting at the first entry and continue to the last one. Don't include "Backup Assistant Contacts", "Print Address Book", "Name", and so on."


5. Copy (Ctrl+c)


6. Go to the Backup Assistant to Outlook conversion script page


7. Paste text into top textbox


8. Click the "Convert to Outlook CSV text" button


9. Select all text from bottom text box


10. Create a new text file using Notepad/Wordpad, paste in text


11. Save the file with .csv extension


12. (you may want to examine this file in Excel before importing to Outlook)


13. Also, you may want to think about adding email and other info into the spreadsheet now - it's way easier to do it here than in Outlook.


14. Open Outlook, select File... Import and Export... Import from another program or file


15. Select Comma separated files (Windows)


16. Browse to the .csv file choose overwrite or duplicate


17. For destination folder, select "Contacts", select next, finish.

You should now see your newly created contacts in Outlook.

Optional Steps for Blackberry users to import from Outlook -> Blackberry:

1. Now plug your Storm into your PC/Laptop


2. Launch Desktop Manager


3. Select the synchronize button/area


4. Set up synchronization for contacts


5. Synchronize

All of your Outlook Contacts should now appear under your Blackberry Contacts.