Problems Syncing Gmail and Verizon Contacts

[Richs10]

Since I got this phone, I've been having problems getting it to sync my contacts with gmail and with the Verizon Backup Assistant.

For Gmail, it seems to actually be updating the contacts (both from the .com to the phone and vice versa) but I always have a "sync error" noted under "Sync Contacts" for my main gmail address when I look at the account under "Accounts and Sync". (its a red exclaimation point next to "Sync Contacts" under the account info). Its not really a problem I guess, but the error message bugs me. The full message under "Accounts and Sync" is "Sync is currently experiencing problems. It will be back shortly." This message has always been there.

For the Verizon Backup Assistant, I can only seem to get it to sync if I do it from the website for backup assistant (and that only works sometimes). It does not work from the phone when i hit the "back up now" tab in the Verizon Backup Assistant. Also it never has backed up any of my google/gmail contacts. On the few occasions when it has worked, it only backs up those contacts that have the little orange headshot which denotes a verizon contact. 

I have spoken with Verizon support twice. They promise they will open a ticket/escalate the issue and call me back, but I never hear another word from them. After a failed attempt, the phone will continue to try to sync to Verizon Backup Assistant and send me repeated messages that it failed. Finally, I just have to shut the app down to stop the notifications.

BTW, I really don't care about the Verizon Backup Assistant, except that it needs to be on and working in order for the "wipe" function to work through the Assurion program if the phone is lost or stolen. 

I have made sure that all my contacts have been 'joined' so it should work. Has anyone else had these problems with the Charge?

Thanks,

Rich

[STOKER]

Rich,

Had the same issues since I use my Droid for business and personal so I have > 2,000 contacts. The problem is Verizon Backup times out trying to import it all. As the Verizon Technical folks told me,. the Backup Assistant was made for a semi-smart phone like Blackberry where I had no issues in synching the phone since it has half the capabilities and features. These new phones can import 2-3X the data and features so it takes too much time.

First item: Export your Gmail contacts out of Google into a CSV file depending on the operating system you have. I'm on Windows 7 so CSV Windows and save your file to your Desktop.

Next TURN OFF your Synch capabilities on your Charge by going to OPTIONS/ACCOUNTS & SYNC and UNCHECK the Auto-synch box and the Background data boxes.

Next, got to the Verizon website, log-in and  Click on My Verizon, then click on Backup Assistant at My Device Tab and  import the file into Backup Assistant via the CSV import command that is on the Right side of this page down below where is says IMPORT CONTACTS. Once completed, it may take a while ( with my contact data base about 30 minutes)  it should show your contacts on the screen. Log out and go back to your Charge OPTIONS/ACCOUNTS & SYNC and CHECK the Auto-synch box and the Background data boxes back to ON. Over the course of the next 1/2 hour or two, you will see your contacts start showing up depending if you are on 4G or wireless. Also make sure you are synching to your gmail account under Manage Accounts and you have Gmail selected. Since I'm on Outlook Exchange I just use Outlook (Until that time Google lets you imput multiple contacts from the same company instead of one at a time approach) and have GMail turned off.

Not sure about Google, but I know Verizon is using IntelliSync which is the same software Palm used on it's Palm Pilots to synch the data since I have seen it come up as it works really well. So once it has the core data base in there, it will synch all the updates/deletions no problem. I set mine to synch in the late evening since less traffic at that time. Let me know if this solves your problem.

[JerryF]

Several months ago I had that problem BIG TIME so I decided:  This is something up with which I will not put.  

I did find them because when I touched the RED Contacts icon on the home screen only about 6 contacts appeared.  But on the other hand if I touched the Green Phone icon and then on the next screen touched the CONTACTS button at the top right of the screen they ALL shower up.  I noticed that none of them had either the black G for Google or the Red V for verizon to the right of them.  I then set all of them to the black G for Google because Backup Assistant has never worked well for me. 

I found my original post on how I did this so look here:

http://community.vzw.com/t5/DROID-Charge-by-Samsung/Contacts-list-will-not-come-up-help/m-p/697739#M...

1.  I purchased Data Pilot 7 for $20 so I could back them up to my Laptop.  It works great, worth every penny, that is, if you take into account the effort required to retype them back in.

2.  I backed them up to Google and it worked great and still does.

3.  I QUIT using Verizon's Backup Assistant and still do not use it today.

JerryF

PS, I wonder, but don't care because I do not use Verizon's Backup Assistant, if you can use both Google and Verizon because it appeared to me that you had to assign a black Google G or a Red Verizon "whetever" to to each contact. 

[Richs10]

Thanks for the replies.

Stoker, now that I think about it, the CSV file was the only way the Verizon Rep got my contacts from my phone to Verizon Backup Assistant.  I had forgotten that.  It has never synced properly from either direction.

Jerry:  I don't have any red "V" icons.  What (I think) are my Verizon contacts are shown by an orange "headshot" icon, just like the Contacts icon at the bottom of my homescreen.  My Gmail/google contacts are a black "g" and my facebook contacts are a blue "f".  How did you get the red V?  That could be the problem with the Verizon contacts.

[Richs10]

Hey Jerry
I hadn't heard back from you about the symbol for Verizon contacts. Do you really have a red V rather than the orange headshot (or portrait) icon? That may account for the problem I'm having.

As to your PS, I also think its weird that you have to pick an account for each new contact but Google seems to pick them all up when it does a backup on my phone. Verizon is the problem.

[JerryF]

Ricks10,

Sorry I forgot you.  I was mistaken it was not a red V, it was a red colored head shot!  Here is what I meant.  Whenever I add a contact, and you already know this, you are asked to choose Google (black G symbol), Phone (red verizon head shot symbol), or SIM.

I put a TEST contact into my phone's contact list and chose Phone for that contact.  You can see in the attached screen shot the RED head shot symbol.  All my others are black Gs for Google because I have not had much luck in backing up my contact list using Verizon's Backup Assistant.  Now I only use Google for my contact list backup and Data Pilot 7 to back up my contact list to my own laptop and periodically to its external back up disk. 

JerryF