QuickLink Mobile - 3.0

My son just told me how he got the Nokia (3589i) phone that I have to work with OS 10.4.x.

Hope this helps someone!

silvia
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Subject: Got the phone working!
Date: May 13, 2006 3:10:23 PM MDT

The QuickLink mobile doesn't work, even with the new prolific driver. Maybe you should let them know there is a new driver (as of May 8, 2006).

Need to remove the file

/System/Library/Extensions/ProlificUsbSerial.kent

Then install the current prolific driver from
http://www.prolific.com.tw/support/files//IO%20Cable/PL-2303/Drivers%20-%20Generic/MacOS/MacOS%2010.x/md_pl2303H_HX_X_dmg_v1.2.1.zip

reboot (install will ask)

Then download some modem scripts at
http://www.taniwha.org.uk/files/NokiaCDMA2005-07.sit

Put the "Nokia Circuit-Switched RB" script into "/Library/Modem Scripts"

Now to configure everything. Turn on phone and plug it in. Open Network Prefs and create a new location called "Nokia Phone". Only activate the usbserial port in Network Port Configurations, select usbserial from the show menu.

For PP set:

Service Provider: QNC Nokia
Account Name: qnc
Password: qnc
Telephone Number: #777
Save Password: yes

For TCP/IP: Configure IPv4: Using PPP
all other fields blank

For Modem:
Modem: Nokia Circuit-Switched RB
leave the rest as defaults.

That should work.

I bought the USB version of QuickLink Mobile for Mac and got the download immediately and the cable via mail a few days later.

What the sales staff failed to mention (even though I had asked specifically) was that the cable manufacturer has not updated the driver for the "Prolific" USB cable to operate on Mac's OS 10.4.x new way of handling USB. The result was a cable that my PowerBook running OS 10.4.3 couldn't see.

I contacted tech support at Smith Micro and they were very quick to inform me about the lack of support. (the sales staff would have saved me much time, expense and hair pulling if they had told me that at the start!!)

It works fine with ealier OS versions. (I tested it with my home G5 running OS 10.3.9 and it worked great. This was with my G5 connected to my old Nokia 6200 cell phone and subscribing to Cingular's unlimited internet service.)

I ended up downloading the BlueTooth version of their software.(another $29.95 purchase, although they did accept the return of the old cable and refund my money minus a "restocking" charge!) This also required me to buy a BlueTooth capable phone. (the expense I tried to avoid by buying the USB cable version.) I now run at dialup speeds using my PowerBook and a Nokia 6820 cell phone.

Another note:QuickLink does NOT support FAXing. I ended up using the eFax service (another $12.95/mo) and use my scanner and printer through my PowerBook for FAX via email attachments in and out. eFax gives you free software to send and receive FAXes via email attachments and I've been told my FAXes are the clearest received by several people. (Due to being scanned in on a real flatbed scanner rather than the terrible scanners built into the average FAX machine.)

The outbound FAX is attached to an email and eFax converts it and sends it to the receiver's FAX machine. The inbound are FAXed to a phone number included in the signup and from there I receive it as an email attachment.

I now have a complete office in my 18 wheeler that can do business anywhere I can get a cell phone signal. My warning is to make sure your OS is compatible with the version you download and be ready to call your cell phone provider for the cell phone and PPP settings required.(With the BlueTooth version. The USB version was an automatic setup.) The support docs make it sound like it sets up automatically, which it does not!

I am actually a registered user of this product. I bought it years ago. While I realize you can configure OS X to do virtually all the features the software provides, it was (in my opinion) more convenient to let QuickLink Mobile do it for me. -- Since buying this software years ago, I have been EXTREMELY disappointed at the lack of support from Smith Micro. I find it VERY hard to get updates (non trial versions). I finally gave up using QuickLink Mobile and configured OS X to establish my internet connections using my mobile phone. I don't miss QuickLink Mobile at all. I wish I had never spent (wasted) the money. The bottom line: The software works well, getting non-trial updates as a registered user is a pain, their support and responsiveness to inquiries is terrible. Don't waste your money.

If this is Smith Micro I'd avoid it too. Back in the Jaguar days, before you could fax from the OS, I got a downloaded copy of FaxSTF Pro for what I thought was a good price, and an offer of a full refund if I did not like it. Considering that it was just the application, and no manual, even if PFF, I did NOT like it, and requested my refund. After much hemming and hawing they refunded HALF my money, keeping the rest for a 'service charge' which they never disclosed. Finally, I did get satisfaction by doing a chargeback on my credit card, but the dishonesty of this company would make me avoid them totally.

Smith Micro has yet to make a product that I haven't been suckered into buying, only to realize that apple has, or is about to, offer a better solution, built into the OS, without all the hassle and confusion.
FAXstf is unnecessary on a Mac
Quicklink Mobile is also.
As are all the other titles you might be tempted to waste your money on.
I bought the hype, and now I am here as a word of warning.