[markgoodall]

Sorry if this is a common question. I figured it would be a common problem but I've searched for an answer here and can't find one.

I have a new BlackBerry 9700 Bold on T-Mobile with about 500 contacts in it that came from my Outlook (BlackBerry Desktop Manager Sync). Almost all my contacts have the phone numbers in the format (678) 555-7777 which is the default Outlook format.

Often when I receive a call, or an SMS message, it doesn't recognize or display the person's name from my contacts.

When a call comes in, it displays +16785554444 on the screen. It shows that number on the log screens, SMS screens, message screens, etc. Even though in my Contact list I have Joe Smith (678) 555-4444

If I make the first call, or send the first SMS to a person using (678) 555-4444 then the rest of the calls or SMS texts are identified by the contaqct name, but it seems if they call or text me first, it get's stuck with the +16785554444.

Is there anyway to make the BlackBerry understand that:

+16785554444 equals 678-555-4444 equals (678) 555-4444

because it seems that it treats each of these as different and won't pull the contacts name up.

Thanks!

[tsac]

I started using the number format without any ( - or spaces in the contact list. Seems to work well unless the carrier does not send the caller id.

[stevetaz]

Not sure if this means anything or will help, but what Country Code is set in your Smart Dialing?

From the Phone Dialing screen > BB Menu key > Options > Smart Dialing > Country Code set to +1

Maybe that has an effect on the incoming if set wrong?

[markgoodall]

Originally Posted by tsac

I started using the number format without any ( - or spaces in the contact list. Seems to work well unless the carrier does not send the caller id.

I'm not sure that's possible if I'm using Outlook. Outlook sends all phone nubmers to the BlackBerry in the (678) 555-4444 format.

[monkeypaw]

Originally Posted by markgoodall

I'm not sure that's possible if I'm using Outlook. Outlook sends all phone nubmers to the BlackBerry in the (678) 555-4444 format.

The display format in Outlook can be changed, unless it's locked by your IT department.

But I don't think that would necessarily affect anything. Have you tried what stevetaz said about Smartdialing? That was my first thought.

If that doesn't work, if you add the +1 on the phone and try to sync, what ends up happening in Outlook?

[tsac]

Agreed but i did edit the BB listing.

[markgoodall]

Originally Posted by stevetaz

Not sure if this means anything or will help, but what Country Code is set in your Smart Dialing?

From the Phone Dialing screen > BB Menu key > Options > Smart Dialing > Country Code set to +1

Maybe that has an effect on the incoming if set wrong?

Yes, my Country Code is set to +1

[markgoodall]

Cerainly I can't be the only one in the world with a BlackBerry that displays incoming phone numbers as +1678555444 and can't find the Contact because it's in the (678) 555-4444 ???

Techically it's the same number, right? Just like "01/04/2010" is equal to "January 4, 2010".... the values are the same but the display format is different.

If I'm the first one to send a text to a friend, then it uses (678) 444-5555 and all subsequent texts received are properly identified.
But if my friend sends me a text first, it comes in as +16784445555 and from that point on the BlackBerry doesn't recognize it properly.

[nano9]

Originally Posted by markgoodall

Cerainly I can't be the only one in the world with a BlackBerry that displays incoming phone numbers as +1678555444 and can't find the Contact because it's in the (678) 555-4444 ???

Techically it's the same number, right? Just like "01/04/2010" is equal to "January 4, 2010".... the values are the same but the display format is different.

If I'm the first one to send a text to a friend, then it uses (678) 444-5555 and all subsequent texts received are properly identified.
But if my friend sends me a text first, it comes in as +16784445555 and from that point on the BlackBerry doesn't recognize it properly.

No, you are not the only one. I have the same exact problem, and I don't even use outlook. There is a setting for SMS to display names, but that doesn't work either. If I contact first, the names display. If not, they don't. I tried all the above and nothing appears to work. I'm not good at memorizing everyone's phone number to recognize who just sent me a text. Kind of stinks. Any solutions yet?

[LeftOVERS]

I have found that if you remove the "+" and the "-" from the format of your contact number the name will show up. However I'm not going to go through 500+ contacts and change that so I'm hoping that RIM will fix the issue.

[mareal]

TMobile said the formatting issue is only with BB Bold. Temporary work around: Go to Control Panel > Phone and Modem Options. Edit "My Location" and change the area code to something really long "xxxxxxxx". It will then leave your Outlook contacts' phone numbers exactly the way you type them.

To change all your contacts more easily, export your contacts to Excel. Fix using Find/Replace or manually. Then reimport them into Outlooks.

This works for me until I hear BB fixed it.

[E92Vancouver]

Originally Posted by markgoodall

Sorry if this is a common question. I figured it would be a common problem but I've searched for an answer here and can't find one.

I have a new BlackBerry 9700 Bold on T-Mobile with about 500 contacts in it that came from my Outlook (BlackBerry Desktop Manager Sync). Almost all my contacts have the phone numbers in the format (678) 555-7777 which is the default Outlook format.

Often when I receive a call, or an SMS message, it doesn't recognize or display the person's name from my contacts.

When a call comes in, it displays +16785554444 on the screen. It shows that number on the log screens, SMS screens, message screens, etc. Even though in my Contact list I have Joe Smith (678) 555-4444

If I make the first call, or send the first SMS to a person using (678) 555-4444 then the rest of the calls or SMS texts are identified by the contaqct name, but it seems if they call or text me first, it get's stuck with the +16785554444.

Is there anyway to make the BlackBerry understand that:

+16785554444 equals 678-555-4444 equals (678) 555-4444

because it seems that it treats each of these as different and won't pull the contacts name up.

Thanks!

Do this. it worked for me:

1. Make sure you set your own country code at Phone Dialer Screen > Options > Smart dialing.

Set your country code in this format: "+xx" where xx = your country code. Some countries have two or three digit Country Codes. Do not place the '+' in your contact's entry.

In the US, set this Country Code as "+1", and place your loca area code in the proper box (this normally the default setting in a new BB).

2. At the same location, change the National Number Length to the number of digits for your country (since some countries will have less than 10 as set as the default in the BB). Find out the total digits, minus the country code. Do not place the '+' in your contact's entry.

For example, some countries have a total number to 8 (plus 3 for country code). You would enter "8".

3. You may have "Content Protection" set on your Address Book.

Look at Options > Security > General Settings. Scroll down to Content Protection > Include Address Book = NO.