BitPim

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BitPim

BitPim Program Interface on an LG VX5200
Latest release	1.0.5 / Jan 28th, 2008
OS	Cross-platform
Genre	Organizer
License	GPL
Website	bitpim.org

BitPim is an open source program designed specifically for managing content on CDMA devices. Most mobile phones using a Qualcomm-manufactured CDMA chipset are supported. The program is also cross-platform, operating on the Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux operating systems.

Although BitPim might be taken for a personal information manager (PIM), its name derives from “bitpym”, a suggestion generated by a pronouncable-password generator; the ‘y’ being replaced with an ‘i’ simply to eliminate ambiguity in pronunciation. Earlier, the program had been named “Entrocul” by the same method.

[edit] Features

The following managing functions are currently supported by BitPim. All functionalities vary on the model of the device:

PhoneBook
Calendar
WallPapers
RingTones
Filesystem
T9

Data can be imported and exported from various sources such as Microsoft Outlook and Google Calendar.

[edit] Implementation

BitPim is implemented using the Python programming language with various pieces in C to access hardware. The user interface is wxPython which in turn wraps wxWidgets. That gives a native look and feel on each platform.

Most of the functionality is obtained by using the diagnostics mode available in Qualcomm Mobile Station Modem (MSM) used by virtually every manufacturer of CDMA phones. The diagnostics mode provides direct access to the embedded filesystem in the phone. The remainder of the functionality is via protocols provided by the handset manufacturers, but these usually only cover updating the phonebook.

Because the sizes of fields in the protocols differ between every model (even from the same handset manufacturer) and even between the same model offered at different carriers, BitPim has code and field descriptions for every model. A big part of each approximately monthly release is adding support for new phone models.