Synching Motorola TimePort w/ Linux PIMs?

Yet another voice from the rabid horde of Anonymous Cowards asks: "I just bought a fancy new Motorola TimePort which came with a number of goodies, including a computer serial cable and software. However, (as is expected now-a-days) the software is Windows only, TrueSync from Starfish to be exact. The software allows a Windows user to sync up the cell phone autodialer with a number of PIMs. Is there a software package that can do similar tasks and runs on Linux, MacOS, or BeOS (or insert favorite free/open OS here)? Searches on Google, Starfish, Motorola, and Sprint (my provider) turned up blank." This is similar to, but not exactly the same as an earlier Ask Slashdot that was run a few months ago.

i'm no expert but...

[eellis]

my google turned up this [cs.uit.no] which seems to suggest it can be done, but doesn't give too many hints other than use Kernel 2.2.13, built-in IrDA driver

StarTalk

[RachelS]

StarTalk [tir.com] is a little command line utility that lets you transfer phone contacts in a text file format between a computer and a StarTac phone using the serial data cable. I think that the StarTac and the TimePort use the same serial interface. It's very beta, but it looks like it could be the basis for someone to write a free truesync-like program.

Infrared

[Soruk]

If your Timeport has an IrDA infrared port (all the GSM900/1800/1900 ones available in the UK do) then you should be able to establish a connection using that in Linux. I frequently use it on my Timeport L7089 to go online when away from home. If you're wanting to do some SMS and Phone Book management you'll have to figure out what the commands are, since I haven't a clue...

Re:StarTalk

[envisionary]

Being an employee of Motorola, I can definitively say that the interfaces for the StarTac 7867, the new U.S. versions of the Talkabout, and Timeport are all based on the same specs. So any software, hardware that is used for one will work with the other two.

What else?

[acidblood]

What else can be done with this serial cable? Around here, they're selling it for US$ 100, but if the cable's only use is to sync phone numbers, I won't get it. Can I do EEPROM dumps/reflashs with it, whether using Linux or Windows software?

Re:StarTalk

[I_redwolf]

I have the a StarTac w/clip on organizer. Its the same thing as the timeport basically except the timeport is gray/grey. It should work no problems