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In 24 hours…

By Sarang Lakare on 20 Comments / 4252 views

 

It all started with a tweet I read at 10pm. “In a soup now. How to extract contacts out of a Blackberry backup file!”:

It was re-tweeted by a friend of mine. Since we are working in mobile contact management space, the tweet grabbed my attention. I thought to myself “how difficult can it really be to restore a backup file!”. I tweeted back saying “we can try if you could send us the backup file”. Thankfully, he obliged and sent across the 27 MB backup file to us.

11pm: Now the real fun started. I started googling extensively for what a Blackberry backup file really is and how to extract data from it. First clue was that it is simply zip file. Unzipping it produced more than 150 clueless files!

12 midnight: Another hour of googling gave pointers to some code here and there that could read these files. As anyone who has downloaded code off the web would know, it seldom works. I found a python script that claimed to read the file, but the first try was a complete failure. Now it was time to debug into the script and understand where and why the code was failing.

2am: Two hours of hacking on the script gave insights into the file format and how it stores the data. My experience working with numerous complex imaging formats helped. Finally, I was able to identify which of the 150+ files contained contact information. All other files were not relevant.

3am: Another hour of hacking and first signs of light at the end of the tunnel. Was able to extract contacts and some contact information associated with them.

3:30am: All contacts were identified and extracted. However, the associated contact information was not properly extracted. Sleep time.

9:00am: Straight from bed to the keyboard. Realized more nuances of the file format.

11:00am: Finally almost all contact information was extracted successfully from the file. Now it was time to upload it to the server. Uploading to server was non-trivial as we had not uploaded so many contacts in one shot. There were 3000+ contacts with some duplicates too. Challenge was to upload contacts properly and remove any duplicates.

1:00pm: Investor phone call prep. These meetings are always setup at the wrong time!

1:30pm-2:30pm: Phone call with an investor. Same old blah blah blah.

3:00pm: Server side verion 1 completed. Testing upload throws a bunch of new challenges.

3:30pm: Preping for presentation to judging panel of NASSCOM AppFame Content

4:00pm – 5:00pm : Presenation to the panel (we eventually got selected as top-5 app at AppFame)

7:00pm: Version 2 of server side ready & uploaded to test server. Contacts succesfully uploaded, but more issues found.

9:00pm: Version 3 uploaded to test server. Everything working as expected.

10:00pm: Version 3 uploaded to production server. Contacts from the backup file uploaded to the server. With Intouch, all connected devices automatically see the contacts on the server. As we were uploading contacts, they were simultaneously getting pushed to his new Android device on which he had our app running. 200.. 400.. 600.. … 3194 contacts succesfully uploaded to the server and then downloaded to the Android device 🙂 And it all ends with a Thank you note from the user!

In 24 hrs, we were able to act on an opportunity (tweet) that knocked our door (TweetDeck), and in the process not only add a new userful feature, but more importantly acquired a happy user 🙂 This could potentially help a lot of Blackberry users get their old contacts back.

If you ever hear anyone talking problems related to their contacts, just point them to us *mycontactid / @intouchid / www.theintouchid.com

Lesson learned: Entrepreneurship is all about grabbing opportunities…

 

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Added on 15th Nov.’12:

Need your feedback!

We just launched our Blackberry app that finally frees your contacts! Access your contacts from anywhere and seamlessly move them to new or second device. Please download the app today and give us feedback: DOWNLOAD NOW or search for “IntouchId” app on AppWorld (ensure version shown is 0.3.0 or above)

 

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20 Comments

  1. sarang… i have this feeling i’m gonna be asking for your tee shirt size in the near future!

    great narrative. i could visualise the entire 24 hrs and feel the excitement build up!!!

  2. Ha ha! Yes, def want the t-shirt (paid or otherwise!). The main motivation behind the post was to show what entrepreneurship entails.

  3. Asha, you might need sarang’s help soon:)

  4. Nice post, yes indeed entrepreneurship is all about grabbing opportunities ( big or small ) Congratulations

    Thanks

    Sai

  5. Sarang,

    Awesome stuff. One of the best posts I have read here on Rodinhoods 🙂

    Another reason why it struck a chord was because I have a bb and an iphone. Have been too lazy to figure out a way to transfer my contacts from the bb to the ip. I am guessing your app will have a functionality to do that…requested an invite 🙂

    All the best.

    Cheers

    Abhik

  6. Hi Abhik,

    Yes, the app will have the functionality. We will be releasing the BB version shortly but the iPhone version will take a little bit longer! I will keep you posted.

    Sarang

  7. Thanks Sai.

  8. This is fantastic! 

    I have a HUGE stupid grin on my face while reading your note! 

    Thank you for sharing it 🙂

  9. Super!

    This gave me an idea to write about how i restarted my foray into the world of design, print & websites.

    Going to write it now.

  10. Awesome! that’s what a geek can do it his business…spin around things….

  11. Amazing post Sarang !!! That’s why I always say Entrepruner is born to take away pain rest of the things like earning money, setting up business falls in place.

  12. WOW – i have faced this issue so many times, specially the issue of duplicates in BB, great job done.

    Also now i have subscribed to your site – One trick i used to create my id at your site is to use your first name as reference and it worked ;-), now dont delete me for telling the truth and you want to fix this risk – wish you all the luck for your venture.

    Also since last few years I am looking forward for a simple web site with application to upload your important documents in indexed secured manner by clicking  document photos from your smart phones(e.g. ID proofs, IT docs, education, birth certificate, PAN, DL,  appointment letters etc) Please no dropbox reference, I am a great fan of simplicity. I am willing to fund and be co-founder if someone is willing to take on this project.

  13. Haha! thats smart! There is no risk.. you only get to see my public details till I decide to share more stuff with you 🙂

    Did you install our mobile app though? Which phone are you using?

    IntouchId is about sharing contact info right now, but in future, we might extend it to sharing any other information – for example, the documents you mention here. Store the docs in one place and then connect and share them securely!

  14. Abhik,

    Our BB app is out, please install it from the appworld. Look for “intouchid”. It will backup your contacts on our server. Once our iPhone app is out, you can install it to see your contacts on your iphone!

    Do give me feedback: sarang _at_ intouchid.net

  15. i am using BB….you need to really move fast – are you looking for help?

  16. Hi Sarang,

    Great post! 

    I have downloaded the Intouchid app on my Blackberry Torch 9800. However, certain issues have cropped up. Kindly let me how we can connect to talk about it. Kinda in a crisis, so please let me know ASAP.

    Thanks,

    Abhishek

  17. Hey Sarang, You got any idea about Desktop Syn for HTC 616. I am surprised to learn that HTC device don’t support Desktop Syn. I feel being handicapped and leaving in 1970.

    How could they not support Desktop Sync. Did they forget making a desktop sync. 

    Above all service is pathetic.!

  18. I don’t think any Android supports this. Where do you need contacts on the Desktop? If you need Outlook, we have an Outlook app now that keeps your contacts in sync between your phone & Outlook automatically – https://intouchapp.com/apps/outlook/ (Current live version supports one way sync to Outlook, but a new version due shortly will do full 2-way sync)

  19. Sarang, Samsung have a software called kites, it helps you syn with your desktop.

  20. It is called Samsung “Kies” Similarly HTC has for it’s phones the HTC Sync Manager had given you the link for the same on your post as well other 3rd party links for similar Managers not from the company as well so you can choose as per your requirement if any of them help resolve your posted issue.

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