Hello again readers! Dear Berry is here once again with a mailbag full of BlackBerry questions and woes. Today's question comes from Alex who asks:

 I've been using the Q10 for a while, and am now in need of sending it in for service. During it's absence, I'll have access to pre-BB 10 devices, but no BB 10 ones (among other devices, I have a Bold 9900 I can use while it's out for repair). I am wondering if there's a way to transfer all the information (SMS, e-mails, BBMs, etc.) to the BB 7 device, as I seem to only be finding information on using device xfer wizard between pre-BB 10 devices, or pre-BB to BB 10, but nothing for having a BB 10 device as the source device.


Hi Alex,
 
For right now as I know you are looking to send your device in for repair, I wanted to give you a brief overview. As of now BlackBerry 10 data cannot be transferred to a BB7 smartphone using BlackBerry Link. You could synchronize your contacts and calendar to Microsoft Outlook on the PC or Mac through Link and then use Desktop Manager to synchronize back to the Bold 9900.
 
I have come up with alternatives if this is not an option for you. 

  • BBM's are controlled by your BBID, they should switch over when your log back in on the 9900. As of now conversations cannot be saved, only contacts and groups
  • For your contacts, are they synced with your Gmail account (or the cloud) on the Q10? If that is the case they can sync over to your 9900 as well
  • If they are not synced you can transfer your contacts over using Bluetooth from one device to another
  • If you have less than 250 contacts you could save the contacts to the SIM card and then restore them on the 9900 once you place your SIM in the slot 
    • On the Z10 go into the contacts app and swipe down from the top and go into Settings
    • Scroll to the bottom and select copy contacts from device to SIM card
    • Follow the instructions linked above about opening them on 9900
  • Use a last known backup on BlackBerry Protect on your 9900 to restore contacts, calendar, memos, tasks, browser bookmarks, and text messages
  • For emails, using your BIS login and password, using the carrier websites here, you can restore your personal email accounts.
  • I found an application that is compatible with both BB10 and BBOS to help make switching contacts easier. IntouchApp Contacts - Backup + Sync + Auto-update
  • You can save your texts using SMS Backup and then store them until your replacement device arrives

How to transfer contacts from the Z10 to 9900 via Bluetooth

  • Once they are paired go into the Contacts App
  • Press and hold on a contact to bring up the action menu and tap on Select More
  • Tap on all of the contacts you wish to transfer to your 9900
  • When complete tap on the share icon in the action menu
  • From the share menu scroll down to Bluetooth and choose this option in the list select your 9900 that was previously paired
  • On your 9900 tap on Yes to the dialog box that says "Accept connection from BlackBerry ****"
  • Once that is done go to the Files application on the 9900 and locate the business cards you sent via Bluetooth and tap on each one and select Add to Contacts 
  • They should now be on your 9900

I for one would like to see BlackBerry Link and the Device Switch app have the capability of switching both ways. However, until that day arrives there are multiple ways of going back and forth between the two in case something happens as it did in this case. The ones listed above are just a few ways in which you can do so. Of course, this does not count devices that are activated through their company's IT administrator.

Anyone have experiencing switching back and forth from legacy to BlackBerry 10? Let us know some of your tricks and tips in the comments below.

See you next time!

Have a question about BlackBerry etiquette? Need advice on how to cope with your BlackBerry addiction? Dear Berry has you covered and there's no question too big or problem too small. Submit any of your BlackBerry woes by email to [email protected] or on Twitter @DearBerryCB.

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