any software out there that does what data pilot does for the LG4400

Data Pilot has limited functionalities to interface with the phone. The whole idea is that for downloadable ringers and wallpapers are supposed to be coming from the carrier. Remember that the the way carriers make their revenues is thru the services they provide such as Get it Now, VM, Text alerts etc. Each of these are small dollar amounts, i.e. $2.00, $3.99 etc. but when multiplied by the number of subscribers performing these downloads or adding to their accounts, it is enormous money (in the millions).

 

If you're able to connect (and it sounds like you are) to the phone with the cable using DataPilot, then I doubt it's the cable.

Did you have to install drivers with DataPilot? When you were trying to run BitPim did you download and install the Prolific_USB_Drivers? That would be my first assumption....

I followed these instructions from the Yahoo Group and had no problems whatsoever...He wrote his instruction from the Windows ME point of view, but I'm on XP and it still worked like a charm.

I use the FutureDial cable from RadioShack. I'm really not sure that it would make a difference....But anything is possible.

 

Carriers really aren't making revenue from these services....yet. This is really still a very new area for carriers and it appears to be (and they're trying to make it) the future revenue maker. However, the vast majority of cellular users still have no interest nor use any SMS, WAP, or GIN.

Carriers are still in a learning process figuring out how to create a demand at an attractive price for these services...But that fact remains, 90% of cell users are going to place the 1 min. call rather than tap their keypad 60 different times and then 10 minutes later send off their quick "I'm on my way home."

Personally...I think GIN is a very new, and attractive service. However...There are only a couple high end phones that it will work on, and the pricing structure definitely needs work. Not only does it take up your minutes to download a game you're going to have to pay for anyway, but the subscription basis prinicple (IMHO) is ludicrous. Take Accuweather for example...Very cool service, however I would have to pay $2.99 a month to access the information, on top of my air time charges....That evens out to $36 a year (and however many minutes) to access the same information I can get from turning on the radio....Or even using the WAP service where I only have to pay minutes.

A lot of potential with GIN, but it's still in it's infancy....

 

Exactly, more the reason that they would like to limit the ability of the end user to perform other functionalities with 3rd party services and accessories. phone manufacturers would like to add games and other capabilities but there is a question of cost to the product so they build applications that are compatible with the device and make the device look like it can perform more functions.