With an eye on the on-going problems that a lot of people seem to be having with Alcatel’s entry-level music phone, the OT-E801, we asked the company if it could help out.
After reading through your comments, Alcatel has come back with the following advice for those who are still having problems with copying music to the phone (now more fashionably known as ’sideloading’). The main issues seem related to connecting the phone to the PC, and then with copying music to the phone and playing and listening to the tracks. Which is obviously a bit of a pain if you’ve bought the phone because you want to listen to music on it.
For the full info from Alcatel, hit the jump and read on.
1. Connecting the E801 to your PC
To put music onto your new E801 handset your computer should be equipped with Microsoft Windows XP or 2000. However if your computer has Windows 98 then a pilot is available for installation on the following website www.tctmobile.com
On the TCT Mobile homepage click on ‘TOOLS & GOODIES, SOFTWARE’, then use the scroll panel to find the E801 handset and click on the image. Here you will have the opportunity to install the Windows 98 driver.
2. Establishing a connection between E801 and USB port
Ensure that both the E801 handset and your computer are both switched on and the microSD card (delivered in the box or bought separately) is correctly positioned in the handset (for help please see user guide).
Plug the USB cable into the E801 handset and your computer. Using the settings menu on the E801 handset activate the USB connection. The computer should then recognize the E801 handset. If for some reason the connection is not correctly working please try another USB port on the computer (Pocket Picks note: for some reason, PCs sometimes recognise different USB ports in different ways — the one on the back of the box is often best).
The microSD card is considered as an additional disk and should be visible when PC connection has been completed.
If the connection is not possible please refer to user guide for hotline help phone numbers.
3. Playing and listening to music via the E801 ‘Music Earring’
Music on this handset can only be listened to via the headset provided.
The E801 handset plays MP3 songs ONLY (other music file such as WAV, AAC, etc, cannot be played), also please note that any MP3 stored on the Micro SD card cannot be used as a ringtone. The E801 music handset cannot download ringtones on the Micro SD card.
When the connection between the handset and PC has been correctly established a default folder named ‘MP3′ should be visible. If it is not there please create it. Copy and paste any songs that you want from your computer into the ‘MP3′ folder displayed — this will ensure that you can listen to tunes on your handset. Music cannot be played from any other folder therefore please do not create any other folder in an attempt to listen to music.
Certain MP3s are not compressed in the same way than a standard MP3, therefore if you have difficulty playing a particular a song this will most probably be the issue. In such a case, please download the ‘GB Converter’ from our web site www.tctmobile.com (menu ‘TOOLS & GOODIES, SOFTWARE’), then use the scroll panel to find the E801 handset and click on the image. Here you will have the opportunity to install the ‘GB Converter’ required for the handset.
For any additional information on how to read your MP3 songs please consult your Music Player User Guide manual (page 5).
This is great…..but it doesnt explain the ringtone issue
Glad you found it useful. What’s the ringtone issue? Alcatel says above that the phone can’t store ringtones on the microSD card. Is that what you’re trying to do?
well, that just about confirms everything I’d eventually found out already. Thanks for that. For me this is an excellent cheap mp3 player that I can also use as a phone.
its a nonsense fone . .
my only worry is if something happened to my earphones - is it easy to get replacement or other compatible earphones?
umm i have made a mp3 file but still having trouble lol,plz help thx
from sarah
What? So I now have the same crappy instructions but now on my computer screen.
how do i put ringtones on my alcatel OT-E801?
without downloading from extortionate sites?
is it easy to get replacement or other compatible earphones
e of alcatel E
looking for earphones as well. any clues which ones could work with this phone?
So has anyone found a suitable mini-usb to 3.5mm adapter? They exist for just about every phone out there, I’m really suprised no 3rd party has created one yet. It’s an easy cash-in.
From previous comments I can only assume the current ones advertised on ebay are not compatible with this Alcatel.
i thought i could download games on this phone but now it all appears to be useless,am not so impressed but still a beatiful phone
my screen displays micro-SD card error any time I press the music button
How can i put pictures on the phone???PLZ help me
i have this phone it ros i got like 2gb of songs on mine =] hope u get gud luk soon guys
I’ve got the Alcatel OT E805. I’m disappointed that I can’t use my MP3 files as ringtones but its still a great phone for the price. (Woolworth £24.95 inc £5 airtime) I bought a 2Gb micso SD card for £8 plus postage and have hundreds of songs on it. Pity you can’t create playlists but the sound is great.
help i accidently blocked my phone by puting the pin in wrong three times how can i unblock it
hello, i bought this phone in UK and i cannot use it in mauritius with the local sims, its asking for a NCK code, can i download ringtones and pictures on this phone? Can i use the mp3 files as ringtones? can i add more games? please help elvo_ukid@hotmail.com Worst phone i have used in my life..
If you bought it in the UK with a network SIM, it was probably locked to that UK network.
Nice, but for some reason when I try to activate the USB connection it says failed, I’ve plugged it into various ports in the computer and nothing has worked. As of yet I haven’t installed any alcatel software, may this be the problem.
ive got this phone for over 3 months and ive never had any freaking problem with it i even found a bypass to listen music through the main speaker and it sounds great but im off gotta go get some chips
I read in INQ website that they managed to use a 20 second mp3 into a ringtone, i tried cutting the mp3 file to 20 secs, yet i cannot find the converted file in the ringtone menu..So perhaps there is really no way of using an mp3 into a ringtone…I just Hope Alcatel considers this problem,and they would develop a software that could add more ringtones to the phone.It would really lessen out most of the complaints here. But with the mp3 player in this phone,i have to say it has good quality.Good sounds.. Thank you
Hi,
We have the basic E220-E225 Units. Can these be used in Majorca ( Spain ) and if so what is the tariff.
Many Thanks.
D.D.
Help! My earphones got screwed so I can no longer listen to music with the
OTE801. Does anyone know of any earphones that will work with this phone?
can i use mp3 as ringtone if not thatn how can i use mp3 as a ringtone ???
Plz anybody help me…………….
i could not find any info on the alcatel website or other internet pages explaining that an “mp3″ folder is used as the root directry in the phone. i now have the answer. since this phone is second hand it did not come with a user guide.but i now have the infomation i needed and i am listen to new tunes as we speak. Many Thanks pockets picks…
how do i create mp3 coping music to my phone
Alcatel phones have beauty but no brains
i have a problem with this phone.
when i put in tha micro-sd card(1GB) says “Micro-SD card errorâ€.
if i push the mp3player button more times, enjoy the music fine
but when i want to play next song , i got the message “no memory cardâ€
sometimes works, sometimes no , dont want to read the card:( any microsd card
is here a solution ? or some firmware ?
when i leave empty the phone, without card, i got the message “microsd card error†just after 7-10 seconds.
when i put in the card, i got the same message after 2-3 secconds ,(microsd card error) ;( i formatted the card , but no result
I’ll try to answer to some of your questions. Yes, it’s true mp3 player can only play mp3 format. It plays well but songs got to be in the mp3 folder on the MicroSD card. No, songs from the card can’t be used as ringtones or SMS tones, they can only be played by the MP3 Player and only through headphones. There are few software products to established contact between your phone and PC in order to download songs or wallpapers. As far as I know they don’t work with all computers (something to do with serial ports). Here are few exaples:MobTime, Kulankendi, Alcatel PCSuite, etc… I didn’t try them but I’ve heard some of them work only through the service cable (not USB included with the package). If somone has succeeded in transfering data between PC and E801 please share your experience.
how do i change the background of the phone?
I’m another struggler with the OTE801.
Most of the posted errors have appeared for me too.
My investigations suggest to me that the internal design is poor especially regarding the power/USB socket and the microSD port.
There are no fixes users can apply without invalidating the guarantee.
If the error message is “Micro SD card error” - guess what - the phone cant find the SD card! In my case this is because the socket is set too deep and only excessive external pressure (thumb) against the rubber SD port door will keep the SD card in place and connected.
If the error message is “USB not connected” - guess what - the phone can’t find the USB signal (check you have followed the operating book first - like turn things on first, charge the battery fully, disactivate any power saver). If you are sure your computer connexion is OK you will probably find like I did that the USB connector is making intermittent contact - it too is poorly manufactured in my opinion.
Finally the same fault will prevent the recharger from re-powering your battery! So you cant even use the phone!
The only solution is to repackage the thing, return it to the sales room and use the refund to buy a decent, reliable machine. I’d buy a pidgeon if I were you - it will carry messages without you worrying about ring tones and sound better than most mp3 tracks - all for the price of some bird seed.
Hi all,
Alcatel phones were good ones on the past, but no more,
they are a piece of shit now
I was happy with phone - mainly used it as mp3 player that accepted phone calls
However, now I’ve lost my earphones and can’t find compatible replacements, I am stuck with plain phone 
Any advice on sourcing earphones?
oh how stupid phone… i can’t even put pictures and download pictures.. or even ringtones for this phone.. wer can i download ringtones? please help me.. dark_bread_x@yahoo.com
help!
i already did those things and i had no problem putting mp3 files in the mp3 folder. however, whenever i try to play my music, i cant. the phone says “no valid mp3 present” but i’m sure i just placed an mp3 file. why won’t it work? help please please
i found a problem in my cell (ot-c825)display problem i am in india were should consult.Having showroom in india plz reply
comprei um aparelho dessa marca nas lojas ponto frio em juazeiro bahia apresentou defeito antes de completar dois meses de uso.fui ate aloja reclamar,lá fui orientada a lavar o meu celular a uma emprese autorizada pra que fosse solucionado o problema,mas des do dia vinte e sete de dezembro de dois mil e oito a empresa matriz tele com sitoada em petrolina pernambuco,não consertou alegando que a empresa alcatel não envia as peças pra realização do concerto.sentindo-me prejudicada exijo outro aparelho novo.
well i have got this phone but its a white 1 lol the case is broke and i have another phone, but thats dead too, all i have to say is dont buy this fone and dont buy lg kg130 either, i brought that fone and i charged it and i switched it off, try to switch it back on, that dont work either, tryed a different battery charger but dont work, having trouble finding a nother battry for it, i have aske around but every says it is hard to get now
so im going to buy another phone tomoz, and hopefully its will work.,
anyway take care, sorry if i have offended anyone,
Hi! (Sorry fo my bad english I had a hard day)
I have an another problem, but it is not connected to the mp3 files.
So when I switch on my phone, it has got a startup voice, altough I switched off this startup voice, in the setup.
This is not a big problem, I can live with it together
The main problem is that, the phone sometimes forsts, like the pc. (I can’t find the right expression).
It is very annoying, have somebody this problems too, and what is the solution?
Greetz!
i needs to get a NCK code for my Lg KG130 can ne1 help me on dis plzzzzzzz
ive seen this asked many times here but have yet to see an answer where can i get replacement headphones for my 801
oh and a little helper for some people the micro sd card that comes with the phone needs to be formated to fat/fat32
if you dont have a cardreader to do this and you live near pcworld and ask nicely they might just do it for you
and if not just look for one of there display machines and do it yourself :o}
wrong section dude try the lg kg130 section
been in contact with alcatel and all they said is find a shop that stocks there phones so that was realy helpfull of them
wrote back but explaining the problem in detail that if any shop had replacement headsets you would be able to find them on the net and as of yet i have not come across any at all now lets just sit back and see what happens now
i have lost my headset of e-801 so how and where can i get the compatible replacement of headset/ear phones for my E-801 plz help.
I can not use it as a modem.Plz try to help me.phone is nice but image cant put in.it is a boring one.