.CDB File Extension

Symbian Phonebook Database

Developer	Nokia
Popularity	Average rating 3.7 / 5. Vote count: 18
Category	Database Files
Format	.CDB
Cross Platform	Update Soon

What is an CDB file?

The .CDB file extension stands for Symbian Phonebook Database. These files are used to store contact information on devices running the Symbian operating system, which was widely used in mobile phones before the proliferation of modern smartphone operating systems like Android and iOS.

More Information.

Symbian OS emerged in the late 1990s and became one of the leading mobile operating systems in the early 2000s. The .CDB file format was introduced as part of the Symbian system to handle the phonebook or contacts database. The purpose of these files was to store, manage, and retrieve contact information quickly and efficiently on the resource-constrained hardware of early mobile devices.

Origin Of This File.

The .CDB file format was developed for the Symbian OS, an operating system designed primarily for mobile phones. Symbian OS was originally created by Symbian Ltd., a joint venture between several major mobile phone manufacturers, including Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola, and Psion. The .CDB format was used to manage contact information efficiently on these devices.

File Structure Technical Specification.

The .CDB file is a binary file format, meaning it stores data in a format that is not directly readable by humans.

The structure of a .CDB file typically includes:

Header: Contains metadata about the file, such as version information and file size.
Record Index: Provides pointers to the locations of individual contact records within the file.
Contact Records: Each record contains fields for various contact details like names, phone numbers, email addresses, and other relevant information.

How to Convert the File?

Windows:

Nokia PC Suite:
- Install Nokia PC Suite on your Windows computer.
- Connect your Symbian device to the computer using a USB cable.
- Use Nokia PC Suite to export contacts from the .CDB file to a common format like VCF or CSV.
Third-Party Software:
- Search for third-party conversion tools that can directly convert .CDB files to formats like VCF or CSV.
- Download and install the software on your Windows computer.
- Use the software to convert the .CDB file to your desired format.

Linux:

Gammu/Wammu:
- Install Gammu and Wammu on your Linux system using your package manager.
- Connect your Symbian device to your computer via USB.
- Use Wammu to browse the contacts on your Symbian device and export them to a supported format like VCF.
Conversion Tools:
- Look for command-line tools or scripts specifically designed to convert .CDB files to formats like CSV or VCF.
- Follow the instructions provided with the tool to perform the conversion on your Linux system.

Mac:

Virtual Machine with Windows:
- Set up a virtual machine on your Mac using software like VirtualBox or VMware Fusion.
- Install Windows within the virtual machine.
- Install Nokia PC Suite or other Windows-based software capable of handling .CDB files.
- Connect your Symbian device to the virtual machine and use the software to convert the .CDB file to a compatible format.
Online Conversion Services:
- Search for online services that offer file conversion capabilities.
- Upload the .CDB file to one of these services and choose the desired output format (e.g., VCF or CSV).
- Download the converted file to your Mac.

Android:

Transfer and Convert:
- Transfer the .CDB file from your Symbian device to your Android phone via USB or other means.
- Use a file manager app on your Android device to locate the .CDB file.
- Use a third-party file conversion app from the Google Play Store to convert the .CDB file to a format compatible with Android contacts, such as VCF.
- Import the converted file into your Android contacts.
Symbian Emulator:
- Install a Symbian emulator app from the Google Play Store on your Android device.
- Use the emulator to access the .CDB file on your device.
- Depending on the emulator’s capabilities, you may be able to export contacts to a more universal format like VCF.

iOS:

Convert and Import:
- Transfer the .CDB file from your Symbian device to your computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux).
- Use conversion software on your computer to convert the .CDB file to a format compatible with iOS contacts, such as VCF.
- Import the converted file into your iCloud account using the Contacts app on your computer.
- Enable iCloud contacts syncing on your iOS device to import the contacts.

Others:

Conversion Tools:
- Search for online or offline conversion tools that support the conversion of .CDB files to widely-used formats like VCF or CSV.
- Follow the instructions provided by the tool to convert the .CDB file on your preferred platform.

Advantages And Disadvantages.

Advantages:

Efficiency: Designed for quick access and efficient storage of contact information on mobile devices.
Integration: Seamlessly integrated with the Symbian OS, providing a smooth user experience.
Compactness: Optimized for the limited storage capacity of early mobile devices.

Disadvantages:

Proprietary Format: Being a proprietary format tied to Symbian OS, it lacks compatibility with other operating systems and software.
Obsolescence: As Symbian OS has become obsolete, so has the .CDB file format, making it difficult to access or convert data stored in these files.
Limited Flexibility: The binary format can be difficult to work with outside of its intended environment.

How to Open CDB?
Open In Windows
Nokia PC Suite: A software suite that allows you to manage contacts, messages, and other data on Symbian phones.
File Conversion Tools: Convert the .CDB file to a more common format using third-party software, then open it with standard applications.

Open In Linux
Gammu/Wammu: Open-source software for managing contacts and messages on mobile devices, which may support Symbian phones.
Conversion Tools: Use available command-line tools or scripts to convert .CDB files to a more accessible format like CSV.

Open In MAC
Nokia PC Suite via Virtual Machine: Running Nokia PC Suite in a Windows virtual machine.
Online Conversion Services: Upload the .CDB file to an online service that can convert it to a different format.

Open In Android
Transfer and Convert: Transfer the .CDB file to a computer, convert it to a VCF file, then import the contacts to your Android device.
Symbian Emulator: Use a Symbian emulator app to access the .CDB file, though such emulators may be limited and less reliable.

Open In IOS
Convert and Import: Convert the .CDB file to VCF or CSV on a computer, then import the contacts into iCloud, which will sync with your iOS device.

Open in Others
Conversion: Convert the .CDB file to a more universally accepted format like VCF or CSV, which can then be imported into the contact management system of the device or software you are using.