Can typical cell phones have their files (e.g. ringtones, stored photos) read/written via USB like a Flash drive?

You get an install CD for this very reason, some mobiles while connected to a computer shut-down during connection. You can also download the drivers from the phone manufacturers website if you don’t have a disk .

Aha! Thanks Sandy!

bitpim.org might be what you are looking for.

Ooh, thanks Kevbo.

Most “Smart Phones” all in my experience, can act as a HD when connected to the computer. My experience includes Nokia, BlackBerry, Sony Ericsson. Usually if you connect them without using the various desktop applications, they will appear as an external drive.

Thanks DarkScribe; that’s what I was hoping, though I’m now wondering whether it’s worth risking having the phone get stuck. But the site Kevbo listed looks like it may have or lead to specific info that might let me benefit from others’ experiences.