After reading a couple of other mobile forum post, they seem to agree with my findings that some micro USB cables do not work to charge and/or data connect properly with phone. I discovered this myself after purchasing 3 brand new cables and realizing that they do not work with my galaxy cooper. The appear new and unopened, and it seemed to charge the phone on initial test (plug it in laptop, and battery indicator shows charging) or just plug it into phone to verify correct fit. But this is not enough. You discover that the USB phone connection will not connect to laptop. You find yourself holding it at just the right angle to get lucky. And what you though was charging, NOPE, 3 hours later, the batterycharge is exactly where you left it. You think maybe the port is broken, but you check another known-to-work cable and data/charging works correctly everytime

So the best approach would be to bring the laptop and/or charging adapter with you to verify the cable works at the shop? I learned a trick that works with the samsung galaxy ace/cooper and I imagine other phones as well. Turn OFF the phone and then connect the cable to phone. Make sure the other end is connected to laptop or usb charging adapter. If the phone indicates charging condition while the phone is off, it should work properly when phone is on also. I tested the 3 cables that didnt work this way and saw that none of them charged the phone via usb adapter or laptop conection when phone was off. The "known" good usb cable worked no problems.

Are there any brand cables that people here know will *usually* work with most smartphones for data/charging? My old samsung-brand cable that came with the phone worked like a charm, even though it was thinner. I never really had this problem with the mini-usb cable, only micro-usb. The mini-usb cable can sometimes not connect an external, non-powered hard drive if it is too thin, even though it fits the slot ok.

I found that problem as well. Best to buy Samsung cables for Sammy phones, etc etc. They seem to be wired slightly differently.

I think it is likely a manufacturing defect if the cable doesn't work. I have one each from Samsung, Nokia, Motorola and a Kindle and they all work fine. I use whichever one happens to be in reach.

I think it is likely a manufacturing defect if the cable doesn't work. I have one each from Samsung, Nokia, Motorola and a Kindle and they all work fine. I use whichever one happens to be in reach.

The 3 that didnt work were bought new from some electronics shop (not specializing in cell phones). The other crd that did work was for my mifi device

Before the micro USB cables became pretty much the standard, I did have problems with the mini USB cables bought from shops or ones that came with cheap devices. I threw several of them away. The ones that came with my Garmin GPS units have never been a problem and will work with anything that uses the minis.

Before the micro USB cables became pretty much the standard, I did have problems with the mini USB cables bought from shops or ones that came with cheap devices. I threw several of them away. The ones that came with my Garmin GPS units have never been a problem and will work with anything that uses the minis.

It turns out that the tesco-branded one or the one they sell in tesco (UFO) worked perfectly. Funny as the shop I bought two of the non-working ones normally sells excellent equipment like blank DVDs, spare cables, spare remote controls, etc, although not a phone specialty store. That was the only reason why i bought a second one from the same store; gave them the benefit of the doubt. Tesco was right upstairs, too. The Big-C / tesco cords are generally great quality. And you can always "take it back" if in fact it didn't work. I didn't think you could could go wrong with a micro-usb cord.