OTB to CUR Converter

OTB to CUR conversion — modern image format in seconds

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Lightning Fast

OTB files are small and convert to CUR in seconds. The cloud-based engine handles the transformation quickly so you can download right away.

Browser-Based Tool

No software to download — convert OTB to CUR entirely in your web browser. Works on any device with an internet connection.

Privacy Protected

Your OTB files are deleted immediately after conversion to CUR. Converted files are automatically removed from servers within 24 hours.

How to convert OTB to CUR

1

Select files from Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, URL or by dragging it on the page.

2

Choose cur or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your cur file right afterwards

About formats

OTB (Over-the-Air Bitmap) is a monochrome image format developed by Nokia as part of their Smart Messaging specification in 1997, designed for transmitting small graphics — operator logos, group graphics, and picture messages — to Nokia mobile phones via SMS. OTB files contain 1-bit (black and white) images at small fixed resolutions, typically 72x14 pixels for operator logos and 72x28 pixels for group graphics, encoded in a compact binary format suitable for embedding within the payload of SMS text messages. The format uses a simple structure: a header byte indicating whether the image is an operator logo or group graphic, width and height values, and the raw bitmap data where each bit represents one pixel packed eight per byte. The extremely tight format — designed to fit within a single SMS message (140 bytes maximum payload, shared with addressing overhead) — reflects the severe constraints of mobile communication in the late 1990s. Nokia's Smart Messaging system was one of the first commercial implementations of rich content delivery to mobile phones, and OTB images represented the entire visual content capability of Nokia handsets before MMS and mobile data browsing arrived. One advantage is the format's historical role as a pioneer of mobile visual messaging: OTB images were among the first graphics that ordinary consumers could send to each other's phones, predating MMS, camera phones, and smartphones by nearly a decade. The format's minimal footprint is another characteristic — entire images fit in a few dozen bytes, reflecting an era of extreme bandwidth constraints. OTB files are supported by ImageMagick, various Nokia phone management tools, and specialty mobile format utilities.
Developer: Nokia
Initial release: 1997
CUR is the cursor image format for Microsoft Windows, structurally nearly identical to the ICO (icon) format but with the addition of a hotspot coordinate that identifies the precise pixel position where mouse clicks register. Introduced with early Windows versions, CUR files use the same container structure as ICO: a directory header listing one or more image entries, each specifying dimensions and color depth, followed by the pixel data for each variant. Like ICO, a single CUR file can contain multiple images at different sizes and color depths, allowing Windows to select the most appropriate cursor image for the current display resolution and color settings. Image data within CUR files can be stored as BMP pixel arrays (for legacy compatibility) or as embedded PNG images (supported since Windows Vista) for alpha-blended cursors with smooth edges. The hotspot coordinate — the distinguishing feature separating CUR from ICO — is stored as an X,Y pair in the directory entry header, typically pointing to the tip of an arrow or the center of a crosshair. One advantage is multi-resolution packaging: a single CUR file provides appropriate cursor imagery across display densities from standard DPI to high-DPI screens. Native Windows integration is another strength — CUR files are loaded directly by the operating system for mouse cursor display without any third-party software. CUR files are used by application developers and theme creators to customize the pointing experience across Windows environments.
Developer: Microsoft
Initial release: 1987

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert OTB to CUR?

Few modern tools handle OTB natively. CUR provides cursor image format for Windows, making it widely recognized across operating systems and applications.

What programs open CUR files?

Open CUR using Windows cursor editor, IrfanView, GIMP, RealWorld Cursor Editor. Cross-platform support means you can access these files on virtually any system.

Can I convert multiple OTB files to CUR at once?

Convertio supports batch mode — drag in multiple OTB files and they all convert to CUR together, which is much faster than one-by-one.

Does converting OTB to CUR affect quality?

Quality is maintained to the extent CUR supports. Since OTB is an Over-The-Air bitmap format for early Nokia phones, the visual data transfers cleanly to CUR.

What exactly is the OTB format?

OTB (Over-The-Air bitmap format for early Nokia phones) originated in Nokia mobile phones. It has very limited modern application support but can be converted to modern formats on Convertio.