Nokia Mobile Data Suite 4.x Review

Overall Rating

Allows PC <-> Phone syncronisation,
Copy phone contents & settings to PC (files save as CSV),
Change phone settings,
Edit contacts, ringtones and logos.

20 MB download, Only for Windows.

I was looking for software to connect my Nokia 8310 to my PC so I could swap contacts and appointments from MS Outlook. I found this in Nokia's FREE Data suite.

The software has several components as part of its single install executable:

Content Copier
PC Wap manager
Phone Editor
PC Graphics editor
PC Ringtone Composer
Connection Manager

The phone connects to the PC using IrDA and appears under the 'Connection manager'.

The Phone Content Copier allows copying of ALL phone contents to PC, PC to phone, phone to phone. It is possible to read/write sections of the phone e.g. Phonebook, Messages, Settings. Files saved to PC are in the readable CSV spreadsheet format. The phone contents are saved as separate files such as 'phonebook.csv', 'messages.csv' and so on. A very good way of doing things as these are very easy to read using Excel and it's possible to import to PIM's such as Outlook.

The Syncronisation manager provides syncronisation with a PIM such as Outlook. I haven't played with this a great deal but it seems to do its job and sycronises calendar and contacts... Very business practical. I'm sure when I get an Ir port at work, this feature will become very useful.

Ringtone Composer allows the editing of ringtones, It has load and save features and again works reasonably well. Ringtones annoy me but I can see the appeal of this tool to kids.

The PC Graphics editor is a nice tool for the creating and editing of all sorts of logo's on the phone. It works quite well as logos created here can be saved on the phone and used in SMS messages. it can change the operator logos too (nice).

The PC Wap Manager is a bookmark and settings manager. It also works well allowing you to change all the settings and bookmarks again offering the ability to save to .csv. I like Nokia's use of standard file formats. It is much better that other software I've seen that uses their own format.

The Nokia Phone Editor is perhaps the jewel in this software collection as this tool offers Full control of the phone. You can add/remove contacts and messages in realtime reading and writing to the phone. It is also possible to save the SMS folders too thus allowing you to keep those amusing text messages that previously had to be deleted to make room for new ones.

Overall I couldn't ask for more in a software suite. It has all the key features and is very easy to use. Also it is Free and easily accessed although at 20mb it's a hefty download. I'd still give it a very high rating. A very impressive straightforward software collection.

Members' Comments onDuxxyuk.'s Review

• Strogoff. on 4th Dec 2002

  It's rubbish, doesn't work on my PC (Win ME). I used it with a cable instead of infra-red but anyway it's supposed to work and it doesn't => CRASH. Real free trash!

• kev. on 11th Dec 2002

  can any one help me I have got a nokia 3310 and I need some picture messages If any one has any can you plz send then to 07743534812

• rob. on 6th Mar 2003

  absolute rubbish,
  
  lost all my contacts, Would expect better from Nokia.... 20 meg of rubbish easy fixed if it had its own PIM any how got to find a way to get me numbers back.

• Andy. on 8th Apr 2003

  Although Nokia offer a lot for free, it is not of high quality and you do have to be careful with it.
  
  I would like it to be more flexible, for example it is hit and miss about which of your Outlook entries (eg addresses, multiple numbers) it copies to your phone and vice versa, and it is not easy to see exactly what is going on.
  
  But it is good for having peace of mind that your phone is fully backed up - and being able to type SMS is kind of neat!
  
  Is there any decent free ware out there that is any better?

• Tallyman. on 24th Apr 2003

  Agree that it's a good bit of software - I used the original as supplied with my 6210 a few years ago and then upgraded when newer version came out. Have had it installed on 98, ME and now XP with no problems - I know that there can be conflicts if users have somewhat 'iffy' software already on and ME is the worst OS out there. Data cable is the best method of connecting as IR can be a bit problematic. All components work well with no drawbacks. Have recently upgraded to polyphonic phone and am looking for comparable software so anyone know of any?

• hawk. on 10th Jun 2003

  Not so keen on this software- as it does not seem as polished as some of the other stuff out there, and I would expect more from Nokia. In terms of the new polyphonic phones- check out LogoManager for the SMS ability and phonebook management, but even better- MobiMB for transferrring colour logos, java games and polyphonic ringtones to and from the phone.

• Hoppy on 9th Sep 2003

  Oxygen Phone Manager II is a honey of a piece of software for managing Nokia mobile 'phones but it is expensive and I can't find a crack for it. The Nokia PC Suites are frustratingly basic and don't give much ability to change the 'phones settings through the computer. Download Oxygen II and get tempted http://www.opm-2.com/
  It's up to Version: 2.1.6 at the time of this writing.

• tallyman on 9th Sep 2003

  Nokia PC Suite 5 does everything that you should need to do and it's free with the phone (a 6100 in my case) or can be downloaded from Nokia's site. You can easily convert MIDI files to polyphonic and upload them, as well as uploading graphics and JAVA games. Contacts/appointments etc. are managed and can be integrated directly into Outlook. SMS is included to allow direct input/output from your PC. It even connects far more easily by IR than previous versions. Why spend extra when PC Suite does it all?

• hawk on 10th Sep 2003

  Check out:
  
  http://www.logomanager.co.uk/cat/details.php?product=51
  
  for the MobiMB, as I still feel that this has the edge on other software due to its ease of use with the simple 'drag and drop' idea, and if you contact their support, support@logomanager.co.uk, they reply quickly and efficiently- including giving loads of sites for free polyphonic ringtones, java games and colour logos if you have bought the MobiMB for 15.95 GBP.