It looks like Microsoft has had a change of heart as of late and decided to play friendly with other mobile devices with the release of the beta version of their new Phone Data Manager software.

Aside from supporting Mobile Windows flavored devices, it’s likewise compatible S60 2nd and 3rd edition based phones making it a usefull tool in syncing with a variety of Nokia and Samsung devices. However, unlike the usual Nokia PC Suite, the Phone Data Manager stores all your contacts online with the use Windows Live Contacts which, in turn, means you’ll have to create a Windows Live account if you don’t already have one. The good thing about it is that, while it is necessary for you to have an internet connection, if ever your PC suddenly konks out on you, all your backed-up data will be saved and you can gain access to it once you can get connected to the internet again. Other files such as music, pictures and video are saved on the PC only for now, but who knows, maybe in the final version it will also have online support. Nevertheless, as good as it seems, it’s still not perfect. As compared to Nokia’s data sync software, the Phone Data manager does not allow you to save settings and messages. This is another thing we can look forward to if and when Microsoft decides to incorporate it.

Interested to try it out? Go ahead. It’s free to download, and while you’re at it, tell us what you think about it. Love it, hate it, we’d like to know.