14 DAY TRIAL // Nokia, via its Beta Labs website, announced the release of Nokia Text Messenger for Windows Vista, a gadget that enables users to view their latest SMS messages and send new ones from the Vista sidebar. This means that Nokia owners who also have PCs with Vista on them will have from now on a quick and convenient way to read and send text messages, without having to use their phones.
All you need to run Nokia Text Messenger is a Vista PC with Nokia's PC Suite version 6.85 or later. PC Suite works on both Vista 32-bit and Vista 64-bit, so basically any Vista user can install it. The latest version of PC Suite can be downloaded from Nokia, by accessing this address.
If you already have PC Suite, you can download Nokia Text Messenger from the Nokia Beta Labs website, found at this address. The application is free, of course, and it should work on all Nokia devices compatible with PC Suite (about all the latest Nokia phones, including all the Eseries and all the Nseries handsets).
When the installation of Nokia Text Messenger is complete, right-click the Vista sidebar area and select "Add Gadgets" from the menu. A window with all the available gadgets will appear, and all you have to do is double-click on "Nokia Text Messenger" and the gadget will be added to your sidebar.
Nokia Text Messenger for Vista can be used in two sizes. Those who want to place it in their Windows sidebar can choose the application in a smaller size (the gadget will allow the viewing of three text messages at a time). For the larger version of Nokia Text Messenger just drag the application from the sidebar to the main desktop area - after that it can float freely on the desktop, displaying the messages in groups of five.
Unfortunately for Windows XP users, the new gadget is only for Vista. However, Nokia could make an XP version too (which would be cool, since XP is more used than Vista) and maybe even a Mac one, for the non-Windows people.