The Hindu Business Line : Microsoft, Vodafone form tie-up for messaging service

BARCELONA: Vodafone and Microsoft on Tuesday announced they would work together to deliver an enhanced co-branded and seamless Instant Messaging (IM) service that can be accessed from both the PC and mobile phone. This would provide a next generation mes saging service based on the Windows Live Messenger platform.

The new IM service will provide millions of customers with enhanced communication opportunities and will be launched in select European markets later this year.

This would mean that customers will be able to use the address book functionality and see the "presence" of their messenger contacts and exchange messages when these contacts are either on their PC or mobile devices.

The co-branded Instant Messenger experience will be available on wide range of Vodafone consumer handsets, including those on the Windows Mobile platform, bringing together customers of other mobile network operator IM networks

"Microsoft and Vodafone are working together to enhance messaging between mobile phones and PCs, ultimately delivering a richer experience to customers," said Brian Arbogast, corporate vice president of the Windows Live Developer and Communications Platform group at Microsoft Corp. "By way of this launch, we are expanding our customers' ability to make smart communication choices and connect instantly via IM to the people they care about most whether they are on their phone or on their PC."

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