Microsoft, the world's biggest software manufacturer and the world's number one mobile handset maker have joined forces in an effort to create solutions for Nokia mobile phones.
This agreement means that Microsoft Office Mobile, Sharepoint Server and Microsoft System Center will all become compatible with Nokia phones, and in turn the Symbian platform.
Office will soon be made available for a broad range of Nokia smartphones, starting with the company's messaging and productivity range, Eseries.
Nokia intends to start shipping Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile on its smartphones out of the box from 2010, but the suite of supported Office applications will expand over time.
In concrete terms, this deal allows for full viewing, editing, and creation of Office documents with mobile versions of Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft OneNote, full integration and support for the Exchange e-mail platform with Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile, access to internal and external portals with Microsoft SharePoint Server, as well as Enterprise device management with Microsoft System Center...all on Nokia phones!
Nokia's Executive Vice President for Devices, Kai Oistamo, is very optimistic about the move.
"If you are going to provide a seamless and integrated productivity experience on a mobile device, Microsoft is an ideal partner," said Oistamo. "Together with Microsoft, we will develop new and innovative user experiences for employees of small and large businesses alike, ensuring Nokia's smartphones are an integral part of the office and home-office environment, and addressing the significant opportunity in mobile enterprise productivity."
Why would these old time competitors join forces? Well, in the face of current events in the mobile industry, both companies are up against it... With Microsoft Office facing heavy competition from 'cloud' solutions like Google Docs and the mobile desktop on handsets and Nokia losing ground to BlackBerry and the iPhone in the smartphone sector, the alliance seems equal parts strategic and shrewd.
This partnership does stop short of any joint handset development, however, a potentially messy affair given the existence of Windows Mobile and Symbian as rival phone operating systems for many years.
Whilst we won't be seeing a Windows-powered Nokia E72 any time soon, this marriage of conveniece puts both companies in a very strong position to offer the complete mobile office experience.(http://darlamack.blogs.com)
Microsoft Office Coming To Nokia Phones
