Microsoft Exchange Mobile for Nokia debuts

"The vitality of the joint strategic alliance between Microsoft and Nokia comes from being established on their top capabilities of advanced technical capacity, wide geographic presence and the largest clients' segment among both IT and handset clients, as a fact gives the two companies a leading role in providing solutions understand the users' changing business needs and demands of their lives". Mr. Samir Noman President of Microsoft Arabia said during a press conference held in Riyadh to announce the launch of new services and attended by Mr. Imran Mahmood, Nokia GM and a pioneer group of local media outlets' representatives.

"Microsoft seeking through this new alliance and its new services to continue supporting the business sector with the most integrated IT productivity solutions, available to mobiles devices, computers and browsers" Mr. Noman emphasized.

"Adapting the new concept of mail exchange solutions through more that 66 categories of Nokia's devices just costs the price of a new mobile device, as companies are not in need to invest in establishing their IT infrastructure to adapt the new services provided by Microsoft and Nokia, which will lead companies to achieve higher levels of competitiveness of the added value services for enterprises, companies and individuals" Mr. Noman added.

"Mobile is a big trend today, and mobile productivity is one of the biggest opportunities and challenges for businesses today. Direct access is proving more and more successful, and as we move from messaging to other areas like document sharing, meeting collaboration and device management we expect the benefits and synergies to multiply exponentially," said Mr. Mahmood. Delivering a quality, reliable product for enterprise is the first priority, and we feel confident that we have achieved this with Communicator Mobile for Nokia," Mr. Mahmoud added.

"This application really provides a much more efficient way to work with others as you can see if someone is busy or available, and the best way to start a conversation with them," says Mr. Mahmoud. "It also meets all of the requirements for enterprise: cost effective to implement, secure, familiar and reliable."

Microsoft Exchange Mobile for Nokia devices supported by Microsoft Communicator, Office Mobile and SharePoint Mobile enable people to see their colleagues' availability, and click to communicate with them using the best method, from IM to email, text to phone call. The names and status of colleagues are embedded directly into the devices' contacts application, enabling people to update their own presence, start and join instant messaging sessions, and begin calls directly from the contact card.

The launch is the first product from the alliance - announced last August - which was the first time either company had embarked on an agreement of this scope and nature. Since then, the two companies have been collaborating on the design and development of new solutions, as well as embarking on joint marketing efforts around others they already share.

This new applications, available initially for Nokia E72 and Nokia E52, adds to the work Nokia is already doing in optimizing direct access to email and other personal information with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync. The companies plan to deliver Communicator Mobile for Nokia pre-installed on select Nokia smartphones in the future and plan to support additional devices, including the recently announced Nokia E5.