Nokia And Microsoft Aim To Unify Messaging On Smartphones
Isn't it so great to see two industry rivals putting aside their differences and coming together? Not so if you're talking about LiveNation and TicketMaster, but in this case, we're willing to make an exception. Microsoft and Nokia have joined up in order to debut Microsoft Communicator Mobile for Nokia Devices, a new application designed to greatly enhance mobile productivity on Nokia phones.
What's interesting is that Microsoft has three distinct mobile platforms of their own to manage (Windows Mobile 6.x, KIN, and Windows Phone 7), yet their innovating for Nokia. Not that this unheard of; Microsoft also makes Office for Mac! The new unified communications client connects directly with a company’s communications systems to streamline mobile collaboration, with availability being "now" for Symbian-based Nokia phone owners who visit the Ovi Store.
Communicator Mobile enables people to see their colleagues’ availability and click to communicate with them using the best method, from instant messaging and e-mailing to texting and making a phone call. This all ties into the greater synergy between communications protocols; people are now having to check voicemails, IMs, Tweets, Facebook messages, phone calls and e-mails. No one wants to do all of that, so a unified view makes some level of sense, particularly for heavy business users. The names and statuses 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 this past August — which was the first time either company had embarked on an agreement of this scope and nature. Today, the app can be downloaded for the Nokia E72 and E52, and Nokia plans to get Communicator Mobile for Nokia pre-installed on select Nokia smartphones in the future, not to mention expanding it to be used on more existing phones.
What's interesting is that Microsoft has three distinct mobile platforms of their own to manage (Windows Mobile 6.x, KIN, and Windows Phone 7), yet their innovating for Nokia. Not that this unheard of; Microsoft also makes Office for Mac! The new unified communications client connects directly with a company’s communications systems to streamline mobile collaboration, with availability being "now" for Symbian-based Nokia phone owners who visit the Ovi Store.
Communicator Mobile enables people to see their colleagues’ availability and click to communicate with them using the best method, from instant messaging and e-mailing to texting and making a phone call. This all ties into the greater synergy between communications protocols; people are now having to check voicemails, IMs, Tweets, Facebook messages, phone calls and e-mails. No one wants to do all of that, so a unified view makes some level of sense, particularly for heavy business users. The names and statuses 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 this past August — which was the first time either company had embarked on an agreement of this scope and nature. Today, the app can be downloaded for the Nokia E72 and E52, and Nokia plans to get Communicator Mobile for Nokia pre-installed on select Nokia smartphones in the future, not to mention expanding it to be used on more existing phones.
