Nokia adopts Microsoft's Windows Live suite

Nokia announced an agreement to adopt Microsoft's Windows Live services suite across its S60 device series, significantly expanding a fast-growing corporate relationship that already includes the handset giant's recent adoption of Microsoft's PlayReady DRM as well as last year's integration of the software kingpin's Live Search into the Nokia Mobile Search application. The deal promises Nokia customers in eleven countries with compatible S60 devices access to Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Contacts and Windows Live Spaces, enabling seamless movement between contacts, mail, messenger, phone calls, text messaging, camera, gallery and web browsing. The services will also be available to Nokia Series 40 device owners beginning in 2008.

According to Nokia and Microsoft, the Windows Live service will launch as a free trial, although customers in select markets may later be asked to pay a monthly fee. "The availability of Windows Live services for Nokia's devices demonstrates our commitment to delivering great mobile experiences and extending people's online lives--taking it from the PC to the device," said Steve Berkowitz, Microsoft's Online Service Business senior VP in a prepared statement. "The alliance will enable a much broader group of consumers to experience the benefits Windows Live has to offer, easily connecting them to the information and people that matter most from virtually anywhere."

For more on the Microsoft/Nokia deal:
- read this release

Related articles:
Nokia tops Smartphone Vendor Matrix
Nokia launches Open C Challenge
Microsoft launches Windows Mobile 6.0
Microsoft: "We're in the mobile business in a big way"