Orange cellphones get access to Windows Live Messenger

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 19 October 2006 18:55

Your IT - Home IT

Orange and Microsoft have struck a deal under which Orange's 135 million European cellphone customers will be able to exchange instant messages with the 240 million Windows Live Messenger IM users around the world.

The service, accessible from either an Orange mobile or a PC, will provide customers with a connection to all the Orange portal services: Emails, blog, ring tones, logos and 'today's page', as well as access to the Windows Live services. The PC application can also generate PC-to-PC free VoIP calls, video calls and send SMS.

The two companies claim that "This is the first time that two leading software and telecommunications companies have joined forces to offer an instant messaging service that can be accessed from both PC and mobile devices, and is marketed under their respective brands."

The service will be deployed in France in December followed by the UK and Spain in early 2007, and the two companies intend to expand their collaboration to offer Video over IP, multiparty videoconferencing, and other services to PC users and, for cellphone users, interoperability with other mobile operators, SMS service continuity and 3G videoconferencing.

Announcement of the service follows the formation, in July 2005, of a strategic alliance between France Telecom/Orange and Microsoft for the co-development of multimedia products and services for the combined audiences of both companies.

Market researcher, Ovum, said the deal was a good move for both parties. "This is a major move by Orange on the messaging front. Its in-house instant messaging service 'Orange Messenger' has been up and running for several years already, but was open only to Orange's mobile and Internet customers...It's been clear for some time that the “walled garden” model is not suitable for instant messaging.

"With this deal, both Microsoft and Orange bring significant value to their customers. MSN is the biggest IM community in France. MSN Messenger on mobile is already achieving good success in Bouygues Telecom's i-mode service."

However Ovum had reservations about the pricing model, which has not been announced (Orange said only that the service would have "a pricing policy that will be adapted to instant messaging"). "The pricing model on mobile phones will determine how attractive the service really is for the customers. We believe Orange could introduce unlimited usage subscriptions, in line with its recent introduction of mobile TV and sport content subscriptions."