Microsoft and Nokia join forces

Microsoft, the worldÔÇÖs largest software maker, and Nokia, the biggest mobile phone maker, have signed an agreement to put Microsoft Office and instant messaging services onto Nokia smartphones.  The tie-up, which is effective immediately, is designed to take on Canadian firm Research in Motion, which makes the Blackberry, currently the market leader in smartphones. It is also intended to boost the profile of Office, which is facing stiff competition from rival products by firms such as Google. Microsoft Business Division president Stephen Elop said of the deal: "With more than 200 million smartphone customers globally, Nokia is the world's largest smartphone manufacturer and a natural partner for us. "Today's announcement will enable us to expand Microsoft Office Mobile to Nokia smartphone owners worldwide and allow them to collaborate on Office documents from anywhere, as part of our strategy to provide the best productivity experience across the PC, phone and browser." Espoo, Finland-based Nokia and Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft will also collaborate on other projects such as conferencing software. Microsoft applications will begin appearing on Nokia phones next year. A value on the deal has not yet been disclosed. Nokia's executive vice president for Devices Kai Oistamo commented: "If you are going to provide a seamless and integrated productivity experience on a mobile device, Microsoft is an ideal partner. ÔÇ£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." * ┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á*┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *