14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft Corp. and Gemalto announced today at the Mobile World Congress a partnership to bring Windows Live Messenger services to mobile phone users. The two companies announced that a new Windows Live Messenger client application would be offered to the mass market pre-installed on phone Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards. The new application, developed by Gemalto, is called SIMessenger and is the first instant messaging SIM client solution to be certified by Microsoft.
Gemalto’s SIMessenger is meant to allow users to stay connected with their Windows Live Messenger contacts in an easy manner directly from their handsets. SIMessenger's intuitive menu enables users to access their Windows Live Messenger environment, while providing a similar experience to that delivered by the desktop PC application. Moreover, the new SIMessenger is automatically launched when the handset is switched on, so that users will be able to chat immediately.
“Through our alliance with Gemalto, we are able to greatly expand the reach of the Windows Live Messenger experience on mobile to new markets and more consumers,” said Tom Bailey, senior director of product management for Windows Live for Mobile services. “SIMessenger will enable the masses to easily use the popular Windows Live Messenger to communicate with the people they care about while on the go.”
The user-friendly interface of SIMessenger can also offer quick and easy navigation, while providing users with the same familiar messaging service while on the go. Currently, there are three mobile phone operators that managed to successfully deploy the SIMessenger: Oi in Brazil, Personal S.A. in Argentina and Movistar in Peru. The company also announced that it had delivered about 5 million SIM cards that include the Windows Live instant messaging application.
“Worldwide, people who own a mobile phone widely outnumber those who have Internet access,” added Philippe Vallée, executive vice president of the Telecommunications Business Unit at Gemalto. “With more than 320 million active Windows Live Messenger accounts worldwide, combined with 3.6 billion SIM cards currently in use, there is strong growth potential for SIMessenger, and Gemalto is proud to join forces with Microsoft to make messaging available to all.”