Microsoft has signaled the initial stages of an initiative designed to bring the Windows Live Mobile Messenger free ride to an end, for users of Nokia phones running the Symbian operating system. Namely, the Redmond company has debuted Direct Consumer billing for Windows Live Mobile Messenger users on Symbian phones. As a direct consequence of the new monetizing strategy focused on the instant messaging client for the Symbian operating system, users started receiving trial periods notices.
"Hello! Starting today, your 30 day trial period beings. By selecting OK you acknowledge that your use of Windows Live services continues to be subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Statement. Data charges from your mobile operator, including roaming fees may apply for using the Windows Live Services. At the conclusion of this trial, you will be given the option to purchase a 30 days pass", read the message sent to users.
However, although the Direct Consumer billing is associated only with Windows Live Mobile Messenger for Nokia, Windows Mobile users also got notices for their copies
of the IM client. Matt Champagne, Director of Windows Live Mobile Services, confirmed the fact that users in Sweden, UK, Spain, France, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, Austria and Switzerland, will start being billed for using Windows Live Mobile Messenger, as the new monetizing strategy rolls out between January and June 2008. But, Champagne also revealed that Microsoft was in fact considering to do the same with Windows Mobile users.
Jason Langridge, Senior Marketing Manager, Mobile and Embedded Devices Division, while explaining that Windows Mobile users should have not got the notifications, failed to deliver an insight on the Redmond company's plans regarding its Windows operating system for mobile phones. With Windows Mobile 6, Windows Live Mobile Messenger ships as a default component (via Windows Live). Users feel that they've already paid for the platform and that they should not have to give extra money for using the instant messaging client.
The move does not affect the desktop version of Windows Live Messenger. But unlike the desktop IM client that is ad-supported, Mobile Messenger does not drive any revenue for Microsoft. Therefore, it's highly probable that the Redmond company will also start billing Windows Mobile users for Windows Live Mobile Messenger, just as is the case with Nokia - Symbian.
"This week we rolled out a direct-to-consumer billing service for the Windows Live client on select Nokia S60 handsets in Sweden and the UK. Although we are considering doing the same at a future time for Windows Mobile, this has not yet been implemented. Windows Mobile customers shouldn't have seen any notifications of a 30-day trial and we are working to correct this. Traditionally, customers have been billed by their mobile operators for many of these services, either directly or through their data package", Langridge stated.
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