14 DAY TRIAL // A series of Microsoft applications designed to help mobile phone users be productive will soon make an appearance on handsets powered by the Symbian Belle operating system.
Given the recently announced collaboration between Microsoft and Nokia, it does not come too much as a surprise that the two have finally decided to make this step, that's for sure.
The new software will arrive on Nokia's mobile phones under the name of Microsoft Apps, and will include business productivity tools for all Symbian Belle users.
All these applications are expected to become available for end-users starting with the fourth quarter of the ongoing year, and will be delivered to them in the form of an update.
As soon as they will download the software, users will be able to enjoy the following apps: - Microsoft Lync 2010 Mobile – for cost efficient IM, presence, audio and web meetings on-the-go.
- Microsoft PowerPoint Broadcast – quick broadcast of presentations directly from PC to mobile.
- Microsoft OneNote – rich note taking with images. Syncs with Microsoft SkyDrive.
- Microsoft Document Connection – single view to documents stored on mobile, including email attachments as well as documents on Microsoft SharePoint 2010 sites.
But there's more to it, as the two companies plan the release of a second update for Symbian Belle devices, which should add more apps into the mix.
The update will arrive in early 2012 and will include:
- Microsoft OneNote sync with SharePoint (in addition to SkyDrive)
- Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint as native applications (the first time they arrive as such outside the Windows Phone platform). Nokia also announced that this is only one of the enhancements it plans on bringing to Symbian, and that 2012 will come with more software updates in the area, as well as with brand new mobile phones being launched on the market.
“Symbian is hugely important to our future ambitions and this latest announcement is just another example of the role that Symbian will play,” the company explains.