14 DAY TRIAL // Vodafone announced it has signed an agreement for software development with Microsoft, whose aim is to enable the fast and cost-effective rollout of new services on mobile phones.
As part of the agreement, Vodafone and Microsoft will cooperate to ensure that Vodafone applications and services are tightly integrated with Windows Mobile, resulting in improved mobile phone functionality and an enhanced mobile experience for customers. The Microsoft platform will complement Vodafone's existing terminal platform portfolio.
Through the use of Windows Mobile, Vodafone expects an increase in the range of applications and content created for mobile phones. The partnership will also enable Vodafone to access Microsoft's expertise to help speed up convergence between mobile devices and computers. Additionally, it is expected to reduce time to market for new products and encourage customers to new services.
"We are very pleased with Vodafone's decision to adopt Windows Mobile as a preferred software platform for its mobile business," said Suzan DelBene, Corporate Vice President of Marketing, Mobile and Embedded Devices Division, Microsoft. "Together we will deliver services which we expect will help Vodafone achieve cost-efficiencies, while delivering new propositions to its customers, thus making Windows Mobile an even more compelling platform."
Over the next five years, Vodafone expects to focus on supporting three standard terminal platforms: Microsoft Windows Mobile, Symbian/S60 and Linux. The first device to use the software produced under the agreement is planned to be launched by Samsung in the first half of 2007.