MICROSOFT and Nokia have announced a partnership to bring advanced business software to smartphones in a bid to rival the popular Blackberry device.
The alliance between the world's biggest software firm and the largest mobile phone maker means the latest online versions of Microsoft's Office suite of applications, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint, will be available on a range of Nokia handhe
ld devices.
Phones made by Finland-based Nokia will also work with Microsoft's unified communications system, which brings together internet-based phones, instant messaging, e-mail and online conferencing for a company's employees.
The move aims to counter the dominance of the Blackberry, owned by Research in Motion (RIM).
The two companies, at one time fierce rivals in the mobile telecommunications business, expect to offer Nokia phones running Office sometime next year, targeting the lucrative market for business users.
Nokia executive vice president Robert Andersson said: "This is giving some of our competitors – let's spell it out, RIM – a run for their money. I don't think BlackBerry has seen the kind of competition we can provide."
The alliance may also counter Google's recent move into free online software, which has been targeted at Microsoft's business customers.
John Jackson, an analyst at CCS Insight, said: "It makes sense for these two companies to work together."
