Microsoft expand into Latin American mobile search market with Telefónica.
By Andrew Redfern @ 13th February 2008 10:00 am
It seems the big players are falling over themselves to get into this area :
Continuing their mutual commitment to provide customers with a convenient way to stay in touch with people and information, Microsoft Corp. and Telefónica SA, one of the leading integrated operators in the world, today announced that Telefónica has agreed to adopt Windows Live services for mobile phones for all of Telefónica’s Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)-based handsets in 12 countries in Latin America, specifically those in which Telefónica operates its cellular services under the brand Telefónica movistar. Customers of Telefónica movistar throughout Latin America will have access to Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live Spaces from their phone, enjoying one of the leading instant message, Web mail and communications services worldwide.
Initial Windows Live Services are already available for Telefónica cellular customers in Argentina and Chile, and for Vivo customers in Brazil, and will soon be launched in a phased approach across the rest of the countries. The 12 countries that benefit from this relationship are Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
“Microsoft’s alliance with Telefónica will enable a much broader group of consumers to experience the benefits that Windows Live has to offer, providing easy access from virtually anywhere,” said Matt Champagne, director of product management of the Mobile Communications Business for Microsoft. “Our partnership allows us to extend the value of our key services to customers in Latin America, opening new avenues for increased productivity and seamless connectivity.”
“Our collaboration allows both Microsoft and Telefónica to expand the depth and breadth of the services we bring to our mutual customers, driving up mobile usage and facilitating increased connectivity to real-time communications capabilities,” said Luis Miguel Gilpérez, director, Mobile Business at Telefónica Internacional.
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