HANNOVER, Germany—Deutsche Telekom and Microsoft are presenting mobile solutions for business customers at this week’s CeBIT trade show in Germany and announced the companies will cooperate in developing devices for next-generation mobile phones.
The first offerings should be available by the third quarter.
Under the agreement, the companies will cooperate on Web services for business customers under a program called T.Net and based on Microsoft’s .NET technology. The two companies’ extensive sales channels will offer the new services.
The service integration platform was optimized for Deutsche Telekom’s mobile subsidiary T-Mobile’s General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) networks and will be adapted to Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) networks in the future. The first products for business customers will be the Mobile Access Portal, allowing users to access their companies’ networks with GPRS-capable devices, and the Mobile Service Portal. The joint platform will also offer hosting services and allow business customers to customize software for their own needs.
In addition, Deutsche Telekom and Microsoft also will continue to develop the Windows-powered Smartphone 2002 platform, which will allow access to wireless services and applications. T-Mobile customers will be able to access MSN services, in addition to Deutsche Telekom messaging and e-mail services.
The announcement marks a focus by mobile operators, particularly in Europe, on high-end, profitable customers. In addition, Microsoft gains an important foothold in the wireless arena by teaming with one of the world’s largest mobile operators.
