Microsoft lands Vodafone biz for biz: Firms target mobile enterprise

Vodafone Group plc, Europe’s largest network operator, and Microsoft Corp. have teamed up to offer the operator’s enterprise customers a unified communications and collaboration solution for mobile and fixed data.
Vodafone will initially offer the combined solution in Germany and Spain this year, before expanding the service to other countries. The service is already available in the United States through Microsoft.
The two companies did not disclose financial or contractual terms for the deal.
The offering, dubbed “Microsoft Online Services,” appeared to be aimed at supporting small and medium-sized businesses.
The Microsoft offering is composed of four basic services:
–Microsoft Exchange Online for e-mail and calendars via PC, mobile phone and browser;
–Microsoft SharePoint Online for portals, collaboration and search;
–Microsoft Office Communications Online for instant messaging and presence;
–and Microsoft Office Live Meeting for Web- and video-conferencing.
According to the two companies, Microsoft Online Services will eventually be augmented by converged fixed and mobile communications for Vodafone’s customers.
Vodafone has about 290 million “proportionate customers” in 27 countries across five continents. The operator just announced 500 job cuts as it copes with the worldwide economic slowdown.