3 Group, Microsoft sign global mobile services agreement

3 Group, one of the leading global player in the 3G arena, and Microsoft announced on Monday plans to deliver seamless access to Microsoft's communication services, MSN Messenger and MSN Hotmail, through the 3 portal and installed software clients on 3G handsets.

According to a press release from 3 Group, a division of Hutchison Whampoa's division, these services will provide millions of customers with different ways to say in touch using their 3G mobile phone.

This newly signed agreement enables 3 Group to offer access to MSN Hotmial and MSN Messengers from a browser or by a downloaded and pre-installed software client.

As part of the agreement, all services offered will bring the familiar look and feel of MSN Messenger and MSN Hotmail on a personal computer (PC), to a 3 mobile -- providing customers with a convenient way to say in-touch on the move using an experience with which they are already accustomed.

By connecting MSN and 3 customers, both companies expect more frequent interaction between mobile-to-mobile, PC-to-mobile customers.

The agreement brings together a community of millions of MSN Hotmail and MSN Messenger users and customers of the 3 Group worldwide. MSN Hotmail is one of the world's largest web-based e-mail services, with 230 million active e-mail accounts and MSN Messenger, the world's most used free instant messaging service, has 205 million customers worldwide.

Initially, the services will be available to over 5 million customers of the 3 Group in Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, Austria and Hong Kong, with plans to expand the service to other markets of the group.

Christian Salbaing, managing director at Hutchison Europe Telecommunications, said, "3 Group is committed to providing its customers with the widest choice of communications access platforms. We believe our 12 million 3G customers will be delighted to be able to sue MSN Hotmail and MSN Messenger on our 3G networks."

He said, "Communications environments and platforms are converging and it is our job to give our customers more choices to communicate to connect instantly to the people they care about most."

Source: Xinhua