Nokia Brings Microsoft's ActiveSync To S60 HandsetsNokia Brings Microsoft's ActiveSync To S60 Handsets

In a move that could make organizing a mobile worker's life easier, Nokia announced Tuesday it is enabling Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync on all of its S60 3rd edition handsets.

The company did have a downloadable option for ActiveSync since 2006, but it was only available for limited handsets and the company told information it didn't do a good job publicizing that option. The S60 series phones are all powered by the Symbian operating system, which is optimized the OS for convergence with current multimedia applications as well as making enhancements to its security.

This expansion enables mobile professionals to use the Mail for Exchange app on 43 Nokia handsets to get push corporate e-mail, calendar, tasks, contact information and more. The company also announced the app would be available out of the box in future releases of E Series and N Series handsets.

"The costs of mobility are contained as companies are able to utilize existing Microsoft Exchange infrastructure, and there is the strong possibility that a large number of employees already have on or more of the 43 Nokia devices that enable Exchange ActiveSync," said Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia's executive VP of new markets, in a statement.

Companies who use Exchange will be able to set up Mail for Exchange for free on Nokia handsets in multiple, secure ways. Additionally, end users will be able to quickly set up the smartphone by entering in the e-mail address, password, domain and usernames.

"This announcement with Nokia further demonstrates the importance consumers and businesses place on accessing Exchange Server data from mobile devices in addition to traditional desktop clients," said Terry Myerson, Microsoft's corporate VP Exchange Server, in a statement.

Beyond e-mail and calendars, Nokia ActiveSync users will be able to set e-mail priorities, search for contact details from a standalone global address list application, and more.