Symbian, Microsoft 'Exchange' License For Smartphone SynchronizationSymbian, Microsoft 'Exchange' License For Smartphone Synchronization

LONDON — Mobile phone OS specialist Symbian Ltd. has licensed software from rival Microsoft Corp. that would allow it to develop an Exchange Server ActiveSync protocol plug-in messaging architecture for use in the latest Symbian operating system.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The agreement allows Symbian's licensees, which include most leading mobile phone makers, to implement direct synchronization capabilities with Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 in their Symbian OS products.

Nokia, a major shareholder in Symbian together with companies such as Samsung, Siemens and SonyEricsson, announced a similar deal with Microsoft last month at the 3GSM show in Cannes, France, for the delivery of music and e-mails on its handsets.

The companies said the deal indicates how leading companies in the mobile phone and IT industries can collaborate to bring applications to the wireless market that meet the needs of network operators, enterprises and consumers.

Symbian already supports a wide range of e-mail and personal information management (PIM) synchronization protocols such as RIM's BlackBerry Connect as well as the Open Mobile Alliance Data Synchronization protocol.

The plug-in "will help all Symbian OS licensees meet the needs of the enterprise market," said Marit Doving, Sybian's executive vice president for marketing, said in a statement.

Dave Thompson, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Exchange Server Product Group, said the group's goal "is to enhance end-user productivity and drive innovation in the mobile industry with an easy-to-implement, wireless e-mail solution designed to lower IT costs."