Microsoft, Ericsson detail mobile venture

Ericsson and Microsoft have finally announced details and product plans for their mobile internet venture, struck last December.

A jointly owned company has been established, called Ericsson Microsoft Mobile Venture. Owned 70 per cent by Ericsson and 30 per cent by Microsoft, the company will develop products to support mobile email and other personal management tools such as 'to do' and the calendar. The first products are expected to be on the market by the end of the year.

Ulf Avrin, president of Ericsson Microsoft Mobile Venture, said: "Mobile email is one of the key applications for driving the mobile internet forward. We want to help mobile operators offer secure mobile email to both consumer and corporate customers, and move mobile internet into a mass market."

Avrin said the company will provide products for mobile operators' existing networks and said it is holding discussions with all major operators. Products will integrate Microsoft Windows 2000 Server and Microsoft Exchange platforms with Ericsson's infrastructure and mobile technologies.

The products will also use Microsoft Mobile Explorer browser and Ericsson's Wap technology. The two companies said they would support emerging technologies including Bluetooth, and Universal Plug and Play.