Microsoft is reaching out to serious mobile rivals -- including RIM-- to get its Live services platform aloft.
Today, the company announced its customers will enjoy enhanced use of Windows Live Hotmail and new use of Windows Live Messenger on their BlackBerry smartphones.
The service is expected to go into operation sometime this summer. Users can and take advantage of Blackberry's seasoned real time push technology and have a dedicated inbox for Windows Live Hotmail messages, and as well as e-mail from other services in a single Inbox.
I can recall the days not so long ago when Microsoft was scrambling to get it own push e-mail service working on Windows Mobile and (Exchange Server) and gunning hard for RIM customers. It was no small feat and partners grumbled when Microsoft finally came out with a push solution and there were problems running it with Exchange. At the time, the Windows company was not interested in helping Blackberry and the Blackberry Enterprise Server in the marketplace.
As Mary Jo Foley pointed out last quarter, Windows Mobile is slipping. According to Canalys, which tracks mobile platforms, Research in Motion led the market with 41 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007, with Apple at 28 percent and all devices based on Windows Mobile at 21 percent.
Microsoft's Live platform and Windows Mobile need all the help they can get. Given the fallout with Yahoo!, and Microsoft's longstanding mobile challenges, it must increase adoption of Live services on any mobile platform. Ensuring its Live services work well on Blackberry is a good first step.
Will the Apple iPhone be next?
