Microsoft, Orange Launch Messaging In France

Microsoft and France Telecom (which owns the Orange brand) have teamed up to put a messaging system (different from MSN) onto 9 compatible handsets for Orange customers in France. There are plans to expand this throughout Europe, onto more handsets and any other carriers that wish to take part. The main idea of the new software is that it will connect with PC messaging systems, and “could eventually allow 135 million France Telecom customers to interact with 240 million worldwide Windows Live messenger users”.
The two companies were coy about financial details. “This is not about a licensing arrangement. We are coming together as two equal partners in sharing costs and revenues,” Steve Ballmer told reporters.

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