Microsoft in Orange phone link
U.K. mobile phone operator to use MSFT software
By Liza Roberts, CBS MarketWatch
Last Update: 5:24 AM ET Dec 13, 1999 NewsWatch
LONDON (CBS.MW) -- Orange PLC, the No. 3 U.K. mobile phone operator recently bought by Germany's Mannesmann AG, said Monday Microsoft Corp. will supply its Windows operating system for a new Orange videophone.
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Updated:
12/12/99 6:19:38 PM ET
The new palm-held phone, to be launched in the second quarter of next year, will provide video and audio communications, as well as "personal digital assistant" functions including e-mail, Net browsing, handwriting recognition and office software.
Microsoft will provide its MS Windows CE operating system for the new gadget. The announcement comes just days after Microsoft unveiled a wireless joint venture with Ericsson AB -- adapting its Mobile Explorer browser to handle information downloaded from the Internet over wireless phones, and putting its Windows NT servers in Ericsson (ERICY: news, msgs) cellular networks. See full story
Orange chief executive Hans Snook said the company decided to design and build its own videophone handset after talking to suppliers all over the world. NMI, a European Microsoft system integrator, will integrate the operating system with the phone's other applications and services.
Other suppliers for the phone include Cambridge Consultants, which will lead the overall technical design; Celestica, which will manufacture the phone; Motion Media, which will develop the video software, among other things; and University of Strathclyde, which will provide the video compression software it developed in collaboration with Orange.
Microsoft (MSFT: news, msgs) shares closed Friday at 93 7/8, up 1 1/8, or 1.2 percent.
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