M'soft Office coming to Nokia smartphones

       Microsoft and Nokia, in a challenge to Research in Motion's Blackberry, announced on Wednesday that Microsoft Office software will be available on smartphones made by the Finnish company.
       The software and mobile phone giants said that from next year, Nokia would include Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile on its smartphones, followed by other Office applications.
       "This agreement represents an important milestone for both companies and the industry," said Stephen Elop, the president of Microsoft Business Division.
       "It's the first time Microsoft will develop Office Mobile applications for another smartphone platform," he noted, adding that the two companies have identified several other areas for future joint collaboration.
       "With more than 200 million smartphone customers globally, Nokia is the world's largest smartphone manufacturer and a natural partner for us," Elop said.
       "Today's announcement will enable us to expand Microsoft Office Mobile to Nokia smartphone owners worldwide and allow them to collaborate on Office documents from anywhere," he said.
       Microsoft and Nokia said the agreement will allow Nokia smartphone users to view, edit, create and share Office documents and use such popular Microsoft programs as Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote.
       "Together with Microsoft, we will develop new and innovative user experiences for employees of small and large businesses alike," said Kai Oistamo, Nokia's executive vice president for devices.
       Asked whether the alliance was intended to counter the growing popularity of Apple's iPhone, Oistamo said it was aimed more at the Blackberry, whose e-mail capability is a favourite with office workers worldwide.
       "It is really about creating a formidable challenge for RIM rather than anybody else," he said.