MSN and Vodafone are launching a seamless instant
messaging (IM) service between PCs and mobile phones.
Customers will be able to see the “presence” of their contacts
and exchange instant messages between MSN Messenger on a PC and
Vodafone Messenger on mobile phones.
The service is aimed at both enterprise users and consumers and
the person who sends a message will be the user who pays.
Vodafone customers will pre-pay or pay for the service through
their monthly bill, while MSN Messenger customers will pay via
packages available with MSN Messenger.
Vodafone is the world’s biggest mobile operator, with 155
million customers. The service will help Microsoft as it seeks to
extend its sales from the office to the mobile space.
MSN and Vodafone plan to launch the IM service in several
European countries before the end of the year.