Microsoft has created a business unit to develop product packages for content delivery to mobile devices.
The Communications and Mobile Solutions unit will sell to fixed and mobile phone operators, web hosting providers and entertainment and media companies.
Microsoft will combine its products with partner products and services and offer a bundle that will allow customers to be running with content delivery services in a couple of months. The first results of the new unit's work are to be presented at the ITU Telecom World 2003 event next month in Geneva.
A new Microsoft bundle, for example, could allow a mobile phone operator to set up a service to deliver music to mobile phones. The bundle would include Microsoft products, such as its server software, products from partners as well as content from Microsoft media partners.
The Communications and Mobile Solutions unit replaces the old Network Service Provider Solutions business unit. The entertainment industry was added because Microsoft saw an overlap between what is happening in the entertainment space and the communications space when it comes to delivering services.
Joris Evers writes for IDG News Service
