MobileMonday Global

^{Business mail to ride on Microsoft, IBM software} Nokia dumps Intellisync, acquires OZ Communications

Nokia did a u-turn in its mobile email strategy this week. It referred to its clear vision of changing industry trends, in announcing the renewal of its business mobility strategy.

Nokia announced that it plans to cease developing or marketing its own behind-the-firewall business mobility solutions. This means that it is giving up on Intellisyc technology that was acquired at the end of January 2006.

Nokia says that it plans to form its enterprise solutions offering by combining Nokia devices and applications with software solutions from industry leading enterprise vendors such as Microsoft, IBM, Cisco and others. Press release

Buying OZ Communications

Nokia and OZ Communications Tuesday announced that Nokia is to acquire OZ, a privately held company with approximately 220 employees and headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

OZ is described as the leading consumer mobile messaging solution provider that delivers access to popular instant messaging and email services on consumer mobile devices.

"With OZ, Nokia is renewing its mission of Connecting People by enabling consumers to easily connect and communicate using their favorite Internet communities," said Niklas Savander, Head of Nokia Services & Software.

"OZ's team and technology will help Nokia to address the fast growing consumer messaging market."

The acquisition is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter 2008. After the closing, OZ will become part of Nokia's Services & Software operative unit.

By acquiring OZ, Nokia will enable easy-to-use, fast access to leading instant messaging and email services, including AOL, Gmail, ICQ, Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo!. With more than 5.5 million monthly paid users, OZ's solutions have been deployed by leading mobile operators on a wide array of mobile device platforms.

Nokia says in it press release that the expertise and technology of OZ is complementary to Nokia's existing portfolio of messaging solutions and will provide a complete portfolio of mobile messaging solutions for Series 40 and S60 devices. Nokia will continue to work closely with OZ's existing original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and mobile operator customers.

OZ has an impressive list of OEM customers. They include: 3 Scandinavia, Alcatel Lucent, Alltel, AOL, Bell Mobility, Boost Mobile, AT&T, Dobson, HTC, ICQ, LG, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia, Orange France Telecom, Palm, Pantech & Curitel, Rogers Wireless, Samsung, SonyEricsson, Sprint Nextel, TCL & Alcatel Mobile Phones, TDC, Telefónica Móviles España, Telenor Group, TeliaSonera, Telus Mobility, T-Mobile USA,T-Mobile International, UTStarcomm, Verizon Wireless, Virgin Mobile USA and Yahoo!.

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