Microsoft, Gemalto bring Windows Live Messenger to mass market mobile subscribers 
ConvergenceAsia staff
16/02/2009

Microsoft and digital security company Gemalto are collaborating to offer Windows Live Messenger services to the mass market of mobile subscribers through a new Windows Live Messenger client application that comes pre-installed on phone Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards. The Gemalto application, named SIMessenger, is the world’s first Microsoft certified instant messaging SIM client solution.

“Through our alliance with Gemalto, we are able to greatly expand the reach of the Windows Live Messenger experience on mobile to new markets and more consumers,” said Tom Bailey, senior director of product management for Windows Live for Mobile services.

Gemalto’s SIMessenger enables users to easily keep in touch with their Windows Live Messenger contacts from their mobile phone. SIMessenger offers an intuitive menu that allows subscribers to access their Windows Live Messenger environment with an experience similar to what they get when accessing it from a PC. SIMessenger also automatically launches when they switch their handset on, so they can start chatting immediately.

“SIMessenger will enable the masses to easily use the popular Windows Live Messenger to communicate with the people they care about while on the go.” “Worldwide, people who own a mobile phone widely outnumber those who have Internet access,” added Philippe Vallée, executive vice president of the Telecommunications Business Unit at Gemalto.

“With more than 320 million active Windows Live Messenger accounts worldwide, combined with 3.6 billion SIM cards currently in use, there is strong growth potential for SIMessenger,” he said.

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