Vodafone customers will soon be able to send instant messages from their mobile phones.

The mobile operator has announced a deal with Microsoft to develop a co-branded instant messaging function that can be accessed from both mobile phones and PCs, which will be based on the Windows Live Messenger service.

Users will be able to see which of their contacts are online and send them messages from their mobiles. They will also be able to send instant messages from one phone to another.

The feature will be available on selected Vodafone handsets which will be launched in some European markets later this year.

“We are expanding our customers' ability to make smart communication choices and connect instantly via IM to the people they care about most whether they are on their phone or on their PC,” said Brian Arbogast of Microsoft.

“Vodafone customers will be able to communicate whenever and wherever they want, using IM and its additional service benefits, make the most of their time with mobile and PC, and friends and family,” said Frank H Rövekamp of Vodafone.

Microsoft has also recently announced that Hotmail, its web-based email service which recently celebrated its 10th birthday, is to be renamed Windows Live Hotmail.

The deal is the fourth announced by Vodafone in the last two weeks involving major internet companies. Yesterday Vodafone struck an agreement with Google that will see Google Maps brought to selected Vodafone handsets, and last week it released news of deals with MySpace and YouTube.

http://www.vodafone.co.uk/
http://www.msn.com/windowslivemessenger/

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