MSN Mobile Enables New Opportunities for Two-Way Wireless Communications

New Version of MSN Mobile Makes MSN Hotmail and MSN Messenger Service Available to Wireless Carriers July 24 /PRNewswire/ -- MSN today announced the availability of MSN(R) Mobile 4.0, the latest version of the MSN wireless service that delivers customizable, wireless information services to consumers' interactive pagers, mobile phones and handheld devices. Significant upgrades to the service include new technology that will allow operators worldwide to offer wireless access to two of the most popular communications services today -- MSN Hotmail(R) and MSN Messenger Service -- in various wireless formats, including two-way Short Message Service (SMS). Also added is a new flexible delivery platform that enables simple worldwide deployment of mobile portals and signup services for carriers and mobile aggregators.

"With this update to MSN Mobile, we are extending our capabilities to offer mobile operators an immediate opportunity to generate revenue based on two-way SMS, providing MSN Hotmail and MSN Messenger to consumers," said Vinay Kumar, director of MSN Wireless Services at Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) "Our popular communications services gives us a strategic advantage over our competitors."

Users of MSN Mobile 4.0 will benefit from the ability to configure the order of their MSN Mobile browser services, the introduction of customizable alerts that can be accessed from an updated Web site, an enhanced user interface, and the availability of the new MSN Mobile Marketplace, the online commerce destination for all things wireless. In addition, MSN Mobile 4.0 continues to support and integrate some of the most popular services on the Internet, including localized content and two-way SMS support of MSN Hotmail, the most popular Web-based e-mail service which has more than 110 million users worldwide, and MSN Messenger, which has more than 36 million users worldwide.

MSN Mobile has distribution relationships with Verizon Wireless, Sprint PCS, Nextel Communications Inc., Motorola Inc. and Arch Wireless Inc. in the United States and with Bell Mobility, TELUS Corp. and Rogers Wireless in Canada. MSN Mobile notification and interactive services are available on any device that accepts text messages, including pagers mobile phones, Pocket PCs and other handheld PDAs.

About MSN
MSN is the world's most popular destination on the Web, attracting more than 230 million visitors per month. Available in 33 markets and 17 languages, MSN provides consumers with their home on the Web -- where they can get everything they need from the Web and make the most of their time online. MSN is a world leader in delivering Web services to consumers and digital marketing solutions to businesses worldwide. MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com/ .

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.

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SOURCE Microsoft Corp.