Nokia and Microsoft introduce Microsoft Apps to Symbian Belle smartphones

Nokia have announced the forthcoming updates to its Symbian Belle operating system that turn their smartphones into a mobile business office. The free updates, called Microsoft Apps deliver a suite of Microsoft productivity applications to compatible Nokia smartphones whilst requiring no additional infrastructure.  

Microsoft Apps will bring collaboration and productivity tools including Microsoft Lync 2010 Mobile, Microsoft OneNote, Microsoft PowerPoint Broadcast and Microsoft Document Connection (which provides Microsoft SharePoint access) to Symbian Belle. An update in the first half of 2012 will introduce Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint as native applications for the first time outside the Windows platform. Microsoft Apps will be delivered via software update over the air or via PC download and will function on the Nokia N8, Nokia C7, Nokia C6-01, Nokia E7, Nokia E6, Nokia X7, Nokia 700, Nokia 701, Nokia 600 and Nokia Oro.

The Microsoft productivity apps for Symbian Belle Nokia smartphones will help customers remain connected to Microsoft Office documents and services when they’re on the go. The apps will be available by the end of Q4 2011 with broad consumer availability at the beginning of 2012. Additionally, Nokia is working with Microsoft to provide mobile device management of Symbian Belle devices through Microsoft System Centre Configuration Manager 2012.