Nokia and Microsoft announced today its plans to deliver Symbian software updates called Microsoft Apps. Both companies claim that this new update will add some “serious business productivity tools” for anyone buying a new Symbian Belle device, as well as anybody looking to upgrade from Symbian Anna to Symbian Belle.
But here’s the caveat: If you’re looking to get your hands on this new update, you’ll have to wait some time during the fourth quarter of this year to start up the Software Update app from within your phone. Below, is a list of free apps included in this package:
- Microsoft® Lync™ 2010 Mobile – for cost efficient IM, presence, audio and web meetings on-the-go.
- Microsoft® PowerPoint® Broadcast – quick broadcast of presentations directly from PC to mobile.
- Microsoft® OneNote™ – rich note taking with images. Syncs with Microsoft® SkyDrive®.
- Microsoft® Document Connection – single view to documents stored on mobile, including email attachments as well as documents on Microsoft® SharePoint® 2010 sites.
Wait there’s more, a second update in early 2012 will add:
- Microsoft OneNote sync with SharePoint (in addition to SkyDrive) as well as adding Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint as native applications for the first time outside the Windows platform.
Having a full suite of Microsoft apps will more than certainly improve business productivity. Perhaps, this is an indication to the tech world that Nokia isn’t ready to throw in the towel on its operating system just yet, especially when its on record to saying it’ll provide software support to Symbian until at least 2016.
[via Nokia blog]