Brazil-based quadri-play operator Oi
reportedly will launch, in the first week of November, Windows Live Messenger services built into its own SIM card.
The company is introducing the services in collaboration with Microsoft (
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Alert) and Gemalto. With the new Oi SIM card, users will have direct access to Messenger functionalities in any Oi mobile phone, company officials say.
According to Henry Trejgier, marketing director of Latin America for Telecom business unit at Gemalto (
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Alert), Oi is known for its value added services innovation based on SIM cards.
“This is one of the latest services we added to their SIM services portfolio,” Trejgier said.
The new features will first be available for customers in all states where Oi operates, according to the company. Customers are expected to benefit from a ready-to-use application featuring a menu for quick navigation.
Similar to features available in a PC, the new version of Messenger will help users view or block contacts, change the status to online, offline, absent or busy. In addition, users can keep multiple chat sessions open simultaneously.
To make a connection, users need to access the Mundo Oi menu and select their type of user account and enter an address and password. This eliminates the need to download an application, and also users need not register for the service to use Messenger over the mobile phone.
Also, while the user is online on Messenger, it is possible to make and receive calls as usual, said Oi officials.
Gustavo Alvim, director of VAS at Oi, said that users will access Windows Live Messenger in a “simpler” and “faster manner,” using the Oi Chip menu, adding that company’s partnership with Gemalto and Microsoft will provide a large scale service.
Osvaldo Barbosa de Oliveira, general director of On-line Consumer Market at Microsoft Brazil, said he expects this partnership with Oi to benefit current and new users of both Oi and Windows Live Messenger.
“Consumers may choose to be on-line and in contact with friends whenever they wish, either on a PC or on a mobile phone, using a service they are familiar with via a simple and friendly interface,” Barbosa de Oliveira said.
Anshu Shrivastava is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Anshu's articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Michael Dinan
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