Mumbai: Mobile services provider Hutchison Essar and software giant Microsoft Corp. have announced a mobile services alliance in India to provide mobile search and other key Windows Live services to Hutch's subscriber base.
This will enable Hutch customers in India to be able to search for and access mobile content and information in a one-stop integrated search powered by Windows Live Search for mobile - including news, sports, entertainment information and more -- directly from the internet. In addition, Hutch users will soon be able to search for local business listing and services available at major Indian cities.
"With India being the fastest growing mobile market in the world, providing a rich set of online services for mobile subscribers is more important than ever," said Steve Ballmer, CEO, Microsoft, during his trip to New Delhi. "This alliance with Hutch allows Microsoft to partner with India's leading mobile data services operator to bring the power of software-based services to Indian mobile customers, developers and advertisers in new and exciting ways."
Currently Microsoft powers Hutch's mobile portal PlanetHutch and has built and manages Hutch's Fun Cards platform (prepaid card for downloading value added services for its customers). The two companies plan to allow advertisers and content partners to reach mobile customers through paid searches in the Indian mobile market. Also included in the alliance are Windows Live services such as Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Mail and Windows Live Spaces. Through these community driven services Hutch customers soon will be able to access their online world of relationships, information and interests from their Hutch phones.
"The Mobile internet is the way forward for the internet - and in this area, we have had a wonderful relationship with Microsoft over the years. We were the first to launch MSN Messenger and Hotmail on mobile phones in India. We have always believed in giving our customers services that help simplify their life. We have partnered with various global service providers like Microsoft on an open access principle to help us achieve this objective. It is terrific to be extending this relationship to help provide the entire Windows Live suite to our customers. And of course, it comes with a great search engine," said Asim Ghosh, managing director, Hutchison Essar.
Commenting on the alliance, Ravi Venkatesan, Chairman, Microsoft India, said, "Hutch's leadership in the expanding mobile data services sector coupled with the breadth and innovation offered by Microsoft's Windows Live services, means this alliance is well | 
