AT&T Wireless and Microsoft’s MSN have formed an alliance that will offer consumers subscriptions to MSN Mobile services delivered through AT&T Wireless’ mMode-capable phones nationwide by the end of the year. The deal will give AT&T Wireless customers mobile access to MSN network content, their MSN Hotmail e-mail accounts, MSN Messenger and other offerings as a premium paid service.
The latest alliance between longtime collaborators Microsoft and AT&T Wireless extends MSN Hotmail, the Web-based e-mail service with a claimed 130 million active users worldwide; MSN Messenger, the free instant messaging solution; and the suite of MSN Mobile services to AT&T Wireless’ large customer base. AT&T Wireless mMode customers will be able to add an MSN Mobile subscription to their service; customers with text-messaging phones can subscribe to MSN Mobile two-way text-messaging services. “This new agreement significantly enhances Microsoft’s long-standing relationship with AT&T Wireless, and will provide our mutual customers with wireless access to familiar MSN services that offer a convenient way to stay in touch with the people and information that matter most,” said Brian Arbogast, a corporate vice president in the MSN and Personal Services Division at Microsoft Corp. “We’re setting the stage for MSN and AT&T Wireless to bring even more advanced services to customers, who are increasingly seeking access to a diverse range of data services on their phones and other devices.”

mMode brings together e-mail, Internet-based content, games and more, all in one place on the wireless phone. Unveiled earlier this week, a newly enhanced version of mMode features a more user-friendly design and interface, powerful personalization tools, exclusive navigation features, and a host of new applications for daily use in a mobile environment. 

“Thanks to this new agreement with Microsoft, mMode customers will soon benefit from the richness of services provided by MSN,” said Sam Hall, vice president of mMode services at AT&T Wireless. “It’s clear to us that customers are looking for a simple way to access MSN services while on the go, and together with Microsoft, we’ll be delivering that capability across dozens of handsets in the weeks ahead.”

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