Microsoft Nokia Mobile Collaboration Aid Launches

Microsoft/Nokia Mobile Collaboration Aid Launches

By Doug Caverly
Staff Writer
Article Date: 2010-05-06

Companies with lots of employees who are out of the office and on the move may be in luck. An application called Microsoft Communicator Mobile for Nokia has been launched, and it was designed to help companies solve their mobile collaboration issues.

A press release heralding this development explained, "Communicator Mobile enables people to see their colleagues' availability, and click to communicate with them using the best method, from IM to email, text to phone call."

The announcement then added, "The names and status of colleagues are embedded directly into the devices' contacts application, enabling people to update their own presence, start and join instant messaging sessions, and begin calls directly from the contact card."

There's perhaps just one small catch: so far, this new unified communications client only works with the Nokia E72 and E52 phones, and companies will of course need to have some Microsoft software on hand, too. Support for additional devices, including the Nokia E5, is on the way.

Otherwise, companies should simply be careful how they use this technology, since trying to reach employees after hours and/or at home will raise questions related to availability, compensation, and possibly even burnout.

About the Author:
Doug is a staff writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest eBusiness news.