Vodafone, MSN plan PC-to-mobile Messaging Service

[Jeff]

LONDON (Reuters) - Vodafone Group Plc and Microsoft Corp's MSN unit plan to launch an instant messaging service that will allow communication between mobile phone users and computers, the companies said on Thursday.

They aim to launch the messaging service in several European countries before the end of the year, the companies said.

Users will be able to see the presence of their contacts and exchange instant messages between MSN Messenger on a computer and Vodafone Messenger on mobile phones and vice versa, the two companies said in a statement.

The service aims to bring together more then 165 MSN Messenger users with nearly 155 million Vodafone customers around the world, and increase traffic on their networks.

British-based Vodafone, the world's biggest mobile operator by revenues, said the service will be charged on the commonly-used mobile commercial model of "calling party pays" and contract customers would be able to pay for the service through their mobile bills.

"By bringing our collective customers together, we'll deliver more options for staying in touch when messaging. Our agreement will grow IM (instant messaging) and SMS (text messages), meaning additional revenue for Vodafone," Vodafone's Chief Marketing officer Peter Bamford said.

[sciencefeeling]

I would love to see that, as I am a Vodafone costumer...

N.-