LiveSide - News blog : G2

Windows Live for Windows Mobile (G2) now available from Microsoft

Kip Kniskern — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 08:35:00 GMT

Jason Landridge posted today that a link is available for the first time from Microsoft if you want to install Windows Live for Windows Mobile (known also as "G2"), on your Windows Mobile 6 device.

Up until now, it depended on what your mobile operator decided to install on your phone. I'm on T-Mobile, for example, and I've had the G2 functionality on my Shadow all along. Others (such as AT&T, I'm told) haven't made it available, so that up until now you've been out of luck.

Included in the download are functionality for:

Hotmail "push" access (your mail is "pushed" to your phone, you don't have to go get it)
Windows Live Contacts synchronization
Live Search bar for the home screen
One-click photo upload to Windows Live Spaces

What isn't included is Windows Live Messenger. However if you don't have the Hotmail push access and Windows Live Contacts synch, go get it now, it's great.

Download Windows Live for Windows Mobile from http://wl.windowsmobile.com.

(Via Steve)

Microsoft becomes even more mobile with Tellme

Matthew — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 16:19:00 GMT

Microsoft is clearly investing in more mobile technologies by announcing Thursday that they will be purchasing Tellme Networks. Founded in 1999, Tellme is a provider of voice-enabled services, which include their free service +1 800 555 TELL [8355], as well as customer service and ordering for companies such as Merrill Lynch, E*TRADE, American Airlines, among others. Tellme has the largest and most reliable VoiceXML platform in the world, providing voice applications for a number of Fortune 500 companies. In fact they provide automated information [411] service for large carriers such as AT&T and Verizon. They will even send information via text message from the voice application or by sending an SMS to 83556 [TELLM], for example "pizza san jose".

Tellme has in fact used Microsoft's MapPoint technology for their voice guided driving directions. Although the financial terms have not been disclosed, Tellme will continue to run operations in Mountain View, CA and executives from the company are expected to join Microsoft.

Microsoft and Tellme share a vision around the potential of speech as a way to enable access to information, locate other people and enhance business processes, any time and from any device. Combining Tellme’s talented people and expertise in high-volume voice services with Microsoft’s platform, resources and worldwide customer reach will inspire new and innovative solutions. "Speech is universal, simple and holds incredible promise as a key interface for computing," said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer of Microsoft. "Tellme brings to Microsoft the talent, technology and proven experience in speech that will enable us to deliver a new wave of products and revolutionize human-computer interaction."

Certainly Microsoft is going to be heavily investing in a wide range of products given Gates' vision of seamless computing across devices. With products like Windows Live and MSN Mobile, Live Search mobile, Windows Live "G2" client, Palm Treo running Windows Mobile, upcoming Windows Mobile 6, and now Tellme: Microsoft is really trying to win the mobile market.

For more information, check out the PressPass article, which has audio from the teleconference, as well as the press page on Tellme, which has a number of other news articles [they seem pretty excited about the deal].

@Matthew

Windows Live @ CES

Chris — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 00:32:00 GMT

As lots of technology bloggers are going to CES, we thought we’d level the playing field a bit for those who aren’t. With journalists from the big press organisations in attendance, CES provides the perfect opportunity for Windows Live to raise brand awareness by securing column inches for upcoming products. Here are the ones we’ve heard they’ll be seeing, with releases coming soon:

OneCare 1.5
Messenger 8.1
Mail & Mail Desktop
Soapbox
Mobile Messenger "G2" client

Windows Live Search also has a presence at the exhibition (they are offering free swag if you visit their booth), unfortunately as Mary Jo Foley posted recently, Live Drive appears to be staying out of sight for the time being.

So what about some new stuff? At CES 2006 Harrison picked up the chatter on Microsoft Gadget integration with Spaces and this time around the Spaces team has set up a CES Space. We’ll have to wait and see whether Bill demoes anything from Windows Live; Soapbox and G2 are the most likely, though ex-Live product Windows Search 4 is no stranger to exec demos.

You can watch the keynote through the Microsoft CES site.