Yahoo!7, Nokia launch mobile services platform

Yahoo!7 is to offer its instant messaging, email and search services on Nokia’s 60 series mobile phones through Yahoo! Go Mobile.

The deal is part of a global partnership aimed at capitalising on the move toward mobile computing and collaboration services, Yahoo!7 regional director Gregan McMahon said.

The service will initially be offered on Nokia’s 3G Symbian-based handsets, but expansion to Nokia’s lower-end java-based 40 series handsets is also possible.

McMahon said Go Mobile is powered using Yahoo!7’s global email infrastructure, but the company was currently looking to partner with local telcos to broaden the potential customer base for the service.

Discussions were currently underway with Telstra, Optus and 3, he said. However several technology and business-related bumps would need to be ironed out before the service could be offered over Vodafone’s network.

Despite carriers like Optus already offering their own IM service, McMahon said the service would be attractive to telcos based on the potential of 3G handset sales, increased network traffic and monthly access fees.

Discussions were also ongoing within Yahoo!7 for the use of channel 7’s news and programming content over Go Mobile.

“Yahoo!7 is keen to look at all the content and services available over mobiles for the five million unique users we have in Australia every month,” he said.

However, Yahoo!7 would not look to extend the VoIP messaging service currently available from its online email service, due to a lack of functionality and potential conflicts with carrier partners.

Looking ahead, McMahon said Yahoo!7 would look toward providing more social networking and collaboration tools such as text and video blogs via Go Mobile.