Sybase 365 Seals Asian IM Deal

Sybase 365 has announced an agreement to resell Microsoft Windows Live Messenger services to its mobile operator customers in South East Asia, providing them with a simplified way to offer Windows Live Instant Messenger for Mobile to millions of mobile subscribers. The agreement builds on the five year collaboration between the two companies on services including Windows Live Hotmail mobile.
This agreement is a natural extension of our ongoing partnership with Microsoft, says Howard Stevens, Senior Vice President, International Operations at Sybase 365. Our goal is to continue to provide a win-win situation for our customers, be they mobile operators or the independent software vendors, by providing value and revenue for all parties. We are excited to be a part of bringing one of the Internets most popular services to millions of mobile devices around the world.
As consumer demand continues to build for mobile messaging services beyond text, Sybase 365 believes the next logical areas of focus are multi-media messaging (MMS) and mobile Instant Messaging (IM) services. The company notes that the Windows Live community is already one of the largest on the Internet with more than 550 million users, and says it will continue to grow as it becomes more readily deployed on mobile devices worldwide.
Sybase 365 operator customers offering the service include Singapores StarHub and Malaysias DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd. DiGi recently launched the countrys first integrated IM mobile client allowing subscribers to access Windows Live Messenger and other IM services on their mobile phones. 
The service is being offered initially in Southeast Asia, and will be rolled out in other countries throughout the year.