Argentinian operator Movistar has launched a mass-market mobile service for Windows Live Messenger, based on Synchronica’s Java-based client for the Instant Messaging (IM) app. The service, called Windows Live Messenger Java, offers subscribers full of Windows Live Messenger functionality on their mobile by downloading Synchronica’s Java-based client from the Movistar website. Movistar Argentina is the first operator in Latin America to launch a Java-based client for Windows Live Messenger.

The Movistar service runs on Synchronica’s hosted IMPS (Instant Messaging & Presence Serice) platform, and is the second new deployment of the technology since Synchronica’s acquisition of Colibria’s IMPS business earlier this year. The Synchronica platform supports Microsoft’s Mobile Services Protocol, which enables users to access all of the Windows Live Messenger functionality that they have on their PCs on their mobile handsets, using an interface that has a similar look and feel to PC-based Messenger clients.

To promote the service, Movistar has launched an advertising campaign in a number of leading Argentinian print and electronic media, combined with an introductory discounted offer of $2.50 (£1.60) for unlimited use of the service during the first month.

“We chose Synchronica’s  Java-based Windows Live client and its hosted IMPS platform because of the functionality and excellent usability the solution provides,” says Movistar Argentina product manager Vanina Angelini. “In my view, Mobile IM may well turn out to be the most important Value Added Service over the next couple of years, because it creates stickiness and reduces churn.”

Carsten Brinkschulte, CEO of Synchronica, adds: “Movistar Argentina’s decision to deploy our technology for their Windows Live Messenger service underlines the strategic importance of our acquisition of Colibria’s IMPS business earlier in the year. As Argentina’s largest mobile operator, Movistar is ideally placed to use this new, highly addictive service to increase ARPU while also reducing churn.”