Microsoft Apps for Symbian adds business productivity tools

Nokia and Microsoft have announced their plans to deliver "Microsoft Apps", Symbian software updates. According to both companies, the new update will add some "serious business productivity tools" for anyone buying a new Symbian Belle phone, as well as anybody looking to upgrade from Symbian Anna to Symbian Belle.

During Q4 2011 you'll be able to start up the Software Update app from within your phone and find the following free apps:
- Microsoft Lync 2010 Mobile – for cost efficient IM, presence, audio and web meetings on-the-go.
- Microsoft PowerPoint Broadcast – quick broadcast of presentations directly from PC to mobile.
- Microsoft OneNote – rich note taking with images. Syncs with Microsoft SkyDrive.
- Microsoft Document Connection – single view to documents stored on mobile, including email attachments as well as documents on Microsoft SharePoint 2010 sites.

A second update in early 2012 will add:
Microsoft OneNote sync with SharePoint (in addition to SkyDrive) as well as adding Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint as native applications for the first time outside the Windows platform.

These updates are yet another confirmation that Nokia has not done making investments and introducing innovation into the Symbian platform. There will be more updates in 2012 and more devices to come and Nokia has already said, they will provide software support to Symbian until at least 2016.