Microsoft and Symbian, two companies that before today were considered bitter rivals, have apparently found some common ground. The companies have entered an agreement where Symbian will license synchronization software from Microsoft. The London-based company said it intends to create software that makes Symbian phones compatible with Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. Symbian said it will distribute the software amongst its license holders.

Microsoft is also making the technology available to Symbian clients as part of the deal. Microsoft itself is continuing development of their own software applications in competition with Symbian platform and has collaborated with mobile manufacturers like Motorola and Samsung.

Dave Thompson, corporate vice president of the Microsoft's Exchange Server Product Group, said, "Symbian and Microsoft together are significantly expanding the number of customers who can directly access their corporate e-mail and (other) data from wireless devices."

Symbian downplayed the news, saying, "Microsoft isn't a monolithic company. This is a deal we've done with their server division and is aimed to complete the portfolio of e-mail solutions, so that people have the choice to receive emails whichever email system they use." "This will help all Symbian OS licensees meet the needs of the enterprise market," Marit Doving, a Symbian executive vice president, said in statement.

One point both companies are plainly in accordance with is selling the phone to a larger corporate clientele. The deal, according to the companies' spokespersons, was guided by a desire to sell more Symbian-based phones to corporate clientele.

Beyond whatever direct benefits the deal will have for the companies, the partnership shows Microsoft's willingness to explore new technology from the likes of Nokia and Fujitsu. Microsoft has been largely unsuccessful in delivering smart phones to markets outside of the US. Nokia, the leading handset manufacture in the world and part owner of Symbian, has consistently decided against using Microsoft's software for mobile devices. This will very likely change.