Optus and Ninemsn today announced plans for a major strategic alliance to partner on the provision of unique internet and mobile services. Under the plan, Optus mobile and internet customers will enjoy a truly convergent information and communications experience, benefiting from PBL content and MSN services combined with high speed access via Optus broadband and 3G. Through this alliance with Ninemsn, Optus customers will receive communications services including email, MSN Messenger, calendar and contacts. When combined with the new portal and a personalised browser, customers will have a level of integration between their PC and mobile phone - not yet seen in Australia. The alliance will provide a foundation for the joint development of new content and the delivery of communications services in the future such as phone to PC video calls and Voice Over IP (VoIP). James Packer, PBL Executive Chairman and Ninemsn board member said, “This alliance is the result of a shared vision of the future of communications services in Australia. It is the convergence model at its best - the combined network of PBL, MSN and Optus, working to their strengths through Ninemsn to deliver popular Australian content, leading communications services and premium access products.” Optus Chief Executive, Paul O’Sullivan said, “Our partnership with Ninemsn will see Optus become an integrated hub for people’s connections to the information world regardless of the access method – fixed or mobile. This converged user experience will put Optus in a strong, unique market position. It will transform the OptusNet portal into a market leading offering in the content and applications space and make it one of the most advanced portal experiences in the world. “This is another example of Optus challenging communication and technology boundaries to ensure our customers stay in touch with the latest information, whether they are in the office, at home or on the move,” Mr O’Sullivan said. According to David Cole, Senior Vice President MSN, the alliance will focus on helping consumers stay connected and informed. “MSN’s and Ninemsn’s goal is to help connect customers with the people and information that matter most to them. Building deep relationships for broadband and mobile delivery is critical as customers want to be connected both from their PC and while mobile. We’re pleased to begin work with Optus to deliver a compelling set of services to customers and look forward to taking those services to the next level with them.” Martin Hoffman, CEO Ninemsn said the alliance represents one of the most significant developments in the Australian online market to date. “Over the next five years, the way Australians are entertained, the way we stay in touch and the way we shape our opinions will depend on seamless access between all devices. This alliance extends our position as the number one online destination and delivers a rich and personalised experience for our combined customers and advertising clients.” Customised services that are always with you Under the plan, customers will enjoy rich content and services designed to make the most of high speed access such as:
- Unified personal information and messages: Customers will be able to access email and instant messaging via PC or phone and unified messaging via SMS, voicemail and email.
- Personal data management: For the first time, customers will be able to synchronise their calendars or contact lists between email and MSN Messenger on their phone or PC.
- Personalised browsing: With the personalised browser offering member information, email access and contact lists and the portal allowing access to customised stock lists, stars and news headlines, customers will only ever be one click away from the information they value the most.
- Exclusive content events: Optus and Ninemsn will draw on PBL’s rich content resources to develop unique content for mobile and broadband - such as behind the scenes footage on photo shoots, parallel storylines on selected TV shows or the recent Logies red carpet exclusive interviews.
- Sharing and storage: The ability to send photos from a mobile phone to a family photo album online is just one of the exciting developments. Gigabytes of storage, a generous file attachment size, and multiple sub accounts will give Optus customers all the storage they’ll need to share fun, photos and files with friends and family.
- Parental controls and safety: To give parents confidence in their families’ online experience Optus internet customers will be able to set powerful filters for the material their children can see, the people they can email and their MSN Messenger contacts. Using the latest in MSN Hotmail spam filters and virus detection, customers’ will have the safest possible communications environment.
- Existing Optus customers can look forward to these new services rolling out seamlessly with their current services beginning later in the year.
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