Following the launch of its InPartnership Programme Outsourcery has announce Nokia as its first 1st Strategic Partner.

Nokia and Outsourcery have embarked upon a joint venture aiming to promote the widespread adoption of Microsoft Office Communications Server (OCS) on Nokia mobile devices through their Partner network.

The first initiative involves promoting Microsoft Mobile Communicator-ready Nokia handsets to Outsourcery Partners -this being the first of many upcoming projects to promote the use of Mobile Communicator on smartphones including the Nokia E72 and Nokia E52.

Future initiatives will involve Outsourcery managing Nokia's 30 day free trial programme of MicrosoftMobile Communicator on Nokia smartphones.

By teaming up with Outsourcery, Nokia has enabled its customers to activate unified communication on mobiles.

Simon Howitt, Channel Business Unit Director for Outsourcery, said: "We have received a tremendous response since launching the InPartnership programme and by reaching agreement with Nokia to become our first Strategic Partner shows the offering is spot on.

"Coming on the back of the Microsoft Worldwide Hosting Solutions Partner of the Year Award, this partnership with Nokia is an indicator of the progress Outsourcery is making in business messaging and unified communications.

Jon Corbett, Services Marketing Manager for Nokia UK, added: "This partnership is a great opportunity to drive real growth for UK businesses through Microsoft Mobile Communicator on Nokia devices. The combination of these solutions with Outsourcery's expertise in service provision offers business customers an opportunity to enhance the productivity and responsiveness of their workforce and drive real growth."

Alex Danyluk, Industry Director, Communications Sector at Microsoft, commented: "Our alliance with Nokia aims to bring the Microsoft Office productivity experience to the millions of people using Nokia smartphones around the world.

"By joining together Microsoft's productivity solutions with Nokia's large customer base through Outsourcery, the three companies are able to serve the needs of the growing mobile worker population, which IDC estimates to reach 1 billion worldwide in 2011."

Howitt added: "This collaboration is the first of a number of other agreements and we are in advanced discussions with other potential Strategic Partners and expect to announce more agreements over the coming weeks."