Zain Bahrain said it has inked a strategic partnership with Microsoft to provide the latest generation of co-branded Windows Live, an integrated set of online services, to its customers.

Windows Live is a set of cutting-edge Internet WEB services and applications developed by Microsoft and aims to help Zain customers to connect and consolidate their data and efficiently manage their online activities, said a company statement.

It includes updated experiences for photo sharing; e-mail, instant messaging, and end-users can receive easy access to all their emails, contacts, calendars, social networks, and media content.

It includes the popular Hotmail and MSN Messenger programs and is an all-encompassing platform which provides users with online file storage facilities, a blog and personal webpage, photo and video editing programs, online parental controls and a Windows Live toolbar to add to the user’s browser.

The live service makes it easier and more fun for Zain customers to communicate and share with the people they care about most –  free of charge, it added.

“As customers increasingly engage in online activities, the co-branded Zain Windows Live services shall help our customers to consolidate and simplify their online activities,” said Zain Bahrain general manager Mohammed Zainalabedin.

“Whether its social networking or storing up to 25GB of files online to share and access from anywhere, the Zain Windows Live services will be a one-stop online hub that will  be available to all Zain Bahrain customers with customized interface very soon.'

'Online mobile data usage is about quick downloads, mobility and anytime-anywhere usage and we have invested time, resources and effort to build an effective tech-net that will answer these needs,' Zainalabedin added.

This service, he said, was part of the larger effort at Zain Bahrain to stay ahead of telecoms technology and usage trends and offer customers the richest telecoms experience.

'We are investing in co-branded solutions and services that will enable us to provide customers with the best and most advanced services available on the market and this collaboration with Microsoft is one such example,' Zainalabedin stated.

The company will provide a co-branded version of Windows Live services to its Internet services subscribers on PCs and through online services.

Tareq Hijazi, regional country manager, Microsoft Bahrain and Oman, said, “We are very excited to join hands with Zain today and enable them to provide this unique set of value added services to their customers through the Windows Live Platform.'

We commend Zain’s commitment and passion towards innovation and strongly believe that this strategic partnership will add immense value to Zain Bahrain customer services and offerings.

'The complimentary suite of Microsoft powered client software applications and web services which every Zain Bahrain customer will get, will deliver a comprehensive messaging, collaboration and networking solution, accessible from any web browser, PC or browser-enabled mobile device,” Hijazi added

Mohamed Fayez, Microsoft ME Windows Live business development manager, said this was the first strategic partnership of its kind in the entire GCC region, to show how Microsoft strongly believes in the power of online services, aiming at providing the most engaging and compelling content and services through our strategic partners.”-TradeArabia News Service