In December, aiming to lure more consumers to its MSN Mobile service--a portal that connects cellphone users to MSN Search, news, Hotmail and instant messaging--Microsoft struck partnerships with MovieTickets.com and Thumbplay The deals enabled MSN Mobile users to access movie listings and reviews, and purchase movie tickets, ringtones and games straight from their cellphones.

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Recently, a number of companies have started launching their own mobile services -- MSN Mobile now lets you get Hotmail and other MSN-based services and information delivered directly to your phone or Palm.

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Gates featured MSN Mobile 2.0, scheduled to be available in April, in his keynote.

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In contrast, MSN Mobile 2.0 offers real-time, on-demand information such as flight schedules, weather conditions, and sports scores.

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Users of the upcoming MSN Mobile for the first time will be given two-way functionality allowing them to send and receive information from Internet-enabled phones and handheld computers, and make purchases.

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Although living 130 miles apart, the two formed a friendship last year and began using MSN Messenger and mobile phone texts to keep in daily contact.

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MessageVine's server supports interaction via its own PC client or those of AOL's ICQ or Microsoft's MSN Messenger, and also from mobile phones using WAP, SMS, or Japanese operator NTT DoCoMo's I-mode system.

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