The future's looking Orange for Microsoft

BT and Microsoft are today expected to put their faith in the wireless Internet access market today and announce a UK deal. According to today’s Financial Times, the two were believed to be in talks last night. If it goes ahead the deal will be the software giant’s first move into telecommunications in the UK. The deal is expected to be announced by Paul Maritz, Microsoft group president for platforms and applications, at a New Orleans-based wireless industry conference later today. Microsoft already has an agreement to offer a wireless Internet service to mobile phone companies through Qualcomm. BT is a major shareholder in UK company Cellnet, a factor which could prove important, providing the necessary infrastructure. Speculation over the deal coincides with a report in The Independent that Microsoft was in merger talks with another UK mobile phone company, Orange. ®