Symbian today announced that it has licensed the Microsoft Exchange Server ActiveSync protocol for use in Symbian OS. Symbian will develop an Exchange Server ActiveSync protocol to enable Symbian OS licensees to include in their Symbian OS-based phones direct over-the-air (OTA) synchronization capabilities for email, calendar, contacts and other personal information management (PIM) data supported by Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. Telco will have more choices other than using Blackberry from RIM only.

Symbian will make the Exchange Server ActiveSync protocol plug-in available to all Symbian OS licensees which, when coupled with a separate standard distribution agreement with Microsoft, enables the licensees, at their discretion, to implement direct synchronization capabilities with Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 in their selected Symbian OS products with reduced time to market, improved interoperability and lower development costs.

The terms of the licensing agreement between Symbian and Microsoft were not disclosed.