China Mobile (CHL) has reached an agreement with Microsoft (MSFT) to pre-install Microsoft's Windows Mobile Internet Explore 6 browser in the Samsung Omnia handsets sold by China Mobile.
Scott Rockfeld, the person in charge of Microsoft's Windows Mobile, stated that the reason for selecting China Mobile to be the world's first operator to use its mobile version IE6 is because of its large user base and sustainable growth. By September 30, 2008, China Mobile had 436 million users and the number is still growing.
Rockfeld told local media that Microsoft's goal is not necessarily to persuade the users of iPhone or Google's Android handsets to use their products. Instead, the company wants to provide users in emerging markets with the experience of surfing the Internet via Windows Mobile devices.