Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) will partner with Telefonica S.A to expand the international operator's BlueVia developer platform to the .NET framework, promising new opportunities for cross-platform application distribution. The new BlueVia SDK for .NET, a set of drag-and-drop controls and templates for Visual Studio 2010, includes tools like the Microsoft .NET Framework, Microsoft Silverlight and Microsoft Visual Studio 2010, all enhanced to incorporate BlueVia APIs like SMS, advertising and contextual user information. The SDK also touts Microsoft's Windows Azure platform, which enables developers to host their applications in the cloud and supports multiple developer languages including Java, PHP, Ruby, and Python.
Microsoft notes that apps hosted on Windows Azure can be published to Windows Phone 7, Windows 7-based PCs, tablets and netbooks, Internet Explorer 9 and Xbox 360, as well as other device platforms. In addition, Windows Live controls allow developers to access key functionalities like user identity and contacts, supporting the creation of real-time, programmable voice and data communications solutions that leverage social networking experiences.
Telefonica services span 25 countries, with an emphasis on Western Europe and Latin America. The operator serves a global subscriber base closing in on 288 million.
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