Today, Microsoft Corp. and European mobile operators O2 and TeliaSonera announced plans to deliver real-time location services designed to enable businesses to significantly improve the way they locate, track and manage their mobile assets and mobile work force. The real-time location services are built around Microsoft� MapPoint� Location Server (MLS) and enable developers, independent software vendors (ISVs) and system integrators to create and deploy location-aware business applications for their customers by combining the real-time location data from the O2 and TeliaSonera networks with the rich mapping and location capabilities from the Microsoft MapPoint Web Service.

O2, a leading provider of mobile services to consumers and businesses in the United Kingdom, plans to offer real-time location services for MLS in the United Kingdom by early autumn. "The demand from our business customers for location-based services has increased substantially," said Nigel Dean, head of interactive product sales of O2. "By working with Microsoft, our customers will be able to easily and quickly build solutions that bring immediate value to their business while utilizing their existing O2 devices and services."