In a surprising move, Nokia have announced that they are working with Microsoft to port Microsoft Silverlight onto the Symbian S60 platform. Silverlight, for those not in the know, is Microsoft's brand new cross platform web-based multimedia software that enables the delivery of Rich Internet Applications and HD video onto your browser. It's set to be a fierce competitor with Adobe's similar AIR technology, which itself is based on Adobe Flash.

Today's announcement that Silverlight will be available on Nokia and other S60-based phones is a huge boost for the technology, as S60 is used in over 50% of all smartphones - that's 150 million phones that Silverlight has access to.

The deal is surprising, though, because Nokia and Microsoft are fierce competitors in the smartphone space, with Microsoft's Windows Mobile going head to head with Symbian software on Nokia's smartphones. Microsoft even teased Nokia at last month's MWC, asking when it would finally adopt Windows Mobile, as it was now the only manufacturer left not to have a phone that used Microsoft's OS.

Nokia clearly still wants nothing to do with Windows Mobile, but is prepared to accept that Silverlight is worth supporting, which is great news. The mobile web is really starting to take off, and with Silverlight on Windows Mobile and S60 phones, it won't be long before the Rich Internet Applications that are the hallmark of Web 2.0 find their way onto the mobile phone.

[Reuters,