Nokia today announced forthcoming updates to its Symbian Belle operating system that turn the latest range of smartphones into a mobile office.

The free updates, called Microsoft Apps, deliver a suite of Microsoft productivity applications to compatible Nokia smartphones to add to the security and manageability features already contained in Symbian Belle.

Available by the end of 4Q 2011 with broad consumer availability at the beginning of 2012, Microsoft Apps will bring collaboration and productivity tools including Microsoft Lync 2010 Mobile (IM, presence, audio and web meetings on the go), Microsoft OneNote (rich note taking with images - syncs with Microsoft SkyDrive), Microsoft PowerPoint Broadcast and Microsoft Document Connection (which provides Microsoft SharePoint access) to Symbian Belle. An update in the first half of 2012 will introduce Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint as native applications for the first time outside the Windows platform.

Microsoft Apps will be delivered via software update over the air or via PC download and will function on the Nokia N8, Nokia C7, Nokia C6-01, Nokia E7, Nokia E6, Nokia X7, Nokia 700, Nokia 701, Nokia 600 and Nokia Oro.

Additionally, Nokia is working with Microsoft to provide mobile device management of Symbian Belle devices through Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2012.