Nokia has announced a partnership with Microsoft to deliver e-mail to users of its mobile phones, but has ruled out the possibility of building Microsoft’s operating system software into its products.

Software supporting Microsoft Exchange Server’s ActiveSync protocol for synchronizing e-mail, calendar, and contact information will be a feature of future Nokia phones, thanks to a deal announced by the two companies at the 3GSM World Congress in Cannes on Monday.

Support for ActiveSync will allow future phones based on Nokia’s Series 60 and Series 80 smart phone software to synchronize information with Exchange servers over the air. Nokia will continue to support the Open Mobile Alliance Data Synchronization Protocol and its own Nokia PC Suite software, which enable synchronization between a phone and a local PC.