Microsoft is continuing to work on lowering costs amid the recession, and now as a new cost cutting move, the company has stopped paying for employee mobile data on personal non-Microsoft Windows Mobile powered devices.

Until now, Microsoft would reimburse the monthly data costs for the iPhone, and BlackBerry devices. Microsoft will now only reimburse employees who have a Windows Mobile handset. However, not all Microsoft divisions are affected. We can confirm that Razorfish (a Microsoft advertising agency) will not be affected and those employees will continue to be reimbursed for any mobile phone they choose to use, including the new iPhone 3G S and the Palm Pre.

It is not surprising that Microsoft has decided to stop reimbursing employees who use competitive handsets. Very few companies even reimburse employees for use of a personal phone to begin with.