Microsoft looking to the cloud with Windows Mobile 6.5?
Ok Windows Mobile fans, it looks like you might actually see something new emerge from the fray at Mobile World Congress next month worth getting excited about. According to neowin’s “sources close to Microsoft”, Redmond is planning to take the wraps off a trio of cloud-based offerings set to compete with the likes of MobileMe and the App Store. Coming alongside Windows Mobile 6.5, which Microsoft is also expected to unveil at MWC, apparently Microsoft’s new mobile solutions will provide more all-inclusive offerings compared to its current PIM-centric Exchange services and app-hunting options. Reportedly codenamed SkyBox, Skyline and SkyMarket, details of the services are as follows:
SkyBox – Remote mobile syncing of contacts, Email/SMS, calendar items and images along with automatic backup and restore services (oh yes, the carriers are going to love OTA backup and restore functions).
SkyLine – Similar to SkyBox but tweaked for enterprise. Includes Exchange integration and custom domains.
SkyMarket – A mobile marketplace to compete with the likes of the App Store.
We don’t doubt that each of these services are on the way but we also sincerely hope Microsoft has a few tricks up its sleeve for MWC. Constant complaints of the company’s mobile OS being behind the times aren’t going to be eliminated with a simple game of catch up – Redmond needs to mix in some solid innovation with services like these in order to gain acclaim and garner interest once again. Come on Ballmer & Co… Show us something sexy.
About sky market… Are they just gonna transfer the thousands of already made windows mobile apps into it? Or are they gonna launch it the way apple/google did?
skybox? Live Mesh already exists and it works with windows mobile…
MS can be so confusing, at times it seems like they are 15 different companies with just a name to tie them together. I think their main issue is that they need real cohesiveness among brand name and products.
@Chris – agreed, Mesh is still in beta but hopefully the final branding will just be Mesh instead of adding all these other names, Mesh is already a great product and a good name. They will dilute the brand if they keep adding product names.
Live Mesh is NOT live yet. It’s still in beta and you can’t sync a phone with it.
I hope this works with the iPhone. It’s about time someone makes a sync platform that works well with ms products and live services.
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).
This reminds me too much of skynet – and we all know what happened with that…..
The WM software isn’t behind. It’s actually more powerful than most on the market.
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Huntsville AL, 35816
Completely agree.
@Josh
Yes, Windows Mobile Live Mesh is live and working (albeit in Beta form). I’ve been using it for probably over a month now. It even upgrades itself OTA. I wouldn’t be w/o it. There have been sever times that it has allowed me access to documents that I wouldn’t have had space for on my 8GB microSD (which happens to be mainly consumed with music and movies).
@wack…er…zach
“Show us something sexy”???
Dude take a cold shower or find a ho. Phones are not females. They are plastic devices that give off cellular radiation.
This phone addiction ‘yall have is unhealthy, but hey… Whatever turns you on…
I’d try 6.5 on my Fuze…
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).
This would be great if launched/advertised the right way.
I guess the upcoming launch of the Palm Pre has caused MS to pre release information, I thought MS version of the Cloud and app store were going to be released with Mobile 7. MS Cloud and app store will have to come out guns blazing, iphone has a decent get-up and Palm’s Synergy along with the App Catalog (app Store) will set the standard.