Microsoft Set to Launch New Mobile Services and OS
Microsoft may be set to launch three brand new mobile offers at the World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona next month. Building on Ray Ozzie’s Idea of Software Plus Service platform These offerings will incorporate a software on the phone and cloud based storage and sync to pull it all together.
According to Neowin the offerings will break down like this
“SkyBox” is a service for users to sync a phones information with the web. Microsoft will be offering automatic backup and restore services, access and management of phone data and provide easy communication and sharing with others. The service will also allow syncing of contacts, email/SMS, calendar items and pictures into the cloud, similar to Apple’s MobileMe. The difference from Apple’s offering is Microsoft could be set to offer this out to non Windows Mobile devices.
“SkyLine” will be aimed at small businesses. Offering similar functionality to SkyBox, businesses will be able to setup their phones with Microsoft’s Exchange hosting with their own domain names.
“SkyMarket” was originally discovered in September 2008 when Microsoft advertised several external job positions. SkyMarket is the codename for Microsoft’s mobile marketplace, a competitor to Apple’s AppStore and RIM’s Blackberry application center. This service will only be available on Windows Mobile devices and will showcase the 1000s of Windows Mobile applications available today.
Microsoft is also expected to unveil the much anticapated Windows Mobile 6.5 at the MWC. It was rummored in November that 6.5 was being tested by device partners and would be unveiled in 2009 Q1. Little details are available on the 6.5 upgrade but sources say that the honeycomb web start menu is genuine.
Microsoft mobile is in desperate need of a update as those loyal to platform are looking geriatric comparatively to the iphone friends.
