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Microsoft Prepping SkyBox, MobileMe Rival

Techtree News Staff, Jan 20, 2009 1157 hrs IST

Microsoft is rumored to be launching three new services: SkyBox, SkyLine, and SkyMarket at the Mobile World Congress

As per Neowin, Microsoft is preparing to launch three new mobile services at the Mobile World Congress event at Barcelona next month. Microsoft is expected to roll out the mobile version of Windows Live Mesh services. This Mesh will include an Apple MobileMe like syncing service based on cloud, an App Store clone, and the business version of the above-mentioned cloud-based syncing service - dubbed as SkyBox, SkyMarket and SkyLine, respectively.

Microsoft's Azure platform, a cloud services based eco-system for developers, was announced back in October 2008. Now, it is rumoured that three new services based on the Azure platform is being launched by Microsoft's Windows Live team.

First is a mobile syncing service dubbed the SkyBox, a rival of Apple's MobileMe. SkyBox will allow the syncing of phone information like Contacts, Email, SMS, Calendar, Images, and Videos to a cloud server with automatic backup and restore function. The real kicker expected is that the SkyBox service will also be available for non-Windows Mobile OS based phones. If the SkyBox service turns into a reality, then let's hope that it doesn't suffer from the hiccups that MobileMe suffered, and those syncing horrors.

Second is the SkyMarket, about which we had reported last year in September; it is an Apple App Store rip off and is being promoted as a third party application/content selling marketplace. Whether SkyMarket would have OTA (Over the Air) access and download support still remains a mystery.

Next is the SkyLine, which is the business version of SkyBox and includes hosting support with the Microsoft Exchange configuration.

Paul Thurrott dug out more information on SkyMarket and found two job postings that related to the SkyBox and SkyLine.

One of the posts by the Director, Microsoft Office Communications - Services said:

"You will also work closely with the SkyLine, SkyMarket, and SkyBox teams as well as with the Office Live team to ensure that we are leveraging all the resources across Microsoft."

Microsoft is also expected to unveil Windows Mobile 6.5 with the new UI at the Mobile World Congress scheduled next month.