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.
