Microsoft's SkyBox Is Company's Answer to MobileMe

Next month at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Redmond is set to unveil its latest, er, homage to an Apple product: SkyBox. According to Microsoft watcher NeoWin, Microsoft will soon be announcing the cloud-based data system, which allows for syncing of contacts, calendars, and email between handheld device, computer, and the Internet. SkyBox is due to be a standard part of Windows Mobile 6.5, which is also set to debut at that same conference.

One major difference, however, is that this service could possibly be set to be used with other non-Windows Mobile devices. (iPhone, anyone?)

Apparently there will also be a set of other Microsoft services, such as SkyLine, which will be marketed as the same as SkyBox but for small businesses. (How exactly that will be different, beyond allowing businesses to use their own domain names, I have no idea.) Finally, there's also word that SkyMarket will be Microsoft's version of the App Store, letting users buy and install applications directly from their handheld.

I'm sorry if my prose is a bit flat. I just find it really hard to get excited about any of Microsoft's "me too" products.

[via Electronista]

This story, "Microsoft's SkyBox Is Company's Answer to MobileMe" was originally published by Macworld.