Microsoft set to unveil new Windows Mobile services

According to Neowin, Microsoft is planning to unveil three new mobile services at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona next month. The software giant is allegedly aiming to move your mobile data into the cloud and rival Apple’s MobileMe service. The three services will be called Skybox, Skyline and the already well rumoured Skymarket. Microsoft is also expected to unveil Windows Mobile 6.5 at the MWC. Little details are available on the 6.5 upgrade Neowin tell us that those leaked 6.5 screenshots we saw previously are genuine concept shots for the honeycomb web start menu. More after the break.

“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.