Last month we exclusively revealed that Microsoft is due to unveil some exciting new services for Windows Mobile in a couple of weeks time.
Mary Jo Foley has done some digging and has discovered that Microsoft's MobileMe competitor, Skybox, is based on the Mobicomp synchronization technologies that the company acquired when they purchased Mobicomp in the summer of 2008.
Skybox, version 1.0 is expected to be free, supported by an adverts driven web portal. The beta will begin in mid February and will allow users to back-up and restore their data; manage content; and share that content with other users.
According to Foley "By summer 2009, Microsoft is planning to field the 1.5 version of the Skybox service. The 1.5 release will come in two flavors, if Microsoft sticks to its current plan: a free Skybox standard service and a subscription-based Skybox premium service. The 1.5 service will be available on Windows Mobile 6.1, 6.5 and a select few non-Windows-Mobile phones."
Microsoft will eventually hit Skybox 2.0 which "is designed to allow users to manage their mobile devices from the Web; they will be able to change ringtones, backgrounds and manage their mobile apps, music and video all from the cloud, sources said. Version 2.0 will integrate with Skymarket, providing users with a way to buy and store applications and application data on remote servers. Supposedly, with Skybox 2.0, Microsoft also figures out how to integrate Windows Live services and Live Mesh with Skybox."
According to Neowin's own sources, "SkyMarket" is now SkyMart. Only two weeks to go until we find out a bit more. Stay tuned.
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