Details on Microsoft's Outlook Live Service Surface

A few days ago, we learned that Microsoft had unveiled a new service aimed at providing data synchronization for its mobile phone users, namely the MyPhone, also known as the Skybox phone service. The company also stated that it planned to officially announce the service at the upcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

A newly leaked Windows Mobile 6.5 ROM shows that the My Phone (Skybox) is included with the new platform, along with another sync service for mobile phone users, Outlook Live, meant for e-mail syncing. According to the latest news on the Web, the Outlook Live seems to be the branding of the earlier announced Skyline service.

The Outlook Live (Skyline) service seems to be targeted at small-business customers who need to put in place a managed e-mail solution, so as to consolidate their home and work e-mail accounts. It seems that the new service will come with push e-mail, contacts and calendar item capabilities for both personal and work accounts.

At the same time, Outlook Live should enable users to access photos and other e-mail attachments, while also allowing them to view and edit Office documents. Moreover, users will be able to access Outlook Live information through their PC, via Web and phones, on an Office Live Web portal viewable in IE and Firefox. At the same time, the service will allow users to remotely wipe phones, so that the information on the devices is protected in case of theft or loss. At the same time, users will be able to easily set up a new phone with their contacts/data.

The new Outlook Live is expected to prove a competitor to RIM’s Blackberry Internet Service (BIS), as well as to other similar services. Microsoft is reported to plan on including Outlook Live Version 1.0 with Windows Mobile 6.1 devices in two steps. The company will start to make pieces of the Office Live software available as part of its Adaptation Kit Upgrade (AKU) for Windows Mobile 6.1 devices.

For the time being, Microsoft hasn't officially commented on the Skyline/Skybox/Skymarket services or on their launch at the MWC show in Barcelona next week, but there is a great chance that we will see them launched at the conference.