Google might very well be on the verge of making available its own health platform with Google Health beta, but Microsoft's very own HealthVault has been into beta stage since October 2007. In fact, the Redmond company is now cooking the evolution of its online health service. For this, Microsoft has inked a partnership with Mayo Clinic Health Solutions. The strategic agreement between the two companies will serve to a range of consumer health management tools.

"We are committed to finding new technology solutions that put the patient and consumer in control," said Dr. Brooks Edwards, chief medical officer, Mayo Clinic Health Solutions. "Our work with Microsoft is an exciting opportunity to create tools that empower the patient to be in the very center of their own healthcare environment."

As of now, the two companies have only managed to announced their partnership. Microsoft promised that more details will be made available by the end of 2008. In this context, it appears that end users will not be able to get their hands on the new management tools anytime soon. Microsoft did not specifically mention HealthVault, but it is clear that the new tools will have a role to play in the context of the company's health platform. Via HealthVault, Microsoft is already offering users a client application and, in this regard, additional health-related applications are also going to complement the service.

"Consumers demand and deserve tools that make their lives easier, facilitate communication, and help them take action to manage their health," said Peter Neupert, corporate vice president, Microsoft Health Solutions Group. "Building on the Microsoft HealthVault platform, our groups are committed to providing individuals with solutions that are dynamic, secure and focused on the needs of the user, in order to effectively improve health and well-being."