My Phone Mobile Service in Beta
Microsoft has been inviting all of its users to test out the My Phone platform – it’s answer to Apple’s MobileMe service. The basic premise behind the My Phone beta is the syncing of information between users Windows Mobile 6.0 and 6.1 and the web. The idea being that it will pave the way for photo sharing, backups and always on social networking tools. (Yes that’s the ones that earn loads of money from the Mobile companies when users are using data)
The Redmond Giant’s strategy is slowly coming into view with this new release. The key aspect of the service is a password protected area on the web were all of the users phone data can be backed up to. This ensures that should you lose your old Nokia phone, or swap it, there will be no more long evenings of bluetoothing all the data from one phone to the other. A key benefit is the ability to change the data whilst it is stored on the web and re-sync this with the mobile handset. The ability to share photos and other content from their phones via their web space is another bonus.
Initially the My Phone system will be free to users, but we are led to believe that this will not always be the case. Conversely Apple charge a whopping $99 per year for access to MobileMe; although this does include 20gb of storage in contrast to Microsoft’s 200mb (n ot exactly enough for the music collection now is it?). Having said that last time we looked server space could be found for $10 per year or less, so what makes up the other $89?
Following the launch of the My Phone service Microsoft are looking to again follow in the footsteps of Apple and launch an apps store in the fourth quarter of this year. Initially there will be 20,000 apps available, of which over two thirds will be squarely aimed at consumers.
