If there’s any doubt that services are moving to the mobile Web to be delivered through the cloud, look no further than Microsoft Corp.’s plans to unveil three new cloud services at next month’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
The services, likely to be expansions to the Windows Live Web applications suite, will let users back up their phone data in the cloud, sync with e-mail, and allow over-the-air access to an applications market, according to reports.
Sure, there’s a competitive driver for all of this: Rival Apple Inc. already offers the MobileMe cloud service, which automatically sends new e-mail, contacts and calendar events to desktops, iPhones and iPod Touches. Meanwhile, a mobile version of Google Apps allow them to be tapped with smartphones. But Microsoft, which announced the Azure cloud computing platform in October, has been slow to move to mobile SaaS for these core functionalities. When the market leader throws its weight behind a trend, it’s best to pay attention.
Microsoft is also expected to unveil a much-anticipated Windows Mobile 6.5 in Barcelona.
