Microsoft preparing 'My Phone' cloud service

Microsoft appears poised to officially unveil a Web-based service that will let users store, share and back up data from their mobile phones.

That's provided the phones run Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6 operating system. The service will be available only as a limited beta to start with.

Details of Microsoft's impending 'My Phone' service slipped out inadvertently when the Web site went live ahead of its scheduled debut. The site appears to have been spotted first by Engadget Mobile, which also referred to the service as 'SkyBox'.

According to the Microsoft My Phone site, the service will let users back up and restore their phone's data; access contacts and scheduling information; and share photos. Users will get 200MB of free storage, but a synchronisation attempt that exceeds the limit will cut off any files beyond the 200MB mark.

CNET UK sister site ZDNet.com got confirmation of the upcoming My Phone launch from Microsoft. In a statement, the company said: "We are excited about the new Microsoft My Phone service, which will be available as a limited, invite-only beta. This is a significant milestone for Microsoft as it connects the phone to the PC and Web, making mobility a key pillar for the company's software-plus-services strategy."

More details about the service are due at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona later this month.

Last month, Microsoft's top Windows Mobile executive, Andy Lees, said the company would be using the Barcelona event to unveil the first steps in a renewed mobile-phone strategy, including services that help connect phones to the PC and Web.

"You are going to see a bunch of announcements at Mobile World Congress but also it is going to be the beginning of a 12-, 18-month period where you are going to see a whole bunch of different stuff," Lees said.

Microsoft is also expected to provide additional information about Windows Mobile 6.5, and people are hoping for information about a possible mobile apps store called 'Skymarket'.

Last week, Microsoft said that it has no plans to make a phone.