In-depth plans for Microsoft's SkyBox sync service have been leaked, according to anonymous sources said to be "well-connected" to the matter. A v1.0 beta of the service is expected to go live in mid-February, and provide basic backup, restore, management and sharing functions for cellphone data. The service should also be free, due to an advertising-laced web portal.
Microsoft is poised to use February's Mobile World Congress to unveil a set of online mobile services that would be its own equivalents to Apple's Internet components for the iPhone. In addition to confirming the existence of SkyMarket, a dedicated app store for Windows Mobile devices, alleged sources for Neowin claim Microsoft will use the phone show to introduce SkyBox, a mobile sync service to backup and share calendars, contacts, e-mail and photos between devices not unlike Apple's MobileMe.
