Microsoft is jumping into the mobile cloud business with My Phone, which syncs contact and other information on a user’s mobile phone to a password-protected Web site where users can back up and restore phone data.
The My Phone site went live last week before its scheduled debut, and more information is expected at Mobile World Congress next week. In a statement, the company said My Phone 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,” the statement said.
According to Microsoft, My Phone helps people keep their information backed up if they lose or break their phones; transition information if they switch to new phones; and access the same information from their phone or PC. My Phone works only on phones that run the Windows Mobile 6+ operating system.
Microsoft says it does not charge a fee for the My Phone service “at this time.” But depending on a user’s data plan, he or she may be required to pay data-transfer fees.
Comparisons already are being made to Apple’s Mobile Me service, which generated more attention about mobile sync.