Pocket PC Central News Center

According to Neowin, Microsoft will take the wraps off a new version of Windows Mobile, an over-the-air syncing service and an on-device software store at next month’s Mobile World Conference (MWC).

Windows Mobile 6.5 has long been expected to debut at MWC, and Neowin confirms that this is likely to happen and also says those leaked WM6.5 screenshots (seen left) that we first saw in November are, in fact, reflective of the new OS.

SkyBox is a wireless syncing service somewhat similar to Apple’s MobileMe.  With SkyBox you can sync your Windows Mobile handset’s contacts, email, photos, calendar entries, etc., with Microsoft Cloud-based services.  We’re not exactly sure how this will work, but such a service would be a great addition to the OS.  Neowin reports that SkyBox may also work with non-Windows Mobile devices.

SkyMarket will be a mobile marketplace for Windows Mobile applications, allowing users to find and install third-party software right from their handheld.

You should, of course, treat this information as rumor until it is confirmed by another source or until MWC gets going in February.

Microsoft is expected to announce its new Cloud-based OS later this month.  This ‘Windows Cloud’ OS (or whatever it comes to be called) could mean big things for Windows Mobile, depending on how it evolves.

The mobile market is moving quickly toward Cloud-based syncing, as seen by Apple’s MobileMe and Android’s Google-dependant wireless syncing.  We hope to see Microsoft move similarly, but without the hitches and lurches of MobileMe or the Google service dependency (at least at first) of Android.

Microsoft could build a new Cloud-based ActiveSync whose connections are entirely wireless, with syncing between Live services, Windows, Outlook and Windows Mobile devices, all without USB cables. The potential of this type of technology is incredible, and will affect data syncing, software distribution, online storage, mobile control, web-based applications and more.

We’ll keep you updated on the evolution of Windows Cloud over the coming months.  An official announcement is expected later this month.

Microsoft has released a beta of Phone Data Manager, a utility designed to backup select data on your Windows Mobile phone (or other SyncML/OBEX standard compliant handset) so you can restore it with ease.  The beta works both with Windows Live Contacts and a Windows PC to backup contacts, music, video and photos.

While Phone Data Manager isn’t exactly an all-in-one backup solution, it does offer some unique benefits.  Contacts are stored in the Cloud on Windows Live, while media files are stored in a folder on your Windows XP or Vista PC.  Aside from backing up contacts, Phone Data Manager is also a contacts sync solution to mirror contacts between Windows Mobile and Windows Live Contacts. 

This type of synchronization is the future of mobile and we hope to see more of it.  Unfortunately, this first beta only supports backup/sync via Bluetooth or USB cable, and Windows Mobile devices must use USB, at least for now.

Live Mesh is a platform with a lot of potential for Windows Mobile. There isn’t a Live Mesh client for Windows Mobile just yet, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use Mesh as a tool to help make WinMo more useful.  In our latest tutorial, we’ll show you how to use the service as it exists today to transfer files to your Windows Mobile device.

Read How to Transfer Files to Windows Mobile Using Live Mesh…

If you use Windows Live Hotmail, you’re probably aware that there’s a built-in calendar which allows you to plan events and access your schedule on the Web.  Until now, you could sync your Live Hotmail email and and contacts with Outlook using a free utility called Outlook Connector, but syncing your online calendar with your Outlook calendar required a paid subscription. However, a new version of Outlook Connector, v12.1 (which is currently in beta) allows you to sync your Live Hotmail email, contacts and calendar entries with Outlook for free.

Outlook Connector 12 requires Outlook 2003 or 2007, and of course, if you sync your Windows Mobile device with Outlook, your calendar entries will also be mirrored on your handheld.  We’ve been using it for a couple of days without a hitch, so if you’re interested, give it a try.

Microsoft’s Live Mesh is a service (and platform) we’re very excited about here at Pocket PC Central, so we’re very glad to see it continue to grow.  On Wednesday, Live Mesh opened itself to more users as a “Technical Preview,” and today the good folks at Mesh have unveiled a new way to access your files from a mobile device (Windows Mobile, iPhone, etc.).

By pointing your mobile browser to http://m.mesh.com you can view and manage the files you have stored and synced with Mesh, right from your handheld.  In addition to viewing the files on Mesh, the connection allows you to download, upload or even delete files and to view a list of users’ most recent Mesh activities (last files uploaded, folders created, etc.)  Plus, the connection is secure, so you don’t have to worry about a packet sniffer stealing your price-winning recipe for chocolate chip cookies.

There’s still no Windows Mobile client for Live Mesh, but we’re sure to see one.  Mesh is a fascinating platform which promises to make WinMo much more interesting over the coming years.  It’s all about the Cloud…

Microsoft’s Live Mesh, a Cloud-based file storage and syncing system, is out of beta and now labeled as a “Technical Preview” service, which basically means they’ve raised the number of users who can sign up for Mesh.

Over the coming weeks, Mesh will continue to be tweaked and improved.  One still-missing (but very welcome) feature is Windows Mobile support, which will allow you to sync and access stored files from a Windows Mobile handheld.

A totally Cloud-based, Mesh-like syncing solution would be an excellent addition to Windows Mobile 7, don’t you think?

QIK, a service which transforms camera phones into live, streaming webcams, is now available for a limited number of Windows Mobile handsets, including the Motorola Q 9h and BlackJack II.  Just install the software on your WinMo phone and you’re ready to broadcast your life, which can be viewed live via the QIK web site, or archived your repeat viewing.

Streaming live video from a handheld over your wireless carrier’s network will require a lot of throughput.  Best have an unlimited data plan before you decide to QIK-it.