Wednesday, Apr 23, 2008    Text size: 

The move is seen by analysts as an outline of the computer giant's next-generation strategy for serving the needs of an increasingly tech-savvy and connected user base.

According to its website, Live Mesh "puts you at the center of your digital world, seamlessly connecting you to the people, devices, programs, and information you care about — available wherever you happen to be."

Microsoft hopes that Live Mesh will eliminate the user's reliance on being where the data is by transcending the process of running software and storing data from the desktop to "the cloud."

Initially targeting Windows XP and Vista users, Microsoft gave a nod to its competitors in the marketplace of serving consumers' data and electronic entertainment needs by hinting that all devices, including PCs, and soon, Macs and mobile phones, will be able to work together to give users anywhere access to their information.

The need for Live Mesh is easy to understand, according to Live Mesh General Manager, Amit Mital.

"Devices are how we interact in this new 'web connected' world and we use a variety of them, including PCs, laptops, media devices, phones, digital picture frames, game consoles, music players and the list grows at every CES," Mital said. "However, as we discover, adopt and use more of these digital devices, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep the people, information and applications we depend on in sync."

The new technology will be a boon to workers and consumers in our increasingly mobile society who are struggling to work with multiple devices, data sources and applications.

"There have been countless times where I've been in a situation where 'that file is on my work machine' or 'that photo is on my SmartPhone' or 'I can't access it because I'm offline'" Mital added.