Windows Mobile app store rival imminent

We’re very much in love with the concept of online stores, digital distribution and downloadable content, so it’s ultra-exciting to hear leaked details on Microsoft’s forthcoming App Store competitor, tentatively dubbed SkyServices.

That’s not Sky telly, of course. This new online WinMo application store has been revealed as Windows Mobile’s Steve Ballmer gears up to give a speech at Mobile World Congress next month - though just like his CES speech, the contents of his address have been leaked out.

It seems Microsoft is looking to use the event to launch three new mobile services. SkyMarket is the big one for pocket gamers, as this is the service that will rival Apple’s App Store - providing on-handset access to thousands of WinMo apps.

Naturally this service will be fully equipped from the get-go (what with all the Windows Mobile applications and games already out there), which could give Microsoft a head start on the similar, yet significantly less populated, Android Marketplace system that’s also gearing up for commercial launch.

There’ll also be SkyBox, offering a similar online sync system to Apple’s struggling and bugged MobileMe cloud, while SkyLine will provide a corporate extension of the same service.

In all likelihood these are just development codenames, and rebranding will probably bring the new Windows Mobile operations in line with Microsoft’s current naming conventions - probably Windows Live.

One way or another, this could provide the springboard for a resurgence in WinMo gaming, which would be very welcome indeed.