Begining February 13th of 2013, Microsoft will be retiring Windows Live Mesh in favor of SkyDrive. Microsoft first released Windows Live Mesh beta back in late 2008 and it was used to keep files in sync and to remotely access a PC.
Unlike similar services such as Dropbox and Microsoft’s own SkyDrive, Live Mesh allowed you to synchronise existing folders, rather than having to drop files into dedicated sharing bins.
So while Windows Live Mesh was at one point used by a few million people, most have made the move and there are now less than 25,000 active users of Windows Live Mesh. As a result, we’re announcing today that Windows Live Mesh will be officially retired on February 13, 2013, and we’re starting to communicate with the remaining Mesh users and provide a set of instructions on how to keep their files in sync and alternative options for some of the features they’re still using. Microsoft stated in an official blog post.
SkyDrive is projected as the viable option to move on to and existing Windows Live Mesh users will be reached out through email on how to migrate. Microsoft here aims to bring together the DNA of Mesh and integrate it into SkyDrive and create a single set of services with diversified features and sync options.
SkyDrive has grown from a single website to a versatile cloud storage service with a new HTML5 website and apps for Windows, Windows Phone, Android, iPhone, iPad, and now Xbox 360.
This is the third service that’s retired in just a couple of months, as Microsoft has also announced that it would pull the plug on Windows Live Messenger and Silverlight.net.
Windows Live Messenger will be shut down in early 2013 and all users would have to make the switch to Skype and its integrated Messenger, as the company tries to mix the two platforms and thus provide a much more reliable and effective instant messaging solution.
Vaibhav Tayal
A Computer Science Engineering graduate working with a leading IT Company. He is Microsoft Certified Professional and also earned some IBM certifications. He likes to spend time in software and website development, blogging, surfing for updates of mobile technology. Has passion for various Microsoft, open source and Database technologies.