Those hoping for a Microsoft mobile phone may need to settle, instead, for a planned online application store for handsets running Windows.

It seems Microsoft won't launch either a Windows handset akin to the Apple-owned iPhone or Google's Android, or a break-through new version of Windows Mobile at this month's Mobile World Congress, so you take your comfort where you can find it.

Details were sketchy, and Microsoft was unable to provide further information at time of going to press.

The report emerged two days after a home page went live for a planned - and already announced - online service for use by Windows mobile phones.

The service was not actually available, but Microsoft did cough up a few details.

The MyPhone beta site said Microsoft's service would let you back up and restore your phone's information to a password-protected web site, access and update your contacts and appointments through your web account, and share photos on your phone.

There are limits, and it's not clear whether this is down to the fact that this is a beta service. You will only get 200Mb of free storage and the service won't save anything over that. You'll get an error message on your phone and alert as you approach the storage limit. ®

Related stories

• Microsoft's answer to MobileMe goes public (19 May 2009)
• Windows app store breaks old ground for Microsoft (11 March 2009)
• Microsoft just wants to be touched (16 February 2009)
• Microsoft goes retail with own shops (13 February 2009)
• Analysis Microsoft cuts 5,000 jobs - but Ballmer's hiring (23 January 2009)
• Ballmer resets recession, preps for 100,000 troops (23 January 2009)
• Microsoft mobile services and Windows Mobile due next month? (20 January 2009)
• Ballmer's big regret at 10: Losing the interwebs (16 January 2009)