Microsoft Live Mesh: Putting The "Cloud" To Work For Data Mobility

OK, the title is a bit misleading in that Microsoft's Live Mesh infrastructure becomes a centralized holding pen for all manner of non-transactional information saved by Mesh subscribers. So, from one perspective data is centralized which can lead some people to think its immobile. However, the true outcome is that Mesh subscribers can employ any device across any network or nearly any latency state to access and use their data. Yes, use as in read, enter, manipulate, change, update, delete and save back to their Mesh data pen in the "cloud." It is the extraordinary degree to mobility facilitated by Mesh that distinguishes it from other like services.

One major platform differentiator for Live Mesh is that Microsoft chose to use REST for data packaging and transference. This is a critical and differentiating technology decision by Microsoft. Other services, whether consumer or Enterprise oriented have followed a different path, making integration and/or the development of complementary functionality or applications more challenging. Today, Mesh is still verbose in terms of its templates and XML editing interfaces, but the "soon to come" pictures depict an Mesh programming world that is driven by graphical metaphors.

Mesh is a platform and process that flows from Lotus/Groove creator Ray Ozzie's mind. For those who had (are) used Groove, Mesh employs similar language, but really delivers on the richness of experience that I for one expected as a Groove user. Add to that the multi-device flexibility of Mesh and the reality one though one might experience with Groove is now at hand.

There's much buzz these days about "cloud computing." The term needs to be clarified as it lends itself to too many bad interpretations. First of all, references to "cloud" anything in It are meant for consumption by techy/geeky types who are deeply interested in the "how to" of technology. End user a.k.a. consumer a.k.a. people are distinctly disinterested in the term "cloud." In fact, beyond being a misleading technical metaphor (I'll get to this in another entry), it conjures images as varied and ultimately dangerous to the project of proselytizing as insubstantial, airy and ineffectual to a classic reference to the vapid musing of Socrates according to Aristophanes.

With Live Mesh, the the truth of the matter is that it changes the way anyone can work with nearly any data, as the data is where you are, where you were and were you will be. That's the key! In the end, its the information cloud that is your companion. You need not carry or pack it, but its there.

I guess its fair to say that I'm impressed with Live Mesh. The platform's capabilities comport with the views on application portability and data mobility this analyst has been speaking about for 5 years or more. Kudos to Microsoft and kudos to those who have come together under that roof to deliver this service.