Microsoft has fleshed out its 'software plus services' strategy by unveiling its new online service, Live Mesh, designed to synchronise users' data across multiple PCs and mobile devices.

Users will be able to register for the service, adding devices to their personal 'mesh'; any files placed into the Mesh folder on those devices will then be automatically synched.

The project is deliberately not focused on consumers or enterprises exclusively, insisted Mike Zintel, product unit manager, Mesh and storage platform at Microsoft. "We rejected this early and focused on adding value to individuals: people who may work in enterprises and belong to multiple organisations," he wrote on his blog.

"The coolest thing about Live Mesh is how it smashes the abrupt mental switch that I have to make today as I move between being 'on the web' and 'in an application'," he added.

Currently there is a 5GB limit on how much can be stored in the cloud, and the system only works for Windows XP and Vista clients – although Microsoft has promised a multitude of devices, including Mac-based ones will be supported soon.