Microsoft widens its Live Mesh web

Microsoft has opened up its Live Mesh service to anyone who has (or signs up for) a Windows Live ID. The service, announced in April, lets people share data among multiple Windows computers, as well as over the web.

The vision for Live Mesh is broader - envisioning people sharing data among Macs, PCs, and various devices, as well as opening up the possibility for desktop applications to add online components, and web apps to add offline components. For now, though, it's largely about file sync.

Microsoft is expected to add more features by its Professional Developer Conference in October.

Microsoft had been limiting Live Mesh sign-ups to those with an invitation but now it's open to anyone who wants to see it in its early stages.

The change was noted by Microsoft in its Live Mesh forums and spotted by Windows Live enthusiast site Liveside.Net.

Microsoft said: "The Live Mesh team is pleased to announce that anyone in the US can now use Live Mesh just by signing in to www.mesh.com with a valid Windows Live ID."

It also told international users they could get into the act by spoofing their systems into appearing to be US machines and then gave instructions on how to do so.

But Microsoft issued a warning. "Please be aware that this may cause other applications that specifically require your native country region and language settings to encounter problems," it said.

Original article: Microsoft opens up Live Mesh from CNET News.com