Microsoft’s Live Mesh is designed to connect and synchronise multiple devices and applications. Trademark courtesy of Microsoft Corp.

A new web-based service called Live Mesh has been launched by Microsoft which is designed to connect and synchronise multiple devices and applications.

The company’s new service, that will sync all of a user’s devices and applications to produce a seamless framework, was unveiled at the Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco, running from the 22-25 April.

Live Mesh is also designed to facilitate the sharing of media online between different users – for example photos and videos between family and friends.

Microsoft’s Amit Mital, General Manager of Live Mesh, said it would “connect and bring devices together… to work in concert”.

He said: “Devices are how we interact in this new ‘web-connected’ world and we use a variety of them, including PCs, laptops, media devices, phones, digital picture frames, game consoles, music players and the list grows at every Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

“However, as we discover, adopt and use more of these digital devices, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep the people, information and applications we depend on in sync.”

Users will have 5GB of personal online storage and unlimited peer-to-peer data, for synchronising information between devices.

While initially offered for Windows XP and Vista users, Microsoft has said Live Mesh will also be rolled out to Apple Macs and other platforms.

This announcement comes as Microsoft is engaged in a bid to buy rival Yahoo! and emphasises just how important the web has become to the firm. Microsoft has long been criticised for its unfocused efforts in the online space and for attempting to tie the use of Windows to the web.