Microsoft opens up Live Mesh data sharing network

Microsoft has opened up its Live Meshcloud computing data sharing service to anyone with a Windows Live ID.

The new service, originally only open to users by invitation, allows participants to quickly access pictures, documents, video and other data stored across multiple machines in different locations.

Live Mesh uses the internet as a data hub, synchronising files across computers, phones and other devices.

At the moment it only supports Windows clients, but the Mac system and other formats will be supported in the future.

Any US user can now sign in for the service by going to the www.mesh.com site and signing in with their Windows Live ID.

Microsoft said international users can sign in by spoofing their systems to appear as a US machine.

Users choosing this option though could interfere with other applications on their machine which require native country settings, warned Microsoft.