Microsoft's HealthVault gets Facebook authentication, mobile phone support

Microsoft is continuing to flesh out its HealthVault electronic medical records service with new features and functionality.

As of late May, Microsoft began supporting HealthVault on mobile devices, allowing them quick access to their stored medical information on their phones when they go to the HealthVault.com site.

The HealthVault team also has built client libraries and a software development kit (SDK) for Windows Phone 7 for developers who are interested in building standalone HealthVault applications. As of the end of May, Microsoft was promising iOS and Android versions of the libraries and SDK will be available "within weeks."

Microsoft also is allowing users to sign into HealthVault using their Facebook credentials (in addition to using OpenID as an authentication option). As Microsoft officials explained in a blog post:

"It’s important to note that this does NOT mean that HealthVault information will show up on your wall! Today, data only moves from Facebook to HealthVault, not the other way around --- we use your name, birthdate, etc. from Facebook to populate the HealthVault signup form, but that’s it."

Microsoft also recently added the ability for users to upload and download medical images, including X-rays, ultrasounds and MRIs, from the HealthVault Connection Center.

Microsoft launched the beta of HealthVault in 2007 and went “live” with the HealthVault service in September 2009. Earlier this year, Microsoft moved the Health Solutions Group into the Microsoft Business Solutions organization headed by Corporate Vice President Kirill Tatarinov. Microsoft’s HealthVault personal-health-record service, as well as the Amalga integration and analysis products are now in the same business unit as Dynamics CRM and Dynamics ERP products.