Moving personal data, program settings and installed software programs from your old PC to your new one may soon get simpler. Microsoft today acquired Apptimum who develop software for easy migration of software applications to new Windows XP computers.

Microsoft does not plan to continue selling the Alohabob products directly, but these likely will continue to be available for sale in the retail market for some time. Microsoft will release products based on the Apptimum technology in the future, and the first one is planned to be a downloadable product for customers of Windows Vista.

Alohabob eliminates the need for you to manually copy/move your personal data files to your new PC, re-install your old and familiar applications on your new PC. Alohabob also supports cross-version migration with Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, Outlook Express, and Netscape. Alohabob also has a color-coding system that helps you determine which applications can and can't be moved.

Update: Alohabob PC Relocator has been offline after Microsoft made the announcement.

Source: Microsoft Press Pass | Alohobob | Apptimum