Windows Mobile 6.5 at MWC 2009Rather than a quantum leap in technology, the upcoming Windows Mobile (WM) 6.5 focuses on improving the user experience as well as introducing new consumer services. At a press conference in Barcelona during Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2009, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer took the stage and showed what the new mobile operating system is all about.
There were three major announcements made today. Windows Mobile 6.5 will be available in Q3 2009Acocrding to Prithvi Raj, product manager for WM, the three most frequently accessed information on a mobile phone are time, appointments and message notifications. The new Home screen on WM 6.5 puts these on the front display in a tabbed format for easy viewing. The new honeycomb Start menu is also customizable, allowing users to put the most used apps at the top.Another major improvement is the new Internet Explorer Mobile which supports flash animation and features a new rendering engine. It was originally expected to be shipped with Windows Mobile 6.1, but delays have resulted in some vendors bundling Opera Mobile on recent handsets instead. The new version of Internet Explorer will offer some of the features of Opera, including zoom function and finger scrolling. When asked if the delay and subsequent adoption have hurt Microsoft's chances at the mobile Internet browser market, Ballmer was confident that once WM 6.5 rolls out, users will return to using Internet Explorer. At this time, Silverlight is not supported on Microsoft's mobile browser. For more details on the new operating system, click on our roundup of the new features in WM 6.5. Microsoft My PhoneThe cost of losing or damaging a mobile phone is typically more than the cost of the hardware. Losing contacts, emails, text messages, photos, etc., is a painful experience. Moreover, synchronizing information between the mobile and desktop is limited to email, appointment and contact information even with Microsoft Exchange Server.The new My Phone online service allows users to upload up to 200MB of data to the Web. They can backup contacts, calendar, tasks, text messages, photos, videos and document files which can be easily restored to a new phone. The synchronization allows multiple handsets to be used concurrently, great for those with more than one mobile line. Though it is integrated into WM 6.5, WM 6.1 users will be able to download a client to enjoy the same service once it is launched. Windows MarketplaceThe Apple iPhone has brought about awareness of the usefulness of an online app store for the average consumer who may not be technically savvy enough to install programs via a PC on his handset. The new Windows Marketplace provides the same service as an alternative avenue for software installation on Windows phones. There were no details on the type of applications or pricing, but more information will be forthcoming closer to launch.So which handsets will be first with WM 6.5? Unfortunately, no product announcements were made with regard to this, though there is a small concession. The latest HTC Touch Diamond2 and Touch Pro2 as well as the LG GM730, which were launched at MWC 2009, are WM 6.5-ready and will receive a free upgrade from WM 6.1 once Microsoft launches its new mobile operating system. Tags: HTC Touch, Microsoft Windows Mobile, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Windows, High Tech Computer Corp.
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