Playing catch-up
With Microsoft's new PC operating system - Windows 7 - due to arrive on 22 October, poor old Windows Mobile (its OS for mobile phones) has become somewhat over-looked.
Today, however, Microsoft announced it will be globally launching the latest version of Windows Mobile on 6 October. Microsoft hasn't changed enough to move to a whole new generation, so we get a refresh called Windows Mobile 6.5.
In fact, Windows 7 isn't the only thing overshadowing its little sibling. Apple's iPhone has taken the consumer smartphone market by storm and RIM's Blackberry continues to dominate the business smartphone space.
On top of that, most traditional Windows Mobile handset makers, like HTC, are starting to favour Google's Android, and even supposed allies can't wait to produce their own Linux based smartphone OS.
So Microsoft has better get its act together in the mobile phone market or it risks becoming an irrelevance.
"A Windows phone gives people a single phone that works for their whole life, keeping them connected to the people and information they care most about by harnessing the power of the PC, phone and Web," marketed Todd Peters, VP of the mobile communications marketing group at Microsoft. That should do the trick.
Here's a summary of some new stuff in version 6.5 mentioned by Microsoft:
- New interface
- Better browsing
- Access to Windows Marketplace for Mobile and Microsoft My Phone
- Built-in Adobe Flash Lite support
- Customisable widgets
Here's a screenshot of the Windows Mobile 6.5 home screen.
