Windows Phones Now Available, 6.5 Officially Released

[Jon Westfall]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/windowsphone/default.aspx' target='_blank'>http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/...ne/default.aspx</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Microsoft today unveiled a new generation of phones from leading manufacturers and mobile operators that offer an intuitive user interface, powerful Web browsing, and access to an online library of downloadable services and applications. Windows&reg; phones - a new brand for phones running Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system - are now available in retail stores worldwide in a broad range of styles and prices. The new phones were shown at press events in New York, hosted by Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's Entertainment &amp; Devices Division, and in Paris, where Microsoft chief executive officer Steve Ballmer showed off the new Windows phones. They also announced the availability of two key services platforms for the new phones: My Phone and Windows Marketplace for Mobile. My Phone is a free service that helps people back up and manage photos, applications and other content from their phone or PC, as well as restore information in the event of a lost phone. Windows Marketplace for Mobile is an online library of business and leisure mobile applications - as well as games - that customers can buy and download directly to their phones."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/ppct/auto/1254845198.usr7.jpg" style="border: 0px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>Ladies and Gentlemen, it's official - Windows Mobile (the operating system) is now at version 6.5, and Windows Phones (the devices) are available. Now let's just hope all of us Dash 3G &amp; Touch Pro 2 (As well as other devices) owners get upgrades in a timely manner!</p>

[brianchris]

I am confused: Did the Windows Mobile *Standard* OS die? If not, are there any Windows Mobile 6.5 Standard devices announced (or released)? Everything I've seen regarding Windows Mobile 6.5 looks like it's Windows Mobile Professional (aka Pocket PC....touchscreen). Thanks for clarifying!

[Sven Johannsen]

No Win Mo Standard, i.e. phone without touch screen is still alive and well. Depending on where you are (live), there may not be such a device easily acquired. What does seem to have fallen off the table is Windows Mobile Classic, the non-phone version of the OS. Guess that should be clear with the branding chage to Windows Phone. Can easily support a Windows Phone in both touch and non-touch versions, but kind of tough to have a Windows phone, minus the phone, version.

By the Way, it should be obvious that NO-body wants a non-touch phone, because Apple isn't making one.

[brianchris]

lol about Apple.

Ya...after I posted that, I remebered that I think I heard somewhere that the Samsung Jack will get an upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.5, BUT that is all I've heard about non-touchscreen windows mobile 6.5 phones.

[Phillip Dyson]

lol about Apple.

Ya...after I posted that, I remebered that I think I heard somewhere that the Samsung Jack will get an upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.5, BUT that is all I've heard about non-touchscreen windows mobile 6.5 phones.

Its true that I believe Samsung has come out to say there will be an upgrade. Of course that could be 6 months from now.:(

[Darius Wey]

lol about Apple.

Ya...after I posted that, I remebered that I think I heard somewhere that the Samsung Jack will get an upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.5, BUT that is all I've heard about non-touchscreen windows mobile 6.5 phones.

The HTC Snap will be getting an upgrade as well. But yes, Professional seems to be dominating the scene at the moment, which is a shame because I think once you exclude all of the third-party UIs and add-ons, Standard is the better-looking OS.

[brianchris]

Thanks again for everyone's replies. Just to recap, while there are a few Windows Mobile Standard devices that WILL recieve upgrades to Windows Mobile 6.5 (so we know such an OS exists), there have been NO new Windows Mobile Standard 6.5 devices announced, and most of the feature improvements of 6.5 seem to be focused on the touchscreen models (honeycomb buttons for easier touchscreen interaction, etc.).

[karen]

Very interesting. Wonder what Telus will do if the move is to more Pro Phones? They only carried one, the Titan, and every time I went in there they told me that MS was moving away from touch phones because no one wanted them.

I guess Telus could keep pushing 3 year old technology on to customers, telling them that there's nothing better.