I'm not so sure this delay is all that significant. Personally I don't see the future of Windows Mobile resting on Microsoft's hands as much as I see it resting with OEMs such as HTC. It is the OEMs who are making all the advancements in the UI of the devices they develop. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Microsoft completely merge their Windows Mobile team with the CE team and offer an OS with a basic GUI and the manufactures then continue to develop their own interfaces as they are beginning to do now. Let's face it, up till a couple of years ago one Windows Mobile device wasn't much different from another with the same OS and GUI...very boring. NOw we are seeing lots of different UI's, giving the platform a lot more variety.