Unfortunately for those on the hunt for nitty-gritty details, the headline here just about says it all. In a shockingly vague release from
Microsoft, the Redmond-based giant has announced that the first batch of
Windows Mobile 6.5 handsets will launch on October 6th, or around three weeks after its
Zune HD. If we're reading this correctly, it looks as if this round of cellies will be the first to be called "Windows phones," and aside from promising "new customer experiences" and superior browsing capabilities, they'll also feature Windows Marketplace for Mobile (an
app store), Microsoft My Phone (a backup service) and Office Mobile. As for what phones we'll see, all we're told is that HTC, HP, LG, Samsung, Toshiba, Sony Ericsson and a few other big time players are onboard, with just about every carrier in the world (save for T-Mobile USA) also voicing their support.
[Via
MobileTechWorld]
Update: AT&T has informed us that starting on September 14th, customers with Wi-Fi-enabled Windows Mobile smartphones and unlimited / other qualifying data plans will receive unlimited access to AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots nationwide.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
crawcraw @ Sep 1st 2009 10:34AM
Is this what vzw is waiting on to release TP2 & Omnia 2? One would hope.
pieboy @ Sep 1st 2009 11:18AM
hopefully the touch pro2 on at&t is being delayed for the same reason
mappo @ Sep 1st 2009 5:59PM
Does 6.5 support 16 million colors? Limiting the Omnia 2's OLED display to 65K colors is a crime.
Disco Ball @ Sep 1st 2009 11:47AM
Sorry, i used WinMo 6,0/6.1 with pointUI running on it on my sch-i760 for over 2 years. I am holding out for the Storm 2, not another overpromised, under delivered WinMo OS.
Derp @ Sep 2nd 2009 12:23AM
6.5 is a lot more usable out of the box, but you're right it's nothing worth holding out for.
Peter F @ Sep 1st 2009 1:26PM
Why would I use wifi? I've had my tilt over 2 years and never needed to hook it up to Wifi. If I drop down to edge, it's not the end of the world. More bars more places, right guys?
Walletless @ Sep 1st 2009 2:22PM
I visited the AT&T store last night, and the rep told me that Touch Pro2 and Diamond 2 are due to release October 6, which, coincidentally, is the same date WM 6.5 is releasing. I am quite certain these phones will be available with WM 6.5 on it, unlike other carriers that launched with WM 6.1 and "plan" to release an update later. The rep also told me that they have not received a firm pricing update, but it will be "somewhere around $200".. compete with $99 iPhone???
This article says Toshiba is also on board... Wonder if Toshiba TG01 is on tap :)
DeadShawn @ Sep 2nd 2009 3:16AM
I wonder when the Marketplace will go live. Hopefully a bit before the release so all of us with custom roms get a chance to play around with it.
Michel Merlin @ Sep 2nd 2009 9:54AM
Clearer releases please MS
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I read that MS is releasing WinMo 6.5 on 06 Oct 2009, an upgrade in Feb 2010, a WinMo 7 in Oct 2010 that will compete with iPhone while WinMo 6.5 will continue to sell and compete Android, and that WinMo 6.5 will have a new Pocket IE called "Internet Explorer Mobile 6", and a new Pocket Office (with undisclosed name and number).
So people will be fooled into believing that WinMo 6.0 and 6.1 devices will have the new IE "6", or hesitate (and possibly mistake) buying a device with 6.5 or 7.
Microsoft would be clearer and more successful IMO by following these changes I submit them:
- On 06 Oct 2009, name "MIE6.5" (Mobile Internet Explorer 6.5) its browser, and "MOF6.5" (Mobile Office 6.5) its Mobile business suite
- Drop any intermediate upgrade in Feb 2010 or else (MS does have its bad sides, but one very good has been for 3 decades to consistently issue *few* versions but well prepared in marketing *and in product*, which makes a clear version history, a clear product line, and, despite competitors' hype, more reliable products)
- Come in Oct 2010 with WinMo 7 as announced, but make it *what customers except*, i.e. a *successor* to 6.5, able at the same time to compete with iPhone and Android. And of course name it and its browser and business suite "WinMo 7.0" (Windows Mobile 7.0), "MIE7.0" and "MOF7.0". The "7.0" is important: if they call it just "7", then when new releases come (e.g. "7.1"), then bad vendors will use it to sell "7" items as still up-to-date. Deceiving customers is NOT in the interest of Microsoft.
Versailles, Wed 02 Sep 2009 15:53:10 +0200