MICROSOFT CEO STEVE BALLMER has at long last officially launched Windows Mobile 6.5 software along with a new web synchronisation service and a mobile app store, Windows Marketplace, which the firm hopes will take a bite out of Apple.
So much had already been leaked about WM 6.5, the release itself was an anti-climax, with press being told an even more significant upgrade to the Mobile operating system, WM 7 would be announced either by the end of 2009 or early 2010.
Win Mob 6.5, which the Redmond Giant promises will run on a whole plethora of devices, has gotten itself a much needed facelift and now also supports touch-screen technology. Microsoft says that with the forthcoming iteration, it did its utmost to make the browsing experience as similar to actual PC Internet surfing as possible and the Vole reckons its done rather well on this front. The browser supports Flash Lite, wraps text for easier reading and can also display full web pages using a zoom in, zoom out feature.
The new interface boasts a lock screen, which shows users missed calls, messages, IMs, calendar entries and the time, as well as battery and signal strength icons all on the main home screen. The new Windows Phone homescreen shows - via small numbers next to each menu option - how many missed calls, voicemails and new emails there are, as well as access to photos and Web favourites.
People who currently run Windows Mobile 6.1 on their phones may even be able to push for a free upgrade from their handset vendor (like HTC for instance), depending on their phone model, according to Mightysoft.
As well as launching Windows Mobile 6.5, Microsoft also unveiled a 200MB back-up service for Windows Phone devices called MyPhone so users can upload all their photos, text messages, music and contact information to a central online database. Useful not only if you happen to lose your phone, but also if you want to keep those hot SMSs from the secretary, but not expose them to your wife as she scrolls through your texts one evening.
Ballmer predicting smartphones would grow to about 50 to 70 per cent of the market over the next few years, said "I don't want anybody to leave here with the smallest bit of confusion, we are very committed to mobile computing, bringing the same kind of long-term, persistent, tenacious vision and focus to windows for phones that we brought to Windows 7 and Windows Live". µ
Now we can enjoy blue screens of death or will it be rings of death on our celll phones too. Oh and did I mention viruses so they will probably come out with mobil norton because of it and bwith flash comming too you will need a mr fusion battery to run it because of all the resource hogging that is going to take place. Yeah they are going to screw up cell phones. I bet before long you will have to watch a flash based advert before you can recieve or place a call.
This is like watching the fat kid from elementary school race Usain Bolt.
The kid's getting closer and closer to the finish line even though the race has long since been over. Broadcasting this news is an embarrassment.
Hey Ballmer, how 'bout calling a press conference when you've done a little more than rejigger the home screen and make an App Store knockoff?
If I want a phone with a nice home screen and a nice app store that backs up all my SMSs, etc., to a computer, I'll just buy an iPhone, thanks.
You are a complete twat!
You think Windows Mobile is new? Do you think that Microsoft is just getting into the portable OS market?
It's been around since about 2000 in it's first form as Pocket PC, since then MS have released half a dozen versions, that have market share on most PDA's and smartphones.
Funny, I never got a BSOD or a virus on any of my devices.
Get your head out of the sand.
Regulas, I have no problems (BSOD or viruses etc) with my devices that use Win Mobile.
Seriously, sometimes I think the jockstraps come out of the woodwork just to post stupid statements about Microsoft. I'm surprised you didn't refer to them as M$ etc.
LOL! - Its usually something that a typical I-don't-know-a-phone-from-my-rear Iphone fanboy would come out with!.
5 years dealing with WM and I ain't seen one BSOD! lol - little do these chaps know that MS is dominant in the enterprise sector.