Microsoft switches up names for Windows Mobile 6

Some of us are still trying to keep straight in our brains the difference between Windows Mobile Smartphone, Pocket PC, and Pocket PC Phone Edition devices, but with the impending arrival of Crossbow, that ship has apparently sailed. In the realm of new Windows releases, Vista has obviously been garnering the lion's share of the attention, but Windows Mobile 5 is about to ride off into the mobile platform sunset in favor of Windows Mobile 6 -- codenamed the aforementioned Crossbow -- and the naming convention to differentiate between its various flavors is riding with it. Smartphone (read: phones without touchscreens) is rumored to be replaced by the slightly less colorful "Standard," Pocket PC Phone Edition becomes "Professional," and the plain ol' Pocket PC becomes "Classic," perhaps to reflect the fact that phoneless Pocket PCs have been all but shunned to niche markets in recent years. With all due respect to Microsoft and its hardware partners, they could call it "The Stopgap Version To Hold Us Over Until Photon" for all we care; let's just get some product moving in the pipeline, eh?

[Static @ Jan 29th 2007 1:08PM]

Has anyone figured out how to upgrade their smartphone to a new operating system without the assistance of the carrier (Verizon, in my case)?

[Ayle @ Jan 29th 2007 2:22PM]

Yes I have wm6 installed on my Cingular 8125, go look on xda-devs they have the how-to ... But it's only available( for now ) on devices made by htc.....

[Sam @ Jan 29th 2007 1:30PM]

I hope I can upgrade my 8525.

[unsigned @ Jan 29th 2007 4:19PM]

@Sam, no kidding.... I have one too and I guess I didn't see this coming.

[Aaron Rodriguez @ Jan 29th 2007 2:15PM]

I am also waiting on ordering a Q because I want to see how this will all play out.... I would like to be able to upgrade my new phone or wait until they come with it.

[Static @ Jan 29th 2007 2:34PM]

If you are dealing with Verizon, make sure you get the "Upgradeability" in writing. I was told that I could upgrade my Samsung i830 to WM5.0. Since I purchased the phone (special order, etc. etc.), I have been unable to upgrade it, and Verizon offers very scant support for it.

[Stanley @ Feb 8th 2007 6:35PM]

can you tell me the exact website and where you got the upgrade from and instructions on how to do the upgrade

[Cale Davidson @ Jan 29th 2007 3:05PM]

I wonder, will I be able to upgrade my Axim x51v?

[applesucksLeo @ Jan 29th 2007 6:41PM]

Crossbow put an arrow straight into the heart of Palm :)Well , they were almost dead anyway.

[DJDoc @ Jan 29th 2007 6:45PM]

How about if these dirtbags at Microsoft just put out a mobile operating system that doesn't crash over once a day? Christ, they're up to the 5th freaking generation of their OS, and it crashes with such regularity on every phone out there, that absolutely no smart phone or PDA phone is worth the dollars spent.

Why can't they make a stable OS??? That's all I ask.

I'd pay DOUBLE if they'd just give me a damn phone that doesn't crash. This POS Windows Mobile is defective. Despicable scum.

[brad @ Jan 29th 2007 7:17PM]

@DJDOC, i run WM5 and have only had to reset on very rare occasions, i dont no if you load yours up with 3rd party apps but my 700w has very few problems and is very reliable on a day to day basis

[JBT @ Jan 29th 2007 11:47PM]

Why do this?
Why not a simple suffix?
WM6 - PPE (PPC Phone Edition)
WM6 - SPE (Smart Phone Edition)
WM6 - PPC (PPC Non-Phone Edition)

[Mike Dimmick @ Jan 31st 2007 11:05PM]

@DJDoc: it's up to the OEM to get their device drivers right - particularly the Radio Interface Layer, which controls the cell radio. Haven't yet seen a reliable implementation of this.

As for those wanting device upgrades - it's entirely up to the OEM/device supplier (which may be the network) if they provide an upgrade. Windows Mobile 5.0 drivers should mostly work directly on Windows Mobile 6.0 since they're both based on Windows CE 5.0. Microsoft supplies the OS components to the OEM, but it's up to the OEM to integrate the drivers and their other applications and produce the ROM image. They'll do it if they think there's some return on the investment for doing so. If your OEM has a good track record of keeping up with Microsoft's AKUs for WM 5.0, you probably have a good chance. If you never got the Messaging Security and Feature Pack (push e-mail) upgrade, you're probably out of luck.

[T-Bone @ Feb 3rd 2007 1:05PM]

A warning that the article isn't in English would have been nice. I can't seem to get it translated.

[Ladderless @ Jan 29th 2007 2:42PM]

Go to:
http://babelfish.altavista.com

And put it into the URL -- Make sure you select Dutch to English as the translation option.

[Ayle @ Feb 8th 2007 9:43PM]

Why dont you just ask help on xda-dev you'll get more help there? But first : What device do you have?

[SUMAN @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:32AM]

How safe it is to buy a Chinese / Korean make PDA phone with Windows Mobile 5.0 or 6? Can anyone tell me the best Company and brand for the above feature?