Microsoft announces Windows Mobile 6.1, device upgrades

Though it's been circulating through the user community (and a Sony Ericsson lab or two) for a little while now, Windows Mobile 6.1 had never gotten officially official in its own right -- until now. Microsoft has taken the wraps off the latest rendition of its mobile platform at CTIA today, a small step on the path to Windows Mobile 7 that'll provide Microsoft-based smartphones with a breath of fresh air starting later this year. The changes are expectedly minor as 0.1 releases tend to be, offering a new Getting Started Center to ease the process of setting up a new device, home screen tweaks, and -- finally -- true, native threaded SMS.

Additionally, Microsoft has announced that a phalanx of carriers and manufacturers have thrown their support behind upgrading devices that are already in the marketplace, which is exactly what we were hoping to hear. Everything from the Pantech Duo, to the AT&T Tilt, to the Sprint Mogul is getting 6.1 love beginning this quarter of the year -- though exact dates haven't been announced. Follow the break for the full list of devices on the upgrade list or have a peep at our 6.1 gallery over on Engadget Mobile!

Mobile operators:

• Alltel Wireless: HTC PPC6800, HTC Touch
• AT&T: Samsung BlackJack II, MOTO Q 9h global, Pantech duo, AT&T Tilt by HTC
• Sprint: A new Palm Treo and updates for the Mogul by HTC, Touch by HTC, MOTO Q 9c, Samsung ACE
• T-Mobile International: T-Mobile MDA Ameo 16 GB, T-Mobile MDA compact IV

Device-makers:

• ASUS: New phones including the P320, ZX1, P560, M536 and updates for the P527, P750, M930
• HTC: A new Touch Dual for the U.S. and updates for the AT&T Tilt, Touch by HTC, Mogul by HTC from Sprint, TyTN II
• i-mate: 8502, 9502, 8150, 6150
• Intermec: CN3
• Motorola: MOTO Q 9c, MOTO Q 9h global, MC70, MC9000
• Pantech: Pantech duo
• Samsung: BlackJack II
• Toshiba: Portégé G810,Portégé G910

[Gav @ Apr 1st 2008 12:33PM]

Not commenting on the article, but more the magenta colour around the edge.

Stick it to 'em Engadget ;)

[holycow @ Apr 1st 2008 12:46PM]

LOL yea.. its hilarious! Good Job ENGADGET

[ACEY RIOT @ Apr 1st 2008 12:38PM]

Dont Toy with me Zeigler, I know an april fools gag when i see it!

[kal326 @ Apr 1st 2008 12:45PM]

I wonder if the Tilt is finally gonna get that video update along with the 6.1 WM upgrade?

[SimbaDogg @ Apr 1st 2008 8:17PM]

please oh please oh please do...i wonder if HTC has been sitting on their ass all this time since their last public statement or actually doing work

[Rex @ Apr 1st 2008 12:46PM]

No love for the 6700?

Also, nice move with the border Engadget.

[Jose Hebron @ Apr 1st 2008 12:49PM]

Test

[rock99rock @ Apr 1st 2008 1:08PM]

Received

[Xultar @ Apr 1st 2008 12:59PM]

I guess they finally learned their lesson. Remember when the only upgrade you could get to a buggy Windows CE or Windows Mobile device was a new device.

[SteveS @ Apr 1st 2008 2:38PM]

Yeah it's amazing what an Android can do...

[mr_e @ Apr 1st 2008 1:34PM]

Meh. Have had this for months

[Kyle @ Apr 1st 2008 1:39PM]

but this is great for the less adventurous of us out there!

This will make me want to hold on to my TyTn II just a tad longer

[Namarrgon @ Apr 1st 2008 8:11PM]

Me too, and I must say, it's the first version of WM that doesn't crash daily on me. The annoying networking bug that's been there, well, forever, is finally gone! Yay!

Oh, and it really is snappier all round. Large dirs load about 3x faster! Yay!

[dwboston @ Apr 1st 2008 3:17PM]

This is great news. Maybe the Q9h update will "unlock" Wi-Fi.....

[Covarr @ Apr 1st 2008 1:16PM]

So, not iPhone compatible? Darn, I really wanted to use an OS with copy and paste.

[Ethan @ Apr 1st 2008 4:57PM]

Shut up with the iPhones already. Blackberries WHICH ACTUALLY COMPETE WITH WINDOWS MOBILE DEVICES THANK YOU VERY MUCH have supported copy-paste anywhere for years.

[phanbouy @ Apr 1st 2008 5:41PM]

ethan. he's on your side. chill out, spazz.

[Abuzar @ Apr 1st 2008 7:46PM]

Ethan, Win Mo devices and Blackberries both have copy and paste, but the iPhone doesn't. He is saying the exact same thing you are(he is funnier though), so why the hate?

[madgunde @ Apr 2nd 2008 12:42AM]

Yeah, copy and paste is nice, but the iPhone is still a far more usable device even without it. Somehow I suspect Windows mobile devices have a far less than 80% user satisfaction rating. Maybe Copy & Paste aren't the most important features?

Still, Copy & Paste in the iPhone would be nice.

[Abuzar @ Apr 2nd 2008 2:24AM]

Depends, usable for what? I need my phone to view Powerpoints, run Mobipocket, pocket Quran, edit Word docs, and some times Excel docs. An iphone wouldn't be very useful in those circumstances would it?

[OneLove @ Apr 1st 2008 1:21PM]

I want VISTA Mobile!!!

[schmitty338 @ Apr 1st 2008 1:35PM]

I've been using windows Mobile Pro 6.1 for about 2 weeks on my CDMA Touch (Vogue) here in canada, and I must say it is quite a lot speedier, apparently due to some memory-handling tweaks...either way, It's worth the upgrade just for the threaded SMS, which is VERY nice....

[MARGARET M DAVIS @ Apr 17th 2008 4:20PM]

I want vista mobile also

[Ramen @ Apr 1st 2008 2:35PM]

I've been using WM6.1 for a week now on a s620 (aka Magenta Dash). It's a lot better in terms of speed and usability. The copy+paste is a long awaited addition. Sleek frontend UI too.

[christian @ Apr 1st 2008 1:44PM]

I hope this isn't an April Fool's joke. If it is, damn you all for getting hopes up! Give me Windows Mobile 6.1 on my Q9c!

[Ethan @ Apr 1st 2008 4:58PM]

There are hacked ROMs all over the place. I have 6.1 on my HTC Excalibur (T-Mo Dash) and it works exactly like it should.

[andy @ Apr 1st 2008 1:37PM]

I hope this fixes the problem with my Internet Explorer not connecting to the network despite my phone having reception and email.

It's really annoying to have to reset the data connection every time you want to open Internet Explorer.

[kal326 @ Apr 1st 2008 3:52PM]

@Andy
Ditto, but it hasn't as bad since the last official 6.0 firmware on my Tilt.

[andy @ Apr 1st 2008 10:21PM]

kal, same hardware/software and same experience.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Apr 1st 2008 1:48PM]

As Archie Bunker used to say "Whoop-dee-doo." I guess this is a useful and timely Service Pack for Windows Mobile handsets.

[Xultar @ Apr 1st 2008 2:02PM]

Is this a JOKE.

doesn't matter. I have 6.1 on my tilt anyway.

[Sam Zebian @ Apr 1st 2008 2:04PM]

No, it isn't a joke, I read it on Cnet too.

[Sam Zebian @ Apr 1st 2008 2:04PM]

I can't wait for this to come out for my Tilt. Hopefully they'll give us windows mobile 7 as a free upgrade too, just like they gave the original HTC Tytn Windows mobile 6 for free.

[Abuzar @ Apr 1st 2008 7:48PM]

If they don't... well XDA forums are around for a reason.

[adrian @ Apr 1st 2008 2:06PM]

will the T-mobile dash have this upgrade as well??

[JAmerican @ Apr 1st 2008 2:11PM]

It already has it. Well at least my Dash does :D!

[Matt Newman @ Apr 1st 2008 2:11PM]

Come on Palm, release the damn 800 or do something for the 700 already.

[MikeKlein @ Apr 1st 2008 2:13PM]

Everybody's "chasing the dragon"...none of us will get what we want out of WM until it is a completely different OS. Too buggy, too slow, too...

I love it for SlingPlayer and a host of other apps...but the OS drags everything down with it. Time to start from scratch...or get an Android phone.

[LilDrunkenSmurf @ Apr 1st 2008 2:35PM]

So... when is this coming to Canada..? I would to get this on my Bell Vogue.

[Ellianth @ Apr 1st 2008 3:28PM]

ten bucks says hp doesn't offer the update to it's users. (/me is very bitter!)

[Rocco @ Apr 1st 2008 4:07PM]

What about the xv6800?
No Verizon phones?

[TJ Johnson @ Apr 1st 2008 5:02PM]

No, but that certainly isn't a surprise. Verizon neglects pushing updates almost as much as it neglects it's customers. They package their own ROMs for the devices on their network and refuse to allow anything that they don't have direct control over, including WinMo updates. What's worse for me is even after researching the hell out of the i760, I didn't find out they lock the ROMs until after I bought it.

Now excuse me, I have another anal penetration appointment with Big Red that I'm late for...

[b0z0dcl0wn @ Apr 1st 2008 5:42PM]

that screen shot in the post makes my mouth water... I just got a i617 (BJ2) and it's no upgrade to my HTC Wizard. Maybe a fun cooked ROM is in order, can anyone point me in the right direction???

[nathan.wong @ Apr 1st 2008 5:55PM]

My Tilt's auto-update still says "no update available at this time."

[mr_e @ Apr 1st 2008 6:09PM]

Just because Microsoft is "officially" releasing WM 6.1 doesn't mean your phone's manufacturer and your wireless carrier have made it available to you.

[Viva La MaTTT @ Apr 1st 2008 6:27PM]

when does this come out officially?

[Abuzar @ Apr 1st 2008 7:49PM]

Does anybody know if they will be updating the Tilt's drivers as well as getting WinMo 6.1?

[RC @ Apr 1st 2008 8:18PM]

Might as well put the Blackjack on there because Da_G is working on a WM6.1 ROM now.

Why no Verizon phones? No 6.1 love for their customers?

[shalin @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:38AM]

I just wanted to thank all of you for writing all the messages. I m so bored at work.. it's good to read something interesting!! :-)

[Guerrilla Mason @ Apr 2nd 2008 5:05PM]

I will admit I'm not the best when it comes to finding the minor tweaks in OS upgrades and the such, but after looking at the gallery on engadgetmobile.com, my BlackJack II (which I got on December 31) interface already looks like that. Do I already have this or are there some minor things I'm not catching?