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.
posted Sep 1st 2009 9:42AM
Booooooooo
Another Microsoft UNoperating system... yawn
Unfortunately for MS, the market has already decided that WinMo has demised.
You want proof? Look at all handset makers that are abandoning WinMo and
moving to Android. I bet you can't count them. There you have it. :)
UI looks awful
that UI is a web page.
That sounds cool!! Earlier than expected.. So now a days every company started releasing products earlier than rumored or expected...
That's funny.. thanks to XDA, I have a WM6.5 cellphone right now.
Same.. have done for months now!
Aye aye, sir - and it's really not a bad little OS. Has some annoyances but then so does the iPhone or Blackberry. It's a big improvement over WM6.1.
Of course, I *am* using TouchFlo3D as my interface, so that probably colors my perception somewhat. But that's the nice thing about most Windows Mobile phones; I actually have three interfaces I can choose from on my phone.
At first, when I upgraded (Thanks XDA) I was a bit "I dont know" about it, But I've since customized the heck out of it, and it does run faster than 6.1 even though I'm using a hacked ROM.
Juicy 8 23037, ppcgeeks.com FTMFW!
T-mobile Dash running 6.5 = WIN
What, huh? Words, blah blah blah...
I just see Street Fighter, and I'm ready to buy.
Where's the Omnia II?
Under Samsung I presume, it is their flagship winmo 6.5 device after all.
And according to reviews, it rocks.
Great!
HTC and Samy will have great skins on this OS!
Kinda ironic that the Dell phone won't be running WinMo. I guess we should call it WinPho now.
How is that ironic?
I think cause its Dell, one of the biggest licensors of Windows in the world?
What about the Microsoft 'Pink project' phone?
http://geekpi.com/?p=629
UMmmm it became the Zune HD.....
Microsoft did the 6.5 UI.
Microsoft did the Zune HD UI.
There are two separate company running under the same name?
@Article 10 presentations
Zune HD UI was designed from ground up for the device.
WinMo 6.5 UI was modified to look like zune interface (titanium) and more finger friendly i.e. there is a limitation in what you can do with a decimal increment.
sorry that was a reply for pontro!
wait so there is a sony ericsson phone that will run 6.5 that we haven't heard of ?? x2 ?
Vulcan or X2, yes. It should be announced officially tomorrow (September 2nd Euro time).
can we just skip 6.5 and go right to 7 on Oct 6th?
can't
More names than John Mellencamp...
Windows CE
Palm Size PC
Windows PPC
Pocket PC 2001
Pocket PC 2002
Smartphone 2002
Smartphone 2003
Windows Mobile 2003 2nd edition
Windows Mobile Professional
Windows Mobile Standard
Windows Mobile 2005
Windows Mobile 5.0
Windows Mobile 6.0
Windows Mobile 6.1
Windows Mobile 6.5
Windows Phone
When something doesn't work and fails miserably, you just rename it.
Microsoft pulled the same deal with the XBOX 360. It wasn't really XBOX 3, it was XBOX2. But Microsoft knows that numbers have a psychological effect on consumers. And Microsoft didn't want to do an XBOX 2 branded, black juggernaut console. Microsoft was going up against a PlayStation 3, so they skipped the number two entirely, went with a totally white console and just went head to head with a "console 3-something or other".
It's all about marketing man...
By the way, where's Vista Second Edition? LOL.
That made no sense what so ever.
It was called Xbox 360 because Microsoft went back to basics, perhaps a full circle (360 perhaps?), wiping the slate clean and starting again...
@xcrunk
What you mean like Apple Computer to Apple Inc?
@Mark Anderson
OMG you fanboys are PATHETIC!!! Your anti-Apple zealot comment makes absolutely NO SENSE as Apple was doing great when they changed their name. Get a mind of your own you losers.
Your tears are like wine to me.
@Mystic, as one Apple fan to another, you got pwned.
Just like the iPhone skipped iPhone 2 and went straight to iPhone 3(G)!
I think 6.5 is not going to bring many new WinMo users but it will do well in keeping existing users as long as WinMo 7 is going to be released in first half of next year.
Would be good to see some WinMo7 betas out later this year - that is what we are really waiting for, right!
Microsoft taking so long to release 6.5 has been delaying manufacturers bringing out new phones - the b@stards.
i have winmo 6.5 on touch pro, but it looks like the final build of 6.5 is considerably different
With the big buttons? I'm not keen on that and stuck with 23009 which works like a dream.
The 6.5 you have is heavily customized by both XDA and HTC.
That's the stock 6.5 up there on the Windows Mobile Marketplace web page. The only part of the US interface you see is the top and bottom strips. Which do look different on HTC's phones and XDA's releases, but that's not because it's an older build. They will always look different.
Er, I meant the only part of the "OS" interface you see, not "US" interface.
Wonder if this means the TP2 on ATT will already ship with 6.5 installed...maybe that's why it is being delayed?
OMG, this looks horrible. Come on, really? The Zune HD interface looks better then this, way better. But come on, really? Ugly. Looks like Microsoft can't decide on what to call it either, come on, another name change? This blows. Chunks. Take a page out of Apple's and Palm's WebOS's book, the interface is the key.
Are you blind?
Major4Play @ Sep 1st 2009 10:00AM
that UI is a web page.
Waiting to upgrade!!
I hope they fix the lag issues with this new os that wnmo phones often suffer from.
Really hope they gave WMP mobile an upgrade. It was a serious pain to use on 6.1; I pretty much switched entirely to Pocket Tunes and Pocket Player.
doubt they would touch WMP. It would be a wasted effort as I believe we will have zune integrated in WinMo 7 and they will probably bring that to 6.5 once 7 has been release as well.
The response rate is increased by no less then 60% on my diamond when I installed 6.5 and I find the interface much more friendly and stylish then extra-large icons on the iPhone, Though being honest I don't insult the Pre because I was waiting for the Pre to hit Aust shores by now but to no avail...
I'll be getting a TD2 as soon as they're available on my carrier.