Rumors that the next version of Microsoft's mobile platform, the Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system, would include a widget engine have been floating around the web for quite some time now, and today we also have the confirmation. The upcoming software platform will feature widgets, says the Windows Mobile blog.

It seems that Windows Mobile users will, after all, be able to enjoy all the features that the Widget Platform will be able to provide them with. In addition, the blog post also states that these have been designed so as to make users think that they are actually working with normal standalone applications, for this is what their look and feel suggest.

The Widget Platform on the Windows Mobile handsets will provide the widgets with their own start menu icon. In addition, they will also appear like individual applications in task manager, while also including full control of the SK menu bar, the way any other application does, so the standalone app feeling is leveraged even more.

“A good way to think of a Windows Mobile Widget is as a “Portable chunk of the web” or just basically a rich internet application. Widgets are written using all the web technologies we know and love (HTML, CSS, AJAX, JavaScript) and, since they are powered under the covers by our new internet browser, they have full access to flash and other ActiveX controls available on the device (Like MediaPlayer),” is what the blog post also states.

It seems that Microsoft has come up with a new standard for widgets, which is available for all developers interested in the matter, via this link. More information on what the Widget Platform should bring along will become available during the following months, so stay tuned to learn the details as soon as they emerge.