Microsoft Updates Bing App for Windows Phones

The owners of a mobile phone powered by Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.x operating system can now enjoy an updated application on their devices, namely the Bing app for Windows phones. According to the Redmond-based software giant, two new features have been added to the solution, so as to provide users with an improved experience.

The new flavor of the Bing app for Windows 6.x phones comes with a redesigned home page. The navigation features on the app have been changed so as to offer users faster access to a series of common searches, including Movies and Traffic. In addition to this facelift, the updated Bing app for Windows Mobile 6.x comes with turn-by-turn navigation, which is powered by Bing Maps.

“The second feature is turn-by-turn navigation for Windows 6.x phones, powered by Bing Maps. We took advantage of the Microsoft Tellme team’s expertise in voice applications to deliver an amazingly lifelike voice experience for the turn-by-turn navigation. If you have a Windows phones on Sprint, T-Mobile, or AT&T you can use the voice guided navigation,” a recent post on Bing Community reads.

Those who will use Bing for receiving directions on their handsets will certainly notice a new 'Navigate' button on the screen. When hitting it, Bing will start computing the route and will provide guidance while the user drives. One can easily choose the type of route wanted, choose to avoid traffic, can get a map or a list of directions, or opt to see arrows and hear alerts so as to know when and which way to turn.

Unfortunately, it seems that not all handsets can support the new navigation feature, but only some of them, and the list includes: HTC Fuze, HTC Pure, HTC HD2, HTC Tilt 2, HTC Touch Diamond 2, HTC Touch HD, HTC Touch Pro, HTC Touch Pro 2, Motorola Q9c, Samsung Jack, Samsung Omnia II, Samsung Propel, and T-Mobile Dash 3G. Those Windows Mobile users who live in the US and own one of these handsets should check their devices for the update, or they can head over to m.bing.com to benefit from the new features.