14 DAY TRIAL // It seems that Microsoft is on its way to launch the upcoming Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system as soon as May 11. The Redmond giant’s TechEd 2009 conference in Los Angeles kicks off on that day, and Stephanie Ferguson, GM (general manager) of Business Experiences at Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business will open the launch presentation of Windows Mobile 6.5, as stated on the Windows Mobile Team blog.
“This TechEd 2009 session focuses on one of the biggest launches in the history of Windows Mobile – Windows Mobile 6.5. It is targeted at both IT Professionals and Developers, with a cool demo and an outline of great stuff to come. Be sure to join us as we are giving away 5 Samsung Blackjack II’s!” is what the blog post states.
As many of you might already know, the first mobile phones to include the platform won't come to the market until the third quarter of the ongoing year, yet it seems that the Redmond company is already finalizing the Windows Mobile 6.5 OS, and that it will be ready for launch about three weeks from now. In addition, the TechEd docket shows a series of other Windows Mobile 6.5 sessions, one of which will be on developing apps that use touch and gestures.
The list also contains sessions on Windows Marketplace for Mobile, on mobile widgets (which will “enable Web developers to develop application-like experiences that run outside of the existing Web browser, but are powered by the same technologies [HTML, JavaScript, and CSS]”), as well as on Mobile Messaging: Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile and Office Communicator Mobile.
A session held on the user experience Windows Mobile 6.5 will be able to provide is described as follows: “This session shows off the next generation of Windows phones and demonstrates the new capabilities of Windows Mobile 6.5 that features a new user interface and a richer browsing experience. In addition, Windows phones will feature two new services: MyPhone, to sync text messages, photos, video, contacts and more to the Web; and Windows Marketplace for Mobile, a new marketplace that will provide direct-to-phone mobile applications and can be accessed from both the phone and the Web.”
All in all, Microsoft is set to unveil a lot of details on the new Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system, which would suggest that things are ready and are only getting the final touches these days. And since the new Windows Mobile 6.5 UI will be demonstrated at the TechEd 2009 conference, we can consider May 11 as the launch date of the platform, though it is uncertain whether it will be its official release to manufacturing, the business launch or the actual launch date.