14 DAY TRIAL // With the next iteration of the Windows Mobile operating system, Microsoft will attempt to fuel a growth for its relevance on the mobile market. Windows Mobile 6.5, slated for release on October 6th, 2009, according to Microsoft, is regarded as a minor update to the existing mobile platform from Microsoft. In this regard, Windows Mobile 7, expected in 2010, is positioned as a major upgrade to the Windows Mobile line-up of products. But this is not to say that Windows Mobile 6.5 will not sport inviting features for users.
First off, they will be able to enjoy an overhauled graphical user interface with Windows Mobile 6.5. The Redmond company has not only revamped the UI, but has also taken Windows Mobile 6.5 in the same direction as the latest iteration of the Windows client, namely toward Natural User Interfaces. In this regard, the operating system’s UI has been optimized for touch devices, more than any previous release of Windows mobile.
Windows Mobile 6.5 sports a redesigned Internet Explorer browser, based on IE6, effectively kicking up a notch the quality of the web surfing user experience. Contributing to a desktop-like browsing UX is the fact that IE6 brings to the table a new engine as well as default, built-in Adobe Flash Lite support.
Microsoft continues to address a professional audience with Windows Mobile, and in 6.5 this is evident with the productivity features made available for consumers. Smartphone users with devices running Windows Mobile 6.5 will have a seamless experience accessing their email via the Office Outlook Mobile client. In addition, Microsoft Office Mobile is designed to permit users to open, view and edit documents in Word, Excel and PowerPoint from the phone.
At the same time, the company’s strategy to unite PC, mobile devices and the Cloud has brought with it the integration of Windows Live. But Windows Live is just the tip of the iceberg, as users will also be able to connect to Facebook, Twitter and even MySpace, and applications from Netflix and Zagat. In addition, Windows Marketplace will always be availed offering new applications, while the free My Phone service will offer automatic backup and synchronization capabilities.
“Of the people we talked to, 74% listed productivity as the top feature they value in their smartphone. We took this feedback to heart, making the user interface more touch friendly and improving notifications and updates from e-mail, text and calendar items. We also included the latest Internet Explorer Mobile browser and added free services like My Phone to help protect data in the event of a lost phone and Windows Marketplace for Mobile for access to a wide variety of applications for direct download,” revealed Stephanie Ferguson, general manager, Business Experiences Team.