14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft announced today a wide range of new things that are to come with its future Windows Marketplace for Mobile, among which we already spotted new applications, like the one developed by the company itself for Facebook, along with the one coming from MySpace, as well as new submission policies for developers that would like to have their software solutions on the app portal and a large number of industry players that announced their support for the Marketplace. And now we learn that there are even more features that will become available along with the upcoming Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system.
Aside from said announcements, the Redmond software giant also said that it had made new partnerships with the Design Museum London and Council of Fashion Designers of America, which are meant to offer users the possibility “to express their personal style on Windows phones” through a variety of free designer themes. Microsoft also announced that Mizrahi would be the first “in a series of designers to create exclusive themes,” among which we should be able to spot color palettes and wallpapers. The company will make the names of other designers public in the months to follow.
“Phones are just as much a fashion statement as the clothes you wear,” said Mizrahi, fashion designer and TV personality. “As a designer, I’m excited to team up with Microsoft to bring forth fresh and funky new ways for people to make their Windows phones a part of their personality. Cast aside your old black phone, and make this year about colour and fun.”
In addition, Windows Mobile phone users will have at their disposal a new Theme Generator, which is also meant to allow them to further personalize their handsets. The Theme Generator will become available later during the ongoing year with the Windows Marketplace for Mobile, offering users the possibility to choose pictures from their PC to place on the background of their phone, while also being able to pick colors for the personalization of their navigation bar, scroll bar and highlighted text. As soon as they finish, the theme will be sent to their phone.
One more thing that should be mentioned is that the company announced that all Windows Mobile 6.1-based mobile phones that included a minimum of 128MB of RAM and a 400MHz processor or better should be able to perform the upgrade to the upcoming Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system. Licensees would be the ones that would decide whether the upgrading effort was worthwhile or not. More Windows Mobile 6.5 Themes and screenshots can be found here. More info on Microsoft's plans will probably be unveiled at CTIA WIRELESS 2009, in a keynote held by Robbie Bach, president of the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft.
