14 DAY TRIAL // With Windows Mobile 6.5 set on track for an October 6 release, Microsoft is expected to switch its focus on the development of the upcoming next-generation Windows Mobile 7 iteration. Previously, the software giant announced plans to unveil the next flavor of the OS in November, with Windows Mobile 7 beta slated to make an appearance during 2009 (most probably that month at PDC), yet some of the latest reports around the Web suggest that we might have to wait a little longer before that happens.
However, given Microsoft's intention to come up with Windows Mobile 7 beta this year, UX Evangelist suggests that November will be the lucky month, and that PDC attendees will be those to enjoy the first sight of the upcoming OS. Although Microsoft is known to come with software novelties at the conference, something that sustains UX Evangelist's sayings, it should be noted that no WM-related session is yet programmed for the event, and that MS will focus on other areas there, including Azure, .Net Framework 4 and Visual Studio 2010, kernel changes in Windows 7, and others more.
Even so, the company might very well keep silence on the Windows Mobile 7 until PDC is almost here, so we'll certainly keep an eye on this one, just to make sure nothing slips unnoticed. In case the upcoming OS gets unveiled at the conference, there are great chances that attendees will be provided with copies of a supposedly beta version of WM 7, and that they will also have the opportunity to play with it on a series of handsets already preloaded with the software.
Some of the latest reports around the Web suggested that WM 7 has been pushed back for the second half of 2010, and won't come to the market in April next year, as originally intended. In case things are this way, it is rather hard for us to believe that Microsoft will come up with a beta version of the OS so early. Undoubtedly, the development of WM 7 is not at its early stages, but it might be too soon to assume that they managed to go so far with it, especially considering the great amount of changes it is expected to include when compared to previous iterations. Hopefully, more details on this will emerge in the near future, so stay tuned.