Windows Mobile 7 OEM Testing in Q1 2010

Redmond-based software giant Microsoft seems to have already established a roadmap for the future release of its mobile operating system, Windows Mobile 7. Some of the previous rumors on the upcoming platform suggested that the company might release Windows Mobile 7 to manufacturers in spring 2010, and that the first devices to run under the platform would arrive in late 2010, and now the OS is reported to be set for OEM testing in Q1 next year.

According to a recent post on ZDNet Taiwan (via WMPoweruser), Microsoft plans on launching the so-called “Maldives” program (OEM testing) in the first quarter of the next year, while the first handsets to run under the platform are expected to reach the market in the third quarter of 2010. One thing that is certain here is that the previous expectations on Windows Mobile 7's release are beginning to prove real.

It seems that the software giant is preparing the OEM testing program for the next-generation operating system mainly due to the fact that its market share in the mobile phone area has been on a downward route lately. The main difference between the latest release of Windows Mobile, WM 6.5, and the upcoming version is reportedly the presence of support for capacitive touchscreen displays with the WinMo 7, though most of you might already know that HTC HD2, which runs under 6.5, already comes with this feature.

For what it's worth, we've already seen that Windows Mobile 7 is set to become something more than a simple update for the mobile platform. The rumor is that Microsoft will finally deliver one competitive operating system to the market, which should sport some of the latest features that other OSes have, including multi-touch and better services, as well as more user friendliness than previous releases.

Windows Mobile 7 is expected to reach the market in the third quarter of 2010, one year after Windows Mobile 6.5 became available, yet it will not phase out the current flavor. WM 6.5 and WM 7 are to co-exist for a certain amount of time, and it should be interesting to see whether Microsoft will also allow users to update their handsets to the upcoming version, just as it did with those owning some WM 6.1-based smartphones.