Today is the day Microsoft is worldwide launching Windows Mobile 6.5, Microsoft's latest smartphone OS the company announced back in February during the Mobile World Congress. Unlike the earlier Windows Mobile versions, which were just called Windows Mobile, version 6.5 also gets a new commercial name and will be on sale under the new Windows phone brand. However, Windows Mobile 6.5 hasn't only received a new brand name but it also received significant enhancements to business productivity, consumer messaging and the mobile Internet.

In addition to the major changes under the hood, Windows Mobile 6.5 also features an updated, more shiny and consumer orientated, user experience. The visual style of Windows Mobile 6.5 has received significant updates, particularly for Windows Mobile Professional. The new design of Windows Mobile Professional is focused on touch.

The new Start screen has a touch friendly pattern that is fun and interactive as the user taps, flicks, pans and scrolls. A new Lock screen lets users interact with user interface elements and view some notification data without having to enter a simple PIN.

Browser improvements, widget framework support and rich Internet application (RIA) support allow partners to add applications on the Start screen, thereby enabling an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to differentiate itself from competitors. Furthermore, Windows Mobile 6.5 offers the ability to do differentiate phones and build customer loyalty through co-branding, user experience (UX) customization and software and hardware extensibility. Display the mobile operator name based on information stored in the SIM card and display current roaming status. This reinforces the mobile operator brand and helps eliminate surprise roaming charges for customers. Customize phones to meet your needs with greater flexibility. Windows Mobile 6.5 provides several new features and lets you extend and customize many elements. Create dynamic themes that match branding. Add any application or service, even if it duplicates a Microsoft feature. Implement new and different ways to build mobile operator and OEM brands by increasing awareness and reducing costs. Microsoft Services teams can introduce you to revenue growing and cost reducing opportunities.

Windows Mobile 6.5 includes a more compelling, competitive experience for businesses and consumers.
Although Windows Mobile 6.5 contains new and different features and functions, it also improves the fundamentals, including significant improvements in overall stability, battery life and performance, which can increase customer satisfaction and reduce returns. The ability for users to switch between Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) without rebooting the phone. This is a necessary feature for business power users who need broad international coverage. Furthermore, Windows Mobile 6.5 adds support for digital TV tuner and display of HDTV content for 480x854 and 480x864 pixels at 192 dpi.

Users can now stay up to date with a rich messaging experience. When used with Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Windows Mobile 6.5 automatically discovers Exchange Server settings for company E-Mail.
When using the future release of Exchange, Microsoft Outlook Mobile users will be able to manage E-Mail messages more efficiently and take advantage of a conversation view lets them quickly triage mail and a voice-to-text translation accompanies each voice mail so that they can better triage incoming information. Lust but not least, reply and forward flags let them quickly see what they have already replied to. Furthermore, rich HTML mail is supported across various versions of Microsoft Exchange.
Contacts are automatically updated if users have the next version of Outlook on their desktop and it is connected to Exchange and their phone. Contact pictures are displayed in messaging views and on contact cards.
On Windows Mobile 6.5, Office Communicator lets users stay in touch with work contacts. Users can also use one business number for all business contacts and they can forward calls to their phone to pick up or leave voice mail.

Windows Mobile 6.5 includes support for several new services. Marketplace lets customers expand their phone's capabilities through powerful software. Windows Live services let users stay up to date with a rich messaging experience, including the familiar Windows Live Messenger and push E-Mail for their Windows Live Hotmail account. My Phone is a new service that lets customers easily back up and manage phone information and allows them to access information from any personal computer as well as their phone.

New capabilities help make the phone personal to the user. For instance, the users can personalize their phone with exciting new applications, ring tones and themes, go wireless with full stereo Bluetooth headphone support, use personal photos for photo contact cards and for the Home screen background and easily transfer music and video to their phone using Windows Media Player and choose widgets to display on the Start screen.
Using only their fingertips, users can personalize their Start screen. They can set a favorite in Internet Explorer Mobile and then add it to the Start screen, or list their favorite Web sites on the Start screen directly.

Nevertheless, while Microsoft today celebrates the launch of Windows Mobile 6.5, most changes affect the code for Windows Mobile Professional only. However, there are some improvements to the code for Windows Mobile Standard as well but Windows Mobile 6.5 definitely focuses on touchscreen smartphones.

Cheers ~ Arne