Officially announced back in February during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, DigiTimes recently received further information when Windows Mobile 6.5 will be officially available. According to its sources from Taiwanese handset makers, Microsoft is expected to officially launch Windows Mobile 6.5 on 1st of October. However, this launch will not be the end of Windows Mobile 6.x at all since Microsoft is said to add an upgraded version with a touch interface in February 2010; and this would mean the next Mobile World Congress.

Nevertheless, even with the expected launch of Windows Mobile 7 next year, Microsoft is said to work on a "dual platform strategy" because - according to DigiTimes sources - Microsoft will not phase out Windows Mobile 6.5 after the launch of Windows Mobile 7 but will lower the Windows Mobile 6.5 license price instead. The dual-platform strategy is said to "allow Microsoft to compete with Android-based platform using Windows Mobile 6.5 and also compete with iPhones leveraging Windows Mobile 7".

As of today, these information aren't confirmed since neither the Windows Mobile 6.5 rework nor Windows Mobile 7 are officially announced. While Microsoft somewhat confirmed that the "next big thing" will be Windows Mobile 7, a Windows Mobile 6.5 update isn't yet officially confirmed.

Cheers ~ Arne