Microsoft on Tuesday announced that phones running the latest version of Windows Mobile, version 6.5, will debut globally on October 6th at retail stores worldwide..
Microsoft has promised that the latest version of Microsoft’s mobile phone software will deliver new customer experiences through and improved easy-to-use interface, better browsing capabilities and access to valuable services, including Windows Marketplace for Mobile and Microsoft My Phone.
Industry Players Rally Behind Windows Phones
Partners from around the globe are committed to updating or expanding their portfolios to include phones with Windows Mobile 6.5.
• In North America: Mobile operators AT&T, Bell Mobility, Sprint, TELUS and Verizon Wireless, and phone manufacturers HP, HTC Corp., LG Electronics, Samsung and Toshiba Corp.
• In Europe: Mobile operators Orange, Deutsche Telekom AG and Vodafone Group Plc, and phone manufacturers Acer, HTC, LG Electronics, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Toshiba
• In Latin America: Mobile operator TIM Brazil, and phone manufacturers HTC, LG Electronics and Samsung
• In Asia Pacific: Mobile operators NTT DOCOMO Inc., SOFTBANK Mobile Corp., SK Telecom, Telstra and WILLCOM Inc., and phone manufacturers Acer Inc., HTC, LG Electronics, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Toshiba
This list is very interesting to say the least since several of the players haven’t been big in Windows Mobile phones in the U.S. or Canada. While Toshiba debuted one of the first Windows Mobile phones in the U.S. in 2005, it hasn’t shipped a phone to the U.S. in years. HP’s phones haven’t appeared on official carrier rosters for a while. While LG announced in February that they would develop up to 10 Windows Mobile phones this year, they only have one on the market right now, the Incite for AT&T.
It’s a little easier to guess which Samsung and HTC phones will lead the Windows Mobile 6.5 charge: the upcoming Samsung Omnia 2 for Verizon, and the HTC Touch Pro2. The Touch Pro2 is currently out on Sprint and T-Mobile running Windows Mobile 6.1, though T-Mobile is missing from the 6.5 list. HTC’s Touch Diamond2 is also expected to come to the US and to be upgradeable to Windows Mobile 6.5.
AT&T confirmed that some devices will be upgradeable from Windows Mobile 6.1 to 6.5, though the company didn’t say which ones. Samsung said in its original Omnia 2 announcement that the Verizon Wireless Omnia 2 would come out with Windows Mobile 6.1 and be upgradeable to 6.5.
Toshiba currently makes a powerful Windows Mobile phone called the TG01 which has not been introduced in the U.S. HP’s Windows Mobile phones, such as the Editor’s Choice iPAQ 910, are sold as part of big-business deployments and not typically sold through carriers.
Thanks mindfrost82 for the tip original Press Release can be viewed here.
This is exciting news. now this changes my decision on getting the pre-sale of the tp2. i will wait another month now.
So are they saying that new phonew will also be released on October 6th???? Or are they saying that Windows Phone (meaning the name of the new OS) will be available on phone that are out already??? Very confusing and if there are new phones coming why hasn’t anybody had any information on these devices??? Very interesting
if the tp2 is upgradable does that mean that the official release version can be ported to the tp1?
WOW! Does this make Pro2 outdated already? Cant wait for the new phones.. I wonder is gestures will be there.
I wonder what the Oct 6 build # will be?
So can anyone confirm if the TP2 will be upgradeable on the Sprint Network or if Sprint will release the phone with this OS in October?
This is an old post but This is my reason for my previous question.
http://jkontherun.com/2009/02/16/htc-announces-touch-pro-2-touch-diamond-2-nice-and-pretty/
so, I guess I’ll go 6.5 sometime between nov and march. props to all experimenting with it, but i’ll wait till it’s all official.
or78; we can only hope sprint will release an official rom upgrade, otherwise there will/are plenty available.