Microsoft Unveils Windows Mobile 6
Microsoft has released details about a new version of Windows Mobile, the software behemoth’s operating system designed for devices such as smartphones and PDAs. The OS, called Windows Mobile 6, will be available in the second quarter of 2007, offering an interface that resembles the recently launched Windows Vista.
With Windows Mobile 6, users will be able to view e-mails in their original HTML format and follow Web links from their phones. Windows Mobile 6 also will offer instant messaging and more robust editing capabilities for documents created in Office applications, such as Word and Excel.
Formerly codenamed Crossbow, Windows Mobile 6 boasts better search capabilities than predecessors, and stronger security features.
Feature Rich
Smartphones using the OS will be able to encrypt data stored internally on the device and also on a removable memory card. When used in enterprise settings, I.T. departments will be able to tweak security policies to require that users change their passwords regularly and use both numbers and letters, for example.
An additional change that has been put in place but will not come into play until later is support for Voice over Internet Protocol. Microsoft is not including software for VoIP calls, but has designed the system to allow carriers and device makers to include that capability if they wish to do so.
The integration of VoIP with Windows Mobile could be an indication of the evolution of mobile phones, noted Yankee Group analyst Jennifer Simpson.
“There’s an interesting and ongoing development when it comes to VoIP and cell phones,” she said. “There aren’t a lot of dual-mode phones out right not, but there are some small niche products out, and major players like Microsoft are making room for partnerships in the future.”
Market Basket
Microsoft’s refresh of its mobile operating system is not surprising, given the rate at which phone users have…
