Making it ‘easier to manage your world’
CTIA Wireless 2008 keynote speaker Robbie Bach, boss of MS’s Entertainment and Devices Division, announced the newest version of Internet Explorer Mobile and Windows mobile 6.1 in Las Vegas yesterday.
Most of the improvements are incremental, but support for System Centre Mobile Device Manager 2008, available immediately, and Exchange Server 2007 SP1, promises security akin to a desktop firewall. The aim is to drive large scale mobile phone deployment by businesses.
‘People want a single phone that’s flexible enough to meet their needs throughout the day,’ said Bach. ‘The innovations we’ve added to our Windows Mobile software ultimately make it easier to manage your world.’
Meanwhile, Microsoft came up with a big list of everyone who’s really into Windows Mobile 6.1 and the products are already using it:
• Mobile operators:
• Alltel Wireless: HTC PPC6800, HTC Touch
• AT&T: Samsung BlackJack II, MOTO Q 9h global, Pantech duo, AT&T Tilt by HTC
• Sprint: A new Palm Treo and updates for the Mogul by HTC, Touch by HTC, MOTO Q 9c, Samsung ACE
• T-Mobile International: T-Mobile MDA Ameo 16 GB, T-Mobile MDA compact IV
• Device-makers:
• ASUS: New phones including the P320, ZX1, P560, M536 and updates for the P527, P750, M930
• HTC: A new Touch Dual for the U.S. and updates for the AT&T Tilt, Touch by HTC, Mogul by HTC from Sprint, TyTN II
• i-mate: 8502, 9502, 8150, 6150
• Intermec: CN3
• Motorola: MOTO Q 9c, MOTO Q 9h global, MC70, MC9000
• Pantech: Pantech duo
• Samsung: BlackJack II
• Toshiba: Portégé G810,Portégé G910
Windows Mobile 6.1 will be available to mobile phone partners from Q2. The Explorer update will be available in Q3, and the first Windows Mobile phones with the new version installed by the end of 2008.
A well managed world will take a bit longer. [Hopefully this version of Windows Mobile will make it easier to avoid deleting all your contacts when you sync with your PC. Mutter, mutter… – Ed]
Further reading: Microsoft officially launches Windows Mobile 6.1
