Windows Mobile 6.5 confirmed by Steve Ballmer, might solve half your problems

by Paul Miller posted Nov 7th 2008 at 11:36AM

We've all been scratching our heads ever since Motorola name-dropped Windows Mobile 6.5 in a recent earnings call, and at last the ever-reserved Steve Ballmer has come forward to set the record straight: Windows Mobile 6.5 is on the way. The the update is due to hit next year, while Windows Mobile 7 development -- an OS that was never supposed to be the be-all and end-all -- seemingly continues to wallow. As for improvements, there's little to go on right now, though it does sound like the interface might get some work. In all it seems like increasingly little, increasingly late, but we're willing to be surprised, Microsoft.

[Via pocketnow]

Filed under: Software, Windows Mobile

Tags: microsoft, steve ballmer, SteveBallmer, windows mobile, windows mobile 6.5, WindowsMobile, WindowsMobile6.5

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Lowest Ranked

DaveIsOnIt! @ Nov 7th 2008 12:47PM

i mean...really, what is taking them so long to get this out. They working on a OS that will be outdated by time they release it...so why even continue working on it. They should just skip WinMo7 and go ahead and start WinMo8. That would be their best bet to compete with Apple and Google UI wise....

Highly Ranked

Jace @ Nov 9th 2008 12:36AM

It takes so long because, unlike the OS for the iphone, WM7 has to be coded in a way where a lot of different phones with different architectures may be able to run WM7. And why skip to windows mobile 8, if they can just add it to windows mobile 7? According to the leaks for WM7, that is still a far milestone to reach and i bet additional time is taken to prevent any compatability issues from previous windows mobile.

Neutral

alan @ Nov 7th 2008 12:53PM

Does anyone knows what phone is shown in the picture?

Highest Ranked

GerryofNorVA @ Nov 7th 2008 1:05PM

Geez, what is your problem dude ?! What's with the needling/hate on M$ all the time ?! If this was anyone else, oh let's say Google with their fledgling Android, you'd be peeing your pants! I for one am stoked they're dealing us v6.5 ahead of v7. It's awesome to have that kind of continuing support for the PPC platform. It'd be entirely more helpful in the future if you'd report features and facts without tainting the blog with your immature bias. Oh, and have a nice weekend.

Neutral

MikeWard1701 @ Nov 7th 2008 2:55PM

"If this was anyone else, oh let's say Google with their fledgling Android, you'd be peeing your pants!"

I think its because it's considered socially unacceptable to badmouth children, which afterall, Android is.

I was on a train a few years back and a mother was travelling with her two kids who were just unruley, running up and down the aisle and making a racket. After putting up with it for an hour I asked her politely to keep her children in check and she had the audacity to say I was at fault!

Neutral

PEZ @ Nov 7th 2008 2:39PM

What MS should do is (is this obvious?) is allow for ang GUI to be created for native operation.

duerrr...

Highest Ranked

Lorne @ Nov 7th 2008 3:57PM

Ya, I just hate having:

Logmein, slingbox, TomTom, iguidance, Garmin, a million games, flash. no one telling me what to do, or what I can install, uninstall, custom ROMS (except for my new Treo Pro.. :( )

Damm, WM really sux....

Looking forward to 6.5, the newer 6.1 builds have really made the experience a little bit easier...

Highly Ranked

slamEVIL @ Nov 7th 2008 3:09PM

yeah, i really wish they were like google and apple and just put out their OS with loads of things wrong like email, wifi, security, etc. and just "fixed" those issues throughout the first year or so. i really wish they didn't take their time and give us an OS that completely worked.

Neutral

TurboFool @ Nov 7th 2008 3:46PM

Here's what I'm thinking:

Initially 7.0 was supposed to be still somewhat of a stopgap, while 8.0 was supposed to be the version that competed with the iPhone, Android, and all the other new-gen OSes that kick WM's butt when it comes to the basics of usability, style, and cohesive designs. I'm thinking that they've realized they can't afford for two full generations to go by before they're finally there and they're reprioritizing. 6.5 is now the stopgap, with updates likely to IE and other core applications, and probably better standard app-launchers and today screen functionality, among other things. Also probably some level of standard gesture-based controls. Then 7.0 will "bring the wow" and be the full-on drastic overhaul that they were originally waiting for 8 on. My guess.