Windows Mobile 6.5 gets official at MWC 2009

Today at Mobile World Congress 2009, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer unveiled the long awaited Windows Mobile 6.5 OS, after numerous leaks the last couple of months.

The WinMo 6.5 has a slightly updated user interface, some new features and enhanced browsing experience thanks to the latest version of Internet Explorer. The mobile phones that use the service will also make use of two new Microsoft services: My Phone and Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

Microsoft MyPhone is a service to sync text messages, photos, video, contacts and more with previously created personal internet account while the Windows Marketplace will provide direct-to-phone mobile applications and can be accessed from both the phone and the Web.

The new OS tries to bring more user friendliness directly on the homescreen by providing a dashboard-like experience to items such as new e-mails, texts, missed calls and calendar appointments.

Windows Mobile 6.5 is also more thumbable with its larges icons and menus. It comes with the latest Internet Explorer Mobile browser, which has also been thumb-optimized. It is equipped with an on-screen zoom slider and thumb-optimized shortcuts bar much like Opera 9.5 currently used by HTC.

Here are some official screenshots of the new OS:

As you may guess the changes that Windows Mobile 6.5 brings are nowhere near the long expected complete overhaul of the device but might serve their purpose of putting some competitive edge to the Microsoft Mobile OS until Windows Mobile 7 is ready to roll next year.

The first Windows Mobile 6.5 devices will be available at the second half of 2009. The currently announced LG GM730, HTC Touch Diamond 2 and HTC Touch Pro 2 that were all announced today, will initially run on WinMo 6.1 but an upgrade to 6.5 is guaranteed once the OS is ready.