Today at the Mobile World Congress, Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO along with key mobile partners, HTC, LG and Orange, unveiled new Windows phones featuring new user-friendly software and services. These new Windows phones will be powered by the new Windows Mobile 6.5 . Microsoft doesn"t plan on releasing Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrades or devices until the second half of 2009.
Along with these, two new services were also unveiled:
- My Phone - A service to sync text messages, photos, video, contacts and more to the Web
- Windows Marketplace for Mobile - A new marketplace that will provide direct-to-phone mobile applications and can be accessed from both the phone and the Web
The My Phone service also helps users to automatically upload photos and video from their Windows phone directly to the My Phone service. The My Phone service is currently available in a limited invitation-only beta
With the new Windows Marketplace for mobile, users can buy Windows mobile apps from Windows phones or from a PC by simply using a Windows Live ID. The new marketplace will be included with all Windows phones based on Windows Mobile 6.5, which will help consumers to easily find, install and experience those applications that fit their needs and make the phone truly personal.
Similarly, two of the world"s top phone manufacturers displayed their Windows phones
- The LG-GM7300
- HTC"s Touch Diamond 2 and Touch Pro 2
Both come with a free upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.5 when made available and are Windows Mobile 6.5 ready