We first heard about Crossbow and Photon back in December. Crossbow is an update to Windows Mobile 5.0 (like a Second Edition) and Photon is the next full version. Additional details have now emerged, thanks to Google and its cache. The presentation was made during a Microsoft “Tech Days” in Switzerland.
Crossbow is scheduled for launch in Q4 2006 (with marketing starting in early to mid-2007). It promises great mobile messaging, advanced business and enterprise propositions, strengthened phone experience, and faster, easier application development and distribution.
Meanwhile, Photon will land in Q4 2007 with a 2008 marketing launch. It promises a new, flexible shell, modular containers, the “Yamazaki” CE kernel.