No, this is not an April Fool’s joke! At CTIA 2008, Microsoft has finally announced Windows Mobile 6.1, an update for its Windows Mobile software that includes new time-saving features, easier phone navigation and management, and increased security safeguards.
Among the enhancements are the following:
- A new Home Screen to make access to information and applications easier. Glance at and respond to notifications such as missed calls, upcoming appointments and new messages from the home screen as well as play music and share photos.
- A new Getting Started Center to help users set up their device. It includes steps for email, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth headset set up among others.
- Features better adapted to small screens like the ability to zoom in and out on text and images
- Support for System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 to more easily manage company mobile devices and data, threaded text messages and multiple simultaneous email selection
Interestingly, Pocket Internet Explorer will not be available immediately with Windows Mobile 6.1. Manufacturers will get in the third quarter of 2008 with the expectation that it will appear in devices by the the end of the year. It promises the ability to view full-screen Web pages and then zoom in and back out and support for standards such as H.264, Adobe Flash and Microsoft Silverlight.
Microsoft will release Windows Mobile 6.1 to partners in the second quarter of 2008.