Gah! I dared to step away from the computer, and in my absence I was sent all the Windows Mobile 6.1 release info! Oh well, better to have a life and be late to the posting party, than to always be glued to my computer…right?

Lots of release information and WM 6.1 Standard screenshots follow…enjoy!

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April 1, 2008
Microsoft Unveils Smartphone Advancements to Improve Ability to Work and Play With One Phone

Company demonstrates new version of Internet Explorer Mobile with desktop-grade Web browsing, introduces updated Windows Mobile operating system.

LAS VEGASËœ April 1, 2008 ËœWindows Mobile is improving smartphones to better meet people’s rapidly expanding work and personal needs, Microsoft Corp. today announced. At CTIA Wireless 2008, the company unveiled the newest version of Internet Explorer Mobile, which adds desktop-grade Web browsing to Windows Mobile phones. In addition, Microsoft 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.

“People want a single phone that’s flexible enough to meet their needs throughout their day, whether it’s connecting to work or your everyday life,” said Robbie Bach, president of the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “The innovations we’ve added to our Windows Mobile software ultimately make it easier to manage your world.”

“Microsoft is taking the necessary steps to broaden its consumer appeal while also addressing the complex mobile needs of the enterprise,” said Ben Bajarin, analyst with Creative Strategies. “Internet Explorer Mobile and Windows Mobile 6.1 demonstrate Microsoft’s ability to harness its technologies to bring tangible innovations and benefits to customers and partners.”

Updated Internet Explorer Mobile Brings the Quality of Desktop Web Browsing to Phones
The new version of Internet Explorer Mobile adds the ability to easily view full-screen Web pages and multimedia on the Web with a smartphone. By taking advantage of Internet Explorer 6 technologies and supporting established and upcoming industry standards such as H.264, Adobe Flash and Microsoft Silverlight, the updated Internet Explorer Mobile gives people a rich mobile Internet experience. The update will be available to mobile phone partners in the third quarter of 2008, with the first Windows Mobile phones using the new version expected to be available by the end of 2008.

Windows Mobile Update Drives Simpler Experience
Windows Mobile 6.1 features several key updates based on customer feedback, including the capability to make the most critical information readily available at a glance, quicker phone setup, and enhanced features adapted for the small screen. In addition, if coupled with System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 or Exchange Server 2007 SP1, Windows Mobile 6.1 provides the best experience for IT professionals to manage mobile phones for businesses.

Windows Mobile 6.1 will help people get more from their phones by bringing updates to what they care about most. With Windows Mobile 6.1 users will be able to accomplish the following:
·       Stay up to date and share from a single location. 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.
·       Get up and running in minutes. From setting up e-mail, a Bluetooth headset or Wi-Fi, the new Getting Started Center makes the phone experience intuitive and simple.
·       Save time with features adapted for the small screen. Easily flag, delete or move groups of messages and keep track of conversations through threaded text messaging. Zoom in on text or pictures, or view an entire Web page at once.
·       Help keep business information protected. Support for System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 helps administrators manage phones similarly to a Windows-based PC or access company data that may be behind a firewall; and support for Exchange Server 2007 SP1 advanced mobile policies helps businesses manage and administer security for phones while enabling people to find, share, and use information no matter where they are.
More information is available at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/apr08/04-01EnterpriseMobilePR.mspx.

Industry Embraces Windows Mobile 6.1
Partners from around the globe are committed to updating or expanding their portfolios to Windows Mobile 6.1 beginning in the second quarter of 2008, demonstrating the strong industry demand for software that delivers one phone for all aspects of a person’s life.

“AT&T customers select Windows Mobile phones because they’re a fit for their lives Ëœ whether that’s traveling the globe, managing the family’s schedule or staying in touch with colleagues,” said Mike Woodward, vice president, Business Data Service for AT&T Mobility. “We intend to update our most popular Windows Mobile phones to offer these new capabilities that help our customers get the most from their mobile experience where they live and work.”

Other partners include Alltel Wireless, AT&T, ASUS, HP, HTC Corp., i-mate, Intermec Inc., Motorola, O2, Orange, Palm Inc., Pantech, Samsung, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, Sprint, T-Mobile USA Inc., T-Mobile International Inc., T-Mobile Germany, TELUS, Toshiba, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone. The following new phones and updates were announced today:
·       Mobile operators:
ˆ       Alltel Wireless: HTC PPC6800, HTC Touch
ˆ       AT&T: Samsung BlackJack II, MOTO Q 9h global, Pantech duo, AT&T Tilt by HTC
ˆ       Sprint: A new Palm Treo and updates for the Mogul by HTC, Touch by HTC, MOTO Q 9c, Samsung ACE
ˆ       T-Mobile International: T-Mobile MDA Ameo 16 GB, T-Mobile MDA compact IV
·       Device-makers:
ˆ       ASUS: New phones including the P320, ZX1, P560, M536 and updates for the P527, P750, M930
ˆ       HTC: A new Touch Dual for the U.S. and updates for the AT&T Tilt, Touch by HTC, Mogul by HTC from Sprint, TyTN II
ˆ       i-mate: 8502, 9502, 8150, 6150
ˆ       Intermec: CN3
ˆ       Motorola: MOTO Q 9c, MOTO Q 9h global, MC70, MC9000
ˆ       Pantech: Pantech duo
ˆ       Samsung: BlackJack II
ˆ       Toshiba: Portégé G810,Portégé G910

More information about Windows Mobile 6.1 is available at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/default.mspx; information on System Center Mobile Device Manager, available today, can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/mobile/default.mspx.

*****

Windows Mobile 6.1 — New Features at a Glance

GETTING STARTED

Getting Started Center
The Getting Started center provides a way of helping people perform the primary tasks the phone is used for during the first 10 days. Getting Started shows people how to perform important setup tasks, including date and time, personal and work e-mail, security passwords, Bluetooth headsets, backgrounds and ring tones, as well as the ability to transfer music from the PC.

PERSONALIZATION

Sliding Panel Home Screen
Windows Mobile 6.1 gives people an enhanced and simplified way to retrieve their information. One of the first changes users will notice is the new home screen user interface. The Sliding Panel plug-in offers quick, at-a-glance information of the clock, notifications (including voice mail, missed calls and text messages), e-mail, appointments, music and, optionally, Windows Live for Windows Mobile. In addition, once the Start menu button is pressed, people will notice it is now reordered to display the most recently used programs and applications at the top, enabling quicker access. The Most Recently Used Applications view can be turned off from the home screen settings panel.

ENHANCEMENTS TO MESSAGING

Threaded SMS
Windows Mobile 6.1 allows people to view a series of short message service (SMS) threads in one view, cutting down on search time and providing one view of a conversation’s history. Entries also show that contact details and contact names are hyperlinked, allowing people to respond immediately via text, phone or e-mail.

Multiselect Functionality
In Messaging, people will now be able to select multiple e-mail or text messages from the List view and enable various bulk actions: delete, move, mark read or unread, and flag messages. In the Contacts view, people can select or select all to delete multiple contacts at once. This feature will also be supported for multiple messages or contacts within a smart filter search.

Direct Push Technology
The over-the-air synchronization process in Windows Mobile 6.1-based devices has been improved further with Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1). The synchronization architecture has been redesigned to reduce bandwidth by up to 60 percent and improve battery life by up to 33 percent (as tested on internal test devices between Windows Mobile 6 and Windows Mobile 6.1).

PRODUCTIVITY

Cut, Copy and Paste
With Windows Mobile 6.1 non-touch screen devices, people now have the ability to select, cut, copy and paste text, significantly enhancing the user experience. This functionality will be available for composing
e-mail messages in Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile, for text messaging and for working with editable fields in Internet Explorer Mobile. This feature has been previously available in Windows Mobile touch screen phones.

Task Manager Application
Windows Mobile 6.1 adds a Task Manager to help people better manage their device’s memory and battery life by allowing them to shut down and switch applications and programs. Users are also able to view general performance data regarding device memory and CPU use. For example, if a person wants to listen to music using Windows Media Player Mobile while running other applications, a message may appear notifying the user of insufficient memory to launch the player. Using Task Manager, that user can quickly navigate to the list of applications running on his or her device, exit unnecessary applications and free up memory.

This feature is anticipated to help reduce mobile operator support costs as devices become easier to troubleshoot.

Live Search for Windows Mobile
Live Search is an optional in-ROM application for device-makers to include in Windows Mobile 6.1-based devices. Live Search for Windows Mobile helps people search for and find destinations and content. Examples include finding restaurants and movie times, checking traffic, getting directions and finding the cheapest gas prices in a city.

Improvements to Internet Explorer Mobile
Internet Explorer Mobile enhances a person’s ability to navigate a particular page on the Web. People can select a portion of a page and return to the standard viewing size to see the page up close. Once a person has accessed a particular Web page, he or she can move the selection tool over the section and view it close up.

*****

OK…enough talk. Let’s look at the pictures of 6.1!

Settings

Threaded SMS

Email

Calendar

Recent Programs

Music

Messaging

Pictures

Browser Zoom Out

Browser Zoom In

Copy / Paste

IE6 Mobile British Airways

IE6 Mobile Facebook

And there you have it…