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Windows Mobile Update Gets More Personal |
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Written by Adam Gosling
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Wednesday, 02 April 2008 |
Today at CTIA Wireless 2008 Microsoft unveiled the latest update for
its Windows Mobile software, version 6.which includes new time-saving
features, easier phone navigation and management, and increased
security safeguards. The company also announced a new version of
Internet Explorer Mobile.
New features include improved personalisation allowing IT departments
and users to quickly get up and running with e-mail, a Bluetooth
headset or Wi-Fi. Version 6.1 also makes it easy to check and respond
to notifications such as missed calls, appointments, messages and
access multimedia files from the home screen.
Microsoft has made some changes to better make use of the small screens
found on smartphones with features that make it easy to 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.
For business users Microsoft has improved manageability and security in
such as way that the device can be managed more like a desktop PC, says
the company. Support for System Center
Mobile Device Manager 2008 and support for Exchange Server 2007 SP1
helps administrators set up devices to access data behind a firewall
and implement advanced mobile
policies.
Announcing a new version of Internet Explorer Mobile, Microsoft said it had added the ability to easily
view full-screen Web pages and multimedia on the Web by taking advantage of Internet Explorer 6 technologies and supporting
established and upcoming industry standards such as H.264, Adobe Flash
and Microsoft Silverlight. This 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.
"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."
Sony Ericsson was quick to confirm it will take advantage of the new
Windows Mobile for its arc-slider phone the XPERIA X1 (follow link for pics) which will enable
consumers to personalise their phone's touch screen using a panel-based
UI to create an interface which is uniquely relevant to them. "This
continually active desktop allows users to organise the phone's active
dashboard as they want, changing between panels just like they change
their mood, activity and information needs in the course of every day,"
says the company.
"No two
individuals have the same tastes and desires. Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1 has been developed to ensure
that mobile web communication and multimedia entertainment can be tailored,
putting the individual at the heart of the mobile experience in a uniquely
personal way," said Rikko Sakaguchi, Head of Portfolio and Propositions, Sony
Ericsson.
Operators
will also be able to custom build the touch panels that run on the XPERIA X1 to provide the consumer
with a rich, aggregated offering of their applications and services. In
addition, Sony Ericsson also plans to align with key partners around the panel
technology to enable them to develop exciting applications that can be enjoyed
by users on the XPERIA X1.
The
Sony Ericsson XPERIA
X1
will
be available in selected markets in the second half of 2008.
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