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After quite a long time of rumors and speculation, Microsoft has taken the wraps off of its new Windows Mobile 6 (AKA Crossbow), the next-gen version of - you guessed it - Windows Mobile 5.  Remember, the new versions will be called Professional, Standard, and Classic - as opposed to Pocket PC for phone, Pocket PC for PDA and all of that nonsense.  Here’s the run-down of specs and features of the new OS:

- HTML support in email
- Windows Live for Windows Mobile
- File transfer capability in Windows Live Messenger
- New versions of mobile Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint with rich editing
- Remote wipe capability for stolen and lost devices
- Call history in contact cards
- Tight Vista integration
- “Calendar ribbon” for more easily viewing schedule by day or week
- New versions of .NET Compact Framework and SQL Server built-in

Devices and carriers for the new mobile OS have not been announced yet, but Engadget is expecting to hear more on Monday.  Stay tuned for more.

Read [Engadget]

In a effort to clear up the confusion in the Windows Mobile naming convention, Microsoft has decided to rename them Standard, Professional, and Classic for the next-gen Windows Mobile 6 (codename Crossbow).  What is currently known as Pocket PC Phone Edition - used on touchscreen devices - will now become Professional.  Windows Mobile Smartphone edition, which is a non-touch screen version lacking Mobile Office, will become Standard, and Pocket PC Edition (for PDAs only) will become Classic.  The new names are really too vague to be helpful, so we’ll see how long they last.

Read [Pocketinfo] Via [CrunchGear]

This video of Microsoft CES Steve Ballmer shows his company’s arrogant stance in the mobile phone space.  When he is asked for his impressions on the new Apple iPhone, he actually had the nerve to laugh, and pretty much said the iPhone doesn’t stand a chance against the Windows Mobile platform.  Sorry to break the news to you Mr. Ballmer, but Apple’s new iPhone is nothing to sneeze at.

Via [CrunchGear]

Remember the Samsung BlackJack AKA i607 we talked about a couple of days ago?  Well it’s for sale now on Cingular’s website for $424.99 full price and $199.99 with two year contract - with unlimited data and rebates.  The slim smartphone is ready to take on all of the other big name devices out there with its Windows Mobile 5.0, MicroSD slot, Bluetooth, 1.3 megapixel camera, 5.5 hour battery life (talk time), and unbeliveably light weight at 3.5 ounces.

Read [Cingular] Via [MobileGuerilla]

Windows Mobile 5 didn’t come out that long ago, but it’s already getting kind of stale.  What gets smartphone fanboys more excited than screenshots of the next-gen operating system?  According to GpsPassion, they’ve got some official, unofficial screenshots of the next Windows Mobile version, codename “Crossbow.” What’s new with “Crossbow” you’re probably wondering - well to be honest, we don’t exactly know yet.  For one, screenshots (and common sense) indicate they’re integrating Windows Live and Windows Update features in.  It also looks like the GUI is just a fresh new skin laying on top of the same old OS we’ve come to love...and hate.  If you’re ready for WM Crossbow and its minty freshness, let me hear you say yay-ahhh.

Read [GpsPassion]

I’m going to come right out and mention that the Treo 750 is not yet being officially shipped in the States, but you can have it imported - for a price.  Company CTI Miami is shipping unlocked Treo 750s overseas for your convenience.  The GSM phones will work with your T-Mobile / Cingular SIM cards and are even said to support UMTS.  So what’s the issue you ask?  The phone comes in at $765, plus shipping.  But think about it this way, won’t you look so cool walking around with a Vodafone unit in the US?

Read [CTI Miami] Via [CrunchGear]

The new Samsung i607 has gotten the FCC’s offical blessing.  The Windows Mobile smartphone is decked out with a QWERTY keyboard, quad-band GSM/EDGE at 850/1900 HSDPA, and a 320x240 QVGA screen.  The device also has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, camera, microSD slot, and Blackberry-esque thumb-wheel. 

The Samsung i607 is rumored for Cingular, but T-Mobile is a good bet as well.

Here’s what user gps over at HowardForums had to say about the i607:

It’s very solid and a lot heavier than the size would have you think. It’s a bit top-heavy, but that’s b/c the hump on the back (camera). I’ll take a picture of the back. The back is “rubberized”, sort of like the feel that colored part of a Moto V551/557 had. The scroll wheel on the side is very good. I’d even say it’s on par, or better that those on RIM devices. The button pushes an firm and the key are not loose...as some raised-key devices can have. It’s a nice phone. Again, my only issue so far is that the keys are almost too close together, but there’s only so much space.

Read [Mobility Today]

Cingular just launched their own ultra-slim and light cellphone, the HTC 3125 (actually you read this I am at the launch party). Yeah I know the RAZR is slim and light as well but aren’t we over four letr wrds alrd?

The 3125 has the smarts of a Pocket PC without the bulk. The sharp screen and straightforward icons are simple to navigate, and the communications suite handles all your messaging and lets you surf the Net with ease. View Windows Office documents and PDFs, play music with external playback buttons, call over 200 countries with up to 7 hours of talk time or up to 9 hours of standby, snap 1.3MP photos, record, play, and send videos, download thousands of games and apps, transfer contacts, calendar and other data to and from your PC, store more data on a micro SD card, and turn heads with the sleek design.

Click on to see the specs, including what Office files types this handset supports as well as a great intro video.

The specs:

• Weight: 3.49 ounces


• Dimensions: 3.88 x 2.02 x 0.64 inches


• Talk Time: Up to 4 hours


• Standby Time: Up to 6 Days


• 200MHz TI, OMAP 850 processor


• 128 MB ROM and 64 MB RAM


• MicroSD expansion card slot


• 2.2 TFT color screen


• GSM/GPRS/EDGE Class 10


• 1100 mAh Li-ion Battery


• Quad-band world phone -850/900/1800/1900 MHz


• Warranty: 1 year on the phone and accessories

Click here for the video

Product Page [Cingular]

Palm’s strategy since they got into the smartphone market has been to create high-end business phones, AKA their Treo line.  The company is finally seeing that smartphones are headed for mainstream and are finally making a lower-end phone - that will likely be significantly cheaper (we would hope).  The new Treo 680 will measure very similar to Palm’s new Treo 750 which was released on Vodafone in Europe this past week.  Due to a slip-up on Palm’s website, it looks like the 680 and 750 are headed for Cingular soon.  No word on pricing or availability, but this sounds like another good gift for the holiday season.

Read [Uberphones]

It seems that we haven’t heard anything about Yahoo! Go since back at CES when Yahoo’s CEO Terry Semel introduced it.  It sounded like a good idea at the time, but since they’ve been sitting on it for so long, the hype seems to have settled.  In an attempt to revive it which it’s still kicking, they have announced the service is now compatible with Windows Mobile versions 2003 SE and 5.0 (formerly supported Symbian OS only).

The service allows you to access your Yahoo! accounts on your mobile device - including Yahoo! Search, Mail, Photos, Address Book and Calendar, Yahoo! News, Sports, Finance, and any other service you can think of from their gigantic portfolio.  Additionally, Yahoo! has partnered with companies like Motorola, Nokia and RIM to have the software pre-loaded on their devices.  Moto has already confirmed their plans to “pre-load and prominently feature Yahoo! Go for Mobile on optimized handsets worldwide starting in the first half of 2007.” Head over to the Go site to find out more.

Via [CrunchGear]
Read [Yahoo! Go]