Microsoft's Windows Mobile Application Markplace has opened a little wider to encompass any handset running Windows Mobile 6.0 or above. Previously, it was only available to handsets running the very latest version - Windows Mobile 6.5.

The catalogue contains over 800 apps, so it rivals Palm's App Catalog, but both remain a drop in the ocean compared to the Android and iPhone app stores. Still, developers might be more keen to develop for Windows Mobile now that more than a handful of phones can access it.

However, there's always been a vast ecosystem of Windows Mobile applications - they're just not all concentrated in one place. Microsoft now has a hell of a task in front of it, in attempting to collect them together. You can grab it by hitting up mp.windowsphone.com in your phone browser.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phone apps Windows Mobile Windows Phone App Store Microsoft

Windows Mobile App Marketplace opens to all originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:11:07 +0000

While our brows are still furrowed by T-Mobile's assertion that the Windows Mobile 6.5 HTC HD2 will offer Android Market apps, we're happy to report the device is due an imminent launch on Vodafone.

Those hoping to get their hot little hands on the new smartphone with its 4.3-inch multi-touch display, speedy Snapdragon processor, 5-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS and HSDPA need look no further than Vodafone with an announcement expected within the next 24 hours.

O2 is also said to be due to offer the device via Mobiles.co.uk for a minimum of ?40 a month on a 2-year contract if you want the handset gratis, so it will be interesting to see at which price point Vodafone will be placing the high-end handset.

We will bring you all the official news - including pricing, tariffs and exact availablity - as soon as we hear it.

UPDATE: It's now official - from free on ?35 per month, 2-year contracts.

Related links:

• Feature - HTC HD2 funky features fun

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Vodafone HTC HD2 Windows Mobile Windows Phone HTC Rumours

Vodafone to offer HTC HD2 first originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:22:17 +0000

It appears the HTC HD2 has found a home with a UK operator as T-Mobile has revealed via its website it is to offer the new device.

The new Windows Mobile 6.5 handset offers a 4.3-inch multi-touch display, speedy Snapdragon processor, 5-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS and HSDPA.

The "HTC Touch HD2" has now appeared on T-Mobile's coming soon section of its online shop with a due date of November.

However, it's accompanied by the wrong image and is said to boast a 3.8-inch screen and Android Market, so we're certainly not holding our breath on this one. ?

UPDATE: T-Mobile says it has no comment.

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Related links:

• Shop - T-Mobile

Tags: Phones Mobile phones HTC HTC HD2 T-Mobile Android Windows Mobile

T-Mobile to offer "HTC Touch HD2" with Android Market originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:20:04 +0000

HTC CEO Peter Chou has confirmed that the company has no plans to launch an Android version of its?HTC HD2?handset.

"Technically, we could make the HD2 an Android phone, but I have to take care of Windows Mobile", Chou told Forbes magazine.

The handset, which has just been?priced in the UK and sports a 4.3-inch touchscreen display, a 1GHz processor, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, GPS and a 5.0 Megapixel camera, is expected any day in the UK with Windows 6.5 as the operating system.

"We're working hard on these kinds of products to get excitement about Windows Mobile back", says Chou.

The news is likely to come as a disappointment to the Android fan base hoping to get a big screen touchscreen device from HTC.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Android HTC Windows Mobile HTC HD2

HTC: No Android HTC HD2 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:51:00 +0000

HTC has released the all important firmware update for its HTC Touch Diamond2 mobile phone?taking it from Windows Mobile 6.1 to?Windows Mobile 6.5.

The new ROM upgrade, which is available from the HTC website, will upgrade the phone to the new OS launched earlier in the month and with it bring a host of new features.

Users are recommended to backup their data as the process wipes any data from the handset.

HTC says the update will take up to 30 minutes, and users shouldn't interrupt the update process, make/receive phone calls, disconnect the device from the PC, or press any buttons until the process has been completed.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Windows Phone HTC Windows Mobile HTC Touch Diamond2

HTC Touch Diamond2 goes Windows Mobile 6.5 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:08:34 +0000

A new advert from Microsoft for its mobile platform sees the software giant pushing the "Windows Phone" branding that's gone live with the release of the 6.5 OS.?

Promoting the HTC Pure - this version of the ad is for AT&T in the States - some commentators argue the ad could be a little misleading in suggesting Windows Phone is a product, rather than a platform.

Hit play now to see the new clip, complete with app icons in white tights, and let us know if you think it's a classic or a clunker in the comments box below.

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Tags: Phones Advertising Microsoft Windows Phone Windows Mobile Video HTC

VIDEO: Microsoft pushes Windows Phone in new ad originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:43:27 +0100

Samsung and fashion house Armani have teamed up on a couple of handsets in the past, and are at it again with the launch of the new Giorgio Armani-Samsung smartphone, apparently "the most elegant and functional mobile on the market".

Offering Windows Mobile 6.5, a "unique" two step tilt hinge form factor with both a touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard the new handset gets a 3.5-inch AMOLED display.

"Giorgio Armani himself personally designed this stylish smartphone" says Samsung, but UK fashionistas need not get too excited as it won't be coming to the UK, according to Samsung's press office, despite the official press release on the Armani site saying it is.

Specs include all that you'd expect from a WinMob device - apart from the addition of an Opera 9.5 browser - as well as 7.2Mbps HSDPA, a 5-megapixel camera, media player, FM radio, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, A-GPS and 8GB internal memory expandable via microSD card up to 32GB.

The phone comes in a "distinctive and elegant bronze gold colour", which is said to "coordinate perfectly with Giorgio Armani's suits". We'll keep you posted on a UK launch - just in case.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Samsung Armani Giorgio Armani Windows Mobile Windows Phone

Giorgio Armani-Samsung smartphone announced originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:49:09 +0100

Back in April, Microsoft declared that Windows Mobile 6.5 would offer "Tellme" functionality via a side button that would let users control their phones with their voice.

Fast forward to now as handsets with the new mobile operating system become available and it seems it's not something manufacturers have jumped on whole-heartedly.

However, the new Samsung Intrepid - that will launch on Sprint in the States - will offer such voice control: "This new interface will allow you to search the Web with Bing by speaking your search query, compose a text message or even dial a contact by simply talking instead of typing".

Hit play now to see a demo, which does not look that much quicker than doing the deed with your fingers, but who are we to judge...

Tags: Phones Samsung Sprint Microsoft Windows Mobile Windows Phone Video Bing

VIDEO: Windows Mobile 6.5 Tellme function demoed street-style originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:31:11 +0100

Acer's new Windows Phone (Windows Mobile 6.5) handset has hit the UK courtesy of the chaps at Expansys.

Those looking to get the new Acer smartphone that sports a 3.8-inch resistive touchscreen display and HSDPA connectivity can do so for ?349.99 without contract to one of the big operators.

The new neoTouch handset, first announced at Mobile World Congress in February is available now. As yet no official operator details have been announced, however users will be able to put in any operator SIM card as the phone is being sold unlocked.

As an extra incentive, the online retailer is also offering ?20 worth of discount vouchers if you buy one before the end of October.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Acer Windows Phone Windows Mobile Acer neoTouch F1

Acer neoTouch (F1) smartphone hits UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:23:47 +0100

Microsoft has officially launched Windows 6.5 or Windows Phone to you and me on Tuesday, but what phones can you get with the new operating system and what phone can you upgrade?

If you've already bought a HTC Touch Diamond II, HTC Touch Pro II, HTC Snap S552 or Toshiba TG01 WP, you can upgrade today via the HTC and Toshiba websites bringing you all the new features without having to buy a new handset.

If you want to upgrade your handset, here is the official list from Redmond of what you can get your hands on now and in the near future:

New handsets in the UK

• HTC Touch II from T-Mobile and Carphone Warehouse
• HTC Touch HD II from O2 and Carphone Warehouse
• LG GM750 from Vodafone
• Samsung Omnia II and Samsung Omnia Lite from Carphone Warehouse
• Samsung Omnia Pro - B7730 from Carphone Warehouse on 30 October?
• Sony Ericsson X2 from Vodafone on 30 October?
• Samsung Omnia Pro B7610 from O2 on 30 November

?

New handsets in North America

• HTC Pure from AT&T
• HTC Imagio from Verizon Wireless
• Samsung Intrepid from Sprint, available 11 Oct, 2009
• HTC Tilt 2 from AT&T, available in the coming weeks

?

In Europe

• MDA Vario V, MDA Compact V and HTC Touch2 and the Samsung Omnia II from Deutsche Telekom in select European markets
• HTC HD2 from Orange, available in the coming weeks in France
• HTC Touch2 from Orange, available in the coming weeks in France, Spain, Switzerland and Romania
• A software update for the HTC Touch Pro2 from Orange, available in the coming weeks in France, U.K. and Romania
• Samsung Omnia II from Orange, available in the coming weeks in Poland, Switzerland and Slovakia and from early December in France
• Samsung Omnia LITE from Orange, available in the coming weeks in France and Spain
• Samsung Omnia PRO B7320 from Orange, available in the coming weeks in France and the U.K.
• Toshiba TG01 W from Orange, available as an update to the TG01 in the coming weeks in France, the U.K., Switzerland and Romania
• LG GM750 and Samsung Omnia II from SFR in France?
• TMN Bluebelt 2 and TMN Silverbelt, made by ZTE Corp., from TMN in Portugal
• Samsung Omnia II and Omnia LITE from TMN in Portugal
• HTC Touch Diamond2 from Vodafone in Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, South Africa and Central Europe
• HTC Touch Pro2 from Vodafone in the U.K. and Switzerland
• LG GM750 from Vodafone in Germany, the U.K., Spain and the Netherlands?

?

In Latin America

• Samsung Omnia available in the coming weeks from TIM Brasil

?

Open market in Europe:

• Samsung Omnia II, Omnia LITE, Omnia PRO B7320, Omnia PRO B7330 and Omnia PRO B7610 available in October

?

In Asia

• ZTE X60 from China Unicom
• HTC Touch Diamond2 from Telstra

?

Open market in Asia

• Acer beTouch E100, beTouch E101, beTouch E200 and Acer neoTouch
• Garmin-ASUS n?vifone M20 ?
• HTC Snap, HTC Touch Pro2, HTC Touch Diamond2 and HTC Touch2
• LG GM730 and LG GM550
• Samsung Omnia II and Samsung Omnia PRO B7320, Omnia PRO B7330

?

Handsets that can be upgraded from 6.1 to 6.5

• HTC Touch Diamond II from T-Mobile and Carphone Warehouse?
• HTC Touch Pro II from Vodafone on 14 October
• HTC Snap S552?
• Toshiba TG01 WP from Orange

Related links:

• Link - HTC

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Microsoft Windows Phone Windows Mobile HTC Samsung LG Orange T-Mobile AT and T Sony Ericsson

Microsoft Windows Phones: What phones are available originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:18:39 +0100

Vodafone will be exclusively offering the new LG GM750 Windows Phone until the end of December.

The new Windows Mobile 6.5 handset combines Microsoft's operating system with heavy customisation from LG, as is the trend with the majority of operators launching handsets on the new OS today.

In this case, LG have moved their S-Class operating system onto the handset, providing an alternative to the default Windows Mobile offering.

Featuring a 3-inch touchscreen display, a 5-megapixel camera, and GPS, it offers all the benefits of business support and easy Outlook syncing with the easy-to-use interface from LG. Although pitching towards the consumer end of the market, there is no sign of a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The optical trackpad at the bottom is a nice touch, as found on recent BlackBerry models.

We got our hands on the new model and grabbed a few snaps for you to feast your eyes.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones LG LG GM750 Windows Phone Windows Mobile Photos

PHOTOS: LG GM750 mobile phone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:01:47 +0100

It may not have been quite the upgrade Microsoft had conceived of with the company's initial route map for 2009 but the launch of Windows Phone/Windows Mobile 6.5 today comes with no less ceremony. Naturally, an operating system is all very well and good so, here are some of the first flush of Windows phones to show it off.

HTC Touch2

Samsung Omnia II (i8000)

LG GM750

Toshiba TG01

HTC HD2

Related links:

• Feature - Quick guide to Windows Mobile 6.5 - Windows Phone
• News - HTC HD2 coming this month with Sense UI

Tags: Phones Windows Mobile Windows Phone Operating Systems Mobile phone apps Mobile phones Windows Marketplace Microsoft HTC Samsung TG01 Omnia II Omnia LITE LG HTC HD2 HTC Touch2 Features

Five Windows Mobile 6.5 phones to watch out for originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:05:00 +0100

HTC today confirmed their much speculated and oft-snapped HTC Leo, which will be known as the HTC HD2.

Smacking the Toshiba TG01 right between the eyes, the HD2 features a massive 4.3-inch display, with a beautiful 480 x 800 pixel resolution display. It also has a multi-touch enabled capacitive touchscreen display.

"The HD2 brings the HTC Sense UI to Windows Mobile", Peter Chou told us in a one-on-one demo of the new Windows Phone, before recomfirming the message of Make It Mine, Stay Close and Discover the Unexpected which was pushed at the launch of the HTC Hero.

But keep a rein on your excitement. This version of the Sense UI doesn't resemble that found on the super Android handset, but looks suspiciously like the TouchFLO interface seen on HTC's other Windows Mobile handsets.

The HTC HD2 is a direct competitor to Toshiba's TG01 on another level as it also runs on Qualcomm's 1GHz Snapdragon chipset, with 512MB ROM and 448MB RAM. A microSD card slot is present to boost your storage.

Around the back you get a 5-megapixel camera supported by a dual LED flash, a 3.5mm headphone jack, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and bags of sensors to keep it smart, like an ambient light sensor and accelerometer.

Coming to market this month, we'll bring you all the details of networks and costs when we have them.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones HTC HTC HD2 Windows Phone HTC Leo Windows Mobile

HTC HD2 coming this month with Sense UI originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:00:00 +0100

The new HTC HD2 - formerly known as the Leo - is looking to establish itself as king of the Windows Phone jungle with its massive 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen display.

Sitting on Qualcomm's 1GHz Snapdragon chipset, it joins the Toshiba TG01 running on this hardware. It is a Windows Phone with the latest version of Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5, but with HTC's Sense UI running over the top.

In our time with the HTC HD2, it is clear that there has been something of a nomenclature shift, as the Sense UI found here resembles the TouchFLO interface found on HTC's Windows Mobile devices in the past, rather than the Android version found on the HTC Hero.

However, there is a luscious sheen to HTC skin here, making the somewhat clunky Windows Mobile system much more tolerable, with large crisp icons, customisation and easy access to shortcuts.

If you like your weather apps, then you'll love the fact that when you switch on the HD2, you'll get a gorgeous full backdrop animation at the front of the Sense UI - it's really something to behold seeing clouds and lightening ripping through the back of your phone.

HTC also showed us a new travel car mount. By changing the back plate of the HD2, you'll be able to twist lock it onto this slick mount, and thanks to the clever sensors on-board, your phone will dive into NaviPanel, ideal for using in your vehicle.

It also features multi-touch, as demoed here by HTC CEO Peter Chou.

Will this be Windows Mobile's new hero?

Tags: Phones Mobile phones HTC HTC Leo HTC HD2 Windows Phone Photos Windows Mobile

PHOTOS: HTC HD2 mobile phone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:00:00 +0100

Want to know what all the fuss is about? Read our quick guide to find out more about what the changes are, what they mean, and how they affect you. We'll also give you a run down of the good and bad points.

What is Windows Phone?

It's the rebranded name of Windows Mobile. As part of Microsoft's long term strategy the company has chosen to ditch the Windows Mobile title as of the release of version 6.5 and just refer to it as Windows Phone. On the one hand it's supposed to simplify the OS and extend the software to handsets such that people refer to them as Windows phones but it's also not a bad way to try to drop some of the stink surrounding what has never quite been the platform that it could be. It also helps to refer to the operating system as something in its own right like the iPhone OS rather than being a squished down, mobile version of what you get on a full size PC.

What's changed from Windows Mobile 6.1?

Sadly not as much as we'd all like. Windows Mobile 6.5 was announced back in February at Mobile World Congress but only as a stop gap while the delayed Windows Mobile 7 was put back to 2010. As a result, there is no multi-touch to keep the Windows phones up with the likes of Android, S60 and iPhone and you still have to use a stylus for certain applications. The biggest change is the GUI on the front of the system which has been simplified considerably, made much more user-friendly and more like the Zune interface. It's less fiddly and goes to an Android/iPhone/S60-like menu screen of three columns of app icons when you press start rather than folder expansion. Everything from e-mail to Bluetooth is now set up through better looking wizards and the whole thing is really targeted at users looking to make the step up from a feature phone to a smartphone. The back end of the software is largely the same.

What about apps? Do we finally get apps?

Yes indeed. Microsoft announced a codename project to go with 6.5 called SkyMarket which has in fact turned out to be the long awaited Windows Marketplace for Mobile expected to go live as the OS is launched. There are currently 731 developers working worldwide on more than 200 initial applications that will be available when the marketplace opens. Developers get a 70% cut of the profits after paying a $99 fee for a year's licence unless they're registered as students from Microsoft in which case the licence will be free.

Apps so far include a number of business solutions as well as Facebook, MySpace, Netflix, Twikini, WunderRadio, Zagat and games like Revenge of the Fallen, Sudoku, Transformers and the Pac-Man series. Browsing the Marketplace is a straight forward affair with the usual lists of genres and top sellers and the Zune-look menus also have a section for your operator's app store which is sure to please the networks if no one else.

What else?

Microsoft's mobile synching cloud service is the other main area of note which is known as My Phone. It's been in beta for 7 months but on launch users will get 200MB of storage where they can save SMS, contacts and images which they can also publish on Flickr, MySpace and Facebook straight from their phones. Much like another smartphone service out there, you'll also be able to remotely lock your phone should you lose it, locate it on a map from its last synch, send out a "please return to" message, make it ring even if on silent and, if all else fails, wipe the data. There will also be a premium service with more storage available.

The final update of significance is of the Internet Explorer mobile browser which works in a standard desktop view mode as well as a mobile format and there are other Microsoft applications you'll find on-board include Windows Live, Bing, Mobile Office Communicator and Microsoft Online Service (Exchange and SharePoint).

Good points and bad points

Well, it certainly looks better and the simplification and face lift appear to be a definite step in the right direction. The fact that 6.5 has come as a stop gap doesn't really help with the biggest disappointment of all the missing multi-touch and the fact that certain programs, such as Windows Media Player, still need the use of the stylus. HTC has added a multi-touch front to the OS but many of the applications like Explorer will still not support it. It's a fairly low cost option which should make it a competitive option for those making a step up and it will coexist in the market when Windows Phone 7 is released next year.

How do I get it

Unfortunately, you can't just upgrade your version of Windows Mobile 6.1. It would require an update of the firmware as sent by your operator who will not necessarily do this for free. Your handset might also not be able to cope with it but, of course, there are always more shady unofficial ways of making the switch yourself. For most, it will be a case of buying a specific handset. The platform will launch on the HTC Touch2 but there will also be Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Motorola Windows Phones coming soon, as well as an upgrade for the HTC Touch HD Pro.

Tags: Phones Quick Guide Windows Mobile Windows Phone Operating Systems Mobile phone apps Mobile phones Windows Marketplace Microsoft

Quick guide to Windows Mobile 6.5 - Windows Phone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0100

In the States, AT&T has announced the launch of two new HTC devices, the HTC Tilt 2 and the HTC Pure, both new Windows Mobile 6.5 devices.

As far as marketing blurb goes, the Pure is said to "deliver a touch screen experience in an alluring, compact form factor", while the Tilt 2 "features the convenience of a tilting touch screen combined with the practicality of a slide out full QWERTY keyboard".

HTC has added its TouchFLO 3D interface to the phones, while AT&T will support Windows Marketplace for Mobile - Microsoft's answer to the App Store for Windows phones.

The Tilt 2 gets a high-res, 3.6-inch widescreen WVGA display, speakerphone with dual speakers and dual microphones with advanced noise cancellation, and a 3.2-megapixel camera.

The Pure offers a 3.2-inch WVGA touchscreen, a 5-megapixel auto-focus camera with video capture, expandable memory, "gravity sensor" and an ambient light sensor.

The Pure will cost $149.99 while the Tilt 2 will go on sale for $299.99 with rebates on 2-year agreements - a minimum of $70 a month as far as the Tilt 2 goes.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones HTC AT and T HTC Pure HTC Tilt 2 Windows Mobile

HTC Pure and Tilt 2 launch on AT&T originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:44:35 +0100

Adobe has announced a whole pile of deals with manufacturers of almost all the world's major smartphones. It's done deals with RIM (who produce the BlackBerry handsets), Symbian, Windows Mobile, Palm, and Google. Notice one name missing from that list? The iPhone hasn't joined the party.

Adobe has said that the full Flash player - starting from version 10.1 - will be arriving on browsers on Windows Mobile and Palm webOS handsets later this year. Betas for Symbian and Android are expected to be showing up early next year, and BlackBerry is labelled as a vague "in the future".

Flash 10.1, if the company's vision is realised, will work over PCs, smartphones, netbooks and other devices seamlessly. It's part of the company's wide-ranging Open Screen Project. Up until now phones have had a chopped back version of Flash, called Flash lite, but the new version will be full-functioning Flash.

Handsets that are capable of Flash 10.1 will get an over-the-air upgrade, meaning that customers shouldn't have to do anything. Meanwhile, the iPhone is conspicuous by its absence. Adobe has said it's working with Apple, but that it's all running on a different timescale to the rest of the companies.

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Related links:

• News - RIM to bring flash to BlackBerry phones

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Adobe RIM Windows Mobile Palm Google iPhone Apple

Flash coming to almost every smartphone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:12:01 +0100

In the States Verizon Wireless has announced the launch of its first Windows Mobile 6.5 device, the HTC Imagio.

Available from 6 October, the Imagio will be among the first of the Windows Mobile 6.5 handsets to market although it will still get HTC's TouchFLO 3D user interface.

The GSM/EDGE/UMTS/HSPA Imagio offers a 3.6-inch touchscreen with a 800 x 480 resolution, a 5-megapixel camera with video recording, Wi-Fi connectivity and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

As a US launch, the Imagio will offer Verizon's MediaFLO-based mobile TV as an added extra for $15 a month.

The HTC Imagio is being offered by Verizon for $199.99 if customers sign up for 2 years and do a $100 mail-in rebate.

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Related links:

• News - Vodafone to offer HTC Tattoo from October

Tags: Phones Mobile phones HTC Verizon HTC Imagio Windows Mobile Windows Mobile Microsoft

HTC Imagio launches on Verizon originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:21:22 +0100