Computersight -

The latest release of Windows Mobile operating, Windows Mobile 6.5 is now on sale worldwide.

Microsoft have also released an application store, known as Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

The OS is an update of the Windows Mobile 6 which was released in 2007. 

The release is an attempt to increase Windows market share in the smartphone operating industry. It currently has a 9%, only the 4th largest company market share in the industry.

Along with the new releases Microsoft has also rebranded it mobile phone operating system it is now ’Windows phones’

 Alex Reeve, Microsoft’s director of mobile business in the UK was quoted, “I think one of the fundamental advantages that we have… is the amount of choice there is in terms of hardware choice and platforms, and that just keeps going and going,”.

Changes made.

The changes made to the OS were relatively minor due to the amount of work Microsoft is putting into its new OS Windows Mobile 7 (due for release early 2010). The significant changes from the Windows mobile 6 operating system include, more finger friendly touch screen icons and a move away from use of the stylus.

Other Changes come with the introduction of Windows Marketplace application store. Which gives users a choice of 60 applications (UK market more in US). This a relatively small figure when compared with Apple equre but Alex Reeves ensures ”there is a large backlog of applications that will soon be approved and become available.”