Pocket-lint has learnt from sources close to the matter that Microsoft will announce the much-rumoured refresh to its mobile phone operating system, Windows Mobile, on 1 April 2008.

An improvement over Windows Mobile 6 released in February 2007 the new version, unsurprisingly named 6.1, will be a stop-gap measure to keep both consumers and industry happy until the launch of Windows Mobile 7.

Leaked screenshots of 6.1 have already done the rounds in the blogosphere, and show the system has been simplified with the screens displaying less mess than the Vista-inspired version 6. A new look with new fonts, new homescreen and new features such as a task manager and copying and pasting in Internet Explorer all bode well for users of Microsoft's OS for handhelds.


Windows Mobile 6.1 to be released on 1 April

Do you know if the i760 will be able to take an upgrade to 6.1?

From what I can tell, if we can upgrade at all, we're gonna have to back up our contacts etc etc and reinstal/restore everything after the upgrade.

This better be worth it. I almost have my i760 to just where I want it.

I'm sure there will be an upgrade

You do realize that the date is April Fools Day, right?

Mark

The bigger joke is they are NOT updating active-hell and I still cant sync with my phone.

I would be very surprised if VZW offers the update. AT&T will have it out the first day for the Tilt, but don't count on the i760 sharing in the fun.

I would think you would get the update through windows update not verizon.

It will be interesting to see. VZW has long been dead set against updates, but the update icon implies that M$ has taken over the task. But, I can't see VZW allowing that to happen to phones on their network given their history.

I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Do you think they will fix the SDHC capacity issues?

Mark

as far as i can tell, it will be available to all phones on wm6... so yes, the i760 will be able to update. it is 7 that is sketchy in that dept. there will also supposedly be threated sms and other such things. at&t im sure will take to the release right away, but vzw like usual with most likely have to wait a few weeks at least. i just hope it enables EMS.

also, the phone carriers should be able to back up your settings, do the update, and then swap... that is what i was told anyway. so hopefully no headaches there. i guess only time will tell. IF there is an update.

FWIW, I'm certainly no expert on the subject, but my understanding had been that with the release of WM 6, users would be able to download WM6 updates directly from Microsoft and would not need to go through the carriers. Consequently, I believe we won't need VZW's permission to upgrade to WM 6.1. That said, I'm a bit skeptical of a rumored April Fool's Day release (only because I can't imagine someone would actually plan a release on 4/1).

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The Fine Print:Nothing in this post (or any of my other posts) is intended to constitute legal advice or the establishment of an attorney-client relationship. For purposes of this forum, I'm just another nerd like you. :-)

I agree, Im not too believing on the April 1st release, but I don't understand why we would have to go through verizon, we do have windows update on the phone for a reason, even though I've NEVER seen an update. But I hope that we can, with no problem get the update, and I also hope that the April 1st release date is true.