Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Announced

Microsoft finally launches its Windows Mobile 6.1 OS. The new version has been said to power several new PDA phones:

Mobile operators:
– Alltel Wireless: HTC PPC6800, HTC Touch
– AT&T: Samsung BlackJack II, MOTO Q 9h global, Pantech duo, AT&T Tilt by HTC
– Sprint: A new Palm Treo and updates for the Mogul by HTC, Touch by HTC, MOTO Q 9c, Samsung ACE
– T-Mobile International: T-Mobile MDA Ameo 16 GB, T-Mobile MDA compact IV

Device-makers:
– ASUS: New phones including the P320, ZX1, P560, M536 and updates for the P527, P750, M930
– HTC: A new Touch Dual for the U.S. and updates for the AT&T Tilt, Touch by HTC, Mogul by HTC from Sprint, TyTN II
– i-mate: 8502, 9502, 8150, 6150
– Intermec: CN3
– Motorola: MOTO Q 9c, MOTO Q 9h global, MC70, MC9000
– Pantech: Pantech duo
– Samsung: BlackJack II
– Toshiba: Portege G810,Portege G910

New features are listed below:

• Tile-based user interface for Standard Edition. I like it a lot. It makes Windows Mobile much more easy to use but it also makes the homescreen more useful: as an example, you can look at your appointments for the day without leaving the home screen.
• Easier Setup. There is a new getting started center, easier e-mail setup including autodiscovery, streamlined bluetooth pairing, easier WiFi connections, etc.
• Other improvements. Including improved Pocket IE browser, threaded SMS messaging
• Bandwidth optimizations that result in a significant reduction in data usage. There could be as much as a 40% improvement for most users.
• Enhanced S/MIME support – support for encrypted email and additional policies to enforce and manage S/MIME use are now included.
• On-Device Encryption – a few customers have required full encryption of all email, calendars and tasks on the device. Previous versions support encryption of the storage card, email encryption and encryption of data stored in SQL Server CE.
• Control of device features. This includes enabling/disabling the camera, browser, WiFi, text messaging, bluetooth, etc.
• White List or Black List applications, as well as a policy to allow unsigned applications.
• Additional policies including some of the following:

o Require manual sync when roaming to avoid excessive roaming data charges
o Additional control on password management: expiration, complexity, etc.

[MSDN] [GeekZone]